‘Labor’ Day rally promotes birthing options, education for women

A national group is putting a twist on Labor Day.

On Monday, members of ImprovingBirth.org held rallies across the country, including one in Idaho Falls.

According to the group, America lags behind 49 other industrialized nations in maternal survival rates. That statistic, the group said, needs to change.

“We need to stand up for our rights and demand better care,” said Tanda Owens, “A lot of women just don’t even realize they have choices.”

Owens gave birth to her daughter Savanna at home. All three of her kids were born the same way.

“I’ve seen women that have babies in hospitals, and they just kind of cascade and get worse and worse and end badly,” she said.

On Monday, Owens was at Sunnyside Park in Idaho Falls for a rally to show support for a nationwide movement to raise awareness surrounding what ImprovingBirth.org calls “highly medicalized births.”

“Currently the World Health Organization recommends C-section rates be 10 to 15 percent nationwide,” said rally coordinator Jennifer Jeppson.

Jeppson said the U.S. vastly exceeds that recommendation.

“Our C-section rates have exceeded 30 percent,” she said.

The high number of C-sections is only a part of what ImprovingBirth.org calls, “the largest women’s rights issue in decades.”

The group isn’t advocating home birth, or natural birth specifically. But they are advocating option awareness.

“What we’re advocating is educated birth,” said Jeppson. “We want women to know they have choices.”

Jeppson said the choice to have a C-section should only be presented as an option if its necessary.

“It’s a lifesaving maneuver, absolutely necessary,” she said. “But only when the situation requires it.”

At Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center, Dr. Margaret Huggins, OBGYN, agrees.

“None of us want to do a C-section needlessly,” she said.

Huggins said a high C-section rate may have something to do with moms who may have delivered via C-section once, and want to do it again.

“A lot of folks who have a C-section will elect to have a repeat C-section,” said Huggins.

Whatever the choice, Huggins and Jeppson both said education is key.

The Idaho Falls rally attracted about a dozen families.

Rallies across the country were held at or nearby area hospitals to maximize exposure for the cause.