HW#57

When I think of prom I think of a “traditional” rite of passage that has become largely accepted by the American society as a normal stepping stone in the road of changing from a teenager to an adult. This idea of a night where teenagers do things that are considered “adult” such as drugs, liquor, sex, and no curfews. During class today I mentioned my question about why or how prom has become such an important part of our society and how changes in the beliefs of adulthood has affected the view of prom and what it entails. The reason why this idea is important to me is because I feel that discovering the origins of any widely accepted practice such as prom, is vital in understanding how other practices have become so popular and how it affects the community of adults and young adults alike that participate in it. In class we also mentioned how fairytales such as Cinderella play a role in prom; to me, this variation of fantasy that mixes reality with magical aspects of fairytales, is the foundation of prom and the main reason why children are raised on this cartoony view of adulthood.  I also find it very interesting that all of these grown-up activities that go on during prom and after prom have been packed into one night where there are basically no rules. In my opinion I find it very contradictory that a night that serves as a rite of passage into adulthood would be used as an excuse to act in the opposite manner.  Personally I don’t disagree with it because it offers a look at the freedom that each teenager (including myself) feels that he/she does not receive. The most logical solution to this contradiction would be view prom as more of a test drive instead if a purchase, meaning that it should be viewed as a night where things are tried instead of a doorway into a new world with no return.

HW#55

As hard as it was for me to do this project, I felt that getting through with this process now, will help me and my family in the future. The most important thing in my life is my family, and thinking about the death of a member is something that causes grief even when it isn’t necessary. The most difficult thing of all is accepting that this person has passed away as well as moving on from this stage in life. I was surprised how open my parents were to talking about such a sensitive topic (for me) and they were actually very thorough and helpful in telling me their plans and how they would like to be treated. During this process we began to talk about options and who should make decisions for whom in case of any emergencies. As we moved through the 5 wishes booklet, I learned many more things about my parents and how religion factors into their lives than I would have normally; by normally I mean if I had never taken this class or bothered to ask them what they want before they die. Sitting with my parents and talking about such a sensitive topic is difficult because they are the people who have provided for me since birth. Because of this I have formed a theory that maybe children are supposed to “shepherd” their parents through this process in the same way they shepherd me into this world. The question I am left with is if I really want to help my parents through this process when the time comes as well as I can. Obviously my answer is yes, so why do some people get so caught up in certain practices that they seem to forget what their actual goal is? How can we change this process so that the normal is to simply care for our dead in the way that they cared for us when we were young? Below I have attached two photos of the 5 wishes booklet with some of my mother’s information filled out.

*        For safety purposes, some  information has been whited-out

Extra Credit 1,2,3

xc - COTD1

Time at the cemetery

Every time I go past a cemetery, I fear the worst. I only think thoughts of sadness and pain because of the idea that I have formed of cemeteries throughout my life. I realized that I have made cemeteries the enemy because of the thought that one day, that cemetery will “take” my parents and myself. With this trip, I learned a lot about how I deal with grief as well as how quiet and peaceful cemeteries really are. Walking through the cemetery I was compelled by the organization and the cleanliness within this sanctuary. From the cemeteries that I have seen or have lived by, I notice now that each one pays homage to nature through its captivating landscapes, winding roads, and sculptures. This connection between death and nature is rarely ever heard of in this setting. As a matter of fact this is the first time I think about how cemeteries look and the significance behind it. Each movie or book that I have seen or read, has attempted to push the thought that funerals and cemeteries are bad because of the damage it causes to the decomposing body as well as the environmental hazards it poses. Interestingly enough, cemeteries have many appealing aspects that I was blind to because of the idea that I have formed of them. In many ways, the point of a cemetery is to make the family feel comfortable with death through the care of the deceased. This experience made me feel as if visiting a cemetery to see a loved one is no different than visiting a park either alone or with a loved one, both places share (or at least used to share) the philosophy of a secluded place that is within nature to let go of stress. Because of these reasons I am confused once again on what I want to be done when I have passed away.
Sadly i was not able to take photographs because the cemetary did not allow it. The cemetery i visited was the Union Fields Cemetery. This cemetery is a orthodox jewish cemetery for those who are part of the jewish religion or are of jewish descent. Im not sure if taking photographs is against the rules in this religion or if i just ran into the wrong employee on the wrong day.

