Raise that birth rate!

Day off to procreate

Article from: AAP

September 13, 2007 09:30am

THE Russian region of Ulyanovsk has found a novel way to fight the nation’s birth-rate crisis by declaring today the Day of Conception and is giving couples time off from work to procreate.

The hope is for a brood of babies exactly nine months later on Russia’s national day. Couples who "give birth to a patriot" during the June 12 festivities win money, cars, refrigerators and other prizes.

——————————————————–

Do you think Australians should be given a day off to procreate and boost the population?  What would we call the day - Life. Begin it? Maybe hold it on Labour Day. 

——————————————————-

Ulyanovsk, about 900 kilometres east of Moscow, has held similar contests since 2005. Since then, the number of competitors, and the number of babies born to them, has been on the rise.

Russia, with one-seventh of Earth’s land surface, has just 141.4 million citizens, making it one of the most sparsely settled countries in the world. With a low birth rate and a high death rate, the population has been shrinking since the early 1990s.

In his state-of-the-nation address last year, President Vladimir Putin called the demographic crisis the most acute problem facing Russia and announced a broad effort to boost Russia’s birth rate, including cash incentives to families that have more than one child.

Ulyanovsk Gov. Sergei Morozov has added an element of fun to the national campaign.

The 2007 grand prize went to Irina and Andrei Kartuzov, who received a UAZ-Patriot, a sport utility vehicle. Other contestants won video cameras, TVs, refrigerators and washing machines.

Posted: September 14, 2007 Tellings! (2)

Job description

Advances in modern technology have meant there are many different ways and places in which a mother can choose to give birth. One of the most natural and convenient ways, however, is at home with a midwife.

Midwives are trained to help mothers with normal, uncomplicated pregnancies, labor, and deliveries. They’re also trained to recognize the types of problem that require the attention of an obstetrician—a medical doctor who specializes in delivering babies.

Whereas an obstetrician relies on technology, the midwife prefers to let the pregnancy happen as naturally as possible. Some studies have shown that midwifery care is not only safe and more personal, but also results in fewer cesarean sections and premature or low birth weight babies.

Midwives deal with all aspects of pregnancy. During the 9 month pregnancy, they offer pre-natal care. They examine pregnant women, give Pap smears, and do lab tests for normal pregnancies. They also give advice on diet, exercise, and environmental or behavioral effects on the unborn fetus.

When a woman is giving birth, midwives provide physical and emotional support. The midwife’s philosophy is that, if the pregnancy has been normal, the birth should be relatively spontaneous and trouble-free.

After birth, midwives assess the baby’s health and dietary needs. They give the mother advice on caring for herself and her child. Topics such as breast-feeding and parent-child bonding are addressed.

Many pregnant women choose to have a midwife as their primary caregiver, with an obstetrician as backup. Those who suspect they may have a more complicated pregnancy may choose to have an obstetrician as the primary caregiver and a midwife to help out with the labor.

From: Career Cruising

Posted: September 13, 2007 Tell it like it is (0)

I don’t know what to write about…

I’m lacking any motivation to get off my bum and into antenatal clinics to recruit women, which I need to do to get another 6 births for this year (!eek!). I’m lacking motivation in most things at the moment. My hip injury from my scooter accident has me feeling like I’m unable to move freely and it means I’m psychologically less than thrilled with the idea of going somewhere. I don’t want to let on that I’m in pain, so I keep going with work/chores/life, but the reality is that my back is constantly sore. Add to this that this is make my weight go up, and giving me lots of lovely body image issues which I’ve not had ever in my life, and it makes for an unhappy pumpkin. My physio cancelled today so I need to reschedule, and stick to what I’m told, so that I can progress to the gym and into pilates and so on.

Still doesn’t help me with follow-through women though, does it? Or getting assignments done before the due date, or anything else that I should do to make me less depressed. Things that do make me happy are few and far between at the moment, and I don’t know why this is. The extra sunshine is helping but I’m sick of being cold and want warmer weather as well. Though that’d mean I’d have to shave my legs ;) .

In exciting news, I got a "letter" from the Head of The School of Nursing and Midwifery today congratulating me on my amazing marks for first semester (I use the term loosely as it was not signed by her, which I think is kind of rude - really, it couldn’t have been *that* many to sign!). I want to get similar marks this semester too, so I should go study. I get frustrated with myself for not studying, but then I turn up to class and am the only one who raises her hand when asked if I’ve done the readings, or have the answers. So am I an overachiever, or just more open in admitting that I do the work?

Oh and the SMH has posted a fantastic article today, which I’ve also heard mention of on NewsRadio, ABC, and the mainstream media *spit* *spit* *hiss*:

Midwife centres as safe as hospitals, says study
Ruth Pollard: September 3, 2007

BABIES born in midwife-run birth centres had significantly lower death rates than those born in hospitals, an Australian study of more than 1 million births has found. Contradicting claims from doctors’ groups that birth centres increased the risk of the baby dying, the study of all births in Australia from 1999 until 2002 confirmed the centres provide care that is as safe, if not safer, as standard maternity units.

That’s what we like to hear!

 

Posted: September 3, 2007 Tell it like it is (0)