Having a baby, life changing event or just another thing on your to-do list?

Having a baby is a life changing event, an amazing chapter in your life, some even describe it as a miracle. Yet, I over hear a lot of things that lead me to believe that a lot of couples are in denial about what's about to happen in their lives. One couple I overheard at a sushi bar the other night said they were going to have an elective c-section so their baby, "wouldn't come out all wrinkly and ugly". A lot of magazines are helping to make mom-hood look hip, they show all the cool strollers and cribs celeb-moms are buying, but they never delve into the deeper issues of what it takes to begin your journey into parenthood. They never address the fact that the baby is not an object, but it's own little person, with feelings.

Fresno County has a cesarean section rate of over 30%, while the rest of the world has under a 15% rate. What does this say about Fresno? Given quality emotional support, full information on birth options and care providers who trust the birth process, 90% to 95% (about 9 out of 10) of women can deliver their babies as nature intended. Birth can and should be a time of empowerment and joy. It's a time for women to discover her body's strength and abilities.

People don't understand that medicine is a business, and that doctors MAKE money when they perform MAJOR SURGERY, a c-section is not a walk in the park recovery wise, and it's only necessary when mom or baby are in danger.

Fresno is growing so quickly and we have thousands upon thousands of people living here, thousands of baies are born in this county alone every year, and yet we have only ONE registered/certified LAMAZE instructor in the city of Fresno! We have one Doula per 10 thousand people. In Portland the ratio is about 1 doula per 100 people, and if you just said what's a Doula?...well, you just made my point. Fresno needs to help educate it's citizens and help during this time in new parents lives.

So many women are concerned about the color they'll paint the babies room, but haven't thought to take a breastfeeding class. They'll shell out hundreds for a stroller but not a penny on a class that can teach them the best way to bring their precious baby into this world. What gives? There are places in Fresno that offer help to new and expectant parents, but they can't help if people are unwilling to learn, or even look for help.
If you know someone you care about who's expecting, ask them if they've read this. Tell them you care about them and help them to start to educate themselves, during this amazing and sometimes overwhelming time in their life. Links that can help: www.birthrightrn.com www.icanoffresno.com www.fresnomommymatters@blogspot.com www.whatbabieswant.com www.mommymattersonline.com Or google:marsden wagner md Or go out and buy them a copy of Mothering Magazine.