xc - COTD2

Harold and Maude

This movie views death through a very comedic lens. The way death is portrayed through this movie is in a serious way but it doesn’t take itself too seriously like most books or movies, which allows it to make fun of itself in some ways. I felt that the character dynamics were great and each actor’s motive or goal was very obvious because of the ways each character interacted with his/her environment and the people around them. Each character showed different sides of the death care industry and a few changed in important ways. For me, Harold represents the side of the death care industry where people are very open to death and slightly fascinated by it but still show humbleness towards it because they know they are not immortal. Although Harold represents this for me, he is an extreme that captures the many different emotions of these people. Harold’s mother is more like the group that is indifferent towards that whole process and would rather do everything traditionally. At one point in the movie his mother states how she has grown to ignore Harold’s acts of theatricality such as repeatedly faking his own death. When I first heard this I thought it was very important because it may signify the general public’s feelings toward the business of death. Over time I think we have all learned to ignore how exaggerated some of our customs are because we find them normal or unimportant we dismiss them much like Harold’s mother ignores her son. Although the mother seemingly plays the role of the “in-between”, she brings up a lot of other interesting thoughts through her own idealism and place of within the dominant social discourses of this time period. Maude is the bright side of the death care industry, where the people who have found peace within their knowledge of their options for death reside. The main message in Maude’s personality is the same as the creed she follows, When Harold asks Maude why she acts certain ways and does certain things, she explains to him that she is acting as a general reminder to people that they may not be there tomorrow so they shouldn’t get attached to things. This belief is often shared by professionals in the death care industry who work in ways that are directed toward the families and the well-being of loved ones who have recently lost. I may be incorrect about what each of these characters represent, but I know that each of the ideas that come forth from this movie are worth taking a look at no matter what character brings it up.

xc - COTD3
Bodies Exhibit

1 or 2 years ago I visited the Bodies exhibit with my grandmother. I remember this experience very well because it had a large effect on me and I find it really interesting how I was not aware that this exhibit was made from preserved human bodies. Now that I am aware of this crucial piece of information, I see the exhibit in a new, more gruesome light that makes me wonder if donating your body to science is really a smart idea if people are being exposed in this way for tons of people to see. I understand the educational value as well as the “coolness factor” of seeing the inside of real human bodies, but I feel like it isn’t very different from the victims of war who are displayed to teach a lesson to others. I know it’s a bit of a far-fetched comparison but each one does the same thing, just for different reasons. When I first entered the exhibit I remember thinking how boring it would be because I was going to be learning, shortly after I found myself emerged in this incredible world that is inside my body! I remember being so psyched about what I learned that I made my grandmother buy me a life-size model of a human skull with hinged jaws. Seeing something like this exhibit is extraordinary because it gives you a sense of reality and it shows what complicated creatures we are. The only negative aspect of this exhibit is what I mentioned before, and I believe that the educational value of this exhibit would not decrease if the models were replicas of the human body and not actual bodies.

HW#53

Précis 1: Hospice vs. Hospital

Directed toward the much needed change medical practice, this article attempts to capture the importance of how the system works now and how it should work. It does this through the use of data and statistics that demonstrate how patients most commonly choose the type of care that they feel benefits them the most; the patients are also informed of their options for when they pass away.

 Précis 2: Daily Life in the Business of Death

“Raised by the Dead” has rewarded Mr. Palmer in a very personal way. “This project has given me the chance to have more in-depth conversations with my dad and grandpa about what they do,” he said. “It has definitely brought us closer together. My dad is very proud of his business and what he does, so he enjoys being able to share that with other people.”

After declining to join the undertaking business at Palmer & Sons, Scott Palmer went on to create his project named “raising the dead”. In this project he jumps into the world of his father and brothers career. He often describes throughout the article that while it is a normal topic for him, “it is a very foreign and uncomfortable subject matter for most people.”

Précis 3: A Doctor at the Funeral

This article expresses the emotional state of doctors who lose their patients in the field even if it is not their fault. It often stresses the fact that it is a natural part of medicine and therefore is unavoidable for people in that profession but even so, every doctor has an encounter with this grisly part of healthcare.

The majority of these articles (2&3) place emphasis on the view of death in the healthcare profession based on doctors and morticians opinions. The main reason for these P.O.V.s, I believe, is because they provide more insight from the actual people who undertake these processes, opposed to someone who is uneducated in the matter.

 

*Disclaimer* this interview is not my own because my town mortician was “not comfortable” with explaining his job for a course that he feels criticizes his line of work. However, I chose this interview from a website that contains pieces of scripts from a wide range of topics. I felt it fitting because it somewhat connects to the drama class while revealing some topics that are very important to me from this course.

Q: How did you become interested in this line of work?

A: I was born into. My father had a funeral home and granddad started it all.

Q: What sort of training do undertakers generally undergo?

A: It varies from place to place. In my case, I learned the basics by observing dad. Also, I've always been interested in biology. Some aspects of this job could be called 'scientific', but the most important thing we do is to comfort the living. They are the ones needing help: the dead are in God's hands.

Q: What do you enjoy most and least about this line of work?

A: There's a modicum of job security and steady supply of customers. Like least? You've got to be good at dealing with all sorts of people. Particularly in small towns, you haven't got much privacy. Also, you have to confront prejudice. Most people dislike what they don't understand and have warped ideas about morticians. Necrophiliacs or unduly morbid folks are rare in this profession. And conscientious morticians aren't swindlers either.

Q: Doesn't your work ever get to you?

A: I try to keep my work life and private lives separate. However, I can't help but feel a sense of waste with suicides - it's sad to realize how many don't value their own lives.

Q: How much does a typical funeral cost?

A: Think of it this way: a funeral should cost about as much as a wedding. It is similar to a wedding in some respects. Most people expect a funeral to cost a month's earnings or so. Often, however, when all things are factored in it comes closer to what most people earn in year. When I was younger I used to believe this was a huge waste of money. However, if it helps others honor folks dear to them, who can say whether that's a waste?

