Annotated Bibliography

Why Natural Childbirth? Citation

Lothian, Judith A. Why Natural Childbirth? The Journal of Perinatal Education 9.4 (2000) : 44-46.Web. 12 July 2012. Annotation: 100-150 words

This author effectively emphasized and promoted the fact that women are capable of having children on their own without the aid of obstetricians. She proved this by depicting the natural birthing process and the way that women naturally adjust themselves to give birth. The way that she emphasized the fact that women instinctively know how to give birth made me reconsider my views on natural childbirth. I have always believed that the best location to give birth is in a hospital, but she made me realize that the best location to give birth is where ever the expecting mother feels more comfortable giving birth. She tried to take a non-bias approach to the topic of giving birth, to be respectful of the readers views. However, her logical approach to giving birth naturally makes it almost impossible to disagree with her views. Quotes

With each contraction, pain sends a signal to the brain and oxytocin is released (Lothian 45). The video Born in the USA (2000) powerfully demonstrates the differences between natural birth and births that become complicated with the cascade of interventions. The women attended by midwives give birth confidently, finding comfort in many different ways, supported and encouraged by family, friends, and their midwife. In stark contrast, the women who give birth attended by physicians in a busy hospital find it difficult to find comfort without medication and appear pressured to give birth quickly. The cascade of interventions is dramatically and realistically presented. (Lothian 46) Women know how to give birth without machines, epidurals, and fear (Lothian 46). Evaluations

This source was worth my time. I feel as though the author had a great understanding of the topic. I say this because she has been working in a hospital teaching Lamaze classes for over ten years. She tried to deliver the information in an unbiased manner to ensure that the reader understood the pros and cons of the giving birth naturally vs. at a hospital. She definitely supported the idea of giving birth naturally, but she did not attempt to change your ideas. She just presented her views with reliable and accurate information.

The Business of Being Born Citation

The Business of Being Born. Dir. Abby Epstein. Perf. Ricki Lake, Abby Epstein. New Line Entertainment, Inc., 2008. DVD. Annotation: 100-150 words

This film was definitely in support of natural childbirth. Even some of the main obstetricians interviewed in this film were pro-natural births! The beginning of the film focused on showing the incredulousness still held in todays times towards midwives, but as the film progressed they strongly tried to emphasize the advantages of midwives. They made you feel as though the hospital is the worse place to be. Towards the end of the movie, I almost felt as though any woman who would prefer to have a child in the hospital would be out of their mind. Quotes

If you really want a humanized birth, the best thing to do is to get the hell out of the hospital (The Business of Being Born). Medical decisions are being made for monetary and legal reasons (The Business of Being Born). Designer birth, when you schedule your delivery, you know your c-section, you schedule your tummy tuck right after (The Business of Being Born). Very few doctors have observed a natural birth in medical school and in the hospital (The Business of Being Born). The United States is ranked poorly in terms of infant mortality (The Business of Being Born). Midwives were portrayed as a vestige of the old country (The Business of Being Born). There is clearly and association with induction of labor and cesarean section (The Business of Being Born). The lithotomic position is the most physiologically dysfunctional position ever invented for birth (The Business of Being Born). Evaluations

This movie is very emotional! I feel as though it was a little bit over the top. I agree with the fact that inductions and c-sections are not always the best alternatives, but the way that this director tried to prove her point was very dramatic. I did appreciate the fact that the film had a wide variety of characters who provided different viewpoints; although, most of the viewpoints were the in support of natural childbirth. I believe that the use of various characters allowed me to get a broader perspective on this topic. I also liked the way that they provided childbirth facts about other nations around the world. This helped me realize that we are the only nation that is

dependent on doctors. Since the rest of the world still relies heavily on midwives. I am glad that I found this source because it will provide some great insight into this topic.

