Sooooooooooo, I was so angry about the last documentary I watched about the "terror" of giving birth in a hospital in the United States of America that I had to at least mention some of my beef. I'm obsessed with babies, always have been, hence the phD in developmental psychology, so it makes sense that during my pregnancy, I could not resist watching any video or documentary I could find that had anything to do with pregnancy or labor and delivery. Thus, I watched several documentaries sensationalizing the birth process in modern USA.
One, hosted and produced by Ricki Lake, seeks out to make every women scared to death of letting their baby be birthed by a doctor in a hospital by showing creepy footage of what it was like to have a baby back in the early 1900's when the entire medical profession was still kooky and ignorant compared to today's standards. They also make doctors out to be purely in it for the money and thus that is what is driving your care and treatment, and that of your baby's, if you choose the doctor/hospital route. Instead of choosing "evil" medical professionals, everyone should choose "good over evil" by having their baby at home with a midwife. Interestingly, the woman followed in the film, a co-producer, ends up having her baby at the hospital due to complications. Unfortunately, since I watched this movie during my highly hormonal first trimester, it did freak me out a bit due to some graphic images but not to the point that I wanted to have my baby anywhere but the hospital with all the modern advancements and amenities that includes.
The second documentary pointing out the evils of modern medical practices for childbirth did not freak me out; it just made burn with anger. This one is hosted by a guy whose wife is pregnant with their first child. His slant is that he wants to "protect" his wife and unborn child from the evils of the hospital system in America. To do this, he drags his pregnant wife all over the world to interview various professionals and lay people about their birth experiences. Then, at some point in her pregnancy, his wife talks to the camera (her husband), with tears, that she's so many weeks out from their due date but still feels unprepared for the birth of their child. Does that sound like her being cared for and protected?
He even goes so far, toward the beginning of the film when his wife is very early in her pregnancy, as to convince her through interviews and some sort of hokey "research" that she (and all women) don't actually have to experience pain during labor and delivery, that's just a symptom of what the American medical profession has been tricking women into thinking. In fact, instead of pain, women can actually have orgasms during delivery...yes, you read that correctly. According to this guy's documentary, women can experience orgasms when they deliver a baby, rather than experiencing pain, and what is sad is that he convinces his pregnant wife that this can be true for her. Well, when the big day arrives, his wife is in a lot of pain during contractions...big surprise. Unfortunately, it actually is a big surprise to him, so he calls the midwife and tells her in worried, urgent tones that his wife is experiencing a lot of pain and could she come over right away to do something to help with that. If this guy had been any bit prepared by going to any kind of birth class, he would have known how to help his wife do breathing exercises or something to help her manage contractions, I mean, come on! I thought he was all about protecting and caring for his family - what a show! Well, after the baby is born, there are some concerns, so they decide to go to the...hospital! He, of course, feels so conflicted about going to the evil hospital and even rags on the hospital for not giving their baby a diagnosis even though they are asked to stay several days for monitoring. He even questions their decision to go to the hospital, in hindsight. Whatever, dude. He was a major drama queen about it. I just can't help but think it's funny that both documentaries that are so adamently anti-hospital end in hospitals, allowing both babies and moms to thrive.
Now that I've given birth in a hospital and also returned with a newborn, I can attest to the excellent care we received in the maternity and pediatric floor. The doctor who delivered my baby was amazing and made decisions that definitely caused her, the doctor on call, to have to spend many extra hours up at the hospital, at all hours of the night. Her decisions were clearly not based on money but rather on the patient's needs and desires, giving the best possible care. Furthermore, the nursing staff was absolutely phenomenal. They double-checked my infant's health and records, they went the extra mile on delivery strategies and newborn care. They helped every step of the way with kindness and expertise and cooperation among themselves. I felt completely pampered and fully confident in my infant's health and safety. I am so glad to be an American.
Friday, August 12, 2011
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Birth Day
Though I might not have admitted it beforehand, I do not think I have ever had as many preconceived notions and expectations about an event as for my little baby's birth day. Now, it's been 2 months since the big day, and I am wondering where the time has gone! Wow. Nothing can describe the magic and the craziness of those first few weeks after our little girl came out into the world, but that won't stop me from trying to memorialize those first few hours and days.
Well, pregnant women are always being told to keep an open mind about the big day of arrival, not to get their heart set on a certain type of birth experience because no one can predict the hour of arrival, you never know what complications might arise, and the important thing to remember is that the ultimate outcome is what's important: a bouncing, new baby and healthy mom. Okay, sure, we all have to agree to that mentality on the surface, but let's be real. If I'm preparing for a "watermelon" to come out of my "lady spot" and for the arrival of my first child, the baby I've been dreaming of since I could say the word "baby," I'm going to have some expectations and hopes for the grand entrance. Who wouldn't? Of course, in my heart of hearts, I want a healthy baby more than a vaginal delivery, but I also dream of a smooth, painless, vaginal delivery that comes naturally and quickly...know what I mean? Furthermore, pregnant women are also subject to everyone else's pregnancy and birth experiences, adding to the expectations and madness.