Q: How's the funeral business changing?

A: Several trends stand out. Cremation is becoming more widespread in many parts of the world. Also, large multinational funeral services are edging out smaller companies. Death is a profitable business and some large funeral services are now listed on stock exchanges. Finally, a backlash against this is emerging through the development of do-it-yourself funeral movements. That's good for the average consumer, but not for me.

Q: What advice do you have for persons looking for a funeral service?

A: First of all, it's good to do the groundwork in advance since we never really know when death will approach. Communicate your preferences to others. Get your memorial preferences down on paper, legally notarized if possible. Since prices for funeral services vary widely, those concerned about money should shop around.

The most interesting thing about this interview is how blunt it is about a topic that is uncomfortable for most. It also shows a side of morticians that no one really gets a chance to see because of the impression society has been giving people about those who take care of such rough situations. Aside from fleshing out this mortician’s personality throughout the text, the questions such as “Doesn't your work ever get to you?” hints towards the interviewer’s personality and goals for this interview.

HW#52

For the last third of grave matters, as I drew closer to the greenest of all options I began to focus more on the details of the personal effects of that these options have on the family. Backyard Burial (chapter 8) is a very pleasant and succinct throughout its description of burying the body of a family member in one’s own property such a family vacation spot or backyard. The natural cemetery (chapter 9) describes the form of burial in which the body is placed in the most simple and ecofriendly coffin without the use of chemicals, to ensure that the body goes through its natural decomposition cycle without posing a threat to the environment it is placed in.

v  “But her memory is there, my memory for her is there, and that is the last place we saw each other. For me, it's a comfort to have her close by"

v  "The casket is simply a vessel for another vessel that we're done with. There's no reason to get carried away"

Resembling the other books we have read in the “NiW” course I have gained a lot of new insight from grave matters. Although other books we have read affected the way I looked at each topic this book has changed the way I think about the care of the dead exceptionally. After reading this book and actually realizing and accepting that multi-billion dollar industries only want more money(even though we have been talking about that the whole time)I took the initiative to research the topic more and talk with some loved ones to get an idea of how they felt about the care if the dead and their preferences. Although it may sound odd I also spoke to my parents and proposed some ideas that I felt they might like. Despite it being a sour topic we were all relived to know that there was a sort of plan in case of any death occurring in the future.

HW#50

In Grave matters I decided to make an example out of the “American way” of dealing with the process of caring for the dead and expose many different methods through which people can feel their wishes are more fulfilled.  Using real life stories as evidence for my arguments that include the preservation of the dead, prices for funeral care, etc. was the most effective way to portray the feelings of people who have experience with these situation as well as the feelings of professionals in the field. For the first few chapters I focus on the care of the body of Jenny Johnson who is a textbook example of how funeral directors usually take care of bodies and the process parents and family members alike must go through to have a “normal” funeral.

Quotes I enjoyed:

·         “… for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”

·         “Whatever solace a funeral director can offer bereaved families comes less from grief counseling than from the ritual of a well-run funeral service…”

·         “Under his careful hand, the young girl now looks at rest. In her gentle repose is the “memory picture” he wants her family to leave with, the lasting illusion of a beautiful girl who has slipped away quietly, peacefully off to sleep.”

·         “The last line of defense against mother nature.”

Upon receiving this book I was skeptical regarding how I would feel about reading a book that is primarily about death. As I began reading I was immediately interested in the world that lives within death. Hearing about death from an author who has taken the time to thoroughly research it is inspirational because it shows the determination of others to uncover the truth behind this industrialized process that we call death.  

HW#46

Instead of focusing solely on the care of the dead I would like to look in deeper into the process of taking care of the body after death and how that has changed overtime. I am really keen on learning about this specific process because of a movie I recently saw that was titled After.Life; aside from the movie being a cheesy drama about a woman who is dead but thinks she’s alive, the more interesting character is the mortician who has undertaken the job of preparing her for her funeral and getting her through her own process of believing that she is dead and accepting it. The idea of the dead accepting their own death is rarely something you hear about because the focus is put mainly on the deceased’s family and their grieving process. A look at religion and how each religion views this would be interesting. The next most interesting topic to me about the care of the dead is how to “dispose” of the corpse. As far as I know there are two main options which are burial, and incineration (after which the ashes can be given to the family or taken to a location chosen by the deceased.

Þ    More about the psychology behind grieving

Þ    What happens when we die? ( based on diff. religions)

Þ    Costs to care for the dead

HW#45

Comments to Johnny and Amon’s comments

I do agree with you both that my project has a lot of opinionated statements and I feel that to make it more legitimate and factual I should include more sources that prove my points. Another interesting thing that I could have done is include an interview with a doula that I was trying to contact to give a point of view from a person who is dealing with natural births and doctors everyday.

Thank you for your comments.

