I was at the hair salon today reading the magazine on the top of the pile on coffee table in front of me while I was waiting to have my hair cut. I was so glad to read that Sandra Bullock is doing well and quite relieved to learn that Justin Bieber doesn’t have to worry where his next meal is coming from. Was I ever surprised, however, when I found out that J-Lo is starring in a movie called What To Expect When You’re Expecting.
My goodness — that’s the very book that I burn in my driveway during my childbirth classes!!
Hint: If a childbirth book tells you six times in every chapter to “check with your doctor,” go read another book. I might suggest you start with Ina May’s Guide to Birth – and spend some time on her website as well.
I would be a wealthy woman if I had a penny for every woman who has told me that when she’d called to check something with her OB, it took days before she got a return call – which was usually from the office manager or a nurse – and that getting through to the actual doctor felt like trying to get through to the Pope.
Hey, I can save you the cost of the book [You’re welcome!] — I can tell you what to expect if you live in this country and you go to an American trained obstetrician:
The opportunity to wait in a waiting room for quite a long time, because your time is worth nada
The awareness that your trusted OB may be nowhere in site when you go into labor
An early ultrasound that will affect your baby’s brain stem and goodness knows what else
Several other tests that are unnecessary, inaccurate, dangerous for your baby and expensive
Not enough time to ask all the questions on your list
Insufficient nutritional counseling, if any at all —
and of course —
A cesarean section.