Women are different, yes. Birth can vary, but still, a woman is giving birth to a child (or more than one) and to put said woman in shackles is WRONG.

Any and all shackles in labour and birth is cruel and inhumane.

(I especially enjoyed the closing quote from Schulz of Amnesty International, who apparently believes that no one ever wakes unexpectedly from a coma.)

I’m not arguing that labor isn’t consuming of a woman’s total effort and attention, or that it isn’t very painful. All I’m saying is that women are different from each other. One woman’s experience in labor may or may not tell her everything about another woman’s experience. One person’s ability or inability to think of escaping during a particular event may or may not tell that person much about what a different person would do. Human beings do extraordinary, unexpected things, especially when they want to escape captivity. Some cut off their own limbs. So I don’t think we can predict with absolute safety that no woman in labor will ever attempt escape.

Your insinuation is that a woman in labour would be thinking about escaping, and I would be willing to bet a whole lot of money (and I am not a gambling person) that this is the last thing on her mind.

It’s not just that labour can be painful, it is totally consuming of one’s efforts, time and consideration. I can’t see that any woman who has given birth and who might be involved in the shackling of these women wouldn’t have a problem with this, as they would understand the total inappropriateness of this action.

When I say you saw a prisoner first, I mean that you saw the need to have them remain shackled while in labour if their captors so desire. You would have had to be in labour to understand the total impropriety of this and I am not being sexist. It’s just the nature of it. Watching someone in labour isn’t understanding it. I couldn’t understand it until I was in labour and gave birth. It does completely consume your efforts and anyone who has given birth would know there is absolutely no need to keep a woman in shackles and besides that, it is completely barbaric and cruel.

Annegb, what does your comment have to do with anything I’ve said? Why are you recommending that I do something painful and self-destructive? Do you believe I don’t think labor is painful? Where do you get that idea?

I don’t care if she killed the pope, nobody should have to go through that.

We aren’t talking about pregnant women. We are talking about labouring women. There is a huge difference. And I have a strong belief that women who are birthing need the utmost respect and honour and being in SHACKLES is cruel and inhumane. No baby deserves to come into the world with a mother under that much stress. Yes, I feel strongly about it.

And if you read the article, these women weren’t murderers, the ones interviewed were in jail for cheque fraud, etc. And it doesn’t matter anyway. She’s giving birth. I can’t imagine being in shackles while giving birth. I am glad they are fighting this and stopping it. No woman deserves it, whether she is in prison or not.