Before this unit in class, I never really thought about the difference between normal child birth and natural child birth. I knew that a baby could be delivered either through a C-section (Caesarian) or vaginally. However, I thought that giving birth vaginally was both the “natural” and “normal” way. I always thought that a C-section was only performed when there was a health concern to either the mother or child. It does seem like nowadays women favor having a C-section opposed to giving birth vaginally. Even if there isn’t anything wrong with the baby, many mothers prefer a C-section even though it isn’t always safer.
After watching these videos and listening to the broadcast, I started thinking not only about birth in America, but the birthing process in general. The American Way of Birth is very odd, chaotic, and impersonal, when birth is supposed to be something joyous and sacred. When I looked at the different ways to give birth, I saw that the American Way of Birth is not normal at all. It made me question if having a baby in a hospital setting is always better. These videos changed my whole view on birth and the “right” way it should be done. Most of all it left me terrified, disgusted, and scared of the pain that is endured when giving birth.
I watched the dolphin and the giraffe giving birth first. They did make me cringe a little, but they weren’t that bad. It didn’t seem like they were in that much pain. The one that stood out to me the most was the giraffe, because it seemed the most similar to the way humans give birth. The giraffe had another giraffe there to kind of help her along while in labor, just like humans may have a midwife, or a close family member/friend there for support. What surprised me the most was how the baby was delivered, and the process after it was born. I was shocked to see that the baby was just plopped on the ground like it was nothing. I don’t know what I was expecting, but I definitely wasn’t expecting to see the baby giraffe hitting the ground as if it was garbage or something. What also surprised me was how quick the baby giraffe is kind of forced into the world. Minutes after it was born, the giraffe was learning to walk and stand on its own. This is very different to the way humans/Americans care for their babies. In our culture babies are usually waited on hand and foot for a couple of years before they are taught/ take up the courage to try to walk. While watching both the giraffe and the dolphin video, I noticed that the animals kind of went about their business while giving birth. The giraffe was walking around nonchalantly, while it seemed like the dolphin was swimming around like nothing is happening. I realized that the animals didn’t make a big deal about giving birth like humans do. They keep going on about their business like it’s just another regular day (maybe it’s because their animals???).
Right after watching the animals giving birth, I watched the midwife videos. This one wasn’t working properly so I also watched “Bastian’s Birth 7”. These were the hardest to take for me. Whenever I think about pregnancy I think of the mother just popping the baby out. Yes, I know there’s pain involved, but I never really knew what a mother ACTUALLY goes through giving birth. These two videos were so real, and “in your face” with the birthing process, and I don’t think that I was ready for that. As soon as I saw the babies start to come out, I started cringing, squirming, and getting pains in my stomach. Even though it did seem painful like any other birth, the “natural” birth (midwife, no doctors etc.) seemed like it would be a better environment to bring a person into this world with. It had me thinking why the “normal” American Way of Birth had to be complicated and stressful when it didn’t have to be that way. Why do most Americans choose to give birth in a hospital, than like the women in these videos with a midwife? Most of all the two videos on birth that I watched have me on the fence about giving birth. I know it‘s what is expected from us women, but I don’t know if I’m ready for that experience. Truthfully I don’t know how I ever would be. No matter how many calm and encouraging people I have around me, I know I won’t be as calm and collected as those mothers in the video.
The last video to be watched was the C-Section video. I definitely regretted it after I watched it. It seemed like the C-Section is a whole bunch of pulling, pushing, and tugging. Even the way they handled the baby after seemed so wrong. If I had the courage to watch this video I would, just to get a second look at the whole process. It made me think why do most American women want this experience…it seems HORRIBLE.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Questions on Comparative Birth
1. Birth in 2009 vs. Birth in 1950's
2. How do white people having more resources effect the way they give birth? (compared to black people)
3. Percentage of abortions in America vs. D.R.
4. Teen pregnancy vs. in the 1900's
5.Adoption vs. Abortion in America compared to Europe
6.Having a child under 20 vs. having a child over 35
7.How has the age of giving birth changed over the last 50 years?
8. percentage of single parent homes vs. 2 parent homes (now and 1950's)
9. How does the common way of giving birth in the US compare to the common way of giving birth in other countries?
10. What is the common age of pregnancy in the US vs. third world countries?
11. How many kids are in the average family in the US vs in Africa
12. What races around the world are known to be the most fertile? (average births each year)
13. How many babies are killed each year in the U.s vs third world countries ( babies thrown in garbage cans/rivers/etc)
14. How have technologies changed over the years?
15. Birth in America vs. in Africa
16. Birth in America vs. China
17.% of death during pregnancy in America vs. Haiti vs. Europe
18.births vs. abortion (in any country?)
19.C-Sections vs. natural Birth
20.abortions vs giving your baby up for adoption
21.Miscarriage vs successful birth
22. C-section rate now vs. 50 yrs ago
23. woman dying during birth now vs. 50 yrs ago
2. How do white people having more resources effect the way they give birth? (compared to black people)
3. Percentage of abortions in America vs. D.R.
4. Teen pregnancy vs. in the 1900's
5.Adoption vs. Abortion in America compared to Europe
6.Having a child under 20 vs. having a child over 35
7.How has the age of giving birth changed over the last 50 years?
