Unassisted childbirth(was Lifespan after C-section)

[Guest guest]

Tammy wrote:

Many of us believe we should birth unhindered

and have no outside influence in the birthing process. >

 

Tammy,

 

I am all in favor of taking childbirth back

from the white-coats as much as possible,

only do C sections etc when absolutely

necessary, encourage midwifery, and so on.

 

AND (this is and, not but) I personally know

2 women who lost beautiful, well formed,

big full term babies that may well have been

perfectly fine with medical intervention.

And I don't know that many people.

 

We'll never know of course and this is not

something a grieving couple needs to hear.

But in both cases the baby, to put it bluntly,

got stuck.

Both women had decided to give birth alone

with the fathers.

Both were not first time mothers. One had

done this, successfully, three times earlier.

 

There has to be something in between the

total DIY model and the hospitalization

scenario.

 

All my siblings were born at home, long ago

and far away, . Midwives were the norm,

doctors were only called in in emergencies.

 

Doctors made housecalls and did not have

a hissy fit when faced with a midwife.

The professions respected each other and

cooperated.

 

A " kraamverzorgster " , a cross between a

Home Support Worker and a Doula, routinely

came in for 2 weeks afterwards to look after

the household and to give the Mom and new

baby a chance to catch their breath and rest.

We are talking Netherlands, early fifties.

Great system, really.

 

Even with the best of systems, sometimes

a baby will suffer damage or die.

Judgment calls have to be made by fallible

human beings.

 

Birth is a door between this dimension and

the other one. The journey will never be

100% risk-free.

 

Part of the high C section rate may be the

fear of law suits. Come to think of it, I also

know of a girl who is severely handicapped with

Cerebral Palsy after a horrific birth. She might

have been better off with a C section.

 

Anyway, just some food for thought...

 

In friendship

 

Ien in the Kootenays

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