Around the Web…

These links are worth a click:

• Do you know the pregnancy weight guidelines? — lilSugar
• Speech and your kids: Getting them to talk, and recognizing a problem — Breezy Mama
• In Canada, poor women are less likely to get epidurals — Reuters
• Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott announce plans for the next season of their reality show — PEOPLE
• How quitting smoking now can instantly save you kids — Health.com

Comments

If some women don’t want an epidural, why is that a problem?

- Stella Bella on January 27th, 2010

That article sort of implies that they believe women *should* be getting epidurals, and that poorer or less educated women that don’t are too stupid or ignorant to know any better. Like once they know why women aren’t getting them, they can help make sure they do get them.

If a women doesn’t want one, there is no problem. If a women wanted one where medically indicated and couldn’t get one, then that would be a problem.

I am also not surprised that the big hospitals had higher rates. They tend to push interventions more in general, that is how they operate.

- steph on January 27th, 2010

The tone of the article struck me the same way, Steph.

- Stella Bella on January 27th, 2010

i agree with Steph. i thought the article was a bit condescending as well. the way the study was written asserts cultural presumptions… proposing that the reason “low-income” women turn down epidurals is out of ignorance and a lack of education.

I’d like to propose a hypothesis that perhaps the reason is because these women are more used to giving birth without pain killers. perhaps they have less fear about the process of birth and more fear about hospital interventions than “wealthy” and “educated” women.

I think it is up to each woman how they want to labor. if you want an epidural, that’s fine by me. But to assume that the reason minority women are turning down epidurals is due to ignorance is kind of insulting to their intelligence and cultural backgrounds.

- fuzibuni on January 27th, 2010

I have to say that the article about epidural struck med as a bit weird too, but maybee it is because I personally find the idea of a needle stuck into my spine terrifying. And I am a reasonably well educated woman (I have a masters degree and additional education) who has read up on epidurals.

- MiB on January 28th, 2010

I agree with all of you about the epidural article. MiB – I am the same way! I knew I wouldn’t be getting an epidural because I didn’t want a huge needle going into my spine. I had done tons of research before coming to my decision and, although I am not wealthy, I am very educated with a Masters degree. That article was pretty insulting to women who want to labor epidural-free.

- mrsh on January 28th, 2010