Cesarean rates rising

I have, myself, had a c-section. Knowing what I know now, I'd have held off getting pitocin...oh well.

In any case, read the article on it from AP.

The Washington Post has another article on the rates, which does a lovely bit of putting the blame on moms. Let me tell you, one reason I didn't push (ha!) for vaginal childbirth is because my employer automatically gives 8 weeks off if you get a c-section, and only 6 weeks if you have vaginal.

Doctors tend to prefer c-sections because they get reimbursed at higher rates.

So let's all accept that there is more going on with this than "convenience" and "scheduling".

Tarina Keene on Rachel Maddow

The Executive Director for NARAL Prochoice Virginia was on the Rachel Maddow show last night to talk about Cuccinelli and his opinion that abortion providers can be regulated far more than an ordinary OB/GYN's office. Abortions are already hard to get in Virginia, especially if you live in a rural area.

I am on the NARAL Prochoice Virginia Board, and I'm proud of it, and of Tarina.

The Perils of Listening to NPR in the car

"Mommy, what do they mean by 'the N-word'?"

Oh dear.

Can't I have a cup of coffee first?

Okay.

"'The N-word' is a word that is completely not okay to say. It's so not okay, that when people talk about it, they use its initial instead of saying it. The word is " (and here I said the word) "You are not to ever use that word. It is a mean, vile word that has a lot of terrible history behind it."

"But, Mommy, what does it mean?"

"It's a mean word for people with brown skin. Don't ever say it. Not in anger, not in conversation, never. Even if you hear other people using it, you don't use it. And IF you hear other people using it, you tell them to stop, or you tell a grown-up so that they can tell them to stop."


As an aside, I want to let you know that the NPR piece we were listening to at the time was excellent. I hope you'll listen to it. (I came in after the Dr. Laura clip)

Just Read It

Reproductive Justice is for Everyone, Even People You Don't Like.

Denial of reproductive rights to people with disabilities is ableism. Denial of our needs in the reproductive justice discussion is also ableism. Telling us we don’t belong at the table is ableism. We deserve reproductive justice too, and we have needs that are not being addressed by the current reproductive rights movement.

If Equal Rights doesn't apply to everybody, you soon find it doesn't apply to anybody. Reproductive justice doesn't just apply to the right NOT to have children. It applies to the right TO have them if you want them. That is a right that is all too frequently denied people. No-one should be forced to have a baby...and no-one should be forced to not have one.

It's a small county