Another Doula Ban, Another Bad Birth Plan
Update: Apparently the Columbus media has been overwhelmed with the sheer volume of calls/emails regarding the doula ban. The PR representative from DONA International has successfully scheduled several local media appearances for this week. She respectfully asks that people now refrain calling the media at this point so that we don’t frustrate them and cause them to find doulas annoying (which is the very situation we are working against!). Thanks for your understanding and support!
Scores of pregnant women in the Central Ohio region recently received the following letter from their OB/GYN practice:
The team at Kingsdale Gynecologic Associates is so pleased that you are expecting. We look forward to helping you enjoy your pregnancy and hope to provide a meaningful and safe birthing experience.
Because of concerns for increased risk to you or your baby, the doctors at KGA have made a thoughtful, unanimous decision not to allow doulas to participate in the birthing process. It has been our experience that they may serve to create a state of confusion and tension in the delivery room, which may compromise our ability to provide the safest delivery situation possible for you and your baby.
Again, with safety in mind, we have created a Kingsdale Birth Plan (which can be viewed in the obstetric packet provided at your initial visit), outlining the philosophy of our doctors with regard to labor and delivery. It is our opinion that other birth plans are unnecessary. We feel that our many years of obstetric experience in a setting of modern day challenges (larger babies, more difficult deliveries) enable us to provide sound judgment with regard to each woman’s particular needs during her course of labor.
Thank you for your understanding in our hopes of facilitating a safe pregnancy and birth process.
___________________________
Patient’s signature
________________________
Date
*
Oh goodness me! I think that the editor(s) of this letter forgot to include some very pertinent information in it. And, to be fair, they’re human–they make mistakes.
Here, let me see if I can take my hand at it (edits in bold):
Dear mindless and will-less womb pod:
The team at Kingsdale Gynecologic Associates is so pleased that you are expecting. We look forward to helping you enjoy your pregnancy and hope to provide a meaningful and safe birthing experience. In fact, we hope to provide our own definitions of “meaningful” and “safe” for you. (We’ll even pull some of these definitions out of a hat–like magic!) So don’t worry–you won’t even need to use your brain at all when you seek care with us.
Because of concerns for increased risk to you or your baby, the doctors at KGA have made a thoughtful, unanimous decision not to allow doulas to participate in the birthing process. Nevermind the research showing that doula support has been shown to decrease the use of pitocin, forceps, vacuum extraction, and cesarean section. This research conflicts with our non-evidence-based worldview. So we’re going to ignore it. And come on, what’s so bad about pitocin, forceps, vacuum extraction, and cesarean section?
It has been our experience that doulas may serve to create a state of confusion and tension in the delivery room by encouraging their clients to ask pesky questions about their care and the interventions we suggest during labor. This may compromise our ability to provide the safest delivery situation possible for you and your baby. Just repeat after us: Questions are unsafe. Resistance is futile. Paternalism tastes like chocolate.
And no, we’re not willing to entertain the possibility of banning particular doulas who may have been practicing outside of their scope or recommending questionable practices to their clients. No, we’ve made the unanimous decision to avoid nuance, the uniqueness of women’s circumstances, and the facilitation of any and all discussion with other birth professionals in the area. IT’S UNSAFE! IT MAKES US TENSE! AND CONFUSED!
Again, with safety (and the aforementioned avoidance of nuance, discussion, and research we don’t “like”) in mind, we have created a Kingsdale Birth Plan (which can be viewed in the obstetric packet provided at your initial visit and on the blog of one of those pesky, tension-causing doulas after she receives it via email), outlining the philosophy and draconian decrees of our doctors with regard to labor and delivery. It is our opinion that other birth plans are unnecessary. We feel that our many years of obstetric experience (and not the many years of transformations in evidence-based maternity care) in a setting of modern day challenges (larger babies and more difficult deliveries that have nothing–we said NOTHING–to do with increased rates of induction, confining laboring women to hospital beds, and a skyrocketing cesarean rate) enable us to provide sound judgment with regard to each woman’s particular needs during her course of labor. And because we care so much about each woman’s particular needs, we’ve created this birth plan and this doula ban so that we can paint all labors with one, monochrome, universalizing brush. It’s called logik, people!
