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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 26, 1975)
omfortable labor uif^e, 1975 Pa9e 5 repared childbirth easier Ayearago, Susan Trefry, a regis- red nurse, decided that some where in this world, there must be a lay to have a baby in a more dig nified, comfortable way. | Today, she and Kulla Cornwell of Iryan and Bonnie Broderick of Col- Ige Station are teaching pregnant lomen classes in prepared child- llirth. I "Coming to these classes is in no lay related to using or not using jnesthesia. That is entirely up to the lusband and wife and their doctor, ■heseclasses are meant to make the Bromaii more comfortable with her %egnancy and childbirth,” explains [refry. "Natural childbirth” often conno tes no or minimal anesthesia, but ie classes are not meant to decide lis question for expectant parents. Using the Lamaze Method, couples are taught concentrated breathing and relaxation. The method was originated in the Soviet Union in the 1940’s, and was called Psychoprophylaxis. Several years later a doctor by the name of Fernand Lamaze instituted a simi lar method in France. An American patient of his, Marjorie Karmel, brought the idea to the U.S. in the '50’s. The classes do not guarantee a painless childbirth. Trefry does guarantee, however, that by using the method, any pain the mother may feel would be considerably less than if she were not using the method. “We try to discourage the at titude of being a martyr,” says Trefry. “This class is to make things easier; it’s a class for chickens.” Explaining the way the method works, Trefry says, “The brain has to receive messages of stimulus. We try to block the pathways to the brain by giving it other things to do. We try to interfere with the pain stimulus that is coming from the uterus. It requires complete con centration to block these stimuli. Thus, we teach concentrated brea thing rather than concentrated dis comfort. “We teach methods of relaxation that require conscious mental activ ity and concentration. We also exp lain in detail how the baby is born. The truth and facts are always less frightening than the unknown,” she said. Wives are required to bring their husbands to the classes that meet |Vlr. and Mrs. Frank McDaniel of the Tejas Trading Co. Corrales, New Mexico 3 DAYS ONLY FEB. 27-28 MARCH 1 Interested women and men learn natural childbirth techniques. (Photo by Tom Kayser) once a week for six weeks. Assis tance is needed to perform the exer cises and in the words of one expec tant mother, “If my husband was interested enough to be present when the baby was conceived, then he’s going to be interested enough to be present when the baby is born.” Parents who have taken the course are not ignorant of what is happening and can handle the ma jority of the labor without assis tance, says Trefry. Although the Lamaze Method is not formulated on the idea of no anesthesia, natural childbirth often means just that. “We have let ourse lves be convinced by doctors who i have never experienced labor and L by our unprepared frightened for bears that our labor will be too pain ful to bear,” said Jane Kates Pincus, contributing author of “Our Bodies, Ourselves.” The Lamaze Method does not ad vocate having babies at home or without anesthesia. What is does say is “that it is not normal to have babies while heavily drugged, in helpless ignorance and pain, and to tally dependent on the medical pro fession. We believe that it is much more natural for us to want to know what is happening to our bodies dur ing labor.” The approach of natural child birth is to try to eliminate the fear of labor through education and exer cise. Through the Lamaze Method, women are asked to respond ac tively to uterine contractions with a set of prelearned, controlled brea thing exercises. As the intensity of contractions increase, the mother’s breathing in creases. Through controlled brea thing and concentrated relaxation, the women do not require heavy pain-relieving drugs. Classes taught in the Bryan- College Station area cost $20. Besides breathing and relaxation techniques, couples are informed about different types of pain