Melissa Joan Hart Part 1

Comment

Comment by Christine on November 11, 2010 at 7:50am

Oh, poor Melissa. I can relate. My first birth was like this. My son was late, didn't want to come, and they broke my water, the pitocin, epidural, episiotomy, vaccum, and threatening a C-section for me, too. It was a traumatic experience because I wanted a natural birth and I didn't know what options I had. They pushed me to induce, and I didn't realize what it would lead to.
God bless all the nurses who educate women on the implications of being induced.

Comment by Meegan Fast on October 22, 2009 at 5:58pm

This is exactly why after 2 hospital births, we chose the have the rest at home!! I am glad she is sharing her story. Bless her heart!
And thank you for making this possible for others to see!!

Comment by Chris D. on August 10, 2009 at 3:04pm

Hi,
I also worked in L&D for over 20 years and experienced women who said "Just induce me" without the slighest idea of what it entails.
You're correct, there does need to be an order for admission, IV and Pitocin, but many women don't have the same ideals as expressed in this forum - they view labor and birth as something to "get through" with as little inconvenience to their lives as possible. This has also led to a surge of "Cesarean on Demand".
We have done women a huge disfavor by selling them a bill of goods for a long time and removing the innate trust in the human body and the birthing process. Through discussions such as these and support of strong, educated women, we can move the pendulum back.
Unfortunately, women do "simply ask to be induced" and there are providers willing to give in to that request.
This isn't blaming women - it's what many know and have had exposure to through family, friends and the media.
Research demonstrates fewer interventions lead to fewer complications. The more we 'muck' with the process, the more problems we cause.
Thank you

Comment by Kate Althouse on August 10, 2009 at 10:48am

April May, I commend you on your approach to birth. However, to my knowledge, women do not simply ask to be induced--a doctor has to instruct the nurses to do it. Blaming women for interventions cannot be the answer here! My take on this: the issue lies more with a system (and the attitude) that birth is a unnatural process. A shift in approach is needed. It's also true that women need to take responsibility for their bodies and their babies and educate themselves. As far as I'm concerned, we're all responsible.

Comment by Elke Saunders on August 9, 2009 at 11:56pm

April May, I wish you and your collegues lived in our town. Your mamas are lucky to have you. Keep up the great work.

Comment by Aubree C1 on August 7, 2009 at 11:08am

I love the part where she said it all felt phony, since she wasn't really in labor. That's such a great way to describe it. I had a fairly medicalized first birth, with an IV, pitocin, epidural.... the doctor ALMOST cut an episiotomy, but I finally put my foot down (or would've if I could've felt it) and said no. Luckily I didn't tear (take that stupid doctor!), but it just wasn't at all what I had hoped for. My second was a home water birth, and SO much better (and oddly, less painful) than my first. My third will be at home as well, and I wish I could get more people to understand WHY to try for a natural birth.

Comment by April May on August 6, 2009 at 1:41pm

I feel for any woman who has gone through such an experience. However, as a labor and delivery nurse it is frustrating to have women beg to be induced because they're sick of being pregnant. Very few of these women have any idea about what they're asking for. I work in a small, low risk, unit and not one of the nurses I work with is eager to intervene in the birth process. We encourage un-medicated birth, however, more and more we're admitting Mom's at 38 weeks for elective induction. The nurse's hands are tied as we can't refuse to care for these women, but we are frequently seen as the enemy by patients and doulas. The nurses on my unit do this job because they believe that child birth is a natural, normal process. Please help us help you!

Comment by Michelle Rimmel-Maisonville on August 6, 2009 at 8:14am

My birth story was so similar, wth my first baby. Her poor son and his scalp, though. That much didn't happen to my daughter. She did have a huge almost blood blister looking thing on the front of her head (she was occiput posterior) that caused her so much pain she refused the breast. Thank goodness I learned from the experience and did way more research the second time around. It's just proof that interventions have a domino effect!!

Comment by Marie Kretzschmar on August 5, 2009 at 11:49pm

OMG! This is my exact story with my first in 08' minus the vacuum part...I am thinking the system is so messed up, now more than ever. I'm so glad I chose to birth my second baby AT HOME. What a healing experience it was for me and my husband.

Comment by Mollie Deitz on August 5, 2009 at 6:17pm

Wow. I feel so bad for her! My sister and I grew up watching her t.v. show and I've always liked her as an actress. I can't wait to hear how things went for her second baby.

Comment by Laura Robinson on August 5, 2009 at 5:19pm

It's funny how much women don't "really" talk about their true birthing experiences. In my gut, I kept thinking our business of birth wasn't right. I was so glad to see I wasn't alone in my view. I'm relieved that there are movements gaining strength to put the "humanity" back into birthing. I hope more celebrities keep sharing their experiences, good or bad, because that seems to be the only way Americans will take notice and show support. Thank you to those celebrities who already have helped out.

Comment by Cherry Tree Lane on August 5, 2009 at 3:13pm

I am already looking forward to hearing about this! Thanks for posting this!

Comment by Kim Ann Lorber on August 5, 2009 at 2:55pm

Wow, OMG, so glad she is telling her story. I hope other moms learn from her.