Thank you for your understanding in our hopes of facilitating a safe pregnancy and birth process. And please, don’t go around searching for alternative definitions of “safe pregnancy and birth.” THEY’RE LIES! ALL LIES! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
___________________________
Womb-pod’s signature (preferably in blood)
________________________
Date in which you signed away all your rights as a birthing woman
*
So–do you think those edits are just about right?
Update: If you are in the Columbus area, are planning a hospital birth, and would like to find a practice that supports doulas AND birth plans, please see Emily Neiman, CNM’s comment below and consider transferring to her practice, Women’s Contemporary Health-Care. This practice comes highly recommended from other local doulas and childbirth educators that I know!
All I can say is THANK GOODNESS they’ve named the practice so that women can RUN AS FAST AS THEY CAN IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!!!!! Those doctors should have their licences pulled. I can’t believe they think they can dictate something like this!!!!
I’ve been a doula for about a year now and am a future midwife. Becoming a doula is the best experience that I’ve had in my 22 years and plan to incorporate what I learn into my practice as a midwife.
Although I am a huge advocate for natural birth, I still feel that medical procedures have their place, whether it be C-sections or other forms of medical intervention, if the birth takes a turn for the worst or complications occur. I wish it was a two-way street, that every medical professional felt the same about doulas and the work that they do.
I really wish I could meet these people and see what their problem is with people like me. I’ve had moms who get technical terms throw at them during the peak of their contractions by doctors, that I have explained to them after they’ve left. I’ve seen women talked into unnecessary procedures; I am not there to tell them what to do, I am there to support them in whatever they believe is the best option for them.
Doctors need to learn that doulas benefit them. We catch things that medical equipment can’t detect, like extreme discomfort and changes in attitude; we notice the little things. I’ve had doctors, midwives, and nurses turn to ME and not other family members when the mom isn’t sure of an answer to a question. I’ve lucked out that I work at a hospital where doulas are understood as valuable assets and respected for their work.
Kingsdale needs to get their head checked, and possibly a slap in the face. What’s next…banning fathers from the births of their children because they love their wives too much? Seriously.
Oh my word! Your edits are spot on! I am so thankful for my SIL who introduced home-births to me. My 11lb 1oz, first baby was followed by a 9 lb 6oz sister. Both were born at home safely and lovely with only my husband and two midwives. I know had I been in a hospital the doctors’ “experience” would have ended in cesareans.
I’m really glad you posted this since it’s hard to find any reviews of Kingsdale Gynecologic Associates, and I know some people in the Columbus, OH area might be wondering how to pick the right OB/GYN and may even be wondering where to deliver. I’m sickened by the way Kingsdale Gynecologic Associates treats their patients and their general attitude toward which steps a woman is allowed to take with regards to her own body and the birthing process. The fact that Kingsdale Gynecologic Associates won’t allow Doulas makes me wonder if it’s more to make sure there aren’t any mostly objective witnesses around to give details for malpractice lawsuits after they dehumanize a woman, cut her unnecessarily, and use half-assed excuses in the process.
wow, I’m amazed at the lack of concern for their patient’s birth plans. Sickening, but again any mother who chooses to use these doctors know the risk up front. I know for me I would be gone, my birth plan comes before my doctor’s “preference” of who is in the birthing room. Seems like these doctor’s are probably tired of hearing mom’s speak up for themselves because a good doula told them the risks involved with unnecessary intervention. Go doulas!
Please, oh please, pop your edited version of their letter into an envelope and post it to them!
My OB is with KGA and they didn’t have this policy with my first child and I used a doula. With my second child I mentioned early in passing about my doula. A few weeks before the birth, however, I mentioned it again and the doctor–not my regular–informed me of this policy. I was very grateful they grandfathered me in. I was prepared to find a new doctor, but did not really want to do that so late in the process.
When I talked to my doctor about it, she made some good points about a few situations they’d had where the doula intervened, at risk to the woman’s health. She said they made the decision because they couldn’t OK doulas for some patients (who they would knew would trust them if a situation like that arose) or some doulas (who they’d worked with and trusted) without OKing all of them.
I still don’t agree with their decision. If I were to have another child, I would not have it with them because my doula is my rock. But I did get the feeling from talking to my doctor that it was not a decision they made lightly, nor was it unanimous.
Oddly, she also said that only about 1% of their patients choose to use a doula, and fewer than that use them repeatedly. Again, I can’t imagine not using a doula, so I was surprised by that too, but it does suggest they know their patients, and that I was not a good fit for that practice.
