My Birthing Experience

After visiting with some friends who had just had their first baby, my husband and I returned home. While cooking dinner, I suddenly felt very uncomfortable.  I was pregnant with my first child and 5 days past my due date.  Over the next 24 hours the pain increased and became more frequent. The next 12 hours brought contractions that were one to two minutes apart.  While laboring, I had been examined by my obstetrician who had determined that I was still in the early stages of labor as my cervix had not dilated and my amniotic sac was still intact. He also noted that I was still carrying very high.  By the next morning, I had been without sleep for more than 44 hours and was exhausted from enduring the fruitless pain. The obstetrician admitted me to the maternity ward in the hospital where I labored in the hallway on a gurney while awaiting a bed. Eventually, I was blessed with an epidural and was able to sleep. We also opted to begin a pitocin drip in order to accelerate the dilation of my cervix. At some point, the anesthetic that was keeping me comfortable ran out and the pain returned full force. I woke up screaming. Upon examination the obstetrician determined that the baby had not descended, my cervix had not dilated and my amniotic sac was still intact. At this point, I had been in active labor for 55 hours. It was decided that I would have a Caesarean section. Within two hours, I gave birth to my dear son, Blue Sky.

I chose this example because it was an epic experience in my history that was all made worthwhile by my son’s arrival. I think that the conditions under which one is born can affect one’s development. I was lucky enough to have a completely healthy, normal child after enduring an extended atypical labor. My sisters in law are both developmentally disabled adults. Complications during the birthing process are blamed for both of their current states. One of them was separated from the placenta during labor. The other’s  skull may have become compressed when her mother’s pelvis fractured while birthing her. Had my sisters in law had normal, uncomplicated birthing experiences, perhaps they would have led normal lives.

Birthing customs vary around the world. In the Netherlands, women contract with an obstetrician only in the case of difficult or high risk pregnancies. Most women are cared for by a midwife.  Women also choose whether to give birth at home or in a hospital.  Many Dutch women opt for a home birth. Midwives make house calls to check on their patients’ progress.  Most Dutch mothers aspire to give birth without anesthetics or other medications. Epidurals are only granted when the anesthesiologist is readily available or when an obstetrician feels that it is absolutely necessary.  Mothers who give birth early in the day and without issues may go home with their infants two hours after giving birth.  Maternity home care is a great feature of the Dutch birthing customs.  A nurse visits the new family for 7 days after the child is born. Maternity home care nurses provide medical services, clean and cook for the new family as well as provide parenting classes(Parents).

Reference

Schalken, L. Birthing Customs Around the World. www.parents.com/pregnancy/giving-birth/vaginal/birth-customs-aroundtheworld