Childbirth-In Your Life and Around the World

The birth experience I have chosen to write about is the birth of my daughter.  I chose this because this is the only real, first-hand experience with birth I have had so far in my life (besides my own, which I obviously do not remember!)

I remember just about every detail about my daughter’s birth and every emotion that I felt.  I was very blessed that my pregnancy was a healthy one and quite enjoyable for the most part.  I felt great about 85% of the time, with exhaustion being my biggest hurdle.  When I was in my 39^th week of pregnancy, I went in for my weekly checkup on a Monday.  Throughout the last few weeks of my pregnancy, I always felt a very hard, round knot right below my right rib.  The doctor thought the entire time that it was my daughter’s behind.  However, at some point, she turned and this was actually now her head.  She was what they termed “frank breech.”   She had absolutely no room to move, and not much fluid to help her.  The doctor did an ultrasound, and determined that a C-section would have to be scheduled.  He did give me the option that we could try to turn her, but the chances that it would actually work and without pain to me or her would be slim.  With a heavy heart, I agreed to a c-section.  I was very disappointed.  I had prepared myself emotionally for the traditional labor and I was upset and scared about the major surgery.   The C-section was scheduled for that Thursday, January 15.

I went in early Thursday morning, more nervous than I remembered feeling in a very long time.  They began prepping me for surgery by first pumping me full of fluids for over an hour.  I was beginning to get excited, imagining what my little baby girl would look like, sound like, etc.  In just a few short hours, it would all become real for my husband and I. 

It was time.  My husband left to get the appropriate garments on to be with my during the birth.  Also, they did not allow him to be in the room as I received the spinal.  They gave me all of the appropriate medicine and my entire body became completely numb.  They tied my arms down and I felt like Jesus to the cross.  They had Scott come back in the room and sit by me as they continued to prep me for surgery.  They hung a sheet from my chest up, and I could not see anything.  They began the process and I was scared, but kept calm with my husband by my side and the drugs working quite effectively.  The doctor was wonderful, walking me through step by step so I knew what was happening.  We were getting close.  He had her and began trying to pull her out.  She was stuck!  They began jerking my body, left and right.  I did not hear any crying.  I was afraid something had gone wrong.  I started to cry myself.  I was so afraid.  Then I heard them exclaim and she began crying.  It was absolutely the most beautiful sound I had ever heard!  Scott brought her to me and I remember being so relieved and surprised; she looked just like my husband!  It was the most amazing experience I have ever had.

 My thoughts on birth and its impact on child development are, to be honest, confused. There are so many theories about what is the best way.  There are various options that create a “less stressful” environment for the child, such as water births, birthing at home, hospital with or without drugs.  It is hard to know what truly has the largest impact on the actual child’s development.  For me personally, I wanted to go with the safest process, with all of the medical technology possible in order to ensure that my child and I survived the traumatic experience.  I was and still am confident enough in my parenting ability to be sure that I will nurture my child and any future children in the best way possible to rear successful adults who are able to function in society and hopefully love their mom in the end still!

http://www.takingupresidence.com/italy/family-and-children/pre--and-post-natal-care.6.html

I chose to research Italy and the birthing process there, mainly because Italy is of great interest to me.  Like I predicted, Italy and the U.S. have a lot of similarities, but also some key differences.  For one, Italy really encourages natural birth rather than c-sections.  It is no doubt that more c-sections occur today in America than at any other time in history.  This increases the child’s safety, but part of me wonders if this is more so to protect the doctor from lawsuits rather than protecting the mother and child.

Also, throughout the mother’s pregnancy, the Italian healthcare system offers many free services, such as “free blood tests, including for toxoplasmosis, three ultrasound scans, and a tri-test to check for Down’s Syndrome. An amniocentesis, if recommended, is also free” (Taking Up Residence).  I found this very interesting, as the healthcare costs for American’s truly have become outrageous.  They also offer many pre-natal classes, such as breathing classes, etc. which many hospitals have these only for a cost in the U.S.  After the birth, Italian mothers stay on average for 4 days in the hospital with regular visits from the pediatrician, where as the American hospitals are often more on a “push ‘em out, get ‘em out” mentality if all seems to check out fine in the first 24-48 hours after the child is born.