encouraging happiness through a love of children, a love of the earth and a love of being frugal…
Katie Allison Granju, author of Mamapundit.com has had her baby girl – a tad early. It appears, according to this post by her, though, that all is well with mother and daughter.
After the tragic death of her oldest son Henry, it is so nice to see this family get a blessing or two! Please send them your good wishes and visit her blog.
-Mish
Perhaps. Perhaps I am a birth anthropologist. At least, that’s what the doctor who delivered my 7th baby called me. Why? Because each of my births has been unique…not all of them were fabulous, but they were all unique. Today, I’m writing about my first birthing experience – the one that sent me searching to find out what a midwife was and whether or not it was legal to use one!
My first birth was pretty normal by today’s “hideous hospital birth” standards. I was 19. I was married and eagerly looking forward to becoming a mother for the first time. My “care” providers were a group of 9 OB/GYNs who I rotated through for each appointment – rarely seeing each one more than once or twice. I had all of the tests and was very healthy and normal – easy when your 19. Of course, the day I went into labor, the one physician I really didn’t like was the one I got. Even though I had attended childbirth classes and had gotten a tour of the new-fangled birthing facilities at the hospital (where they were supposedly so into natural childbirth), I had no idea what to expect. After walking around for a few hours, I was told to lay down and be put on a monitor. I graciously complied. I was flat on my back and starting to get really uncomfortable. I had been pretty committed to a natural birth until this point, but pretty much thought that if it was going to get worse than I was feeling right now (I was starting to writhe around and whine quite a bit) then I would, quite simply, die.
I asked for the drugs. Oops! Too late – I was 10 cm. My writhing around was transition, but no one told me that of course, they were all too busy rushing in and out of the room.
I begged the nurses to let me sit up – my back was in excruciating pain. No, better to lay down they said. No, I’m pretty sure, I said, that I would feel better if I was sitting up. Nope. Lay down. Wanting to be the perfect patient – I complacently agreed, writhed around some more, and then learned how to push an 8lb. baby out complete with awful episiotomy and the woman doctor from hell poking her finger – well places I’d really rather not have people poke their finger.
After his birth I was left in the stirrups – no blanket, no nothing…bleeding and gross – joyous about my screaming baby and shaking and shivering uncontrollably. Not that anyone cared. They couldn’t find the right needle to sew me up. So after not warning me about the whole pushing me in the belly thing. Ick!
Fortunately, I was so in love with my new baby boy (Matthew) that I was able to endure the next two weeks of excruciating pain – having to sit on pillows, hardly able to walk and trying to figure out breastfeeding on my own…because the lactation consultant charged $70 an hour!
Not the best experience…but I knew better now and the birth of #2 was so different that I almost cried from the peacefulness of it all.
From Jan Tritten – At Midwifery Today…
Jan Tritten
Midwifery Today
Because I have given birth so often and am getting ready to do it again, I am often asked about my birth “stories.” It surprises me that I haven’t written about them, but truthfully, my births have been fairly unremarkable. Of course, being pregnant with my seventh, I don’t want to jinx it, but I have only had one birth that was traumatic in any way.
And yes, I have given birth to all six of my children naturally – without any intervention of any kind. Was it painful? Oh my yes! I’ve read about women who have “orgasmic” childbirths…I am definitely not one of those women.
Further, I believe that it is possible in almost every situation to have a natural childbirth. Now, I know it’s controversial for me to say this – and I know that everyone has a story. Most people will say, “I wanted to have a natural childbirth, but I was different because…” And that’s fine. I’m not writing to this judge, just to give a perspective and a few resources.
Let me put it this way, I have heard the stories of women who have had epidurals and c-sections. I have heard about their lengthy recoveries and other issues. Do I enjoy the pain of labor – of course not! But let me say this, after going through labor and then finally having the baby, I feel better immediately. Right after the birth, while I’m still getting “cleaned up,” I feel 100 percent better. No more back pain. No more labor pain. No more nothing except a beautiful sweet baby. The endorphins kick in and I’m as happy as a clam…ready to take on the world, well, mostly.
