OMG…WHAT?????

“I’m sorry, I think your mouth opens too frequently, with sh*t spewing from it, so I don’t think you will be my midwife for my long and difficult labor”

Oh for heaven’s sake! I’d love to see her provide the data to back that statement up. Oh, but it’s all dripping with poo because of where she pulled it out of? Nevermind.

I wonder if she is trying to communicate “sphincter law” and just getting it completely messed up. Not trying to defend, because this is just downright goofy!!

In other words, I just checked my magic 8 ball and it said “Not sure at this time” So I’ll give you a bs answer to save time and just schedule the c-section.

Not that I agree that the woman will have a hard time in labor, this comment was actually based on fact. The jaw and vagina so have a relationship in fetal development and a tightor clinched jaw can delay cervical opening. I am a L&D nurse and have taught Child Birth Classes and I have seen it.
This midwife needs to work on her verbal delivery skills but I don’t belive she was preparing the woman for a c-section.

WOW…I’ve never heard THAT one before!

Dee, I think you’re right. Ina May Gaskin talks about this in her book – and I think the rule applies only when in labor. However, perhaps if the patient is tense on a regular basis, she will be in birth? Just an observation: My MIL is a rather uptight, worrisome person, and her birth experience reflected that totally. However, some positive support and good birth choices can take care of that.

At least she somewhat understands sphincter law, she just needs to clarify a little bit!

Sphincter law or not, it is still wrong to tell a pregnant woman how hard her labor is going to be . Hearing that will only make her have a harder time relaxing in labor to begin with. I thought MW’s were supposed to be encouraging? Just because she was partially right in what she was saying, doesn’t mean the words had to leave her mouth so harshly.

my jaw is so tight i grind my teeth every night! and I had quick, streamlined labors. Even if you think that, why would you want to plant that thought?

Dee- I’m with you, I don’t think that’s how sphincter law works at all… I don’t think Ina May would be too happy with that interpretation.

neeext..

This was me. I had my baby 4 1/2 hours after my water broke (with a different midwife). I would describe my labor as simple and almost pain free. I only had contractions for 3 hours.

huh???

Wot?
Never heard of that one. How can the cervix and jaw be linked? How can a midwife assess a woman’s jaw either? Nobody taught me the sphincter law or how to assess the tone of a woman’s jaw. On the subject though, how can anybody predict a woman’s birth progress anyway? And what is ‘slow progress’? Denis Walsh in the UK says that research suggests half a centimetre an hour is the average for a first pregnancy. The Studd Curve that has tyrranised labour care is wrong- and it’s not evidence based anyway- it is an arbitary rule dreamed up by a rural doctor who wanted a rough guide for transferring women in emergencies. Read ‘Evidence Based Care for Normal Labour and Birth’ by Denis walsh. He is a UK midwife who is a professor at one of the Universities. He is quite an inspiration. The book can be found on Amazon.

Is a woman with a larger mouth or a slack jaw at greater risk of fecal incontinence later in life as well?

Jeez. Talk about misplaced information. Sphincter law refers to relaxing of the muscles, not the size of ones mouth. The correlation b/w a tight throat and tight bum.

“Ina May Gaskin describes the Sphincter Law in the following way:
o Sphincter muscles of both anus and vagina do not respond on command.
o Sphincter muscles open more easily in a comfortable intimate atmosphere where a woman feels safe.
o The muscles are more likely to open if the woman feels positive about herself; where she feels inspired and enjoys the birth process.
o Sphincter muscles may suddenly close even if they have already dilated, if the woman feels threatened in any way.”
http://prenatalyogacenter.com/blog/the-sphincter-law-and-childbirth/

Sure, if the mother was to relax more, the cervix would likely respond favourably. But I doubt being told that her mouth was too small would have helped in that quest.