To set my stage, I was expecting my baby to come late, most likely having to be induced, due to family history and since this was my first child. I was also expecting my epidural to allow me to "party through labor and delivery," due to experiences of family and the lady at the local coffee shop. I also expected my baby to be in just the right position for delivery, based on what I thought I'd heard at the birth class we had attended. My first nurse at the hospital also told me that, based on my cervix and position of my baby, once things got going, that baby was gonna come FAST...Well, my baby came on her own terms and I love her for it and despite it. (1) I started having contractions the moment I woke up on my Due Date! I had been saying that if my baby decided to come of her own accord (instead of being smoked out via induction), it would be a Christmas miracle. So, of course, it took several hours of contractions that increased in frequency and duration to actually believe this was the real deal. (2 & 3) I actually did feel like I was having an epidural party for the first few hours after I got it, but that slowly but steadily ended, and the last chunk of my 20 hours of labor/delivery was definitely not a party. However, once she made her big debut, the party immediately started up at 3:47AM the "morning" after her due date. (4) As it turned out, she slowed things down considerably by being "sunny side-up" or with her face looking up instead of down, however we powered through and got to have a vaginal delivery instead of a c-section. Thanks to God's answer to the many prayers over that event, truly.
As for holding her for the first time, I don't know what my expectations were exactly, but I know she surpassed them. Getting to know her in a whole new way during the first few weeks was such a precious time. Discovering what a sweet baby she is and how soft and cuddly and cute this little person that relies on me for food and comfort and help in figuring out the world is such a special gift from God. Looking her in the eyes for the first time, feeling her little fingers wrap around one of mine, changing her tiny little diaper, dressing her in the itty-bitty newborn outfits that are still too big for her are just a few of the experiences that give a new sense of wonder and appreciation for what God has done and created. Humanity is a frail, beautiful thing. Love that produces life, what an amazing creation.
Well, pregnant women are always being told to keep an open mind about the big day of arrival, not to get their heart set on a certain type of birth experience because no one can predict the hour of arrival, you never know what complications might arise, and the important thing to remember is that the ultimate outcome is what's important: a bouncing, new baby and healthy mom. Okay, sure, we all have to agree to that mentality on the surface, but let's be real. If I'm preparing for a "watermelon" to come out of my "lady spot" and for the arrival of my first child, the baby I've been dreaming of since I could say the word "baby," I'm going to have some expectations and hopes for the grand entrance. Who wouldn't? Of course, in my heart of hearts, I want a healthy baby more than a vaginal delivery, but I also dream of a smooth, painless, vaginal delivery that comes naturally and quickly...know what I mean? Furthermore, pregnant women are also subject to everyone else's pregnancy and birth experiences, adding to the expectations and madness.
To set my stage, I was expecting my baby to come late, most likely having to be induced, due to family history and since this was my first child. I was also expecting my epidural to allow me to "party through labor and delivery," due to experiences of family and the lady at the local coffee shop. I also expected my baby to be in just the right position for delivery, based on what I thought I'd heard at the birth class we had attended. My first nurse at the hospital also told me that, based on my cervix and position of my baby, once things got going, that baby was gonna come FAST...Well, my baby came on her own terms and I love her for it and despite it. (1) I started having contractions the moment I woke up on my Due Date! I had been saying that if my baby decided to come of her own accord (instead of being smoked out via induction), it would be a Christmas miracle. So, of course, it took several hours of contractions that increased in frequency and duration to actually believe this was the real deal. (2 & 3) I actually did feel like I was having an epidural party for the first few hours after I got it, but that slowly but steadily ended, and the last chunk of my 20 hours of labor/delivery was definitely not a party. However, once she made her big debut, the party immediately started up at 3:47AM the "morning" after her due date. (4) As it turned out, she slowed things down considerably by being "sunny side-up" or with her face looking up instead of down, however we powered through and got to have a vaginal delivery instead of a c-section. Thanks to God's answer to the many prayers over that event, truly.
As for holding her for the first time, I don't know what my expectations were exactly, but I know she surpassed them. Getting to know her in a whole new way during the first few weeks was such a precious time. Discovering what a sweet baby she is and how soft and cuddly and cute this little person that relies on me for food and comfort and help in figuring out the world is such a special gift from God. Looking her in the eyes for the first time, feeling her little fingers wrap around one of mine, changing her tiny little diaper, dressing her in the itty-bitty newborn outfits that are still too big for her are just a few of the experiences that give a new sense of wonder and appreciation for what God has done and created. Humanity is a frail, beautiful thing. Love that produces life, what an amazing creation.
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