While I appreciate the desire for pain relief, going down that road rarely leads to anything but more interventions. Women who have epidurals have longer pushing stages – which endangers the baby and gives the mother a higher risk of c-section or forcep or vacuum extracted birth.
It just seems like a lot to risk, just to save the pain. Now, I know, I’ll hear from many who will say, “yes, but you weren’t in labor as long as I was…” and that’s valid. But remember, this post is in response to those who ask how I could give birth without drugs six times. That’s how – and why. I simply think it’s odd that some women would choose a c-section, or choose an epidural, before even giving labor a try. I hate to see women set themselves up to “fail” – and that’s how a lot of women describe it to me – before giving themselves a chance.
Further, it surprises me that the same women who say they would throw themselves under a train for their child, will not endure pain to bring them into the world – risking both their own lives and their baby’s. I also find it odd that we, as mothers, will scold any woman who even looks at a glass of wine during her pregnancy, but will totally understand someone willing to put drugs in her (and her child’s) body just because she’s in labor.
Here are a number of the side effects of epidurals, listed at Childbirth.org
I have had a home birth – and a water birth – five pretty standard hospital births – and have been grateful for the assistance of wonderful nurses and midwives each time (except the first time). I am also not knocking doctors. I am glad they are around and willing to help out in a pinch! I am glad for medicines and oxygen masks and all the other accoutrements available to save mine and my baby’s life should need be (especially since I’m pregnant again and I don’t want to jinx anything!). I know that things can go wrong – and I am glad for knowledgeable midwives and doctors when they do. However, I also believe childbirth is a natural process – not a medical one most of the time – and I think natural birth is safe with proper preparation and education.
Trusting in our bodies is difficult, especially, when we, as a society, are taught that so much is wrong with them! But give your body a chance to work, it might surprise you.
It’s the latest thing. As fashionable as Kabbalah, without all the studying. Madonna did it. So did Elizabeth Hurley. Cesarean section by choice has become almost a fad of sorts. Do Yoga at 8 a.m. Have your baby at 10 a.m. It not only fits your schedule, but your doctor’s and you get the added benefit of avoiding anything remotely like a labor pain.
Sandy, 34, had an elective Cesarean section and frequently encourages other women to do the same.
“It is so exciting to finally hear other women and members of the obstetric community saying what I have said for the last six years,” she said. “I had an elective Cesarean section with my first pregnancy because I had a wonderful female OB who respected my desire to avoid vaginal and pelvic floor trauma. My section was awesome – wide awake and no pain, I was up walking in less than 8 hours.”
Diverse attitudes between doctors and mothers about the “right” way to deliver a baby are not only causing confusion for new mothers who are frightened about their first labor and delivery experience, but divisiveness among feminists. For many years feminists fought for the right to take control of their bodies once again and deliver babies naturally without the unnecessary medical intervention that women throughout much of the twentieth century were subjected to. Now, a new generation of feminists assert that it is also their right to choose to deliver their baby without pain. But how safe is an elective Cesarean section?
I am currently 16 weeks pregnant with my 7th child – in case you missed that info. I am in a new city (well, I lived here before but that was over 6 years ago) and there is only one certified nurse midwife. Only one! Anyway, going with my new insurance provider network, I selected an OB/GYN firm of three women to have my first appointment here in my new town. So far so good. I really like my new doctor – she is very “midwifey” in spirit – although she did have me do a dating ultrasound right off the bat (but was cool with my refusal of other tests).
