Although I understand that the film was limited in its ability to show all the details of each situation, I have heard Abby speak and she clearly has expressed her negative feelings about her experience.

I have also read a great deal about Cara Muhlhahn and she clearly states (and has been quoted) that she has chosen to have neither a back-up physician or hospital and has been rather cavalier about the necessity of either.

Having spoken with one of her clients, whose baby died, I have to respectfully point out that Ms. Muhlhahn’s judgement is lacking in many areas.

I will correct you in the fact that a baby born at 35.5 weeks is indeed “premature” and “near term” does not change the fact that the baby can have significant health issues at birth. Abby’s baby, being clinically undiagnosed as IUGR, is disturbing from a medical management perspective all the way around.

I apologize for any misunderstandings that I may have. I do not comment on this matter without having researched Cara Muhlhahn, as well as having personal and professional knowledge and long-term experience in the care of women and babies.

My name is Lynn and I am a rep for My Best Birth. I would just like to address some misunderstandings in this post about the birth of Abby Epstein’s baby.

Cara Muhlhahn of course had a back-up doctor and hospital. In Abby’s case, they actually had two options since her OB/GYN offered to back Cara up for Abby’s birth, as well as Cara’s regular back-up. Cara called Abby’s OB/GYN, Dr. Jacques Moritz, from Abby’s home as soon as she determined that she was in fact in labor and he agreed to meet them at the hospital.

Cara knew that the baby was very small and breech and that a hospital birth was necessary. You can even hear her in the movie say that “we have to move quickly.”

Abby was not being monitored closely for IUGR by her OB. He did not pick up on the IUGR and supported Abby’s decision to switch over to Cara Muhlhahn’s care. The IUGR was not diagnosed until after the baby was born.

In terms of diagnosing IUGR, Abby had only 2 prenatal appointments with Cara – one at 30 weeks and a second at 34 weeks. She went into labor at 35.5 weeks, which is not premature – it is “near term.”

In the film, Abby does not express disappointment in having a c-section. She expressed disappointment in being separated from her baby after the birth, in missing the moment where the baby is placed on your chest and you get to bond and rejoice. Abby was very thankful for my c-section.

Warmly,

Lynn

Like other medicines, herbal remedies can be very powerful. It is very important to talk with your midwife or doctor before taking any medicinal herb.

If I were to really put myself out on a limb and reach that point where I love another as myself, every second of every day, I would do everything possible, regardless of how I became pregnant and why, to make sure that being has their grand entrance into this universe and has at least a chance to live, if only for moments. If I were unable to care for the child or give birth to it in ideal conditions, the universe and it’s Creator/Sustainer would make sure, as long as my senses are focused on this being in me and not my needs and wants, that there would be someone loving to care for this being if it were not me.

Women, get in the way of what their womb was meant to be. It is the portal of life, not some organ to be abused and misused at her whim. It is not at the height of humanity to end a life which comes in peace even if it was caused by violence. It is not the height of humanity to make sure that your birth experience mirrors that of some fantasy that played out, looks like some scene out of a vintage romance novel found at a trendy mountainside retreat.

Life is precious either way and it is not to be taken lightly, no matter if you are an ignoramus teenager who gets pregnant and doesn’t have a clue or if you are a rich starlet!
I am done pontificating.

It’s just amazing how something that can be so amazingly, excruciatingly painful (raises hand) to one, can be pleasant and orgasmic to another.

I am jealous.

Rh factor, or Rh antigen, is a substance present by heredity in the blood of most people. Only 15 percent of us lack Rh factor, or have Rh-negative blood. Years ago, babies often died from what was known as Rh incompatibility, or rhesus disease. Today, we can prevent this from happening. If both you and your husband have Rh-negative blood, then the baby will also have this blood type, and no treatment is needed. If, however, your blood is Rh-negative and your husband’s is Rh-positive, the baby may have Rh-positive blood. In this case, your body could begin producing antibodies to your baby’s red blood cells. If you have never been pregnant before, your baby would be unaffected by these antibodies. They would remain dormant and harmless unless you became pregnant again. Then, if your baby were Rh-positive, the antibodies could cross the placenta and attack the baby’s red blood cells. This could cause anemia and mild to severe jaundice in the baby. To prevent this problem, an Rh-negative mother with an Rh-positive partner receives a shot of Rh immune globulin, or RhoGAM, at 28 weeks of pregnancy and again within 72 hours of giving birth. Rh immune globulin is also given to an Rh-negative woman after a miscarriage, an ectopic pregnancy, or an induced abortion, and at the time of amniocentesis, CVS, or another invasive procedure during pregnancy. A shot of RhoGAM should be considered, too, if an Rh-negative woman experiences any significant bleeding or blunt trauma, such as from a car accident or fall, while she is pregnant. This kind of injury can also cause Rh sensitization.

Genetic counseling is unnecessary for most couples, but it can be very helpful if you fall into one or more risk categories.