A new approach to birthing practices and maternal care

As many Penn students finalize term papers, child-rearing issues may seem far from their concerns.

However, a large turnout of students from Penn Nursing, including future midwives, maternity researchers and other advocates, were all eager last night to discuss the child-birthing process, as well as social challenges and changes in maternity care.

Judy Norsigian, executive director of Our Bodies, Ourselves introduced the organization's new book, Our Bodies, Ourselves: Pregnancy and Birth, that was a recent addition to a series of health care books for women. Our Bodies, Ourselves is a nonprofit organization that advocates for women's health education.

Norsigian told the audience that there was an enormous need to change the current climate of fear of childbirth into one of confidence to clear up a lot of misinformation.

She explained that misinformation and reimbursement incentives have pushed a consumer movement toward elective C-sections that are dangerous to a mother's health and interfere with the mother-child bond. She said, "Most women have no idea of the pain and fairly long recovery of a C-section."

Additionally, the book covers topics such as choosing a provider and birth setting, making decisions about prenatal testing, arranging for continuous labor support, exploring options for pain relief, recovering from birth and adjusting to motherhood.

Fellow panelist, Mamie Guidera, Nursing professor and midwife at Children's Hospital of Pennsylvania, told the expectant parents, "Be sure to choose a place where the C-section rate is lower." To find out the rate at local hospitals, she suggested reading "Philadelphia Guide to a Healthy Birth" by Choices in Childbirth.

Next, on the topic of life after pregnancy, JoAnne Fisher, executive director of Maternity Care Coalition said, "It's a deterrent that mothers can't go back to work and breast feed. It's important that we change perceptions."

She announced that her organization will be accepting nominations for breast feeding-friendly workplaces and retail shops in the area. Awards will be announced near Mother's Day.

Upon conclusion of the discussion, Nursing grad student Merrylee Grosso commented, "Birth should be empowering for women. The fact is woman are stripped of their dignity by the health care system and I want to change that."

The event was supported by the School of Nursing, Student Nurses at Penn, Penn Pre-medical Society, Philadelphia Alliance for Labor Support, Penn's Women's Center, Maternity Care Coalition and CHOICE Philadelphia.

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.