Inducing Labor Citation

Inducing Labor. American Pregnancy Association. American Pregnancy Association, 2007. Web. 12 July 2012. Annotation: 100-150 words

This author made it clear that inductions are necessary for medical reasons. They pointed out that many are now choosing to use induction methods to give birth as a convenience method. She gave a list of the medications used in inductions along with their advantages and disadvantages, and the way these medications are used. The author did not entirely state their stance because this article is an informative article; they only stated what the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologist (ACOG) recommended. Since this site is from the American Pregnancy Association and because this site is an educational site that used information from The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologist, I trust that the information is reliable. Quotes

However, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologist (ACOG) labor should be induced only when it is more risky for the baby to remain inside the mothers uterus than to be born (American Pregnancy Association). Pitocin and Syntocinon are brand name medications that are forms of oxytocin that can be given through an IV at low doses to stimulate contractions (American Pregnancy Association). Nipple stimulation is a natural form of labor induction that can be done manually or with an electronic breastfeeding pump (American Pregnancy Association). Oxytocin can initiate labor which might not have stated on its own and it can speed the pace of labor (American Pregnancy Association). Evaluations

This article provided me with valuable information about the advantages and disadvantages of induced labor. It also helped me better understand when labors should be induced. I also learned about the advantages and disadvantages of induction medication. What I enjoyed most about this source is that it provided me with natural ways to induce labor. I never expected that there were natural methods to induce labor! I believe this source is reliable and it was worth my time especially because it used information from The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologist.

Pitocin FAQ Citation

Pitocin FAQ. Childbirth.org. Childbirth.org. 1996-1998. Web. 12 July 2012. Annotation: 100-150 words

This author made it clear that Pitocin maybe beneficial to use to aid in the delivery of a baby. However, they made it clear that Pitocin tends to be use even when it is not really necessary. They seemed to focus more on the negative consequences of using Pitocin. For example, they raised the question Does Pitocin ever help? and answered it with Pitocin helps in about 5% of the cases, but only after safer alternatives have been tried and failed. They focused on pointing out alternatives to Pitocin. Such as walking, nipple stimulation, and even intercourse. However, regardless of their biases they seemed to know what they were talking about because much of what I read coincided with the rest of the information I have seen in other articles about Pitocin. In addition, they did attempt to give some of the advantages of Pitocin. Quotes

Pitocin is the synthetic form of oxytocin (Pitocin FAQ). Pitocin is generally used in two ways: 1) to induce labor, and 2) to augment (speed up) labor (Pitocin FAQ). We have also witness that pitocin can be the beginning domino in the domino effect. The IV, the infusion pump, and the continuous monitoring will confine most mothers to bed, decreasing her ability to deal with the contractions naturally. With the more painful contractions a mother is more likely to need pain medication, such as an epidural anesthesia (Pitocin FAQ). About 80% of women who have had pitocin say that there is more pain with pitocin than without (Pitocin FAQ). Evaluations

This article provided me with valuable information about the disadvantages of Pitocin. It also helped me better understand the need to avoid the use of Pitocin. I feel more persuaded to avoid the use of Pitocin at any cost. In fact, if I ever have children I would like to have natural childbirths instead of hospitalized births. Even though this source was bias towards the use of Pitocin, I believe that the information it presented is reliable. I say this because I have found the same statements and facts in other documents, which speak about Pitocin.

Born in the U.S.A. Citation

Born in the U.S.A. Dir. Ken Schneider and Marcia Jarmel. Perf. N.perf. PatchWorks Productions, 2007. DVD. Annotation: 100-150 words

The obstetrician in this movie who seemed to be the main character tried to provide the advantages and disadvantages of natural and hospital childbirths. The fact that she is an obstetrician, lead her to support the use of medication in hospitals. She tried to be as unbiased as possible, but as she stated, her job is to try and prevent risk, and in her situation the best alternative is medication. However, the midwife in this movie tried to provide a different alternative. Her main point was that women should give birth wherever they feel the safest. She also stated that it was only logical that a surgeon (obstetrician) would resort to operations and medications even when they were unnecessary. Both of these viewpoints are quite logical. I felt as though they enabled me to formulate an informed decision as to where to give birth to a child because they effectively provided me with the pros and cons of each option. Quotes

