What is the Fascination With Natural Childbirth?
So, What is the Fascination With Natural Childbirth Anyway?
My husband and I just after the natural birth of our son.
I saw this post on Twitter today:
“I simply do not understand the fascination with 100% natural childbirth or to have as little medical assistance as possible.”
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Part of me really wanted to reply back to this complete stranger (I found her through a search option of Twitter) & explain why some of us really are fascinated with natural childbirth! But… I have to put restrictions on myself or I could really go lecturing anyone and everyone about my opinions! That could get pretty annoying! 
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I find it difficult to see posts like this, not because her thoughts on it aren’t valid, they really are, but because I wish that more women who questioned this would seek honest research and truth on the topic. Instead, what I usually find is that women who feel this way have already decided that they will not even try to learn more about natural childbirth.
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The latter part of her Tweet makes me cringe: “…or to have as little medical assistance as possible.” It’s unfortunate that people assume that those of us seeking to have a natural childbirth don’t want medical ASSISTANCE. I am all for assistance, IF I need it. What I do not want is medical INTERVENTION. The use of things that are routine, or for the convenience of someone else, & NOT for the betterment of my child, or myself during birth.
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If I could walk into a hospital and have an epidural (for example) while my body labored & nothing be affected by it. SURE, I would do it too! I am not simply “all for the pain”- I am all for the purpose!
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Epidurals affect you, they affect your baby, they affect how your birth will go. Women who have an epidural tend to have longer labors and more vaginal deliveries in which the doctor uses instruments (forceps or vacuum) to get the baby out. Use of other drugs and IV fluids and frequent electronic fetal monitoring are also common with an epidural. There have been studies regarding the use of epidurals and their relation to Cesarean deliveries. The data from these studies indicate that an epidural can increase the chance of a C-Section by more than 10%.
On top of all that here are some common side effects of the Epidural:
- a drop in blood pressure that can slow the baby’s heart rate.
- itching, shivering/shaking or a fever.
- severe headache that can last for days or weeks.
- breathing problems.
- dizziness.
- seizures (rare).
- Difficulty pushing during the second stage of labor.
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I don’t know about you, but that bothers me. The side effects added on top of hearing countless stories from my friends or family members who’ve experienced such side effects or outcomes only add to why I am so fascinated with natural childbirth! And I haven’t even started talking about all the other interventions that can derail the beautiful birth you were hoping for!!
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I wish I could write this girl on Twitter a long winded letter that goes into detail about the cons of Pitocin, Cytotec, Cervidil, Electronic Fetal Monitoring, Internal Fetal Monitoring, IV drugs (i.e. Demerol), Lying on your back, Not being allowed to eat, restricted movement/positions, and constant vaginal exams. Etc… Can you believe that is the SHORT list?
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I also wish that her post wouldn’t be retweeted on Twitter because it just perpetuates this misunderstanding that some of us choose natural childbirth simply because we are only fascinated with the idea of “not having drugs” but without any purpose behind it… as if it’s a competition for who can be the “strongest” woman! If that’s what this was ever about, then I give in!! You win!! You’re probably stronger than I am. I didn’t choose my 2 natural births because Im strong, or because I handle any other kind pain with any level of dignity (just as my husband); I chose it because it really is the safer & better option for everyone involved.
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I wish that our doctors were being more honest with everyone about the risks of these interventions & how they often ARE what causes the need for true medical assistance in the first place. Natural childbirth has the lowest statistics for maternal death, fetal death, assisted delivery, complications & c-sections… doesn’t that say something?!? I think it says a lot!
| Print article | This entry was posted by Julie Wannamaker on July 16, 2010 at 9:11 am, and is filed under Uncategorized. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site. |
about 1 year ago
Personally, I AM fascinated with natural birth! The fact that God created our bodies to birth forth a new life is amazing to me. And I want to experience that to its fullest. It is invigorating to give birth with your husband by your side helping you through every step.
about 1 year ago
A great response. It just seems so simple really – natural childbirth would ideally be perceived as the norm with medical assistance being required only under special circumstances; women are the ones perfectly designed to give birth, not doctors!
about 1 year ago
What kills me is when I worked in Labor & Delivery at the hospital how the majority of nurses & direct care givers said the exact same thing. They honestly were baffled about why anyone would choose natural birth. The comments & eye rolling were shocking to me.
about 1 year ago
That’s really sad Wendy. I have seen that too & it angers me!
about 1 year ago
Here is my 2 cents: I have 2 kids, both born via c-section. I can honestly say the day I had each of my kids were 2 of the happiest of my whole life. Was the c-section itself something I’m anxious to relive? No, of course not. Looking back, yes, I remember minor discomforts like getting the spinal block put in, etc., but what I really remember is how I felt when I heard each of them cry for the first time. So occasionally I have a tendency to get defensive when people speak negatively of c-sections or using epidurals (I had one woman tell me she “felt sad” for me) not because the experience of having major surgery was so near and dear to my heart but because to me, it feels like someone is belittling both of those experiences, saying they are somehow “less special” b/c I didn’t have them naturally.
about 1 year ago
Jane,
Thank you for posting your comments on here. Im glad that for you the c-sections were not horrible experiences. Not everyone has the blessing of it being ok for them, as it seems it was for you.
Usually avoiding a c-section is best, and provides the most rewarding birth experience. Immediate contact, skin to skin with your child. Immediate breastfeeding. Easier postpartum etc…
Your child being able to be born vaginally has its own added benefits as well, but again- this isnt ALWAYS possible & c-sections are necessary for some people.
Something that I teach in Childbirth classes is that if a c-section becomes necessary- dont forget that this is STILL a joyous moment for you- the moment you first lay eyes on your child, smell him/her. Hear him or her cry etc. Its not that a c-section takes all that away- its just different & in terms of many things, not as ideal.
I would feel bad for you having had the c-section if it had been a traumatic experience for you. I would feel bad for you if you had some scarring emotionally due to the experience.
However, If you chose that path & it went fine for you, I would feel like you may have missed out on something that would’ve had many benefits by avoiding that c-section… but I wouldn’t pity you. You made the choice.
You also mentioned in your post about Epidurals. There are risks with an epidural & if you were someone trying for an unmedicated natural birth & wanting to reduce your chance of having an unplanned c-section, then epidurals arent always positive things.
Again, some women get an epidural & have no side effects & everything really does go smoothly for them, but that is not usually what happens. So for the purpose of what this website is trying to educate women on, the epidural becomes a topic of something to avoid. It wouldn’t be “natural childbirth” if you had an epidural.
Anyway, again. I appreciate your comment on here. Feel free to post again, any time.
~Julie