Labor and Delivery

So my friend Jen Greer sent me an email today, in which she replied to some comments I had made in a previous email. Unknown to her, she was pretty much right in line with all the previous comments on my post "I couldn't agree more". I asked her if I could post her comments on my blog and she said yes.
For some background, she is pregnant with her 7th child, none of which were born in hospitals and all of which were very enjoyable and peaceful births.

Also, while you're reading through, keep in mind her comments are not coming from her, but comments she has often heard from other people. Her reply follows each common comment. Hope that didn't totally confuse you. :)

So here goes...

The stories go like this:
1) I was scared that my labor wouldn't progress, and sure enough it didn't! (but stress itself slows down oxytocin production and can bring labor to a grinding halt!)

2) So the Dr. told me that we needed to induce and promised me a baby within two hours. (but there are no guarantees of that! Why doesn't the doctor give the full story?)

3) After the shot, labor was so intense that I couldn't stand the pain. The nurse told me that pain in childbirth is too much for most women and that she could make it go away altogether and you bet I agreed! (did the nurse mention that stress in labor causes pain? did she tell you the risks involved in the pain medication?)

4) As soon as the pain meds kicked in, my labor stopped again and we couldn't get it started again and the baby was stressed with a sluggish heartrate. (didn't anyone warn you that epidurals can cause fetal distress?)

5) The only choice we had was a c-section. (didn't anyone warn you that epidurals can slow down labor to the point that it stops? And that when they wear off, the labor starts up again? And that an extra day before holding the little tot in your arms will not kill anyone?)

6) It's a good thing I had my baby at the hospital because she was gray and low on oxygen when she was born. (that is a common side effect pain medication and anesthesia given to a mother preceding a c-sec)

7) Now I have to have a c-section for every baby. (lots of women have VBACs.)

8) Since surgery is so risky we've decided we can't have any more children. (enough said.)

I don't have a problem with hospital birth. I have a problem with uneducated, unexamined acceptance of whatever an "expert" says so that we can take full responsibility for our choices.

That was my soapbox. I'll step off now.

Comments

Gina said…
Jen--congrats on #7, may it be another wonderful and peaceful birth. And all I can say about your comments is, I agree! :-)
laura said…
Wow! So true! I can't tell you how many times I heard the same story working at the OB office. It actually happened to my sister-in-law and during her c-section with her second the Doctor actually told her that she didn't want her to have any more kids because the surgery was "hard to do" because of scar tissue. Sad...
Erin said…
Thanks Jen. These are great!
I agree with everything that has been said. However, coming from someone who had no choice but have a C-section (baby was breech even after an external version). I am grateful from intervention from the experts. Without it more than likely my little guy wouldn't be here safe and sound. There are Dr. out there with upright intentions.
Stef said…
to Jess: I know a lot of ladies would argue that Chase could have been turned or something else could have been done to get him out naturally, but where I disagree is when you find out the baby's cord was wrapped (dangerously) around his neck and would have killed him if he was born naturally. I'm not saying that was the case with you, but more often than not, breech babies have that in common and I wouldn't want to risk it.
You nailed it, Stef. I tried to have Chase turned from the outside. That is called and "external version." His heart rate dropped significantly at which time they gave me oxygen and stopped trying to turn him. Come to find out the cord was wrapped around his neck. A "natural" birth was out to the question for me. I am so grateful for the technology and Doctors that helped to bring my little guy into the world safe and sound.
Traci said…
Hi Stefanie! How nice to read your blog! All my kids were born at home with an experienced midwife. Although he wasn't breech, Caleb had the cord wrapped twice around his neck. The midwife told me when to stop pushing and when to "push like crazy" while she expertly cut the cord and clamped it before he was fully born. Blue and quiet quickly turned to red and screaming (Caleb I mean, not me)!
Sharp Family said…
Hi Stefanie! How nice to read your blog! All my kids were born at home with an experienced midwife. Although he wasn't breech, Caleb had the cord wrapped twice around his neck. The midwife told me when to stop pushing and when to "push like crazy" while she expertly cut the cord and clamped it before he was fully born. Blue and quiet quickly turned to red and screaming (Caleb I mean, not me)!

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