Personal Birthing Experience

It's hard to choose which one of my birthing experiences to write about.  My son Kameron was a month pass his due date.  I had an appointment to go in and have a stress test done for the next morning.  When he was delivered the doctor said " he should have been here".  All I could say was who are you telling.  My husband and I went to the hospital, don't know why we made that decision to go that day something about me acting strange.  We arrived at the hospital and they hooked me up to the monitors.  The nurse checked me out and said okay just relax.  We watched the All Star game, both of my children were born around big sport events.  Kaira was born after the NBA playoff game.  The doctor came in and read the print out.  He said "Carmellia you are in labor, see the lines.  My husband had gone out to get something to drink and the nurse came in and said we are going to give you your epidural , and then she said see the baby's head turning.  My husband had just got to the door.  He turned right back around.  He came back in and I was wheeled to the birthing room.  We had left the camera in the room and after the birth we were talking about not having any photos.  One of the nurses had picked up the camera and documented the whole process.  I guess the epidural must have really made me loopy because we laughed through most of the delivery.  Kameron come into the world protesting the whole time.  The doctor said "glad I am not going home with you."  It was a beautiful time.  Kaira was born with the help of a mid-wife.  I was a very low risk and had decided that I would try.  Right after the game went off, I took my shower and my husband called the hospital.  The nurse said " you will be going back home,"  I said not me.  Kaira was born in dim lights and just three people in the room, the midwife. my husband , and myself.  The only thing missing was Luther Vandross in the background.  I share these times with my children every once in awhile. I think that sharing this with them lets them know that they have parents that were ready for them and looking forward to being there for them for all the time that we are given.  They know that from the first moment of their lives someone has been there for them, and will continue to help them and be supportive of them. 

I chose Bolivia as the country to do my comparison on. I read an article called Bolivia Pushing Birthing Practices Closer to Home.  There women mostly give birth at home.  A little over five years ago pregnant women and children under the age of five were given free health care under a program called Universal Maternal and Infant Insurance.  With this program they are given free vaccinations.prenatal care, and reproductive health services. There are problems with the program there are limited medical supplies, the clinics are far apart in the rural areas.  There is a heavy patient load.  A doctor can see over a hundred patients in a day. The doctor's have had to participate in workshops to teach them to be culturally sensitive, allowing for midwives, and allowing families in the the room, and getting rid of stirrups.  Women had complained that they lost their power giving birth in a hospital.  It was a time for a women to claim her power, at that point men were taking care of them not telling them what to do and how to do it.  Giving birth at home allowed family to be present and they be in a familiar environment,and to eat the foods  that they wanted to.  This is being called a "humanized birth".  Family is not allowed in the birthing room in Bolivia and the women say the rooms are drafty and the bed is described as torture.  The staff says no one is allowed in because it is unsanitary, and a husband my see another women's private parts.  There may be a dozen women having babies in the same room. 

In Bolivia husband's are not allowed in the room, here they are allowed and encourage to participate in the birthing process. The rooms are made to look more home like, and we are no longer strapped down.  When the women of Bolivia have their children at home they feel empowered and there is a comfort level there. Here we feel a comfort level because we feel that we are being taken care of and we can have the both of best world by giving birth in a hospital.  But I find most interesting is that now we are fighting for the choice to almost go back to that birth experience of having a child at home.  That Bolivia is fighting to get where we are now and we are trying to have more choices for the birthing experience.  The time of giving birth is very personal and different each time and we as women grow stronger from each child born.  That we must share our thoughts and what we feel so that we can make it better for future women.  The article that I read can be found Here.