HW#44

Comments I wrote:

Johnny,

Based off of what I read in your project, I now have a much clearer idea of the two most commonly chosen options within the circle of pregnant women and couples seeking premarital adoption. The way your project was worded was very interesting to me; unlike most other projects who sought to get the same idea across, yours was very factual and had a lot of gritty remarks in it such as “This is shocking to me because I would think that the mother after dealing with the 9 months of labor and actually giving birth all by themselves would leave them wanting a companion, but as statistics show the woman actually don’t want to deal with there baby.” I would hope to see a more organized version of your project in the future that more clearly defines the different choices, benefits and cons of abortion or premarital adoption.

Amon,

Your project about the increasingly controversial topic of abortion really affected the way I look at it especially since I have not taken the time to learn about abortion more in depth than we have in class. Your focus on Thailand is especially interesting to me because it taught me about a side of abortion that is very different from the U.S. I am specifically referring to the difference in treatment of the woman in modern culture and the liberties that they are given or denied.  In a way I feel that the situation in Thailand is of great value to the U.S. because it shows how advanced and liberated we can be when it comes to making life changing decisions such as abortion. An interesting line from your project that made me think about what changes we can make to improve upon our system and possibly help others get on the right track is, “The abortion laws in Thailand are very strict, where legally it is still not allowed unless the situation threatens the physical and mental health of the woman.” Upon reading your project I wished to continue reading more but it came to an end. Your project is full of thought provoking ideas and facts that can really affect the mindset of a pregnant woman possibly thinking of getting an abortion.

Comments I received:

Amon   said...

Based off your paper, I can see that you are strongly supporting natural births. Unlike hospitals, doulas promote the mental stability and confidence which provides the birth mother with a calming atmosphere. I especially felt that your criticism concerning the false statistical evidence on home birth mortality rates evidently demonstrated the biased opinion of health officials.
I decided to read your assignment since I was originally planning on covering this topic. Though it was not the same essential question, I was interested in how significant of a role doulas are in giving birth, as well as the distinction between doulas and midwives. 
If possible, I would like to see a more well organized description on the process that doulas follow, rather than the promotion of natural birth. I also found some terms such as breech baby that could have been clarified for further knowledge on the topic. 
Overall I found the topic to be significant for coming generations who can benefit from being educated of alternative birth methods.
As you say, "Doulas are the real deal

Johnny P said...

I too like you want to see more doctors working hand in hand with the midwives and doulas in a more equal way. In my opinion i think midwives ans doulas are more important because unlike most doctors the doulas and midwives actually care about their patients. 
I valued how you use evidence to get you to your next point. i also valued how you made everything clear to let the reader know what points you made and what point you are trying to get across. 
This project matters to me because I wanted to have someone thoughts to compare to on this topic and i basically agree with everything you said here. I liked this paper and the only piece of advice i have is,i would only add 
more about what you think on this subject.

HW#42

Doula: labor coach: an assistant who offers support for a woman in labor by encouraging her to use techniques learned in childbirth-preparation classes.

           A doula’s position is to be at the woman’s side during her birth process. Aside from giving her continuous care from a physical and emotional standpoint, the Doula is medically trained to assist pregnant women should anything go wrong. Much like a midwife, the Doula provides a peaceful environment with no stress. The only difference is that the midwife is much better suited to fix medical problems that can occur during the birth. The Doula’s main concern is the woman and giving her what she wants. The Doula’s main tool is his/her ability to stay calm even in the tensest situations which is why they prove to be so valuable to the pregnant women.

          Over the course of history while women have become more independent, they have also been losing connection with their family and the bond that it formed between its members when they pass though a situation such as birth, together. The Doula’s job was first the simple idea of what a mother or sister or any close relative did when assisting the birthing mother. Over time this idea formed into a job position that some women could fill although not in the exact same way a person related to you could. As women began to be encouraged to make decisions they also decided to take the necessary precautions to assure that their child would be born the way they wanted to without any real danger. The importance of this job especially stands out today because of the increasing number of teenage pregnancies and single mothers that like any woman want a natural childbirth without unnecessary risks.

           Prime examples include nearly every result from a Google search on Doula’s and the experience that most of these people have under their belts is more than impressive and allows for a wide range of choice when a mother to be is faced with a decision. Taking a look at the first few results from a search it became immediatlly obvious that Doula’s have become just as important to some as doctors or OB/GYN’s and a lot of people have begun to notice. DONA International is a website dedicated to giving pregnant women information on Doulas with links to other web pages that allow the women to find a doula or consider becoming one. On this one site, there are links to every possible website with anything that has to do with Doula’s to avoid women having questions or worries. Aside from these links the website also has news articles related to homebirths and advances in medicine to update the reader on the latest news. Doula.com shows the basic in’s and out’s of hiring doula’s, the price ranges and other pages relating to doula’s and natural birth. The 3rd website (that to me is the most important) is a directory of all the Doulas in my general area with one general directory for each state. The importance of this website comes not only from its educational value but also from the help that it provides to women that would be otherwise oblivious to this “theory” of natural birth, midwives and doula’s. More specific websites are only about single Doulas such as www.doulaura.com. This website caught my attention and stood out to me like no other did because it helped me realize that being a doula is more a way of life than a way to make money. Laura Gigantino, the Doula that is being advertised tells her story and explains the reason why she became a doula. The more I read, the more I became convinced that she is a real person and how honest she was being to her audience. To make herself pop out a little more, she broke away from the traditional presentation of the straight facts such as her work experiences and went on a more personal note that more readers can relate to.

