| When I was a new Labor and Delivery nurse, I | | | | to the end of December by a rate of 26.9 |
| was shocked to learn of the number of labor | | | | percent. |
| inductions scheduled at year's end for the sole | | | | This trend continues to this day with more and |
| purpose of saving a family money on their IRS | | | | more babies born when it's convenient for the |
| return. | | | | parents, and the tax code. |
| Yet for the seasoned Labor and Delivery nurse, | | | | Parents need to know that what appears to be a |
| this is simply an occurrence that happens and is | | | | financially prudent decision may have costs that |
| apart of the territory. | | | | no one is emphasizing loud enough. |
| This is one of the many practices that take place | | | | The birth process is speeded up with Pitocin (a |
| in Obstetrics, and is just another Ho-Hum addition | | | | synthetic form of Oxytocin, the natural hormone |
| to the growing number of unquestioned | | | | that stimulates the onset of labor) or other labor |
| conventions in the American practice of medicine. | | | | inducing drugs, causing the onset of heavy painful |
| As an example, the fact that health care | | | | contractions. This in turn often leads to the |
| practitioners don't seem to question and are | | | | patient requesting an epidural, which may slow |
| indeed apathetic to the Health Insurance Industry | | | | down contractions thus causing the need for |
| control of medical practice; or the fact that 50 | | | | more pitocin to speed up the process of labor. |
| million people don't have health insurance in this | | | | These drugs, like all drugs, transfers to the |
| country; or that in five years, health insurance | | | | placenta and the baby, often causing fetal distress |
| won't cover people at all and everyone will be | | | | in the form of a drop in the fetal heart rate, |
| paying out of pocket for medical care, with health | | | | lower apgar scores, neonatal jaundice, respiratory |
| insurance companies still exerting all of its control, | | | | disorders, and other complications, all signaling |
| denying claims and care. | | | | what I call a traumatic birth. |
| But I digress. | | | | Granted, birth is a traumatic event under normal |
| The modern world has created a society where | | | | circumstances. But the conditions I've just |
| people look to convenience and choice as opposed | | | | described are becoming more the norm. |
| to the natural harmony and synchronization of | | | | Natural childbirth is a rarity. |
| mother, placenta and fetus doing their magic to | | | | The World Health Organization and the United |
| create the birth of a healthy baby. | | | | States Department of Health and Human Services |
| While I accept what a parent chooses in all | | | | as well as other service organizations, through the |
| matters, and serve their hopes, wishes and | | | | Healthy People 2010 Project, seek to reduce the |
| dreams, my job is to look at the risks and | | | | number of Primary Cesarean Sections performed |
| benefits of theses choices and help guide where | | | | in the US to 15% or less by the year 2010. |
| ever I can. | | | | Women: You need to know that you can take an |
| The practice of timing tax deductions by inducing | | | | active role in deciding exactly what you want for |
| labor or scheduling Cesarean deliveries may put | | | | your birthing experience. |
| mother and child at risk, in some cases, life | | | | Tax codes, doctors, nurses or midwives are not |
| threatening risk. | | | | the authorities in your life. |
| One Australian study estimates that 12 percent | | | | You are. |
| of births are scheduled to take advantage of a | | | | If you truly want to time your birth in order to |
| cash bonus offered to parents on or after July 1. | | | | get a tax break in this fragile economy, and the |
| Late in the 1990's, a new tax credit was | | | | temptation is real, then do it and we will help you |
| introduced in the United States for babies born on | | | | achieve an optimal outcome. |
| or before 12/31. | | | | But please know that the birth of your child is one |
| This year the grand total a person is eligible to | | | | of the peak experiences of your life time. |
| receive is $3800.00. | | | | Make that the focus of your attention. |
| Researchers estimate that this tax law increases | | | | Allow the ways of the world to recede. |
| the probability that parents with babies with due | | | | Because they will return again, soon enough. |
| dates in early January bump the date of delivery | | | | |