Modern Trends in Childbirth

I have a fascinating conversation with Pat Keating, a registered nurse and childbirth educator, about the trends she has seen over the last 37 years around childbirth, breastfeeding, and preparing for a baby. We discuss how women and couples prepare for a baby, through childbirth education, birth planning, and internet resources. About half of pregnancies in the United States are not planned, and we discuss how the optimal situation would allow women to begin thinking about their reproductive health plan far in advance of a pregnancy to prepare physically, emotionally, and financially for a baby.

The Great Myth of UN and Family Planning

The goal statement of the UNFPA, or United Nations Population Fund, is: Delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled.

Pretty lofty goals, but who could argue with that? Children who are born safe into families which welcome them. Every child has the ability to live up to their full potential.

And yet, there are plenty of people it seems who do not support this wholesome sounding, idealistic goal. To me it sounds akin to a meatloaf in every oven, a car in every driveway, and a safe pregnancy for every women. But that is not so.