While contemplating the birth of my fourth child in February, I am reminded of the last three births and my growing understanding that I want this new birth experience to be different. Having been induced three times - the first I will agree was necessary, but the second two were elective inductions - I am reading more and more information about how many of the procedures women go through in childbirth are medically unnecessary. I also expressed to my doctor the desire to let my body go into labor naturally and she was highly skeptical - which reinforces my studying that medical professionals have little faith in nature and little education outside the narrow confines of what they learn in their text books. The information I have uncovered is that no doctor can accurately pinpoint to a certain degree a baby's due date. The date of conception cannot be known so a woman who gives birth two weeks before or two weeks after is considered full term. And a women who goes over her due date shouldn't necessarily be considered being post term. So this time I am gearing up for a natural child birth and letting my body do its job. Though I've opted not to do a home birth - the hospital I'm using has a cozier atmosphere than my previous experiences.
While looking at birthing experiences in other countries I came across disturbing information about the care given to women in South Africa. From the reading I've done, poor women and women with HIV are not treated with respect, are often denied medical treatment even while in labor and are not given pain medication or antibiotics post delivery. "Women experience verbal and physical abuse. HIV-positive women are commonly taunted by nurses about enjoying sex and blaming them for getting pregnant if they knew about their HIV-status. Many were told they should receive no care because they were migrants. Being shouted at for "messing up" when they bled on the bed during labor, they were ordered to clean it up." (Nordqvis, 2011) Elective c sections are high among the middle class- and it is interesting to note that in Iran a C section is almost (this is me reading between the lines) a status symbol. Only poor women give birth naturally, which shocked me because a C section is still, hello, surgery.
References
Nordqvist, Christian. "The Shocking Truth About Giving Birth In South Africa." Medical News Today. MediLexicon, Intl., 8 Aug. 2011. Web. 5 Sep. 2013. <http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/232413.php>
I really enjoyed reading your blog post. I see that you have three children and one on the way. How is it? I have 2 and they are a lot of work. I have been induced once and it was better than my first experience of going into labor on my own. It was much easier and i had less pain. I see that you also researched birthing experiences in other countries that was very interesting to read as well
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your birthing experience. You are a very brave woman to be working on your fourth child! After my first one I was scared to death to have another one. I ended up pregnant and made every attempt to make sure I couldn't have another one! I know I get scared to easily but it's a part of being me I guess! I wish you the best of luck in your endeavors.
ReplyDeleteThe birth of my first child was the most important experience I have had in my whole life. He is my everything and keeps me busy. Watching him come into this world had me very concerned, his head was shaped like a cone and I kept asking the doctor is his head going to be like that.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your post. I find it great that you want to have a different experience with your next child. I also did my research on Africa, it is truly sad how they are treated in hospitals. When you think of doctors and nurses, you think that they are suppose to be caring and sympathetic. I hope they have some change in South Africa. I hope your pregnancy goes well!
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