The Daily Telegraph editorial: ‘Natural’ birth debate rages
A Daily Telegraph reporter expecting her first child some years ago received much unsolicited advice about the wonders of natural childbirth. These natural birth advocates, many of them almost evangelical on the subject, delivered their advice online and in person.
Opinion
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A Daily Telegraph reporter expecting her first child some years ago received much unsolicited advice about the wonders of natural childbirth. These natural birth advocates, many of them almost evangelical on the subject, delivered their advice online and in person. They were absolutely adamant that the absence of any medical intervention and the associated pain massively enhanced the birthing experience.
Our staff member eventually came up with a response that utterly silenced the home birth brigade. She asked them this simple question: “Do you also believe in natural dentistry?”
Then she went to hospital and with the care and attention of skilled medical professionals gave birth to a completely healthy and much-loved baby boy. Other expectant mothers also feeling pressure to follow a natural birth course are welcome to pose the same challenging query to their self-appointed adviser.
After all, if “natural” is the way to go when delivering a child, “natural” should be the preferred method in all other surgical procedures, too.
Sure, a wisdom tooth extraction may sting a little without any anaesthetic, but think of how closely you’ll bond with that withdrawn molar.
Of course, there is far more to the natural childbirth debate than the sensible avoidance of pain. As an Australian medical study has shown, babies delivered during a “natural” home birth are seven times more likely to die from complications than they are during a planned hospital birth.
Doctors have become increasingly concerned about the rise in enthusiasm for natural childbirth and other non-medical, non-specialist pregnancy-related theories appearing at so-called “mummy blogger” websites.
Obstetrician Dr Alexander Polyakov is particularly worried about sites that promote home waterbirths, because the practice obviously puts newborns at risk of drowning.
“Even in prehistoric times people knew not to give birth in water,” Dr Polyakov told The Daily Telegraph. “There is no justification for it.”
As well, Dr Polyakov notes an elemental truth that seems to elude natural birth advocates. Australia, he points out, has a much lower rate of neonatal deaths than Third World countries where hospital births are relatively rare. Many home births may be successful but the argument about natural births over medically-assisted births should end there. Medical advances save lives. It really is that basic.
As for our staff member, she’s since had a second healthy, hospital-delivered child. And her entire family could not be happier.
TECH GIANTS TO HAND OVER DATA
GLOBAL technology companies grow so quickly and their products evolve so rapidly that laws struggle to keep pace. As soon as certain security or oversight measures are put in place, technology advances to another level.
Yet, now tech giants including Apple and Google will be compelled to hand over GPS data from mobile phones in order to assist police to track and catch terrorists and paedophiles.
This is welcome, and should not be considered an infringement of freedom. It’s just a modern way of bringing to justice the very worst criminals.
A CLIMATE CHANGE OF FEAR
IN 2009, Malcolm Turnbull declared he would “not lead a party that is not as committed to effective action on climate change as I am”.
Prophetic words. Turnbull was then ousted by Tony Abbott, who subsequently led the Coalition to a landslide election victory in 2013. Years later, Prime Minister Turnbull is still pushing for climate change action. And he still faces opposition from his own MPs, who understandably fear that Turnbull is dragging the Liberals towards a Labor/Greens climate stance. It is a risky move.
Turnbull’s vow to lock in as law emissions reduction targets as part of the National Energy Guarantee would effectively deliver a carbon tax under another name. The Australian electorate six years ago made clear its opinion on such a tax.
Malcolm Turnbull is obviously hoping he’s a better salesperson than was Julia Gillard.