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.
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.
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