Susan, I’m aware (at least from the periphery) of the situation you mentioned, and I realize that it is a serious concern (even if I don’t know all of the details of the situation). I suppose that’s why I included my (admittedly snarky) paragraph about banning particular doulas rather than doulas as a whole. Their decision just seems to throw the baby out with the bathwater–pun intended!
I wonder if the doctors in the practice made any attempt to talk to the doula to find out her point of view?
I know that sometimes doulas are blamed for doing things that are actually the choices of their clients, and the doula might even disagree with the client.
Susan – if only 1% of their patients use doulas – then WHAT is the big deal??? Seems to me that small number really shouldn’t create a problem… Seems to me if that is the correct percentage there’s a bigger scheme behind the protocol…
Oh no. This is in Ohio? Sickening! Anyway, I had my 2 babies at home (planned,on purpose) with the help of my 2 midwives from C.H.O.I.C.E. in the central Ohio Columbus area. They have doulas, too. If you transfer to the hospital (or I guess plan to go there) one midwife will stay with the mother, and one stays with the baby. These ladies spent at least an hour a month talking with, monitoring, taking care of, and teaching/mentoring me. This ‘practice’ is at least second generation, as my Mom used them when my sister was born. I can’t write enough about them here. They were and are THE BEST!
I would like to know what the induction, epidural and c/s rates are at this institution.
I’d also love to see their stats for spontaneous vaginal births for primips, intact perineums, and breastfeeding rates at 6 weeks and 6 months after the birth.
As to a doula ban, if I were asked to be a doula for a planned birth at an institution like this, I would suggest the parents find out the above statistics themselves, and read the prescribed birth plan themselves. Then I’d ask, are they sure they want an obstetrically-managed birth and are they certain a normal/natural birth is NOT what they want? I would ask them, do they realise that having a doula at a birth in an institution touting protocols like this will not do a thing to protect them or increase the odds of dodging intervention, and if they actually do want a fair chance at a normal birth, it’s not a doula they need, it’s a change of birth venue and care provider. Which is my slightly more restrained way of saying, “RUN!!!!!! RUN AWAAAAAAYYYYYY!!!!!”
Revolting scenarios like this occur when an obstetric monopoly over birth services has been established, and when midwifery and natural birth options have been marginalised and demonised by the obstetric/pharaceutical/litigation moguls. And when parents then believe they have no other socially-acceptable, widely-approved of options, and are nervous and ambivalent about any options beyond the pale of the Mainstream.
[...] has two posts on the Kingsdale Gynecologic Associates in Ohio and its “birth plan” and apparent ban on doulas. One example from the “birth plan,” in the section on episiotomies, that I think is [...]
This is sickening! The one small thing that might be of any good from this terrible letter is that perhaps, just perhaps, some of the women will be curious enough and strong willed enough to investigate what this terrible thing called a “doula” is!
The lengths to which the medical community go to entrench our culture in the fears of normal birth never cease to amaze me! How on earth did the human race survive for millennium without obstetricians!?!
There was a much higher mortality rate — there’s your answer.
Fair enough–I would agree that many medical advancements (such as the introduction of better sanitary practices, antibiotics, and yes, cesarean section) have improved the maternal and neonatal mortality rates. But this is much different than saying that all medical practices (like high induction and cesarean rates) have improved mortality rates. If anything, some obstetric practices are harming rather than helping women.
I’ve read this ludicrous letter..Perfect Parody…. So true Katherine, let’s cling to the hopes that some women will be intuitive enough to at least seek out what a Doula is.
I’m not sure of the legality of this, but there is something call Anti-trust law that prohibits a group from making it impossible for another group to do business. So in this situation, Kingsdale Gynecologic Associates banning doulas from working with their patients might possibly be construed as them getting in the way of a doula’s ability to do business in Columbus. Of course, there are lots of other places that doulas can find clients, but this particular office might be guilty of violating anti-trust laws. I’m not a lawyer, but after speaking to someone who has had several conversations with lots of other birth professionals (and lawyers in that group), this is what I have come up with. If nothing else, this would be a good place to start research about whether this is legal or not.
A practice in my area has just done the same thing — only with Bradley classes!
you may hear from my student about the letter she received.