     Aside from this one example, there were pages upon pages of information on doula’s as well as actual doula’s for hire. Over the course of finding my sources and proof that doula’s are very helpful, I learned from looking at the results that doula’s are the real deal and many people are beginning to find it to be common place for a smart woman to seek for a midwife or a doula to assist her in birth. Along with many positive websites, I came across a handful of websites that took aim at the profession and attempted to make points that where either invalid or not supported by enough evidence. One of the most commonly talked about issues is the infant mortality rate and how having a homebirth (most common setting for a midwife or doula) can be a danger for the child and mothers life. The reason why this is not an accurate statement is because of the obvious contradictions with data that has disproved this theory. More of the ideas posed by these websites can simply be dismissed using common sense. Does it really make sense that a woman can be safe going to a hospital with the level of stress doctors put them through and the unavoidable Cesarean section? Having a birth at home rarely results in a visit to the hospital because the mood is incredibly different and there is practically no reason for a woman to need a c-section, unless the baby is too big or it is a breech baby.

       All of those failed attempts at bringing down the vocation only accentuate its growing strength amongst pregnant women and women planning on having children and how truly safe it is to have someone assisting you throughout your process. Over time I hope to see midwives and doulas become a more common thing as they are beginning to now and I hope to see each profession mix with medicine in a more equal way, such as doctors working hand in hand with the midwives and doulas.

HW#43

Doula: labor coach: an assistant who offers support for a woman in labor by encouraging her to use techniques learned in childbirth-preparation classes.

           A doula’s position is to be at the woman’s side during her birth process. Aside from giving her continuous care from a physical and emotional standpoint, the Doula is medically trained to assist pregnant women should anything go wrong. Much like a midwife, the Doula provides a peaceful environment with no stress. The only difference is that the midwife is much better suited to fix medical problems that can occur during the birth. The Doula’s main concern is the woman and giving her what she wants. The Doula’s main tool is his/her ability to stay calm even in the tensest situations which is why they prove to be so valuable to the pregnant women.

          Over the course of history while women have become more independent, they have also been losing connection with their family and the bond that it formed between its members when they pass though a situation such as birth, together. The Doula’s job was first the simple idea of what a mother or sister or any close relative did when assisting the birthing mother. Over time this idea formed into a job position that some women could fill although not in the exact same way a person related to you could. As women began to be encouraged to make decisions they also decided to take the necessary precautions to assure that their child would be born the way they wanted to without any real danger. The importance of this job especially stands out today because of the increasing number of teenage pregnancies and single mothers that like any woman want a natural childbirth without unnecessary risks.

           Prime examples include nearly every result from a Google search on Doula’s and the experience that most of these people have under their belts is more than impressive and allows for a wide range of choice when a mother to be is faced with a decision. Taking a look at the first few results from a search it became immediatlly obvious that Doula’s have become just as important to some as doctors or OB/GYN’s and a lot of people have begun to notice. DONA International is a website dedicated to giving pregnant women information on Doulas with links to other web pages that allow the women to find a doula or consider becoming one. On this one site, there are links to every possible website with anything that has to do with Doula’s to avoid women having questions or worries. Aside from these links the website also has news articles related to homebirths and advances in medicine to update the reader on the latest news. Doula.com shows the basic in’s and out’s of hiring doula’s, the price ranges and other pages relating to doula’s and natural birth. The 3rd website (that to me is the most important) is a directory of all the Doulas in my general area with one general directory for each state. The importance of this website comes not only from its educational value but also from the help that it provides to women that would be otherwise oblivious to this “theory” of natural birth, midwives and doula’s. More specific websites are only about single Doulas such as www.doulaura.com. This website caught my attention and stood out to me like no other did because it helped me realize that being a doula is more a way of life than a way to make money. Laura Gigantino, the Doula that is being advertised tells her story and explains the reason why she became a doula. The more I read, the more I became convinced that she is a real person and how honest she was being to her audience. To make herself pop out a little more, she broke away from the traditional presentation of straight facts such as her work experiences and went on a more personal note that more readers can relate to.          

           

HW#41

http://www.intuitivedoula.com/?gclid=CLDSspbO-acCFUvd4AodWmNKsA

Intuitive Doula is a website where you can apply to take doula training sessions. After taking this course you can contact Carla Stange, a registered midwife to become a doula in association with her self and Marilyn Lemos, a certified childbirth educator and birth assistant with a BA in Psychology. On her website she gives a definition of what a doula does and what the job entails. “A doula offers continuous presence and emotional care, comfort measures and an understanding of the laboring woman's desires for her birth. Beside her partner there may be no other person to provide a continuous presence, and the doula, unlike a doctor, a nurse, or a midwife, has no other obligation during labor other than the woman in labor. A doula's ability to remain calm and objective may prove invaluable.”

http://www.doulaura.com/About_Laura.html

This website includes a short autobiography of Laura Gigantino, a certified Doula. She begins by giving her background story and the reason why she became a Doula. “When I was thirteen, I helped a family friend with her newborn while she worked from home part time. I loved spending time with the baby, watching him grow and learning all the little joys of infancy. The same friend became pregnant two more times in the next few years. I continued to spend a lot of my time with her and her growing family and felt honored to be a part of such an amazing thing - the family unit! Observing all of the smiles, tears, ups and downs made me realize how amazing life is. This wonderful experience, among others, sparked my interest in human and family development.”

http://www.dona.org/mothers/index.php

What is a doula?

