Can You Just Use the Abstract?

As I have struggled to get back to posting, despite my complete commitment and enthusiasm about this project, I have been plagued by thoughts about an editorial by Henci Goer. The editorial at: www.midwiferytoday.com/articles/disinformation.asp talks about the "conspiracy" behind obstetricians trying to control women and their births. Please read the complete article for all the insights Henci Goer offers. My point in mentioning it is that I have been troubled by it ever since.

I will tell you up front that my sympathies lie with Henci. Though I know of several outstanding, compassionate, intelligent OB's in my community, I have heard too many stories of lies, horror, bullying, and sheer stupidity on the part of docs to not realize something is amiss in the world of OB's. As I have said before, birth is being taken from women, and unless we stop it, nothing will.

Having said that, my question for myself has been: How the heck do I find the time to read, analyze, digest, and regurgitate the full study on all the issues I wish to research? I've been relying on the abstracts of studies for several reasons, not the least of which is that it saves my time so I can accomplish more, but also I have been trusting, since I'm using studies publishes in major, reputable journals, that the information is valid.

Now Henci mainly highlights where she thinks information has been pulled from studies and misrepresented. She points out several occassions where the study's authors find a different conclusion than what the main stream media represents. That gives me some solace.

After struggling with this for weeks, here's what I've come to as my personal choice. For issues that are most controversial, like elective c-section, home birth, midwifery model of care versus medical model of care, I will attempt to find the best, complete studies I can. For issues I don't perceive as controversial: eating during labor, episiotomy, laboring in water, I will use the abstracts. As with everything, not perfect, but the best compromise I can see.