Childbirth in my Life & Around the World
In My Life
I've never given birth, so I could not tell you what it's like from a first-person perspective. But as an outsider, I was around for my little brother's birth. I remember being woken by my father telling me my mother had gone into labor and that he would bring my and my little sister to the hospital if we wished. Having wanted to be with her as much as I could be, I told him I wanted to go and we packed ourselves into the car that morning and headed off.
I'd only ever seen health videos where they show you what it's like to give birth but had never seen anything in person. Watching my mother go through labor for hours was stressful because I've always disliked seeing my mother in pain. Despite knowing that the end result would be my little brother coming into the world, the pain she was in didn't quite seem worth it to me. She struggled. My brother didn't want to drop that day and after a while her labor stalled. The doctors told her she would have to have an emergency cesarean section. My mother wasn't happy with this because she'd had two natural births previously but she knew it was in my brother's best interest and agreed. Only one person was allowed in the operating room with her and my grandmother went, my father too squeamish when it came to my mother being operated on, my sister being too young, and my mother not wanting to scar me with the experience.
It ended up being a good thing they operated, because my brother would have likely died during the birth as the umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck. Once he'd been removed from my mother, they brought him for my father, sister, and I to see before bringing him to get cleaned up. I've seen my father only cry a few times in my life but that moment was one of them. Seeing my brother covered in all the "gunk" (as my father had called it) and hearing him cry was a beautiful moment. My mother was in so much pain for ages afterwards but watching her interact with my brother and interacting with him myself, I understood that all the pain was worth it. And it was at that moment I also understood why women go on to have more than one kid despite all the pain they go through.
Around the World
For this, I looked at birth in Europe. Given the great diversity on the continent, it was no surprise to find out that "diversity is not just present in economic, cultural, political and religious spheres, but also in the practices, perspectives, and attitudes towards birth" (Avery, 2015, p.1). In many places, women and families where there is more technological approaches found, are seen as elite because they are able to get the extra care for their child from a hospital even if it's not necessarily needed. Just the fact that they can go without worry is a sign that they have money. Other countries see birth as a natural process and midwives doing home deliveries is more the norm than a mother going to the hospital. Of course, it's not necessarily true that in every country women see things the same among themselves because there is variation there too.
I think it's interesting to know that in Europe, home births and midwives are seen more vastly in some countries than they are here in the US. In our country, medicalized births are the norm, mothers being rushed to hospitals the moment they go into labor. Sometimes labor is induced, sometimes mothers just schedule c-sections to go through the birth without complications. Overall, our country has become hospitalized when it comes to the birthing process. I don't think my mother ever even thought of having a home birth with any of her children. It ended up working in her favor because with each birth she ended up needing help during it for one reason or another. And of course, hospitals are good for high risk mother's whose births may not be able to be done at home. But the option should certainly be more widely accepted than it is, in my personal opinion.
I'm know that sometimes the manner of birth does have long lasting impacts on a child and their development. But what I've learned is that there is always going to be risk when giving birth. It just depends on if you'll have the right resources to handle the risks when the time comes.
Resources
Avery, L. (2015). Birth in the WHO European Region. Retrieved March 7, 2020, from http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/277742/Regional-overview-of-birth-in-Europe.pdf?ua=1
I've never given birth, so I could not tell you what it's like from a first-person perspective. But as an outsider, I was around for my little brother's birth. I remember being woken by my father telling me my mother had gone into labor and that he would bring my and my little sister to the hospital if we wished. Having wanted to be with her as much as I could be, I told him I wanted to go and we packed ourselves into the car that morning and headed off.
I'd only ever seen health videos where they show you what it's like to give birth but had never seen anything in person. Watching my mother go through labor for hours was stressful because I've always disliked seeing my mother in pain. Despite knowing that the end result would be my little brother coming into the world, the pain she was in didn't quite seem worth it to me. She struggled. My brother didn't want to drop that day and after a while her labor stalled. The doctors told her she would have to have an emergency cesarean section. My mother wasn't happy with this because she'd had two natural births previously but she knew it was in my brother's best interest and agreed. Only one person was allowed in the operating room with her and my grandmother went, my father too squeamish when it came to my mother being operated on, my sister being too young, and my mother not wanting to scar me with the experience.