medi cation and breast feeding. Are Pleased to Announce A Special 3-Day Introductory Showing of Authentic, Traditional & Contemporary Indian Jewelry mf\o/ 3 days WW /O OFF ONLY s/j? ChaSli 707 Texas MONDAY EVENING TUESDAY EVENING SPECIAL SPECIAL Salisbury Steak BREADED FISH with FILET w/TARTAR Mushroom Gravy SAUCE Whipped Potatoes , Cole Slaw Your Choice of Hush Puppies One Vegetable Choice of one Rolls and Butter vegetable Coffee or Tea Rolls & Butter Tea or Coffee Family planning coming to CS Money needed to ensure May opening By JERRY NEEDHAM Staff Writer Planned Parenthood of Houston is attempting to open a Col lege Station branch this spring. About $1,000 must be raised in the community to support a branch clinic, said Marianne Hamm, local promoter for Planned Parenthood. Approximately $700 has already been collected in the local hind drive. Hamm said she hopes the clinic can open around May 1. A booth will be open in the Memorial Student Center Thurs day and Friday to provide information and receive contribu tions. Some reasons cited by Hamm for the need of such a clinic are the rapidly growing population of the area and a demand for low-cost family planning that has exceeded available services. The A&M Student Health Center offers counseling and pre scriptions for contraceptives to students but no services are available to their families. Planned Parenthood of Houston, Inc. is a non-profit corpora tion staffed essentially by volunteers trained in: clinical aid, family planning counseling, patient recruitment and other areas. Hamm said the local clinic would primarily provide family planning, contraception devices and educational programs. Pa tients seeking other similar services would be referred to local physicians or, in case of financial need, to the Houston center. The Brazos Valley Family Planning Clinic is currently operat ing a federally-funded service for no charge. Eligibility is de termined by income level and family size. Planned Parenthood is a private organization with services available to all members of the community regardless of income. Fees will be charged on a fee-for-service basis and based on ability to pay. The clinic will be administered locally by a medical doctor and a nurse practitioner, Hamm said. The proposed site of the center will be next to the Silver Dollar Saloon on Texas Avenue. Those interested in volunteering may call Hamm at 822-1226 after 5 p.m. ( MSC A, Cafeteria J New and Better Than Ever. You Will Be Pleased With These Carefully Prepared and Taste Tempting Foods. Each Daily Special Only $1.29 Plus Tax. “Open Daily” Cafeteria: 11 AM to 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM to 7 PM Snack Bar: 7 AM to in pm WEDNESDAY EVENING SPECIAL Chicken Fried Beef Steak w/cream Gravy Whipped Potatoes and Choice of one other Vegetable Rolls and Butter Coffee or Tea THURSDAY EVENING SPECIAL Italian Candle Light Spaghetti Dinner SERVED WITH SPICED MEAT BALLS AND SAUCE Parmesan Cheese - Tossed Green Salad Choice of Salad Dressing - Hot Garlic Bread Tea or Coffee Our meat and fish are processed in Government inspected plants. BankAmericard //■////,/M’ /'/ tf FRIDAY EVENING SPECIAL Mexican Fiesta Dinner Two Cheese and Onion Enchiladas w/chili Mexican Rice Patio Style Pinto Seans Tostadas Coffee or Tea One Com Bread SATURDAY EVENING SPECIAL “Yankee Pot Roast Texas Style” Tossed Salad Choice of one vegetable Rolls & Sutter SUNDAY SPECIAL NOON and EVENING ROAST TURKEY DINNER Served with Cranberry Sauce & Crabapple Cornbread Dressing Rolls - Butter - Coffee or Tea Giblet Gravy And your choice o! any One vegetable “Quality First” This man is special. ■Ru . A. Jl JERRY H. BIRDWELL, JR. 822-1559 p Jerry Birdwell is a specialist in the Optional Retirement jog ram and other tax shelters to provide future financial security r faculty, staff and all professionals. He understands the prob es and opportunities peculiar to your profession, and would 1 e to be of service to you. lOfffUll&mi 3200 So - College Ave. i!E"HI"l 3*1111 p * Box 3667 mam Bryan Texas 7701 Men’s & Women Clothes Up to 50% oft Large Select Group of Records Vi Price TEXAS A&M BOOKSTORE In the Memorial Student Center