That’s BIZARRE! And are they actually BANNING their patients from going to Bradley classes? Do they have spies waiting outside the classes to make sure that no one from their practice walks through the door? Sheesh…
This is so unbelievable… universal birth plan? What is universal about a woman in labor beside her natural ability and urge to give birth?! Every delivery is so different!
We are such a profit driven society that many women have totally forgotten how to give birth, putting themselves at serious risk because of the interventions that doctors choose out of convenience… RUN AWAY from this practice!
My doctor in Houston recommended my doula, and the hospital where I deliver lets her run the show outside of their periodic protocol-driven vital statistic checks. She knows the hospital’s “rules” and because of her reputation as an excellent practitioner, the L&D staff turn the other way when she is with her patients. I could not be happier with the option of a hospital birth without intervention. For my first birth she was out of the country (baby came 2 weeks early, on Christmas day), and things did not go as I would have liked.
At the very end I was told not to push so they could situate my epidural (which I had refused all day before I finally snapped moments before the urge to push). When they finally flipped me back onto my back, they kind of shrugged their shoulders like “oh, we should go get your doctor, because your frantic screaming that you had to push was indeed correct.” The baby was out before the epidural kicked in, and I still do not understand why they would tell a laboring mother not to push (isn’t that the whole idea of birthing?); the only reason I can come up with is the HUGE amount of money they take to the bank because they stuck one more mom with a needle in the back.
Oh gosh, it’s so EASY to write a comprehensive birth plan that will cover every possible woman in every possible scenario, isn’t it? Probably it would go something like:
All Your Birth Are Belong To Us.
no wait, that’s too internet in-joke. how about this:
DO AS WE SAY.
Ahhhh! Simple, to the point, and totally truthful. (Hospital staff,if you’re reading, please feel free to borrow it.)
[...] there is a time and place for rants, and for raves. I saw some amazingly authored ones this week by Kristen at Birthing Beautiful Ideas, and from my all time favorite blogger Gina The Feminist Breeder, which talked about Doula Bans and [...]
[...] this article Doulas Are Banned, Another Bad Birth Plan, at Birthing Beautiful Ideas points out what might go wrong in that department. And the Feminist [...]
Let me get this straight this came from an OB/GYN practice group in the year 2010?? So I guess the term “Doctors having a God complex” is not too far from the truth here for this group. And their patients should be like lambs led to slaughter?? I know that’s a bit harsh but that’s what it seems like to me. Do as we say we are your Doctors!! What’s interesting to me is if a Doctor oversteps their decree while practicing in a hospital; the hospital administration will investigate the doctor and their actions and determine if there was adverse conduct on their part. Yet the post by Susan M who is or was a patient with this group never mentioned if they actually confronted the Doula on her actions. Did they not know that a Doula who is certified through an association has a grievance policy?
And anyone who observes a Doula stepping outside their scope of practice can report them to the association who certified them and an investigation will ensue?? I know CAPPA has one and I know DONA does too.
I think any Doula who practices as mini Midwives and beyond their scope are treading on thin ice; and hurting the rest of our profession who is finally just now in the last ten years being regarded as valuable members of a laboring woman’s support team. Unfortunately the women in this community might never know that just one Doula banned all Doula’s from being of service to the women in this practice.
If I lived in this community I’d be contacting the newspapers and bring this action by the OB/GYN group to light. I’d also investigate the Anti Trust Laws too.
Robin Davis,
Nurse, Doula, Prenatal Massage Therapist.
[...] Another Doula Ban, Another Bad Birth Plan posted at Birthing Beautiful Ideas. [...]
Read Marsden Wagner’s essay on the economics of maternity care. They probably KNOW that doulas decrease interventions. That decreases their billable services. Just like if you own a candy store, you don’t want someone roaming around your store telling your customers not to buy candy, or offering healthier alternatives, they don’t want people around who squash their “sales”.
My bet is this is not just about annoyance, this is a marketing decision.
But if enough women see through this and just go to another candy store, this can and will backfire in their face.
This is truly mind-blowing. Thanks for sharing it. I much prefer what Dr. John H Kennell says “If a doula were a drug, it would be unethical not to use it.”
Roanna Rosewood´s last [type] ..Secret to Opening the Cervix
I tend to think that control and world view are the drivers of this rather than money, for individual doctors.
Money has a hidden effect, in that it affects who can fund studies, publish journals, run seminars for doctors on new drugs and devices etc etc. Money surely affects a hospital’s decision to have OB’s, who do so many more money making interventions, rather than midwives, on staff.