The word "doula" comes from the ancient Greek meaning "a woman who serves" and is now used to refer to a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after birth; or who provides emotional and practical support during the postpartum period.
Studies have shown that when doulas attend birth, labors are shorter with fewer complications, babies are healthier and they breastfeed more easily.
A Birth Doula

·                            Recognizes birth as a key experience the mother will remember all her life

·                            Understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor

·                            Assists the woman in preparing for and carrying out her plans for birth

·                            Stays with the woman throughout the labor

·                            Provides emotional support, physical comfort measures and an objective viewpoint, as well as helping the woman get the information she needs to make informed decision

·                            Facilitates communication between the laboring woman, her partner and her clinical care providers

·                            Perceives her role as nurturing and protecting the woman's memory of the birth experience

·                            Allows the woman's partner to participate at his/her comfort level

A birth doula certified by DONA International is designated by the initials CD(DONA).
Research evidence shows that the quality services of a postpartum doula can ease the transition that comes with the addition of a baby to a family, improve parental satisfaction and reduce the risk of mood disorders.
A Postpartum Doula

·                            Offers education, companionship and nonjudgmental support during the postpartum fourth trimester

·                            Assists with newborn care, family adjustment, meal preparation and light household tidying

·                            Offers evidence-based information on infant feeding, emotional and physical recovery from birth, infant soothing and coping skills for new parents and makes appropriate referrals when necessary

http://www.americanpregnancy.org/labornbirth/havingadoula.html

What are the benefits of having a doula?

Numerous studies have revealed the benefits of having a doula present during labor. A recent Cochrane Review, Continuous Support for Women During Childbirth, revealed a very high number of positive birth outcomes when a doula was present. When a doula was present, women were less likely to have pain relief medications administered, less likely to have a cesarean birth, and reported having a more positive childbirth experience¹. Find a Doula Now.

Other studies have shown that having a doula as part of the birth team decreases the overall cesarean rate by 50%, the length of labor by 25%, the use of oxytocin by 40% and the request for an epidural by 60%².

Doulas often use the power of touch and massage to reduce stress and anxiety during labor. According to physicians Marshal Klaus and John Kennell, massage helps stimulate the production of natural oxytocin. The pituitary gland secretes natural oxytocin to the bloodstream which causes uterine contractions and also secretes it to the brain, which results in a feeling of well being, drowsiness and a raised pain threshold. Synthetic IV oxytocin cannot cross into the blood stream and brain, so it increases contractions without the positive psychological effects of natural oxytocin.

What about the father's role when using a doula?

The role of the doula is never to take the place of the husband or partner in labor, but to compliment and enhance their experience. Today, many husbands are taking a more active role in the birth process, but some partners feel that this is a huge expectation and would rather be able to enjoy the delivery without having to stand in as labor coach. With a doula as a part of the birth team, a father can do whatever he feels comfortable with at each moment. Doulas can encourage the father to use comfort measures and can step in when he needs a break. Having a doula allows the father to be able to support his partner emotionally during labor and birth and also enjoy it himself without the pressure to remember everything he learned in childbirth class!

Are doulas only useful if planning an un-medicated birth?

The presence of a doula can be beneficial no matter what type of birth you are planning. Many women do report needing fewer interventions when they have a doula, but the role of the doula is to help you have a safe and pleasant birth, not to choose your type of birth. For women who know they want a medicated birth, the doula still provides emotional support, informational support and comfort measures to help the women through labor and the administration of medications. Doulas can work alongside medication by helping mom deal with possible side effects and filling in the gap that medication may not cover; rarely does medication take all discomfort away.

For a mother who faces a cesarean, a doula can be helpful by providing constant support and encouragement. Often a cesarean is an unexpected situation and moms are left feeling unprepared, disappointed and lonely. A doula can be with the mother at all times throughout a cesarean, explaining what is going on throughout the procedure while the partner is able to attend to the baby and accompany the newborn to the nursery if problems arise.

HW#40

Hello Ms. Vincent it is nice to meet you! Let me just say thank you for writing Baby Catcher. Your main idea formed as a result of all your personal experiences made me truly believe that first-time moms as well as women who have had children before can in fact have a calm, natural childbirth without the need for unnecessary interventions or use of unprincipled methods. Hearing this new refreshing theory on birth after believing my whole life that birth was horrible and painful made rethink how I feel about our medical system and what drives them to make certain decisions.

"Really, which parts were most effective or important for you?"

