A little bit about my process and the AMA resolution!
Hey all, a correction/alteration has been made to the first comic The AMA and ACOG are against homebirths! that those of you savvy enough to pay attention have perhaps already noticed. I removed the panel in which Hathor accuses the AMA and ACOG ducks of “promising to outlaw homebirths”. Why’d I remove it? Because although it is a goddess’ prerogative to exaggerate and blow things out of proportion, a permission I relish and usually wallow in as only a cowgoddess can. I decided that because my series of comics is SOOOOO good, and is soooooooo on the mark, that if there was even the hint of exaggeration in the first comic of the series, then perhaps the whole lot of them could be dismissed. And that would suck. So I redid the first comic and took out a bit and left it exactly what we know and what can be proved, the AMA and ACOG both came out with declarations against homebirths. That part is indisputable.
Does this mean that I don’t think the AMA and ACOG are going to try and produce and introduce and lobby and promote legislation about outlawing homebirths? Of course they are. Am I surprised, yes I am. Because I’m an idealist. And because I know that in many parts of the world the midwives and OBs work hand-in-hand in perfect harmony (this part is true, but I’m still being tongue in cheek ;o) There isn’t any real good reason for the American Medical Association to be against homebirths. Except for money. This is a shot across our bow and I’m sure it’s the first of many. So hold on and give your attention to the Big Push for Midwives, because they are rightly fanning the flames of this resolution. I for one would like for us to agitate and activate so much that a spokesperson for the AMA and ACOG feels compelled to come out and stand in front of news cameras all sweaty and stutter-y and tell us what their intentions are… Are they planning an all out assault? Will women be arrested if they give birth at home? Or is just crazy talk from a bunch of ‘old has beens’ dreaming of the good ol’ days of twilight sleep and women tied to the beds and “yes sir Mr. Doctor, sir”. If this is the kind of talk we get from these guys when homebirths are at 1%, IMAGINE what they’ll be talking when homebirths are at %30 percent.
Anyway, hope you enjoy the series, and don’t forget to spread it around!
Love,
Heather
amyphilo said,
June 22, 2008 @ 8:09 am
The AMA I think is the largest lobby or one of the largest ones. You can check out opensecrets.org
I recently found out that the ACNM takes money from Eli Lilly.
It’s mind boggling but there are numerous ways that people launder money for each other and get favors… the sad thing is that a large part of the public will quote a medical organization’s position statements as though they were fact. You should see the B.S. I got on the “benefits and risks of vaccination” form I got from the state. Apparently HPV vaccine has no serious side effects?
Why would they want to take away home births? IN addition to money, I think they are threatened by the fact that many people know what normal is now and are speaking out about it. If all mothers had to give birth in the hospital then nobody would understand normal, no babies being born at home… now that is sad. Toby was born at home and it always seemed that he was happier and more peaceful for it. The last thing I want is a baby I have to fight to hold and decline interruptions and argue about formula etc. etc. etc. Not to mention all the moms who WON’T get PPD from having home births which threatens a mult-billion dollar industry.
So Hathor, when is your home birth book coming out? You need to add these comics to it and get it out there ASAP.
amyphilo said,
June 22, 2008 @ 8:11 am
I didn’t say that very well the last thing I want is a baby I… but I think you guys might understand what I was trying to say? The last thing I want to have to do when I have my new baby is fight with staff who could care less about us over things like them taking him to the nursery, for vaccines, baths, tests, etc. and trying to shove bottles and pacifiers in his mouth.
Once you’re in the hospital they can pretty much do whatever they want including calling CPS on you for no reason. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXwBRfxRSz8
biberin said,
June 25, 2008 @ 8:35 am
Have you all seen the news?!? The Missouri Supreme Court threw out the doctors’ challenge to the midwifery law that was passed last year! That would make a very nice little series of comics. . .hint, hint!
http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2008/06/23/daily34.html
mrs.mama21 said,
June 25, 2008 @ 7:33 pm
Petition to keep home birth legal!!!
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/birthathome/index.html