But for the individual OB’s, they have their “truth” about birth. They are afraid of bad outcomes and lawsuits and this makes them want to be even more in control. They don’t see a C section as at all a bad outcome. If mother and baby are healthy, they want praise, not blame for doing it. They have seen dead and damaged babies, and they think women are idiots for taking what they consider to be a risk of having that happen to them. Their experiences in their environment confirm them in their worldview. I really don’t think many OB’s really think “I am going to cut this woman in order to earn a larger fee.”
Like most people they don’t see individual examples of harm done by their system as indicting the whole system, just as home birth advocates don’t see the rare baby who dies at home as meaning no one should have a home birth.
They think “Well that doctor used X intervention carelessly, but I won’t do that,” just as we think “Well that midwife didn’t pick upon x, y, and z and transport, but my midwife and I would recognize those signs.” Or,” I myself would,” if they are birthing without a midwife. So if these doctors believe that what they do, the way they handle birth, is what provides safety, they are going to feel that those who object and argue with their protocols are a danger and just more than they can deal with.
Of course, I too would RUN like hell, if someone handed me this to sign! ( If I were young enough to be having a baby, which I am not. My youngest of 9 just turned 21.) I even ran like hell when I had one appointment with a doctor who did some home births, when his midwife approached me as soon as I came into the waiting room and said “I’m the one who will be *managing* your labor.” That one word, “managing” told me all I needed to know. The doctor and I did not see eye to eye either, and I found other help. (Had an easy home birth with a DEM and back up and support by my family practitioner. That baby, now 32, just had an unmedicated uninterfered with birthing center birth.) People need to listen to these signs, whatever level of provider they choose. This letter is about as clear cut a sign to stay away as I can imagine.
Susan Peterson
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[...] as reported over at Birthing Beautiful Ideas, an OB/GYN practice in central Ohio just sent out a letter banning doulas and individualized birth plans and offered their own cookie-cutter birth plan. My outrage about the birth plan was somewhat [...]
These docs have Munchhaussen-by-proxy syndrome, no doubt about it. Hospital practices like bans on VBAC’s, and now even doulas & Bradley classes(?!?!?!?) just prove it!
Things like these are whats driving the homebirth rates up. Let them do whatever they like there, we’ll just stay home and do what we like!
How arrogant of them to think they have the right to force women to birth in THEIR way with the people THEY choose to be present. Sounds like they are losing control of their birthing empire and are flailing about madly trying to regain ground.
Wolfmother´s last [type] ..Not So Crunchy After All
I just wanted to say THANK YOU for posting this! I have been a client at Kingsdale since puberty. I have always loved the care I have received there. My husband and I have just decided that we want to have children, and when it happens, I really want to explore my options (thinking home birth). Anyway, I had NO idea this ‘contract’ existed there. None. I was trying to look up their address when I randomly saw this blog post on google. This is a major ‘holy shit’ moment for me!! I will be finding another OB/GYN asap. Thank you thank you thank you! You rule.
You know, if you do have a good experience with them with gynecological care, you can always continue to go to them for well woman visits and then use another practice for obstetric or midwifery services!
Hi, this article made me sad. I have delivered all six of my children with Kingsdale and had the most wonderful experience with all my babies. I have never seen nor signed any such document from my OB ever. I dont know how accurate you information is but after six birth plans discussed and decided by me, the birthing mother, and supported and encouraged by by my compassionate and patient OBs (three different ones over the course of 12 years), I would have to say your info is incorrect. Ignorance is sad, and sarcastic bitterness for whatever reason is even sadder!!
I agree that it’s sad, mostly because many of the doulas I’ve spoken to were shocked that it was Kingsdale, in fact, that instituted the doula ban. But numerous of their pregnant clients had received both this document and the birth plan document. My guess is that if you weren’t pregnant by the time they instituted the doula ban and birth plan (June of 2010), then you wouldn’t have known about this policy.
To be clear, I would never insinuate that no one has ever, in the history of the practice, had a good experience with Kingsdale. That would be ridiculous! But I sure am bitter about limiting women’s choices in such a non-nuanced (and even non-evidence based) sort of way! Ban individual doulas, sure, and be very clear about practice protocol that doctor(s) aren’t willing to “budge” on: but a universal birth plan and doula ban just seems silly (to say the least).
