Childbirth Article
**I wanted to add one more thing: By posting this article, I am in no way saying that if you have a medicated delivery, you are doing something wrong. I just wanted to post an article that encourages one to think through everything and, regardless of your choice, be intentional and
purposeful in whatever choice you make. I had a c-section so obviously I have no problem with medicine when it is best for mom and baby!***
I do, at some point in the not-so-distant-but-not-so-immediate-either-future, write down the story of Asher's birth like my good friend, Kathy, did for Josiah's birth. Mainly for my own benefit, I want to remember the details of that really weird day. If you know what happened, you know why I say "really weird."
But our plan was to go natural, believing that childbirth isn't a sickness that requires medication, but a natural process that God has well-equipped a woman's body to handle.
Now, I know better than many, that a natural birth isn't always possible. Our situation dictated a whole different course than what we wanted and anticipated. We had our birth plan, but we are grateful to a competent medical staff that a surgical option was available given our set of special circumstances.
However, assuming my water doesn't break again at 34 weeks, I want to have a natural delivery with as few medical interventions as necessary assuming the Lord has willed that there be a "next time." And this article is a great summary of why I want this. I recommend it to you because childbirth, as the article point out, is something many of us remain fairly uneducated about in an age of at-our-fingertips information.
Read THIS and let me know what you think.
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5 comments:
It's always good to be reminded that pregnancy is not a medical "condition". I got so frustrated with my monthly and then weekly OB appointments that I rebelled and stopped going with my second pregnancy. I'll probably use a midwife if I get a next time. The only critique I have of this and similar articles that I've read is that I don't think the stats on infant and maternal mortality rates are adjusted for two particularly American phenomena: high rates of fertility interventions and advanced maternal age--both of which skew the stats and make it seem as though countries like Cuba and Slovenia are just doing a better job of caring for their pregnant women. My guess is that the women who write these articles are possibly the same women who got really mad when a couple of books were published a couple of years ago reminding young women that the biological clock is a reality and that, contrary to the many high profile celebrities "easily" conceiving babies in their late 30's and 40's, it is safer and easier to conceive in your 20's and early 30's. I suppose it's easier to demonize the big medical "industry" than it is to ask hard questions about whether or not young women are being sold a bill of goods about putting their careers first. Or to question the rampant use of fertility drugs and other interventions. Which, it should be pointed out, is another VERY profitable industry. I could write more but this is obnoxiously long. Thanks for the thought provocation!
Interesting & informative article -I emailed you my thoughts b/c it was too long!
I guess the really important thing is what do we do with them when they get here? (Trust God & seek Him daily).
And, remember He takes care of us when our plans do not happen the way we planned. I praise Him that He blesses us with miracles. :)
Wow--I just went back and re-read this article and most of the comments. This issue gets folks riled up! Also, as a specific word of encouragement to you Jamie, a good friend of mine had a doula and OB attended, drug-free VBAC three months ago.
that's good to know, Patti, b/c that's what I would like if I got to choose!
You still can have that birth you want Jamie. Check out "Silent Knife" by Nancy Wainer Cohen. Any Dr. that says they don't want to take a chance with a V-back, I would not be able to rely on. My friend stayed in Thailand just so she could have a V-back where the medical practice did not look down on it but actually promoted that for moms. Think about, is a balloon more likely to explode while inflating or deflating? You would think God would have thought about such practices and made a solution for it, we are fearfully and wonderfully made!!!
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