For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for January 03, 2020

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    Templo S.U.D.  almost 5 years ago

    By “modern age” THEN, it was the the 1980s(?). (As my older brother and I were born in the approximate mid-80s, I think our mother — bless her soul — didn’t have this options as she delivered us in a hospital bed.)

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    capricorn9th  almost 5 years ago

    Really, Connie? My boys were born in the early 1990s and I did not have any choices – I gave birth on the bed the traditional way. Hospitals have their liability issues and don’t allow women to choose how they want to give birth – the bed is the only safest place as far as they are concerned. The only choice I was given was whether I want natural childbirth or be given drugs. My husband was in the room with me which was not allowed in the earlier times. I took birth classes which were not offered in the earlier times either and my husband went with me. Now, if the women want choices in how to give birth, they need to go to the birthing centers where the midwives are or do it at home – both at their own risks because midwives are not certified to practice medicine – only in assisting births so I would say the birthing center is safer than at home because if something goes wrong, they can call an ambulance immediately and the mother can be moved to the hospital quicker than at home as these centers are usually in building annexes around the hospitals. And then there is the insurance… the majority of insurances don’t cover home or midwife births so the majority of women continue to give birth in hospitals on their backs in beds.

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    Enter.Name.Here  almost 5 years ago

    “They even have leeches now! Ellie? Ellie, where are you going?”"

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    jpayne4040  almost 5 years ago

    I think she’s making stuff up now!

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    HappyDog/ᵀʳʸ ᴮᵒᶻᵒ ⁴ ᵗʰᵉ ᶠᵘⁿ ᵒᶠ ᶦᵗ Premium Member almost 5 years ago

    Adopt. It’s better for all concerned.

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    Gerard:D  almost 5 years ago

    Lynn’s Comments:

    I was treading some sensitive ground here when I wrote this. Midwifery was still a developing career, and home birth was still being discouraged. Expectant parents were, for the first time, taking control of how and where their babies were going to be born.

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    The_Great_Black President  almost 5 years ago

    It was the mainstream births for my kids, Masha, Salia, and my son (who looks like Trayvon).

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    coffeeturtle  almost 5 years ago

    We can just beam the baby out of your womb and onto the cradle.

    No problem, right Mr. O’Brien?

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    vaughnrl2003 Premium Member almost 5 years ago

    Wow. Sounds like so many choices make it a lot more complicated. Not complaining, just saying.

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    Font Lady Premium Member almost 5 years ago

    My first two were born at the hospital. Then for my third I asked the doctor about choices and he said if I had any questions, he could and would see to it that I had a caesarean! I said never again. I could have died because the hospital was so busy and the doctor wanted to leave early.

    My last two were born at home. Not only did I get better care from the midwives, the process was about half what the doctor cost, not counting the cost for the hospital. The home births were faster, easier, and in one case completely painless and I wasn’t left alone afterward to possibly bleed to death with my feet strapped up in the air like I was in the hospital.

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    Teto85 Premium Member almost 5 years ago

    We had twins via LeBoyer-Lamaze with a midwife and a birthing pool. Quiet, gentle and the babies (twin ginger girls) did not cry. Did not stop them from being hellraisers later, but it was still a good thing according to my wife.

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    summerdog  almost 5 years ago

    I didn’t have a choice even if there were some, in the 70’s. We live too far from the nearest hospital to take a chance.

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    funnyg1rl  almost 5 years ago

    Probably depends more on where you were. I had my daughter in 1997 in Florida, had a mid-wife and delivered at a hospital. The mid-wives’ office was not far from the hospital as well. It was the best experience!

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    stillfickled Premium Member almost 5 years ago

    I’m not gonna read all the replies and hope I don’t repeat anybody but midwives have been around a loooong time.

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    STACEY MARSHALL Premium Member almost 5 years ago

    A middle-aged mid-wife from the middle-ages.

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    Le'Roy Hawkins  almost 5 years ago

    With Medicare For All, you get a tub of luke warm dish water and old towels.

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    howtheduck  almost 5 years ago

    Both my babies were in the hospital being delivered by a doctor who was also a family friend. I did have several friends who used birthing centers and their kids came out healthy.

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    TimeLordSoundwave  almost 5 years ago

    Have you ever tried holding out your hands like in panel two? It’s very awkward and uncomfortable. But every FBOFW character does it! All the time!

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