We only have one child, so I don't know if getting a mailing like this is typical or not, but it sure feels odd, especially eight months after the birth.
When I first saw the envelope, with a return address of "Executive Mansion," I thought it must be a fundraising appeal.
(Clicking on the image at right will take you to a PDF of the entire mailing.)
Well, maybe this is proof that Rod is not as smart as many of you have pointed out. If he had sent this congratulations right after the baby was born, he would have beat the post rate increase and save we taxpayers money. :-)
Pattsi Petrie
I always wonder why newborn babies need to be immunized against Hep B. I'm sure my babe won't be engaging in any high-risk behavior beyond being cuddled by her siblings.
Hep B can be passed from mother to child. In Taiwan, a Hep B immunization program reduced the indicence of childhood cancer, but I'm not sure how widespread Hep B is in the US. Anyway, why not do it? Your baby isn't going to be a baby forever.
While I am pleased that you have a child, I wonder why I, as a taxpayer, has the State writing congratulations to you and the other parents in the State. This could amount to alot of money that perhaps could result in a lower budget......I remember when Congressman Johnson sent me the same type of congratulations and that was paid for by the US Government......
I always wonder why newborn babies need to be immunized against Hep B. I'm sure my babe won't be engaging in any high-risk behavior beyond being cuddled by her siblings.
Completely unnecessary, like so many of the vaccines they want to pump into a brand new baby. Especially unwise if the baby was exposed to drugs during the pregnancy or the delivery. Epidurals can knock a baby's immune system down a few steps to begin with. Following that up with a variety of vaccines is really, really unwise.
You have total control over what the hospital is allowed to put into your baby and, frankly, you have total control over how the birth will be handled. Many people I know are choosing to have their babies at home these days, even though a doctor can lose his/her license for attending a home birth.
Educate yourself before you step foot in a hospital. So many of the terrible things that happen during hospital childbirths could be avoided with a little bit of knowledge and a little bit of patience. Most babies would like to come when they are good and ready, but so many of the births that take place in hospitals these days happen on a schedule, or because the doctor has decided that there is a minute risk to the baby if he/she stays in utero for another week. It is a really, really ridiculous system.
Off my soapbox now.
"You have total control over what the hospital is allowed to put into your baby and, frankly, you have total control over how the birth will be handled."
Actually, when we went through all the pre-birthing classes and orientation crap at Carle, this was stressed repeatedly, including letting us know about home births, doulas (sp?), midwives, and declining anesthesiology and immunizations. I thought they were very fair about it, considering it was a class run by hospital staff and conducted in the hospital.
I honestly felt the class was geared more towards educating people how to do a natural childbirth without an OB/GYN than it was for people who wanted to give birth in the hospital with a doctor present, to the point where I felt a little out of place because we were planning a hospital birth with a doctor.
Just my $0.02.
Agreed, Boon. I prefer NOT to set foot in a hospital when I'm birthing my babes. we also don't vax until after age two-- and then very selectively-- baby is getting immunities from mama through breastmilk-- good stuff!
To get further off topic-- a really great way to prepare for natural childbirth is Hypnobabies homestudy course.
IP-- you know of the legal status of homebirth in IL, don't you? Despite the studies that show that homebirth is just as risky or safe (depending on how you look at it,) as hospital birth, there are very few docs who are willing to attend homebirths, (of course, because they aren't trained for homebirths,) and most CNM's are not allowed to. CPMs (Certified Professional Midwifes, the only professional specifically trained for homebirths) are not licensed by the state, therefore are prosecuted. Homebirth is virtually illegal in IL, unless you want to go unassisted (a fine choice IMO, but something most people are uncomfortable trying...)
"IP-- you know of the legal status of homebirth in IL, don't you?"
No - we never really considered it.
I was just stating that in our experience and in my opinion, the pre-birthing classes at Carle went out of the way to let us know about birthing options other than (what I had assumed was the standard) OB/GYN in the hospital.
We took the prepared childbirth classes at Carle when we had our first baby. I didn't find it very helpful in preparing for natural birth. Kind of like having one weekend to prepare for a marathon.
You must have had someone who personally advocates homebirth and was trying to educate women on their options? You are certainly not alone in never considering homebirth or thinking that hospital birth is the standard, and perhaps this was the reasoning for your childbirth educator to press educating the various options. the US ranks behind most other European countries which employ the Midwifery Model of childbirth. Studies show that low-risk births at home have the same mortality rates at low-risk births in the hospital, but the hospital birth groups end up with MUCH higher rates of interventions, which come with their own risk factors and side effects, especially unnecessary c-section. This is evident by the rate of c-sections in this country being 3 times what it should be. Of course, we all thank God that the baby is here safe and sound, but the pain and suffering and difficulties that result from unnecessary intervention could be less, and babies and their mamas would be better off for it.
Of course, there are NO statistics on planned unassisted birth, so if we really look at it objectively, we don't even know if all we do for birth makes it safer or not.
Despite hoping for more education among women regarding their bodies and their babies, I personally advocate a woman being supported in birthing however she is most comfortable- hospital or home. But unfortunately, in this state, women who wish to birth at home are most often barred from doing so.
(Giving the soap box back to Boon now. :) )
Had my baby in the hospital...lots of days where I really wish I would have had the option to stay home with a midwife in the rambly old Victorian 8 blocks from Christie Clinic and have him there, instead.
Wouldn't have had to worry about exposing him to hospital-based infections, like MRSA (methylicin -resistant streptococcus aureus) (possible spelling errors there, as I am not a microbiologist).
Probably wouldn't have had all the IVs I wound up getting stuck with.
Didn't have health insurance at that time, so would have saved Medicaid about $2000 for the hospital bill and ob-gyn. Your tax dollars at work, ladies and gentlemen! ( A midwife would have probably been around $800-1000 for the delivery).
And I had a relatively uncomplicated pregnancy (worked up until 2 days before I gave birth, and came home within 20 hrs. of the time he was born--by my choice, but believe me, the hospital didn't object).
When I get to go back to grad school, I think I'm going to write some papers about this.
Trying really hard to walk away from this before I steal much more of D. Boon's soapbox...
And by the way, Gordy, you should be getting some books from the Gov. or his lovely wife to read to your baby.
Don't forget to vote for Rod!
When did Tim Johnson send out birth letters? I've never gotten one...but am sitting here thinking I've never gotten a campaign soliciation, either...
one who hopes-- here's a blog called "The True Face of Birth" by a gal near Peoria who is studying birth for her grad studies. She is trying to research that unresearched topic- unassisted birth- and is coming to some fasincating conclusions!
http://rixarixa.blogspot.com/
Manic Monday Momma:
How do you know Rixa is in/near Peoria? It doesn't take much reading between the lines to see she's Mormon, but the location references seem more Canadian. Am I missing something? (And if she is in Peoria, how can I meet her? I think she and I have some topics of mutual interest we would enjoy discussing, and no, I ain't talking politics!!)
Thanks in advance!!
owhtcootcitf