Comments for Dr. Spock

Comment on DR. SPOCK’S BABY AND CHILD CARE IN INDIA by Chitra Satyavasan

Chitra Satyavasan — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 07:42:32 +0000

Dear Mary,

I am with Parent Circle, a parenting magazine based in India (Chennai).

We missed meeting you when you were in India. Regarding the latest edition of Dr Spock’s book adapted for Indian parents, I would like to request an email interview.

Would you have time for that?

Best wishes,
Chitra

Comment on Momdoc’s blog: Achieving Natural Childbirth in the Hospital by Hasan Abdessamad, MD FRCSC

Hasan Abdessamad, MD FRCSC — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 00:39:00 +0000

I arrived late to this discussion but after I read Dr. Greenfield’s original post and scanned through the comments underneath I came to realize that all of you are on the same page. We all want to make sure we are providing patient-centered care, we are compassionate and we ultimately provide the mom with an experience that is well-informed, individualized, safe and gratifying. I salute you all for thriving for that and I admire Dr. Greenfield for sharing with us her insightful and inspiring approach on doing that. I like how Dr. Greenfield asked the nurse to call her when the patient asks for pain management so that she allows her patient to discuss this important decision with her personally. I also want to thank Dr. Greenfield for the tip about the “code word”. I will definitely start using that with my patients.

Comment on Momdoc’s blog: Achieving Natural Childbirth in the Hospital by Julie

Julie — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 16:24:07 +0000

What a beautiful story, showing how Dr. Greenfield listened to and understood her patient, and then took on the role of a supporter to help the patient achieve the birth experience she wanted. She doesn’t have an “agenda” here, she’s just showing how one patient was able to labor and deliver outside the mold of what we typically see at this hospital. Every patient, no matter what their beliefs or desires regarding pain control in labor, should be respected and supported in such a way. Thank you Dr. Greenfield, for sharing this story.

Comment on Momdoc’s blog: Achieving Natural Childbirth in the Hospital by Carrie

Carrie — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 15:01:44 +0000

Deep, calming breaths everyone! If you read carefully, at no point did Dr Greenfield say she would deny her patient an epidural. She only requested the opportunity to come to the bedside to provide emotional support and help her make an informed decision. Any of you who have spent a significant amount of time in hospitals should recognize this as a rare event. I applaud Dr Greenfield’s dedication to her patient. I believe her only intent in this article was to encourage education and awareness of one’s options in labor.

Comment on Momdoc’s blog: Achieving Natural Childbirth in the Hospital by DanieS

DanieS — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 14:30:54 +0000

Sunday Tortelli – love your post!

Comment on Momdoc’s blog: Achieving Natural Childbirth in the Hospital by Sunday Tortelli

Sunday Tortelli — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 19:23:45 +0000

While it is true that the original blog post may not have provided extensive details of the backstory regarding the expressed wishes and goals of this laboring woman and the trusting relationship she had forged with her doctor prior to being in labor, I find the responses that presumed a misdoing on Dr. Greenfield’s part quite unfortunate. Regardless of personal viewpoints regarding labor pain management, what I appreciate about this story is that Dr. Greenfield cares enough about her patients that she prefers to offer personal guidance while they are making important decisions about their labor care plan. How often do women complain about the impersonal (and sometimes even dismissive) care they receive from their doctors? How often do women complain that they were not offered enough accurate information to exercise their right of informed choice or informed refusal during their birth experiences? Over 20 years of working as an advocate for birthing women allows me to state with total confidence that such complaints are commonplace. This is not a debate about epidurals. This is a testament to what can happen when a woman and her doctor forge a relationship of mutual trust and respect. That type of relationship can carry a woman in her most difficult hours and can also help the family and other members of her support team to minister to her needs in the most effective manner. It allows for elimination of fear and acceptance of the hard work of labor. Brava Dr. Greenfield! This is but one more example of the type of caring, objective and open-minded doctor that I have known you to be over many years of association.

Comment on Momdoc’s blog: Achieving Natural Childbirth in the Hospital by lisa

lisa — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 14:51:53 +0000

I applaud Dr. Greenfield’s respect for her patient. There is far too little of this in most hospitals.
Caring, compassionate, individualized care is what a woman deserves when bringing her baby into the world.

Comment on Momdoc’s blog: Achieving Natural Childbirth in the Hospital by Heather Young

Heather Young — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 23:24:10 +0000

Truly amazing. It is so unheard of these days that pregnant/laboring women get personalized care. I applaud you and your efforts. It’s all too often that you hear women are DISCOURAGED to give birth naturally and unmedicated. I wish more doctors were “cheerleaders” as you are.

As for the above statement of “unfounded” evidence against epidurals, it could be further from the ruth. There are plenty, they are just not often discussed due to the ease and convenience of a quietly, numbed, bed ridden patient.

To each his own, and to Dr. Greenfield, BRAVA!!

Comment on Momdoc’s blog: Achieving Natural Childbirth in the Hospital by Rachel

Rachel — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 22:06:31 +0000

“And yes, Rachel, DO keep talking. Thanks for letting us all know how natural childbirth advocates really feel about their fellow mothers; though for those of us familiar with them this isn’t a surprise.”
It isn’t how I feel about you. It’s how I feel about the way you attack other mothers as being ‘sanctimommies’ and ‘hippies’ just because they choose a different path than you. It’s disgusting. I retracted my statement about less respect because, I admit, it was inflammatory and brought on in a bout of anger.
But the way you people act…it frightens me. Since when has the choices made between a doctor and her parent been your business? At all?

Comment on Momdoc’s blog: Achieving Natural Childbirth in the Hospital by Susan Greene

Susan Greene — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 18:16:53 +0000

Interesting the passions evident on this subject! As I read it, neither Dr. Greenfield nor the birthing woman she describes were naïve – this woman already had a labor and delivery without epidural, she knew the challenge. Labor support by a “known” individual (not the nurse who just came on shift) is proven to correlate with shorter labors, use of less epidurals and narcotics, reporting of higher maternal feelings of satisfaction with her birth, less depression for moms after birth and better breastfeeding experiences (earlier onset, longer overall nursing time, etc). There are definitely physiologic reasons why having support helps – women in labor have access to more of their own endorphins and the other hormones that empower them and help them deal with pain. Contrary to the comments of the pro-epidural faction, epidurals do not guarantee a pain free labor or birth – some epidurals are very spotty, some work on half the body , some don’t work at all! Women go their whole pregnancies, avoiding that small drink at a party to protect their baby BUT, expose themselves and their babies to heavy and sometimes large drugs through epidurals. I, for one, am grateful epidurals exist – but I know that not all women need them. Most women are more powerful than they know and with support (preferably continuous support) and encouragement ( AND access to doulas, water therapy such as tubs/showers, advice about position changes, quiet, dark, warmth, uninterrupted space etc) can birth their babies. Thank you Margie Greenfield for supporting women’s choice and low intervention birth