It ended up being a good thing they operated, because my brother would have likely died during the birth as the umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck. Once he'd been removed from my mother, they brought him for my father, sister, and I to see before bringing him to get cleaned up. I've seen my father only cry a few times in my life but that moment was one of them. Seeing my brother covered in all the "gunk" (as my father had called it) and hearing him cry was a beautiful moment. My mother was in so much pain for ages afterwards but watching her interact with my brother and interacting with him myself, I understood that all the pain was worth it. And it was at that moment I also understood why women go on to have more than one kid despite all the pain they go through.
Around the World
For this, I looked at birth in Europe. Given the great diversity on the continent, it was no surprise to find out that "diversity is not just present in economic, cultural, political and religious spheres, but also in the practices, perspectives, and attitudes towards birth" (Avery, 2015, p.1). In many places, women and families where there is more technological approaches found, are seen as elite because they are able to get the extra care for their child from a hospital even if it's not necessarily needed. Just the fact that they can go without worry is a sign that they have money. Other countries see birth as a natural process and midwives doing home deliveries is more the norm than a mother going to the hospital. Of course, it's not necessarily true that in every country women see things the same among themselves because there is variation there too.
I think it's interesting to know that in Europe, home births and midwives are seen more vastly in some countries than they are here in the US. In our country, medicalized births are the norm, mothers being rushed to hospitals the moment they go into labor. Sometimes labor is induced, sometimes mothers just schedule c-sections to go through the birth without complications. Overall, our country has become hospitalized when it comes to the birthing process. I don't think my mother ever even thought of having a home birth with any of her children. It ended up working in her favor because with each birth she ended up needing help during it for one reason or another. And of course, hospitals are good for high risk mother's whose births may not be able to be done at home. But the option should certainly be more widely accepted than it is, in my personal opinion.
I'm know that sometimes the manner of birth does have long lasting impacts on a child and their development. But what I've learned is that there is always going to be risk when giving birth. It just depends on if you'll have the right resources to handle the risks when the time comes.
Resources
Avery, L. (2015). Birth in the WHO European Region. Retrieved March 7, 2020, from http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/277742/Regional-overview-of-birth-in-Europe.pdf?ua=1
Hi Delaney,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your post and experience of your brother's birth. Giving birth is painful but there is a great reward after that pain. I am glad that your mom and baby brother made it through. I have four children and each time was painful but when I look at them, it was all worth it.
Hi Delaney,
ReplyDeleteThe birth story of your brother is interesting, I find you very sensitive and caring person, when you said that “ you disliked seeing your mom in pain". Well explained all the moments!
Thanks you for sharing.
Tasneem
I enjoyed your post immensely. Thanks for sharing your brothers child birth experience.
ReplyDeleteThat is amazing that you got to experience such an emotional experience! Women are strong individuals. It amazes me what a women can overcome physically and emotionally. I am so glad that your mother and your brother were able to recover! As a mother myself, I can tell you that although it probably immensely hurt you to see your mother in pain, I can guarantee you that the pain is well worth it. Bringing a life into this world is so rewarding and a joyful experience.
ReplyDeleteHi Delaney,
ReplyDeleteI, like you, haven't given birth. I also haven't been close to one. But just seeing little sweeties, I can say that I'd go through all that pain for a beautiful child. I looked into Norway's birthing processes and healthcare and I think about what I know about the US and their birthing processes and healthcare. It's crazy to me how giving birth isn't the same everywhere! I enjoyed reading your post. Thanks!
Lea Ann
I enjoyed reading your post. It was so amazing for me to give birth to my daughter. I appreciate you sharing your brothers child's birth. I did not see a posting relating to Nutrition so I responded to this one. Katrina
ReplyDelete