Spring Break
Play stresses importance of natural labor
Critically-acclaimed play will run all weekend in OSU's Withycombe Hall Lab Theater
Carly Dougher
Issue date: 10/10/08 Section: News
In an age of highly influential systemic biomedical thought, a separation of mind and body in medicine has come to the forefront of medical controversy.
To address these issues in relation to childbirth, Oregon State University is hosting the critically-acclaimed play "Birth," an artistic approach to the challenges that today's expecting mothers face in making birthing decisions. Through the lives of eight powerful women, "Birth" explores the various medical options available to women who are at a low-risk for birth complications.
Directed by Kimberly Gifford, last night was OSU's premiere of "Birth."
"Birth" will be showing at the Withycombe Hall Lab Theater tonight and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Following each presentation, a moderated "talk back" panel will provide opportunity for discussion and audience involvement with maternity care providers from the community.
"Birth" is part of a global movement initiated by the group Born On Labor Day, an organization creating awareness of maternity options within communities through the arts.
"The main objective of this play is to inform the public of the human rights issues associated with childbirth practices in the U.S.," said Karen Brody, playwright of "Birth" and both founder and executive director of BOLD.
"We are experiencing a childbirth crisis in America. Over 30 percent of mothers are having major abdominal surgery, despite the World Health Organization's declaration that at most, industrialized countries like the United States should have a 10-15 percent cesarean rate," Brody said.
The controversies addressed in the play involve, but are certainly not limited to, high cesarean rates, negative media images depicting the birthing processes, unnecessary early inductions, disrespect for women's individual birthing processes, overly-sterile and technological birthing environments and post-delivery traumas and victimizations.
OSU Medical Anthropologist and licensed midwife Melissa Cheyney stressed the importance of a healthy, holistic birthing process.
To address these issues in relation to childbirth, Oregon State University is hosting the critically-acclaimed play "Birth," an artistic approach to the challenges that today's expecting mothers face in making birthing decisions. Through the lives of eight powerful women, "Birth" explores the various medical options available to women who are at a low-risk for birth complications.
Directed by Kimberly Gifford, last night was OSU's premiere of "Birth."
"Birth" will be showing at the Withycombe Hall Lab Theater tonight and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Following each presentation, a moderated "talk back" panel will provide opportunity for discussion and audience involvement with maternity care providers from the community.
"Birth" is part of a global movement initiated by the group Born On Labor Day, an organization creating awareness of maternity options within communities through the arts.
"The main objective of this play is to inform the public of the human rights issues associated with childbirth practices in the U.S.," said Karen Brody, playwright of "Birth" and both founder and executive director of BOLD.
"We are experiencing a childbirth crisis in America. Over 30 percent of mothers are having major abdominal surgery, despite the World Health Organization's declaration that at most, industrialized countries like the United States should have a 10-15 percent cesarean rate," Brody said.
The controversies addressed in the play involve, but are certainly not limited to, high cesarean rates, negative media images depicting the birthing processes, unnecessary early inductions, disrespect for women's individual birthing processes, overly-sterile and technological birthing environments and post-delivery traumas and victimizations.
OSU Medical Anthropologist and licensed midwife Melissa Cheyney stressed the importance of a healthy, holistic birthing process.
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