Improving Birth in South Texas

Today Ben and I were a part of a national Labor Day Rally to Improve Birth! I was honored to be a part of this national rally. If you haven't visited www.improvingbirth.org, you really should! I was one of the many mommas here in the RGV who ended up with Cesarean births for all three of my boys... each time, I felt like there should be other options, like there was more I could have done. Of course, I can't go back in time (and fortunately, my boys are healthy and strong...) so I won't dwell of "what could have been." Instead, I choose to help in any way that I can to educate others. To help others ask questions, to have them feel comfortable with their providers when it comes to birthing their babies. 

Our RGV has so many options these days. We have some wonderful ladies providing great midwifery services here! We even have doctors in our area supporting family centered birth... Changes are happening! Family centered birth! Wonderful isn't it? 

In order to keep these improvements going, we must spread the word. Today's rally was a way to get the word out to those who might not be aware of what hurdles we still need to cross. We must request that our best interest be honored. We must demand that our rights be respected. American maternity care has a long way to go when it comes to improvements, but slowly, we are getting there... 

Here's a quote directly from Improvingbirth.org : 

Now is the time to work together…

“This movement isn’t about natural birth vs. medicated birth.

It’s not about hospital birth vs. home birth or birth center birth.

It’s about women being capable of making safer, more informed decisions about their care and that of their babies, when they are given full and accurate information about their care options, including the potential harms, benefits, and alternatives.

Then, within that choice, they are treated with dignity and compassion.”

~ Dawn Thompson, Founder of ImprovingBirth.org

A huge thanks goes out to Nancy Cavazos over at Blissfull Baby... my goodness, she is constantly amazing me when it comes to organizing these events! Here she is being interviewed by a local news station. :)

Here's a glimpse at what our rally looked like this morning.  :)

Dr. Lee and Liz Derry, CPM (seen below) showing their support in this movement! 

Doula Brandi Kennedy and Midwife Ana Ochoa showing their support as well... 

And of course... I can't skip showing off this adorable little man... He had his own agenda today: Run away from mommy, nurse, run away some more, nurse, and sleep (in the heat!) Haha... Overall, it was a great way to spend our Labor Day. We are blessed to be healthy, and strong. We are even more blessed to be able to spread a message to our beloved Rio Grande Valley community. 

~Norm