Some of you may not want to read this, so if me saying anything "negative" about medicated childbirth upsets you.. I would just "X" out of this right now and avoid yourself the frustration.
First of all, let me put out a DISCLAIMER that just because I choose to have an intervention free, unmedicated, out-of-hospital childbirth does NOT mean I think you should do the same. Who am I to tell you how to birth YOUR child? Birthing a baby is the most hard and important thing you will ever do, so do it YOUR way. I do not think less of anyone who births differently than me. All I am asking, is for you to do your research and make informed choices that you are 100% comfortable with so you can have the birth that is most appealing to YOU.
Upon reading "Your Best Birth", written by Ricky Lake and Abby Epstein (the two women who put together "The Business of Being Born") there is a quote that I cannot seem to get over, because it is SO true.
And here it is, get ready, you may get your feathers ruffled...
"Why is is that during the entire course of pregnancy everyone's jumping all over you if you have so much as a wine cooler, but suddenly when you are in labor, the front door has blown off the pharmacy cabinet and they're offering you narcotics and opium derivatives and stuff that, chemically speaking, looks a lot like cocaine?"
Pregnant moms, myself included, are usually very knowledgeable about what is *considered* safe and unsafe through out pregnancy... alcohol consumption, caffeine consumption (God forbid I have a cup of coffee.. oh the stares I get), heating of deli meats, omission of soft cheeses, don't eat anything that isn't pasteurized, TUMS.. safe or not? and the list goes on and on. I was considering taking a sleep aid that had "St. John's Wart" in it and asked my OB (when I was seeing an OB) if it was safe or not. He said he doesn't think it would be a problem, but it would be best to avoid it. Ok... well that same OB allows his patients to receive epidurals, Pitocin (even Cytotec) which can inevitably lead to a C-section (women who receive these interventions are far more likely to get a C-section.. look it up). All of these have adverse side affects just like anything else. What's even worse, is doctors usually don't go over the risks vs. benefits with their patients unless they ask. And they especially aren't going to do it in the "heat of the moment" at the hospital when there is a lot going on. So all I'm asking is for moms to know what they're getting themselves into. If caffeine affects your baby, so do the drugs you're given.. no matter how "safe" they've been proven to be. For me, the risks outweigh the benefits, no matter how small they may be. Not only that, it is usually a trickle affect that I am not interested in participating in.
Now I am not bashing hospitals and what they can do for pregnant women. If for some reason my planned natural birth at the birth center takes a LEGITIMATE wrong turn, as in me and my baby are ACTUALLY in distress (PS doctors use that all the time.. they are trying to avoid lawsuits more than anything) then I will be praising God for modern medicine. After all OB/GYNs went to medical school and learned tools and techniques that can end up saving a woman's or baby's life. So to them, a natural, unassisted birth is boring and not what they went to school for. Most OBs haven't even witnessed a natural, intervention free birth. So they are just looking for any opportunity they can to put their skills to the test. Can you blame them? It's what they DO. So just know your options and know when to speak up, or you might end up being taken advantage of and having a birth story that is far less that what you had hoped for. Remember, you only give birth once, so make it count.
xox
Jessica
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