Sunday, May 17, 2009

Irony w/in

I am sitting here watching this movie. Thinking of the birth of my son, almost a yr ago. In a hospital. Including an Epidural. There is not one thing I would change. Honestly. I am still very pleased with my birth experience. The nurses were incredible. The Dr. was hardly there, she was around when needed, but not too demanding or too medical/technical. Maybe my body was just ready or the baby was ready. Maybe I was too Anxious, Scared, Excited, In the Moment, Naive or whatever but things just progressed and happened and it was just So. I checked in the hospital with the expectation that I would have a baby. I didn't really know exactly how that would occur. I was hoping for a smooth vaginal delivery but knew that in the end, a live healthy baby boy was what I wanted the most.

My opinion, This video is alittle harsh on the Medical/OB Practices. I think knowing your choices, having choices and being educated is very important. I am not at all against home/non-hospital birthing centers. I have close friends that have births at home or in mid wive facilities. (and are midwives) In fact, I would love to have a home birth. BUT, My mind (and my husband) will not allow this path for me at all. Having Dr's/nurses there WITH us and FOR US every step of the way helps my husband and my mind feel more confident. I am not going to lie, I was going with the flow for the most part while in labor. I had no idea what to expect. I mean I read a few books, Went to a class (that I hated), Had coffee with friends that told me their ins and outs of birth. I am not sure I would have considered myself extremely educated..but I was educated enough that I felt confident in going with the flow until there was something that I just was not comfortable with. Do I consider my first birth lucky, I don't know. It just went smoothly. Confidence, Knowledge, Communication and Education were key for me. I do not feel like I lost any kind of experience with my child because it was not considered a natural birth. I do not feel like I bonded less because it was in a hospital or medically assisted. I do not feel guilty that I had a hospital/medical birth. I should not be made feel guilty that I had a medical/hospital birth. Nor should anyone else, How/Where ever you deliver.

BUT this is my experience. Not any one else's. I do believe that everyone has different needs/wants. I believe that everyone is entitled to have their desires/wants/needs met. I also think that the L&D that I used is very aware of helping make the best birth experience possible. I am glad I saw it on cable and did not go rent it. I do not feel like the video "clears up any misinformation" for me (a quote of why they did the movie). I feel like I want to give Ricki's friend Abby a hug at the end of the documentary. Oh the Irony.

13 comments:

Jen said...

Hi Farah, I haven't seen the movie, but I agree 100% with you. Each family should do what's best for them. I would FREAK out if I had a home birth, it's just not me.

BigP's Heather said...

I did not like that movie. I came away with a bad taste in my mouth. Instead of feeling like I was being shown all of my options to form a decision with knowledge, I felt like I was being pushed a home birth agenda.

Unknown said...

I haven't seen the movie yet... but want to. My birth was a bit scary at the end... but I STILL agree 100% with you. Especially because.. if I was at home and would have hemrrouged like I did.. who knows what would have happened. But everyone has to do what feels comfortable with them like you said. Thank you for reminding me that I want to see this :)

Mazzy said...

I feel like many of the women on that side of things push the home birth idea, while those of us who went the hospital route are more prone to be open to whatever it best for the individual. I think you ALWAYS have to do what is best for you and while a lot of women give me a terrible look for OPTING for a c-section, I don't care. I did what my doctor and my husband and I thought was best and my birth experience was quite honestly perfection. I would not change a thing. And I admire people who home birth, good for them. If you are strong and healthy enough and have an ideal enough pregnancy to go that route--I bet it is awesome.

Joy@WDDCH said...

I think you are lucky that you had such an awesome L&D unit on your side because the problem is that most OBGYNs do push unnecessary interventions that end up putting the mom at higher risk for c-sections or the use of assisted birth (forceps, vacuum).

Babies just need to be able to come when ready, unless deemed medically necessary.

I do agree that the video does push one birthing option (home birth) but that was their agenda and I don't think they've been quiet about that.

I'm glad you had a great birth the first time around and I hope that you (and I) have another great birth experience this time around... in a hospital! LOL! I do agree that I love the hospital.

Jill Tice said...

I have been wanting to see this movie and I just had Scott add it to Netflix.

If I had a penny for all of the negative comments I got about having a re-peat c-section, I would be a millionaire!

My philosphy has been and always will be, as long as the baby is healthy, I don't care how the heck s/he gets here. Same with infertility treatments. God wouldn't have given people these talents if he didn't want us to use them. :o)

FattyPants said...

I haven't seen it either. But with having a natural birth with my first and an epidural with the second I can say if I ever give birth again I will ask for the drug with no shame. My birth experience was wonderful and the midwives were great. I definetly think there is a fine balance, it doesn't have to be so heavily tipped in one direction. I think its so hard for women to get say what they want because people are so vocal against being induced and or having an epidural. I'm not even sure I want to see it now.

tryingin2007 said...

oh the irony is RIGHT! that movie totally annoyed me. I am ALL about education and being informed but that movie was 100% anti-hospital. way to make a nice "balanced" documentary!

there is a reason why nobody goes into obstetrics anymore. lawyers! god forbid something goes wrong with a birth. everyone is so sue happy. let's all blame the doctor! joy's post is painfully wrong. obs do not "push" unnecessary interventions! this mentality drives me insane! ultimately the task is to deliver a live baby (and keep the insurance companies happy. and keep the hospital beds empty. and keep the lawyers away...)

Cajun Cutie said...

well as you know, I see myself in the future having a career as a certified Nurse-Midwife. That being said, I do not see myself providing home births(they are also illegal for CNM's to provide in my state), I believe women have the right to have home births however there is a lot of responsibility the midwife takes on providing one. I would blame myself if something went wrong during a home birth I was assisting. It limits the options of the midwife.

I think a lot of issues with midwives in hospitals involves the differences between the medical model and the midwifery model. I know that the U.S. is behind the rest of the world when it comes to excepting midwives and the practice of midwifery as an autonomous profession. That being said, I think health care is an ever changing field. I think more doctors are wiling to except women's birth plans and wishes.

Anonymous said...

I'm just scared of the baby dying and not being able to do anything because of lack of hospital staff and machinery, otherwise I haven't got anything against home births, in fact I've always liked the idea of it but obviously would never do it :)

I'm interested to see this film now.

Barb said...

You will have to be a mentor for me if this all turns out. ;-)

christina(apronstrings) said...

i didn't know you were preggy! woot! woot! i don't thin k i am--at all. i got the visitor today. in fact, i didn't even test-can't stand the thought of a another m/c-even if it were early.
xoxo

HereWeGoAJen said...

That's how I feel about mine too, it went smoothly and that is what I wanted.