High-Tech Births

[primroseburrows]

From Reuters:

Defense Software Could Make Births Safer -Report

(2003-12-03)

LONDON (Reuters) - British scientists have incorporated defense software used to pick up targets on military radar into a new painless technique that detects problems during labor and could lead to safer births.
The electrocardiogram (ECG) trace developed by the defense research company QinetiQ can record an electrical signal from the heart and indicates if the baby is not getting enough oxygen or has an irregular heartbeat, a science magazine reported.
It can also detect the strength of the mother's contractions, which shows how the labor is progressing.
"The non-invasive system records signals from 12 electrodes on the mother's abdomen, separating out useful components from background noise from muscles other than the heart or interference from electrical equipment," New Scientist magazine said on Wednesday.
Doctors at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital in southwestern England who are testing the device believe it will help to detect early problems during the delivery and help to rule out unnecessary Caesarean deliveries.
A technique called cardiotocography (CTG) is already used during labor but it is not as accurate as the ECG.
"The researchers also found they could measure the mother's contractions directly, using the electrical signals from the muscles," the magazine added.

© Copyright 2003, Reuters

Um. I think this could be useful in very, very high risk birth situations. In normal, low risk situations, however, it's just another way of making chilbirth into an illness, of stealing power from women AGAIN. How much do you want to bet that millions of women will insist on it without question?

Comments

[jessindistress.livejournal.com]

I think this could be useful in very, very high risk birth situations. In normal, low risk situations, however, it's just another way of making chilbirth into an illness

Have my children... please?

Honestly... I'm totally with you... I hate it when I hear people going, "But it's unsafe" to, say, have a homebirth- or act as though we're totally against utilising high tech stuff if it's needed... *rolls eyes* (I had family members get quite shocked when I said that, gawd forbid, I was going to a birthing centre staffed entirely by midwives rather than a hospital ward to have Lewis.)

Seriously... if it were so hideous, and so risky in these times, why do so many of us wind up able to live to tell the tale? And why the hell are most of the people telling us what's best for us men? At the end of the day, no matter what training they've got or what they "know," they're not going to go through it themselves... *sighs*

I guess you can say, at least it's non-invasive. I heard some shocking horror stories just before Lew was born about people being hooked up to machines that they didn't want to be hooked up to, etc, and not being able to move around while they were in labour and stuff... *wibbles*

~Jess

[primroseburrows.livejournal.com]

I hate it when I hear people going, "But it's unsafe" to, say, have a homebirth- or act as though we're totally against utilising high tech stuff if it's needed...

I think high-tech stuff is great when it's needed, and I'm really glad that it's there. But the hospitals that hook you to an IV "just in case" they need to give you something (and "something" is usually an invasive epidural), then stick you on a fetal monitor, where you can watch the strips to see your contractions (gods forbid you should actually feel them!), then comes more and more monitoring for tiny fluctuations in the readings, and BAM! You're off to see the Caesarian Wizard. Or maybe low forceps or a Vacuum Extractor, or maybe an internal monitor (where they screw an electrode into the baby's scalp!), or at the very least a Great Big Episiotomy.

I guess you can say, at least it's non-invasive.

Yeah, but even non-invasive stuff keeps women confined to their bed because of electrodes, etc. And once the tiniest off-reading is seen, the Technology Machine will start rolling, and then you're in for invasive stuff, big time.

[willysunny.livejournal.com]

i totally agree with you. when i was pregnant, i was scheduled to give birth at a birth center, but instead had my son extremely prematurely (almost 3 months). speaking as a mother who might "benefit" from this sort of electronic gadgetry, i am appalled to think that women will receive this type of propaganda as soon as they enter the starch whiteness of their hospital, laboring and nervous. it irks me to no end that labor and delivery, a natural process to many women, can be contorted so that by the time it reaches their ears, already nervous of the inevitable, it's become an illness that can only be cured in the hands of their trusty physician.

now, i have to say, my child survived due to western medicine - he is perfectly fine and growing strong. but even in my extreme case, i was angered by the way i was treated (not spoken to - never quite in the know until the end). it was as if i had lost all control and just had to release myself into their arms. i understand to a degree, but if i ever were to have another - risk or not - i would vote birth center all the way. it's there that you are treated like a whole person - and validated for each pain and emotion. the midwife at my head during my labor was the only thing that kept me pushing as hard as i did - i didn't even look at the doctor until it was over.

okay, i'm done ranting. :)

[primroseburrows.livejournal.com]

Labouring women are treated like they don't know anything. It's the American way, it seems. Dunno how it is in other countries. Yay for you having a midwife there, though.

