| Naomi Wolf's newest book, Misconceptions, is a | | | | and given the title, "The Patron Saint." It is obvious that |
| testament to her own experiences and prejudices | | | | Ms. Wolf is in awe of Gaskin, yet wasn't converted by |
| about childbirth. Ms. Wolf shares her own | | | | her to better educate herself and choose a less |
| culturally-learned fears about childbirth but fails to | | | | interventive childbirth. It is also apparent that Ms. Wolf |
| recognize that this is in response to 100 years of | | | | did not read the original Spiritual Midwifery book. If she |
| medical society propaganda. Although she has access | | | | had, she would have learned that Ina May wasn't |
| to research and studies documenting the safety of | | | | exactly "a self-taught, lay midwife" but that her earliest |
| homebirth and non-medical midwifery, she paints birth | | | | training had come from an obstetrician (who also |
| outside an institution as dangerous. She chose to give | | | | provided medication and instruments) and a local |
| birth with obstetricians in high risk hospitals and had | | | | physician who provided friendly back-up for years. She |
| cesareans both times. I think the book could have been | | | | also would have learned that the Farm clinic included a |
| more aptly titled, "(Misrepresentations) My Pain Phobia | | | | physician.It is curious that Ms. Wolf is intrigued by |
| and Justification for My Cesareans."I heard about this | | | | free-standing birth centers and offers them up as a |
| book through discussions on the internet which praised | | | | perfect choice for women. She is somehow under the |
| it for setting the record straight about childbirth. After | | | | impression that pain-relieving drugs are readily available |
| looking at the book myself, however, I have come to | | | | for those who give birth at these centers, yet her |
| an entirely different conclusion. It is simply another book, | | | | depiction of Elizabeth Seton indicates a transport to |
| written to justify the unwarranted use of medical | | | | the hospital for those who wish an epidural. How this is |
| intervention and sequelae, unnecessary cesareans, | | | | an improvement over one's own home is a mystery to |
| and excuse bad maternity care decisions. Instead of | | | | me. Perhaps it is her fascination with institutions? and |
| accurately depicting birthing choices in America, Ms. | | | | her phobia about pain?Complete Mother readers will |
| Wolf used this book as a vehicle to promote her own | | | | find her descriptions of breastfeeding revolting: |
| opinions and discredit traditional midwives, homebirth, | | | | "become someone's addiction." And quoting Sarah |
| full-time motherhood and ecological breastfeeding.Ms. | | | | Hardy, "once nursing begins, bondage is a perfectly |
| Wolf places great importance on the book "What to | | | | good description for the ensuing chain of events (and) |
| Expect When You're Expecting", as though this is | | | | lives on a mammary leash." How sad she didn't bother |
| some highly regarded research book or the childbirth | | | | to go to a Le Leche League meeting or meet |
| Bible. Sadly this book is written to promote the medical | | | | someone who was content breastfeeding. We can |
| model of care and justify the many interventions | | | | only guess that she probably was bottle fed, and |
| foisted upon women who choose to have hospital | | | | lacking the nurturing of being breastfed herself, is |
| births. She carefully goes through the many routine | | | | compensating by portraying breastfeeding in a dim |
| hospital procedures and explains the many risks and | | | | light.Her social programs which would improve the |
| few benefits of each, yet she apparently did not | | | | world basically abdicate parental responsibilities to the |
| believe her own research.Those who have fought for | | | | government. She wants paid extended maternity |
| years to eradicate the meaningless term "lay midwife" | | | | leave, tax deductions and benefits to relatives who |
| will immediately recognize Ms. Wolf's superficial | | | | come to help the new mothers, on-site day care and |
| understanding of birth attendants. Her repeated use of | | | | nurseries, lots of hospital support programs, hospital |
| this term is a clear indicator of her lack of research | | | | statistics disclosure, parentless playgrounds monitored |
| and knowledge of childbirth. I half expected to see the | | | | by "young people" so "an active, thoughtful mother, |
| terms "redskin" or "nigger" pop up during discussion | | | | father. (won't be) uncomfortable at the playground." |
| about minority statistics.She writes as a fact, | | | | Basically she wants the government to act as nanny |
| "homebirth is now as safe as hospital birth." Now as | | | | so she can get her work done. "Work" being |
| safe? It has always been at least as safe! An entire | | | | something far more important than caring for her |
| book, The Five Standards by David Stewart, gives | | | | children herself.Save yourself a few hours of |
| thousands of studies and statistics which conclude that | | | | frustration wading through this tripe. Instead, make a |
| homebirth is safer than hospital birth.I took great | | | | pot of raspberry leaf tea, give the older kids a fun |
| offense at her term, "Naturalists," (pages 182-186) to | | | | project to do, put your feet up and put baby to breast |
| describe anyone who would dare to promote or give | | | | and read the books she ignored: The Five Standards, |
| birth without high-technology. She explains that this | | | | Under the Apple Tree, The American Way of Birth, |
| option "has been presented as so rigid .with such | | | | Being Born, Birth at Home, Your Baby, Your Way, |
| extreme requirements of courage and faith. It was for | | | | Special Delivery, Labor Pains, Silent Knife, Malpractice: |
| that reason that my husband and I would not consider | | | | How Doctors Manipulate Women, Obstetric Myths |
| it as an option." I wonder, what research led her to this | | | | Versus Research Realities, Gentle Birth Choices and |
| conclusion? Judging from many comments which salt | | | | back-issues of The Compleat Mother |
| her book, it would seem she is her own source of | | | | Magazine.Rebecca Waters is the book reviewer for |
| "factual" information.Anyone who promoted birth | | | | The Compleat Mother Magazine - Rebecca is also a |
| without drugs is included in this Naturalist group and | | | | contributor to Nursing Programs Online at and to |
| portrayed as romanticizing the birthing event. Ina May | | | | Go-Law-School at Rebecca is also a mother of seven |
| Gaskin, however, is somehow exempt from this group | | | | and the wife of an interesting dude. |