8. percentage of single parent homes vs. 2 parent homes (now and 1950's)
9. How does the common way of giving birth in the US compare to the common way of giving birth in other countries?
10. What is the common age of pregnancy in the US vs. third world countries?
11. How many kids are in the average family in the US vs in Africa
12. What races around the world are known to be the most fertile? (average births each year)
13. How many babies are killed each year in the U.s vs third world countries ( babies thrown in garbage cans/rivers/etc)
14. How have technologies changed over the years?
15. Birth in America vs. in Africa
16. Birth in America vs. China
17.% of death during pregnancy in America vs. Haiti vs. Europe
18.births vs. abortion (in any country?)
19.C-Sections vs. natural Birth
20.abortions vs giving your baby up for adoption
21.Miscarriage vs successful birth
22. C-section rate now vs. 50 yrs ago
23. woman dying during birth now vs. 50 yrs ago
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Birth Stories
Lisa-(My Aunt)
The first person I chose to interview was my aunt Lisa, who has had two birth experiences. She has a 21 year old son and a 16 year old son. She started by telling me about her eldest sons birth. When i asked her about her overall experience, she said it wasn't that bad. except for all of the confusion everything went well. She was having contractions early one morning so decided to go to the hospital. Once she arrived they siad she wasn't dilated enough, so they had her walk around for an hour. ONce they saw that she still wasnt dilated enough, they told to her to go home and wait (I thought this was kind of crazy). When she got home, she decided to go for a walk hoping that would speed upt eh process. She walked for about a mile when her contractions started lasting longer and comming more frequently. She went back to the hospital where they told her that she still wasn't dilated, but they would admit her anyway. More confusion came when she told her nurse that she had to use the bathroom (deficate), or she would be sick. Of course the nurse said no. However, when she threw up she got yelled at by the nurse. The nurse basically treated her like shit for throughout the whole labor. She didn't really want to talk about the pain aspect, but she said that her first pregnancy was "beautiful" and "couldn't have been better", even though she was in labor for a little more than 15 hours.
Now with her second pregancy, she said it was a little bit different. She kind of new what to expect with her second baby. She knew what the contractions felt like and how faar apart they should be, inorder to go to the hospital. By the time she walked to the hospital, all she wanted to do was sleep. They once again told her that she wasn't fully dilated, so they gave her something to help her sleep. She still didn't want to speak about t he pain aspect, or what it was like in the delivery room, but she said it was very similar to her first pregnany. She was in labor for over 19 hours, but said that she loved the experience more than anything.
The first person I chose to interview was my aunt Lisa, who has had two birth experiences. She has a 21 year old son and a 16 year old son. She started by telling me about her eldest sons birth. When i asked her about her overall experience, she said it wasn't that bad. except for all of the confusion everything went well. She was having contractions early one morning so decided to go to the hospital. Once she arrived they siad she wasn't dilated enough, so they had her walk around for an hour. ONce they saw that she still wasnt dilated enough, they told to her to go home and wait (I thought this was kind of crazy). When she got home, she decided to go for a walk hoping that would speed upt eh process. She walked for about a mile when her contractions started lasting longer and comming more frequently. She went back to the hospital where they told her that she still wasn't dilated, but they would admit her anyway. More confusion came when she told her nurse that she had to use the bathroom (deficate), or she would be sick. Of course the nurse said no. However, when she threw up she got yelled at by the nurse. The nurse basically treated her like shit for throughout the whole labor. She didn't really want to talk about the pain aspect, but she said that her first pregnancy was "beautiful" and "couldn't have been better", even though she was in labor for a little more than 15 hours.
Now with her second pregancy, she said it was a little bit different. She kind of new what to expect with her second baby. She knew what the contractions felt like and how faar apart they should be, inorder to go to the hospital. By the time she walked to the hospital, all she wanted to do was sleep. They once again told her that she wasn't fully dilated, so they gave her something to help her sleep. She still didn't want to speak about t he pain aspect, or what it was like in the delivery room, but she said it was very similar to her first pregnany. She was in labor for over 19 hours, but said that she loved the experience more than anything.
My Mother-
When I asked my mother about my birth story, it was similar to my aunts birth story but also very different. My mom didn't even know she was having contractions, she just felt uncomfortable in her sleep. It was kind of confusing because she said she didn't really know that she was in labor, but she never mentioned anything about her water breaking. She made this big deal about how long it took her to get to the hospital. The hospital was only about 15 minutes form our house, but it took her close to an hour and a half to get there because of a big storm. By the time she got to the hospital i was ready to "pop" out. The one thing shse does remember really well, was how rude the nurses were to her when she was getting ready to be admitted. she said they had very little paitence and didn't care how she was feeling, or if she was comfortable. They were also getting mad at her because she was pushing even when they told her not to. I wouldn't consider my mom's birth experience that bad, but i wouldn't consider it ideal either. I know i wouldn't to experience birth the same way she did.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
How I Feel About Birth...
At 16, I feel like giving birth is the most painful and scary situation that women go through. I feel like at 16, that i'm just not ready to give birth and take care of a baby. Honestly I don't think that most teenage mothers are. It's hard for me to see my self taking care of/being responsible for something so small and fragile. How am I supposed to be a mother to a child, when I'm stil a child my self. Even though I am scared to give birth, I'm also excited about haveing a baby. i always joke around with my friends saying that I want a baby. I don't know, I just can't get over how cute they are, and how you can dresst them in the cutest little clothes, and by the cutest little things for them. I'm not really sure how i feel about giving birth after all. It's like I'm fascinated with the fact of having one and dressing it up, But scared shitless about ACTUALLY giving birth to one. The more I think about it, it seems like the more confused I get.
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