[willysunny.livejournal.com]

oh, she saved me, that was for sure. she made it real and tangible and personal.

i swear, if more would-be mothers were educated to the benefits of birth centers, hospitals would need to do advertising to bring any pregnant woman back into their neo-natal halls. :)

[primroseburrows.livejournal.com]

Read this when you decide to do it again.

In fact, read just about everything this woman's ever written. I heard her speak once, and she's just brilliant. She knows exactly what she's talking about. *points to patchfire's icon*

[jessindistress.livejournal.com]

*hugs* I'm so sorry you were treated like that. No one deserves that crap- particularly not when you're in labour and let's just say, a trifle edgy as it is anyway. ;)

But... yeah. If I'd been told there was some sort of complication and I was going to need any of the gadgets- *shrugs* I wouldn't have questioned it. But it's when you're expected to not question things before there's complications that it gets to me...

~Jess

[willysunny.livejournal.com]

oh, i completely agree. gadgetry is the american way. i am actually writing a story about my pregnancy and birth. one of the more appalling memories was being told by my local hospital that their birthing practice was to ship you in, throw you in a wheelchair and hook you up to the epidural as soon as possible. they said "it was easier". i retorted "easier for whom?!" that's when i switched. *sigh* we've got it all wrong in this country. my husband is from the netherlands and i've heard enough to know that if i ever had another - i would "accidently" have it in holland. :)

[jessindistress.livejournal.com]

Hehe.. :) I love the idea of "accidentally" giving birth somewhere... *grins*

Have you read Misconceptions by Naomi Wolf? I'm not a huge fan of hers but the first bit about the hospital/birthing centre situation was really eye-opening. Out here (Australia) we're into the gadgets, but not AS into them as the US, it seems. (But then again, we have mostly public hospitals and a government not exactly spending heaps on the health system- so maybe we can't afford said gagetry? *rolls eyes*)

Oh... and is that your kidlet in your icon? He's a little spunk! :D

~Jess

[willysunny.livejournal.com]

i haven't but i'll make a note of it. thanks.

and, yes, that's my little sprite. tell me about your little bumpkin. :)

we're spamming primroseborrows WE LOVE YOU!!!!

[primroseburrows.livejournal.com]

Y'know, your story is important. There's a whole crowd of people to say "but what if something goes WRONG?" People who actually had problems and are still in favour of the woman-centred approach are great for the movement.

I'd love to read your story.

[willysunny.livejournal.com]

hee hee. you are so sweet. i'll post some baseball slash and prenatal-ness for you under my pen name whoartthou. i'll lock it as it's still very much in the works. i'd love your comments on nomar/derek as well as my more personal story. but only if you have time. no rush for either. thanks for your interest. :) :) (you had asked about nomar/derek, right? if not, forget what i said.)
*whistles innocently*

[primroseburrows.livejournal.com]

Will do, dearie. I work tonight, but then I have the next two days off. *friends*

[willysunny.livejournal.com]

hee hee. thanks dear. and, like i said, no rush at all. *hugs*

good luck tonight - congrats on your two days off. :)

[meggitymeg.livejournal.com]

apologies for the spammage, but that is the *funniest* icon. teehee!

[willysunny.livejournal.com]

ahahaha! bring on the spammage! bring on the baseball slash!

love your icon as well. :)

[meggitymeg.livejournal.com]

so close to finals, and you had to plant the idea of nomar/derek in my head!? for shame! :)

(thanks, anyway - teehee!)

[willysunny.livejournal.com]

oh, i am all about derek/nomar - they are my baseball OTP. there are many stories should you ever need an exam "break". am i being evil?

good luck on your exams!