Well, here's my birth story and how I came around to natural childbirth. With my first pregnancy I was 21 years old and thought the only rational way to have a baby was with an epidural. I didn't give it any thought and did not receive any encouragement to go natural from my doctor. So I had a completely fine and healthy delivery (with an epidural)and gave birth to a completely fine and healthy (and adorable, etc...)little boy. Of course I was happy.
Then my sister got pregnant a few months later and mentioned she was going to do it natural. What? Why? People still did that? So, she had her baby, a great delivery and a beautiful baby girl, no problems. Now, for some reason, I have been blessed with easy and fast labors. I credit my hips (cursed in high school now extremely grateful for). My sister was not. However, with her labor being about 3 times and long as mine and her starting off with pitocin, she still had more of a complete experience, if you will. There was more depth, more satisfaction, more meaning in her experience. I had no idea there was that kind of experience to be had in childbirth.
So, when I got pregnant again (girl this time) I got the name of my sister's midwife and went natural in the hospital. What a difference! Yes, it did take more involvement from me and I did need to prepare much more but it became something I was doing and not something that was being done to me. It was an accomplishment and haven't we all learned that the harder we work at something the better the reward? Yes, there was pain but it wasn't "break my ankle" pain it was different (in the words of Caroline Ingalls "a joyous pain"). And the recovery time was nothing!
The next baby, another girl, same thing. Wonderful! Then for my fourth, another girl, I had the opportunity to have a home birth. I could never wish for a better experience. I feel like I had my perfect birth. My midwife was so wonderful as was her assistant. My husband, as nervous as he was, was on the ball and did everything. I called the shots, said what I wanted and we did it because I knew my body better than anyone and what was going on. I felt so in control. I could go on for a long time about this experience so just trust me, it was ethereal!
My first birth was great, but I feel sort of robbed from having a deep experience just because I wasn't educated on the different methods of childbirth. I was also lucky that my first birth went so well with the medical intervention that I did have. With this blog I just hope to educate other women and let them know what possibilities are out there. Don't just brush off childbirth with "as long as the baby's healthy that's all that matters!" There is so much more to it than that. It is our right to know the ABSOLUTE truth about every kind of childbirth method, no exceptions. It is truly empowering!
2 comments:
I didn't know you started posting on your blog. It's a great intro. Do you guys know what else you want to do with it? I figure I'll enter what Grosgrain stuff I can...maybe I'll win someday.
I feel so blessed to have chosen the field of study I did. I graduated from my midwifery program before I was married, and now that I am married and ready to start a family, I am thrilled at the prospect of having a home birth.
If you would have asked me even three years ago if I would have a home birth, I would have answered, "No way! Are you crazy?" But I didn't know then what I know now. I'm actually grateful I didn't meet my husband earlier because I may never have learned about the wonderful opportunity to be active in my labor and birth, and to have my child in the safety and security of my home. What a blessing.
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