Childbirth involves pain, yes, but it does not have to be awful. That is is too often dreadfully awful is problem in our society that has several convergent causes:
1. We expect it to be awful. We set ourselves up for failure in this regard. You know the "sheila-na-gi" carvings found in Ireland and France? Ever wondered why these carvings of women pulling on their own exaggerated labia are carved on churches of all things? A common theory is that they are survivals of pagan ritual, which is why so many Victorian and Edwardian curators tried to systematically excise them. However, another theory holds that they were originally intended as *reassurances* to young mothers: our physiology is designed to let us get HUGE when the time comes. The baby won't get trapped in there! However, if we're panicked about the (possible) pain, we psychologically prevent ourselves from behaving as nature intended.
2. We routinely force women to give birth lying on their backs which puts undue pressure on both mother and child, increasing the difficulty of the birth. The supine position often stops cervical dilation, increasing the risk of tearing. It prevents the child from turning normally as it enters the birth canal leading to a number of complications including "posterior arrest" which doctors generally "correct" by performing a Ceasarean. Then add cramping, numbness, blot clots and pinched nerves to the equation. And top it off with the inherit degradation of the position and feelings of powerlessness that too often accompanies it.
So why do we do it? Habit. Originally the move from birthing stools to birthing tables came about as male doctors took over supervising births from female midwives. The doctors wanted to be able to *see* what was going on. The position is only advantageous to the doctor. The midwives trusted the mothers and vice versa.
3. American hospitals and doctors have a worse habit of administering epidurals, which in addition to blocking pain receptors, also slow dialation and contractions. This, of course, unnaturally slows the labour, but then the doctors want to speed things also (they're on a schedule!) and administer drugs to speed contraction. Which counteracts the epidural. So women ask for more. Which counteracts the the drugs. It's a vicious circle that often ends in bad tearing or resort to Cesarian.
As an addendum to the detrimental effect overuse of epidurals can have on the birth process itself, many women experience permanent back pain afterwards and the doped-up babies (remember, until the umbilical is cut baby gets everything mom gets) often cannot nurse properly for several hours and some cannot even breath properly until the drugs clear their systems.
Child birth is a multi-million dollar revenue stream in the United States, and there is a movement afoot to make home births illegal, thus guaranteeing both more money in doctor's pocket, and the continuation of a system that is actually harmful to both mother and child. A system that makes birth truly, and inescapably awful.
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Date: 2008-06-20 10:42 pm (UTC)Childbirth involves pain, yes, but it does not have to be awful. That is is too often dreadfully awful is problem in our society that has several convergent causes:
1. We expect it to be awful. We set ourselves up for failure in this regard. You know the "sheila-na-gi" carvings found in Ireland and France? Ever wondered why these carvings of women pulling on their own exaggerated labia are carved on churches of all things? A common theory is that they are survivals of pagan ritual, which is why so many Victorian and Edwardian curators tried to systematically excise them. However, another theory holds that they were originally intended as *reassurances* to young mothers: our physiology is designed to let us get HUGE when the time comes. The baby won't get trapped in there! However, if we're panicked about the (possible) pain, we psychologically prevent ourselves from behaving as nature intended.
2. We routinely force women to give birth lying on their backs which puts undue pressure on both mother and child, increasing the difficulty of the birth. The supine position often stops cervical dilation, increasing the risk of tearing. It prevents the child from turning normally as it enters the birth canal leading to a number of complications including "posterior arrest" which doctors generally "correct" by performing a Ceasarean. Then add cramping, numbness, blot clots and pinched nerves to the equation. And top it off with the inherit degradation of the position and feelings of powerlessness that too often accompanies it.
So why do we do it? Habit. Originally the move from birthing stools to birthing tables came about as male doctors took over supervising births from female midwives. The doctors wanted to be able to *see* what was going on. The position is only advantageous to the doctor. The midwives trusted the mothers and vice versa.
3. American hospitals and doctors have a worse habit of administering epidurals, which in addition to blocking pain receptors, also slow dialation and contractions. This, of course, unnaturally slows the labour, but then the doctors want to speed things also (they're on a schedule!) and administer drugs to speed contraction. Which counteracts the epidural. So women ask for more. Which counteracts the the drugs. It's a vicious circle that often ends in bad tearing or resort to Cesarian.
As an addendum to the detrimental effect overuse of epidurals can have on the birth process itself, many women experience permanent back pain afterwards and the doped-up babies (remember, until the umbilical is cut baby gets everything mom gets) often cannot nurse properly for several hours and some cannot even breath properly until the drugs clear their systems.
Child birth is a multi-million dollar revenue stream in the United States, and there is a movement afoot to make home births illegal, thus guaranteeing both more money in doctor's pocket, and the continuation of a system that is actually harmful to both mother and child. A system that makes birth truly, and inescapably awful.