Hello....listen, I was referred to you by a friend of mine who is helping me with a page I would like to create. I am a mom of three, aspiring Doula and EMT, and an advocate for natural pregnancy, childbirth, extended breastfeeding and attachment parenting. Here is why I am writing to you: Recently I was to coach a good friend of mine through her labor and birth. She very much wanted a natural birth and had written a very specific birth plan and had planned on signing waivers to release the hospital and docs from any legal action if anything went wrong. When we went to the hospital, the midwife on duty threw down her birth plan and told her that her child would be delivered on HER terms (the midwife's) or not at all. She literally forced me to leave my friend, and then had her physically restrained to insert IV's and apply monitors which my friend had NOT consented to, and in fact had specifically said she didn't want. Then, later, during the actual birth, the midwife let my friend's vagina tear horribly instead of giving her an episiotomy as she said "You want a natural birth...do it yourself" Then, my friends new baby was taken from her, and she didn't get to see the baby for three hours after the birth. The baby was subjected to tests and proceedures that my friend had specifically requested not be done, and the baby was given a bottle in spite of the fact that my friend wanted to nurse her baby. Anyway, my intent is to open a page to expose these so called 'medical professionals' for what they are.....butchers! What happened to my friend was pure and simple assault, but she has not much recourse, as this happened in a military hospital. Her husband, like mine is in the Army, and they are not very high ranking soldiers, so the risk of reprocussions (sp?) to them is very high if she takes action. I know that is the norm for most army hospitals, and I would like to open a *safe* arena for women to read and be warned of these people, by NAME and rank, and location, and also a *safe* place for them to post their horror stories with warnings also. Many people are afraid of being sued...I could care less tho my husband is a bit paranoid... do you see what I am trying to say here? Can you help me? Please let me know as soon as possible :) Thanks! -- Kay Jones KayEC/KayTIS/KayKDZ/KeWEL/KayOfBoz http://www.vvm.com/~kjones *Peace On Earth Begins At Birth* ICQ: 2935300