This makes me so sad. They obviously know better than the woman laboring.
. The more I learn the more I am confident in my next birth being at home. I work in the hospital obstetrical industry as a newborn nurse and I’m ashamed to say I hate the L & D part. I love taking care of the babies but hate the “oppressive” ideas of the OB at my hospital.
I hope someone has shared this letter with the hospitals where this group is on staff. I would think it is in direct opposition to the patient’s bill of rights.
I am a former L&D nurse and current NICU nurse where I have seen first hand doula, birth plans and unrealistic expectations of parents lead to dangerous consequences to mother and babies both. There are facilities that are suited for and geared for the more homeopathic births these women request. My question to you is if you are so against the practices of hospitals and the protocols they use to keep everyone safe why do you choose a hospital birth instead of home birth.
I am not against hospital protocols and policies as a general rule! Not at all. I’m just against hospitals that have policies and protocol that are against evidence-based practice (and I’m talking simple things here, like immediate skin-to-skin after birth if mom and baby are healthy, intermittent monitoring for low risk births, judicious use of episiotomy, etc.).
I will agree with you that unrealistic expectations in general are unhelpful. But again, I’m not sure that it is out of the question to expect evidence-based care (which includes doula support for parents who want it–have you seen the latest Cochrane review?), nor is it out the question to expect an explanation when a care provider might take a detour from what the evidence suggests. (And I’m sure that there are times when this may be the “right” thing to do!)
Who cares what they have written? That is their policy, if you don’t like it, don’t use them as a care provider? Isn’t that simpler than ranting and raving like idiots on the internet? Everyone has a right to their own beliefs and if there are other practices who believe in the use of Doula’s then their philosophical beliefs meet yours. Why create this pathetic excuse of a forum, ripping apart a group who isn’t even given a chance to defend themselves. This is the epitome of ignorance, reasonable people are able to intellectually debate both sides without written useless criticism founded on nothing about a group of people they have never meet or known, who by the way, once you end up in an Emergency situation with your birth, you will insist they save your live and the life of your child and you will give no thanks to. It sounds like it is YOU all who are the selfish ones with only yours interests at heart.
Thanks for stopping by with your thoughtful ray of sunshine, Mandy!
The problem is that many women WERE happy with this group and were flabbergasted at this policy, which forced them to choose between staying with their OB/GYN or finding another (some of them, mid-pregnancy) that would support the use of doulas.
What’s more, the letter smacked of paternalism, plain and simple.
Finally, my response was in no way a dismissal of the ability of OB/GYNs to save lives in the case of birth emergencies. Please use that ray of sunshine to illuminate my position a little more closely! (Just to clarify: it was a criticism of this OB/GYN group’s letter and the policy it represented–NOT a criticism of OB/GYNs in general. That would be stupid for someone like me, who has given birth twice with OB/GYNs.)
I’d like to add, where are all these “big’ babies coming from? I don’t recall a mass of inadequate pelvis’ walking around. Especially in the Midwest. These hips were made for birthing!
I had two “big babies” just fine. I’d like to add, I’m 5 foot 1. My doctor expressed concerns that I may have trouble with this ‘big baby’ and should keep other options open. I countered him with, “Doc, this is my second child. I birthed my big headed son just fine. Oh and he was 8.7 my ‘robust’ daughter was born AT HOME unassisted (incidentally a fast labor)at a ‘hefty’ 8.9oz..shows what he knows 
My mother in law who is 5′ tall delivered a 10lb 3oz boy vaginally. I don’t know who made them experts in pelvis size. I’ve not once had a tape measure put from my tail bone to my pubic bone. So how do they know?? Jerks.
I too dislike a “one-size fits all” approach to suspected macrosomia/big babies. If it is the result of uncontrolled gestational diabetes (or Type I or Type II diabetes), then that is one thing. But sometimes, larger babies really DO run in families! What’s more, even ACOG doesn’t recommend a prophylactic induction or cesarean section when the only issue is *suspected* macrosomia (unless the baby is near 11 pounds, I believe).
And go you for birthin’ those babies.
[...] (in full-blown labor) out of the hospital unless she consents to an unnecessary procedure, or a implementing a practice-wide ban on doulas (yes, a doula ban is in place in an obstetrics practice in Columbus, Ohio). Physician or [...]