Response
Although I anticipated a strong response to my article on
Natural Childbirth vs. Epidural Anesthesia, the outpouring of
overwhelming support that has reached me, and assumedly,
Yated, has suprassed even my greatest expectations.
Apparently there are many other Jewish mothers out there who,
as myself, have only the happiest of memories of their
natural childbirths. Boruch Hashem. Almost without
exception, the faxes and phone calls that came in described
childbirth in glowing terms, surprisingly void of any mention
of pain. Whatever they may have felt at the time, pain for
these mothers was not synonymous with birth. Some even
laughingly spoke of their `prepared' natural births as having
been kef (fun). Ashreichem Yisroel!
Of the few who did report negative birth experiences to me,
virtually all attributed their plight to either dictatorial
hospital treatment and/or a traumatic sense of helplessness,
loss of control and the lack of a familiar support person to
give them chizuk and practical assistance. Not to
natural childbirth per se.
Fathers and grandfathers also responded. Most of them
expressed appreciation and praise to Yated for having
provided me with what one renowned talmid chochom,
author and public speaker, graciously described as "a
platform for publicizing these important findings" (Rabbi Dr.
Dov Levine).
But what really took me completely by surprise was the
publication of Yated's "Letter From the Editor."
Although my report on the association between epidural fever
and brain injury in children was eloquently dismissed as
being "hardly as great as described," the groundbreaking
research by Dr. Dashe and colleagues has sent shock waves
reverberating throughout the medical community -- with many
scurrying to disprove it, in vain.
Regardless of what caused it initially, once the mother's
`emergency' inflammatory response goes off, scavenger cells
within her body set into motion a complicated cascade of
biochemical activity. Unfortunately, once activated, killer
cells (capable of targeting and breaking through thin-walled
blood vessels as they rout out any invading bacteria) are
also adept at damaging healthy cells, especially when no
invading bacteria are found.
Although the epidural mother, not the baby, seems to be the
one who first called for `help' from the immune system, it is
the baby's delicate tissues which are a more vulnerable
target.
Eventually, when the smoke has settled and the battle to
eliminate epidural anesthesia from the labor room has finally
been won, your readers will, at least, be able to say, "We
saw it first in Yated Ne'eman!"
Respectfully yours,
Esther Marilus
*
RE: Rousing the Warrior, 14 Shvat
Varda Branfman's article was not without humor. However, I
think it should not pass without comment.
She describes her story well and there is no doubt that she
suffered from "chronic ulcerative colitis," characterized by
acute periods and often followed by periods relatively free
of symptoms. Unfortunately, it also carries a risk of
complications that can be severe and even fatal when not
recognized early... It is therefore important that such
patients remain under the supervision of one who is
thoroughly familiar with all its variations and
ramifications...
I am concerned that the publication of this article might
lead a patient who is suffering from this disease to decide
to "go it alone." But the treating physician should instill
enough confidence so that the patient is at ease with
decisions reached. This was obviously lacking in this
instance.
Excerpted from a letter by
Eliezer Desser Professor of Medicine Specialist in Internal
Diseases Bnei Brak
*
And another on the subject from a reader who is "afraid that
there are some sufferers reading these articles who may have
their confidence diminished in the medical profession and not
seek the advice they really need. We regard doctors, after
all, as messengers from the Great Healer Himself and we are
always advised by our Gedolim to seek the best medical advice
possible."