In the last third of your book I understand that you were beginning to bring together all your ideas and insights presented earlier to culminate into the big idea that birth can in fact be natural which connected back to the first two thirds of your book by restating the main idea you want to reader to understand by using personal experiences. More specifically the most important parts of your book for me (although it was all very interesting and educational) were the parts where you mentioned your own births and decisions you made through your birth process. The concept of spirit babies resounds with me even now and throughout your whole book from the point you mentioned it on approx. page 140-150. On page 260 when you learned that you were being sued I felt the other side of midwifery where things can actually be dangerous and midwifes are putting themselves at risk when they take responsibility for the birth of a child.

But what could I have done to make this a better book - that would more effectively fulfill its mission?"

I honestly feel as if this book was perfect because it definitely succeeded in getting its point across and if I enjoyed it I can only imagine how great it must be for a woman who is expecting or a woman who is planning to get pregnant to read this fresh book and be able to gain a new perspective. If you were to add anything else I would ask for more statistics that blend well with your experiences with your clients or with your time working as a nurse. I understand that your style of writing focuses on narratives from the perspective of a midwife but I think that including data to support your experiences can help your book reach out to a wider variety of readers that are looking for a educational book that is also fun book." The author

"Thanks! Talking to you gives me hope about our future as a society!"

“I know! If only there were more people like me!”

HW#39

Vincent, Peggy. Baby Catcher- chronicles of a modern midwife. Scribner Edition. 1. New York, NY: Scribner, 2003. 110,112,125,149. Print.

(Vincent 110) At this point Hallie begins to give birth and Peggy describes the process of determining whether the baby’s umbilical cord is wrapped around its body and a physical description of this process and how it felt.

(Vincent 112) When Janelle is introduced, Peggy recollects when they met and the fact that Janelle is a “Christian Scientist”. Through this introduction I learned about the Christian Science Church and their policies regarding childbirth and Midwifery.

(Vincent 125) The idea introduced by Colin regarding “Spirit babies” Stuck me as particularly interesting because someone in my family went through the same experience of losing a child although it was much farther along.

(Vincent 149) Building off of the idea of “Spirit babies” Tammy’s Experience is much like the story of my family member who went through the same. I won’t ever be able to imagine how a mother or father must feel losing a child even if they look at it from Colin’s perspective

The major insight the second hundred pages of Baby Catcher tries to get across is the importance of the relationship between children and the mother during the pregnancy. Each of the stories that Peggy tells the reader relate to each other because they all have to do with mothers who have children and how they deal with being pregnant and ultimately the birth. I enjoy reading through the process that each of these mothers went through including Peggy because I went through this process (but from a different perspective). I remember never wanting a sibling and gradually changing how I felt about my parents having a child as I grew older. But to now think of it from my mother and father’s perspective as they consciously prepared me for a sibling is nothing short of amazing.

HW#38

The main method of organization in this book is fairly simple but complicated in the sense that it does each thing for a very specific reason. Each short chapter (kept short to maintain the flow of ideas and keep the attention of the reader) is usually limited to a personal experience of the author with birth and sometimes the experience of another person she was not involved with. After each of these short stories, she analyzes her experience and gives the reader some insight or knowledge she gained from each occurrence. The majority of the book is geared toward asking and answering the question, “Why do we treat birth in such odd ways?” and “How can we change that?” So far I am still not too sure how I feel about the way we treat birth, but I am sure that we need to update our methods. A few things that I agree on with the author include the idea that childhood should be natural although painful instead of completely drugging the mother to the point they are asleep the whole time. The inclusion of men during childbirth is also a touchy subject but I personally believe that their presence is necessary but not up to the point of practically helping the midwife or doctor. Aside from these thoughts about the actual process of birth, I believe that the company and help from a midwife with personal experience is essential throughout the pregnancy to assist the mother-to-be. The major insight of this book is about challenging the dominant social discourse on birth and analyzing the reasons why we treat it certain ways and how that has evolved or will evolve in future. I feel as if all the evidence the author uses is based on her personal experience wand how she feels about what happened. In a way, this type of raw evidence straight from the source is an element of understanding the key idea she is trying to get across. 

HW#37 Comments

Comments for Rigel:

The clearest and most focused on idea in your blog is that of the connection between the mother and child, inside and out of the womb. I specifically found this idea to be very thought provoking because is made me muse about how my mother or my other relatives felt during pregnancy; specifically whether they felt a connection like each of mothers you interviewed. This post has driven me to look up studies on the scientific definition on this “connection” between mother and child and whether or not a actual psychological connection exists

Comments for Kristin:

I think that the distinction between wanting a child and not really wanting one is essential in understanding the way the child is raised and how it will grow up. The fact that you mentioned how your uncle and the doctor were watching basketball instead of paying 100% attention to your aunt is an interesting idea to introduce because of how it puts the difference between gender roles into context. I also began to wonder how gender roles during pregnancy have evolved over time.

Comments for Anthony:

I like how you talk about the physical and emotional toll that pregnancy can take on a couple no matter what age as wells the situations you proposed to the interviewee’s. I wonder what influences a mother’s reaction to pregnancy and if it should be considered an emotional reaction to the pregnancy or if it should be looked at as a process of nature despite they unorthodox way it works.

Anthony said...

