The Business of Being Born
I just returned from viewing above mentioned documentary with my 2 daughters and (3 month old) granddaughter. It was a wonderfully made film about how beautiful and empowering natural birth is. It will supposedly be showing in theaters this coming January. How I wish everywoman (age 15 up) would see this work. I think it would go a long way in changing the face of maternity care in America. I do feel blessed that both of my daughters "get it". Neither one of them feels passionate about changing birth in America, but I am so glad that they at least know enough to make wise choices for themselves. It is heartbreaking to know that the vast majority of women don't even know what their choices are. There really is no informed consent in our healthcare system. Without the knowledge of what else is out there available to them, they can't choose. So many women just blindly walk into the trajedy of overmanaged and often overmangled birth, with the resulting induction, c-section, NICU, baby won't nurse, etc, etc... so sad that this is the norm in this country. I don't know if it will ever change. But I am grateful that at least my daughters (and granddaughter) will not be ignorant.
posted by kirsten | 11:59 AM
3 Comments:
Mama Mia! So glad to see you blogging again.
I had a grand time with you today. I do indeed "get it" and I am so thankful I've had you on my side to show me the way! 5-10 years ago your passion was impractical to me, but now I "see the light" and am blessed that it was you, my mother, who not only taught me about it but showed it to me during Sadie's birth.
Thank you. I love you.
Hey, someone read my blog! How did you know I'd take you up on your suggestion to get back at it? Now if I can just get some facebook friends I'll really be connected!
So much I didn't know, and I've birthed 6 babies. I think we're guilted into things because of the "health of the baby." This last birth, I was so confined because the nurse was afraid. She wanted me on the bed so if I plopped out my baby (like I have the last 3 times) I would be in a controlled space. However, I believe her putting me on my back for an internal exam caused suppine hypotention or at least caused the monitor to get off the baby and read my heartbeat. And what's up with putting your hand inside a woman during the most painful thing of her life, a contraction, and then stretching out her cervix...and leaving the hand in there for the next contraction? All this while flat on my back. Explain also why, when a woman is in labor, nurses don't answer questions or just answer them with a trite answer quickly? They take advantage of the mind clearing next contraction, and how inside ourselves we are during labor and contractions in the last stages. I say things in labor, ask questions, and no one talks to me...looks me in the eye to answer. No one is there for me (except my husband who is usually touching me on the shoulder or counting because the stupid nurses count when they want me to push...ugh). Anyway, these decisions about birth places have to be made when a woman is not pregnant, or in early pregnancy. Of course, if there is a real medical emergency, of course, I want my baby in a hospital. However, if everything is within normal and can be dealt with normally, I don't want to be in a place that treats me like I am an ER patient who is not in her right mind. I am not hysterical just because I am speaking to you through the pain. Ugh.
Blessings!
Dawn (from laborpayne's blog and using my husband's old blog to publish)
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