During the ultrasound, it was discovered that I have a complete placenta previa as of right now. According to the Mayo Clinic placenta previa is: “Early in pregnancy, the placenta may implant in the lower part of the uterus. As the uterus grows, the placenta usually moves up and away from the opening of the uterus (cervix). If it doesn’t, the cervix may be blocked. This is known as placenta previa. (more…)
One would really think that I would be used to the symptoms of pregnancy by now. Really – I mean this is my 8th pregnancy (one ended in miscarriage). You’d think after being pregnant this many times, I would have strategies for coping with morning sickness – which I get all day and very severely – and being exhausted. So far, all I’ve come up with is sitting on the couch with my laptop. Sometimes I lay down and moan.
I do get up to pee a lot – so that forces me to walk past loads of laundry that need to be folded. Sometimes I fold them. Most times I go, “Ugh…later.”
I have tried everything to quell my queasiness – sea bands, ginger root, ginger ale, saltines, dry toast, eating before I get up in the morning, eating protein, you name it.
The only thing that seems to work is sleeping through it – which is not really a possibility with three homeschoolers, expecting me to teach them something and a toddler! Fortunately, my teenage daughter doesn’t require much assistance – except that I’ve agreed to coach her basketball team. I’m hoping it gives me something else to focus on besides how cruddy I feel!
So, let’s see, I’ve been pregnant about 8 weeks now and already I can’t fit into any of the pants I just got back into after having Kiara, I’m exhausted and nodding off at the drop of a hat, the only food that turns me on right now are Rolos, I cry for no reason at all (OK, well, my husband kissing me on the cheek instead of the lips seemed like a perfectly good reason to cry at the time…) and Kiara still wants to nurse which is painful and driving me a little crazy!
OK – I’m done now. Did I mention that I’m really happy to be pregnant and can’t wait for the second trimester to begin? Well, if I didn’t – I am, and I can’t!
Is this really a frugal tip? You better believe it.
And I’ll be upfront – I’ve only had one homebirth. Mostly because I have a very nice birthing center close by and I really like it there (after all, I’ve been there often enough).
But I loved my homebirth too – and would certainly do it again. In fact, I would encourage all mothers and mothers to be to look into homebirthing – especially the movie The Business of Being Born.
Here are 5 reasons to consider having a homebirth:
1. It’s cheaper. No, really. An average hospital birth costs between $3,500 and $15,000. An average homebirth? $1,500.
2. You’re in control (well, until the pushing starts). You can control what goes on in your home. No matter what they tell you during the hospital tour, you feel like a guest there – a patient, no less – and if you’re anything like me, you’ll want to be accommodating. I have a natural tendency to be the “good” patient. The one that doesn’t yell, doesn’t demand too much. But this is not to your benefit. Stay home and you’ll feel comfortable enough to demand what you want! And you’ll get it too (sorry partners…)
3. Reduced chance of infection. Because hospitals are known for spreading staph and other infections, you and your baby will be bundled up safely with the germs you already know!
4. You will avoid unnecessary medical interventions. According to Mothering Magazine (a magazine I highly recommend for all moms and dads!): “A carefully conducted study compared the cesarean section rates between patients who used midwifery services for their homebirths from The Farm, a well-respected birth center in Tennessee, to physician-attended hospital births. The hospital c-section rates were 16.46 percent of all the births. The Farm had a c-section rate of only 1.46 percent! Many other studies have confirmed the markedly lower c-section rates in homebirths.”
5. You’ll recover quicker. Because you won’t have had any drugs or other interventions (it took me two weeks to recover from the immediate pain of an episiotomy – and I still haven’t recovered mentally from it – the experience will remain burned in my mind forever), you’ll feel better sooner. In all of my subsequent births (all natural), I always feel energetic and in good spirits after the birth. And I’m usually out of the house and going places within a day or two.
Sara Wickham wrote this for Midwifery Today and I thought I would share it with you.
“This action list of small things all midwives can do to change societal attitudes toward birth and to promote midwifery and the midwifery model was derived from some research I carried out a few years ago. All the suggestions are either free or very low cost, and none will take too much time or effort. Some things on the list won’t be new ideas to you, but they might act as a gentle reminder that simple, everyday things might have a positive impact on the way our society sees birth and midwifery.
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