Felipe I enjoyed reading your post because I talked to my mom about her pregnancy right now and it really compares to your mothers. I’m 15 years apart from my brother so I definitely feel your sister's pain. It was good to see that you took the extra step and wanted to research and ask a different question after your interview with your mom.

amandap said...

My favorite line was "we came to the conclusion that we would both like to have a child and raise him/her the way we would have liked to have been raised.” This for me gave me an alternative point of view for why people have babies. In this case it was to make up for the kind of parenting your parents wish they had had growing up. I liked how you used direct quotes to answer each question and added personal thoughts after the quotes, so basically i liked the format, because it allowed me to see the exact wording your mother used.

Nice work, Amanda

HW#36

Interview w/ Liliana Fuertes (my mother)

1. How did pregnancy affect you physically, emotionally, or in other ways?

“In many ways my pregnancy was like any other with the exception of the feeling I had that it was my own child, “my own flesh and blood.” I felt just as much pain as any other normal pregnancy but felt the need to the epidural to numb the pain. At that point I was kind of scared of what the epidural might make me feel or what side affects it could have but I had to because of that extreme pain. Emotionally the pregnancy did not affect me at all like other mothers who suffer from postpartum depression. After the birth all I could think about was the pain I felt up until the shot and was baffled at how our bodies can withstand such intense pain.”

-Personal thoughts: The first thought bubble that pops up when I think about birth is the pain that comes with it, mostly for the mother. The idea alone of a human coming out of another human through a relatively tiny hole is something straight out of a sci-fi movie which is why I don’t think we’ll ever understand how we evolved to give birth in such an inefficient way.

2. What did you do, while pregnant, to prepare for giving birth?

“While I was getting ready to give birth I took many, many vitamins that helped keep me healthy as well as you while in the stomach. I also ate whenever I was hungry to avoid getting headaches or feeling sick because of a lack of nutrition. Besides these common occurrences I also did some yoga to help alleviate the back pains and movement of the baby in my stomach.”

3. What thoughts and feelings influenced your choice to make a baby?

“I never had an ideal childhood because of my relationship to my parents so when I was with your father for a long time, we both realized that we had that in common. Through this conversation we came to the conclusion that we would both like to have a child and raise him/her the way we would have liked to have been raised.”

4. When you learned of your pregnancy with my sister what thoughts went through your head?

“I never stressed out about my pregnancy with your sister but I did at times worry about the age gap because you were 13 at the time and you two would grow up in two different times. Later on in the pregnancy I was terrorized by thoughts of your sister being sick because of the tests that the doctors had to conduct to make sure she was okay. At first it was the test to make sure your sister would not have Down syndrome which probably affected me the most because I couldn’t even sleep or eat while waiting for the results; then came the worry about having to get a c-section because she was not facing the correct way for birth.”

-Personal thoughts: Hearing this story after having been there for the entire pregnancy was surreal because of the worry and pain I remember feeling in the air. When asking this question I felt reluctant because I wasn’t sure how my mother would react to it although my sister came out fine.

New Question: How does postpartum depression work and who does it affect the most?

HW#35

Notes for Interview w/ Devin

-Why are women pregnant for 9 months?

Ans: Babies take 9 months to fully develop and be ready for delivery

(Although that doesn’t completely answer the question of why we evolved to be born in 9 months)

-Why did we develop in such a weird way that doesn’t prevent pain or fatalities on both the mothers and the childs end?

Response: Who knows? Maybe at some point women started having the need to grow a human in their body and deliver it through a hole that isn’t big enough.

-We are lucky we aren’t other mammals

Response: we definitely are otherwise we wouldn’t be having this conversation although I haven’t seen an animal cry as loud as a woman does during birth. “Yes, of course. By its very nature, giving birth is a painful process. However, for most animals, it is not so painful and traumatic as it is for humans. Because of our large brains, we are born with unusually large heads, which is going to smart a bit on the way out. Also, our upright stance alters the shape of the pelvis and birth canal, meaning that the baby has to turn on its way out - most animals don't have this problem. Also, animals do not advertise the fact that they are in pain by crying out during birth as humans do, since a newborn animal is very vulnerable to predation, as is a mother in the throes of birth and unable to run or defend herself - crying out would alert predators to her presence and distress, making herself and her young a target.”(Response from a zookeeper on yahoo answers to the question “Do Other Animals Feel Pain While Giving Birth, Like Humans (Females)?”)

-What are the chances?

Response: At this point of the conversation I asked myself “What are the chances that we, of the million different sperm contained by our father came to be instead of someone else?” Maybe we focus too much on appearance which is why we think to ourselves how can birth possibly be beautiful with all of the different liquids and discharge instead of looking at it as being beautiful and miraculous because of the one in a million chance that the baby emerging is a single sperm out of a million other possibilities.

-Why do women have cravings?

Ans: Because they are feeding themselves and the child

Follow up Question: But why do they ask for the weirdest things?

Ans: My mom says she used to eat corn cake with mayonnaise in the middle of the night and other foods that she never ate before or after the pregnancy. Some doctors say that hormonal shifts may intensify a woman sense of smell leading to different choices in food.