Birth is often portrayed as agonizing, life threatening, and far from a normal event (Born in the U.S.A.). Birth became a medical condition (Born in the U.S.A.). In the US unlike other western countries, midwives were virtually banned (Born in the U.S.A.). It is easier to monitor two patients standing outside the room (Born in the U.S.A.). After continuous fetal monitoring systems were introduced c-sections rates went up quite dramatically (Born in the U.S.A.). The legal considerations influence the way that we practice medicine (Born in the U.S.A.). One intervention tends to lead to another intervention (Born in the U.S.A.). Evaluations

After watching this film I am more convinced than ever that I want to have a natural childbirth. However, I agree with the midwife, in her stance that the best location to have a child is where ever the mother feels the safest. I think that a mother, who is not at high-risk should consider using a midwife. I feel as though a natural childbirth would empower a woman more. As the movie stated the fact that doctors and nurses are telling you what to do and pushing you to follow their recommendations that seem to be orders at times, is very controlling. I would not want to be one of those women who are almost forced to use medication simply because the obstetricians are not willing to wait by their bedside until they are actually ready to give birth.

Synthesis WhenIfirstbegantoquestionwherethebestlocationwastogivebirthIwas completelylost.Ihadnevergivenmuchthoughttothisquestion.Ialwaysassumedthatthe hospitalwastheonlyplace.However,afterseeingthefilms,TheBusinessofBeingBorn,and MadeintheU.S.A.myviewonthistopicbegantodevelop.ThroughmoreresearchIbegan todiscoverthevariousmethodsofgivingbirth,suchas:inductions,naturalchildbirths withmidwives,andcesareansections.AfterthisIwasabletodevelopamoreinformed opinionaboutthistopic. ThearticlePitocinFAQmademecringeattheideaofusingPitocintoinducelabor. Especially,afterIhadjustreadthearticle,Whynaturalchildbirth?Isaythisbecausethis articlemadeitclearthatthepainawomanfeelsisdealtwithnaturallythroughoxytocin, whichisnaturallyproducedbyawomansbodyduringchildbirth.JustwhenIthoughtIhad everythingIneededtomakeadecisionaboutthebestlocationtogivebirthIcameacross thearticleInductionbytheAmericanPregnancyAssociation,whichstatedthatthereare naturalwaystoinducechildbirth!Thisarticlesealedmyviewsonthistopic. Currently,Ifeelconfidentthatthebestlocationtohaveachildiswhereeverthe expectingmotherfeelsmorecomfortable.ThroughmyresearchIamalmostonehundred percentcertainthatIwouldpersonallyprefertohaveanaturalchildbirth.TheBusinessof BeingBornandMadeintheU.S.A.werethemainreasonIdecidedthis.Bothofthesefilms reallyportrayedtheadvantagesofhavinganaturalchildbirth.TheshowedmethatifI wantedtoenjoymychildbearingmomentswithoutbeingpushedandshovedtofita doctorsscheduleIwouldhavetotakethepainandgivebirthwithoutmedication. Idohaveoneortwodoubtsstill.ToeliminatethesedoubtsIwanttodoalittlemore researchaboutmidwives.AllofthesourcesthatIusedintheannotatedbibliographydida spectacularjobinbroadeningmyknowledgeabouttheprosandconsofhospitals.Forthe mostpartmysourcesallsharedthesameviewsintermsofthefactthathospitalstendto beunnecessarywhenwomenarenotathighrisk.Theyalsosharedthesameviewsin termsofthefactthathospitalsincreasethepossibilitiesofwomenhavingtouseepidurals andcesareansectionssimplybecauseitistheirfunctiontoaidthewomeninhavinga timelydelivery.However,theyhavenotgivenmemanystatisticsaboutmidwives. Therefore,IamgoingtotrytofindmoreinformationaboutmidwivesintheUnitedStates. OnceIdothisIwillbemuchmoreconfidentthatmyassumptionsareright.Iam lookingforwardtoseeingthereliabilityofmidwives,andtheireffectiveness.Ialsowantto lookintowhattheyneedtobeconsideredqualifiedmidwives.