Friday, September 09, 2005
Necessity and Birthing
So I don't delay posting on here any longer... I am going to relate some of my personal experiences and thoughts about childbirth and the necessity of being prepared and NOT relying on someone else to take care of it for you.
Both of my children, now aged 6 and aged 4 were born at home without the assistance of a doctor or a midwife. My birth stories are posted elsewhere, and I won't go into detail here, but I am going to explain my reasoning for birthing this way.
(Also, I am going to be having my third unassisted birth in just a few weeks. So this isn't new to me.)
In light of Hurricane Katrina, and other natural disasters (and some not so natural) in these times, there is a growing need to be better prepared to rely on our own resources. In past years, women have been more resourceful in this area, able to live through hardships, fend for themselves without the modern conveniences we experience today. Now, I don't categorise birth as "hardship", but I do believe it is something that needs preparation, faith and understanding to accomplish.
When we chose to birth unassisted, we didn't do it under some notion to be "brave" or "better." We were seriously criticised from many angles for choosing this path, and probably still are (albeit not to our faces). However, we do not, nor ever will, regret making these choices. And recently, seeing how others have been "forced" to fend for themselves, and not being prepared to do so, I am doubly glad that we are able to do this.
Giving birth without anyone in attendance doesn't crate fear or panic in me in any regard. I know it does for many others who have not considered this option. My belief though is that this needs to change. I am not saying that all births are going to be at home, without assistance, or without need for help. There are experiences where extra help is needed. However, I am also of the strongest opinion that women are entitled to and do receive divine inspiration in how to handle their births. In emergency situations where no help is at hand, or likely to be at hand, it is important to know what to do. This is apparent in many areas, but for a pregnant woman, crucially so.
I will expound on this some more (as time permits) in the future.
Both of my children, now aged 6 and aged 4 were born at home without the assistance of a doctor or a midwife. My birth stories are posted elsewhere, and I won't go into detail here, but I am going to explain my reasoning for birthing this way.
(Also, I am going to be having my third unassisted birth in just a few weeks. So this isn't new to me.)
In light of Hurricane Katrina, and other natural disasters (and some not so natural) in these times, there is a growing need to be better prepared to rely on our own resources. In past years, women have been more resourceful in this area, able to live through hardships, fend for themselves without the modern conveniences we experience today. Now, I don't categorise birth as "hardship", but I do believe it is something that needs preparation, faith and understanding to accomplish.
When we chose to birth unassisted, we didn't do it under some notion to be "brave" or "better." We were seriously criticised from many angles for choosing this path, and probably still are (albeit not to our faces). However, we do not, nor ever will, regret making these choices. And recently, seeing how others have been "forced" to fend for themselves, and not being prepared to do so, I am doubly glad that we are able to do this.
Giving birth without anyone in attendance doesn't crate fear or panic in me in any regard. I know it does for many others who have not considered this option. My belief though is that this needs to change. I am not saying that all births are going to be at home, without assistance, or without need for help. There are experiences where extra help is needed. However, I am also of the strongest opinion that women are entitled to and do receive divine inspiration in how to handle their births. In emergency situations where no help is at hand, or likely to be at hand, it is important to know what to do. This is apparent in many areas, but for a pregnant woman, crucially so.
I will expound on this some more (as time permits) in the future.
Sunday, September 04, 2005
Teaching Emergency Childbirth Procedures
A few weeks ago, I e-mailed two, local Red Cross chapters inquiring about emergency childbirth classes. I have yet to hear back from either of them. We live in Los Angeles, a major city. Just now, I called our local, Red Cross, Health Education classes phone number, only to find that they do not include emergency childbirth in their emergency preparedness courses. They do offer disaster classes without childbirth instruction. But those classes are only available to REd Cross employees or volunteers and not the public.
Basic childbirth procedures should be at least as common knowledge as CPR. In times of emergency, anyone might be called upon to assist a woman giving birth. An understanding of the birth process is helpful, not only for times of national disaster, (when hospitals are jammed or destroyed,) but also in the event of precipitous labor. One man, fleeing Hurricane Katrina, just days ago, who had a woman in the back of his car in labor said, "I just didn't know what to do."
In contrast, another Katrina survivor gave birth to her son while stranded in an attic, with the help of loved ones who did know what to do. The baby was delivered by his father with the help of other family members. They attributed their being prepared and knowing what to do to watching the Birth Channel.
Last, there are growing numbers of women dissastisfied with hospital birth settings who are choosing to birth at home. These women will be capable of giving birth or assisting at birth in times of local and national disaster. If you know a woman who has given birth at home, be sure and pick her brain to find out what the essentials of emergency childbirth are and stay in touch with her. She may prove to be a valuable resource to you or someone you know down the road.
In all fairness to the Red Cross, the young woman I spoke with was very kind and more than willing to send my request for emergency childbirth classes to her supervisor as well as my suggestion that childbirth procedures be added to Red Cross Emergency Preparedness courses.
If we can get the Red Cross to offer Emergency Preparedness, including standard, childbirth procedures for the public, maybe we'll be getting somewhere.
Written by Lori Ann with contributions from Susana
Basic childbirth procedures should be at least as common knowledge as CPR. In times of emergency, anyone might be called upon to assist a woman giving birth. An understanding of the birth process is helpful, not only for times of national disaster, (when hospitals are jammed or destroyed,) but also in the event of precipitous labor. One man, fleeing Hurricane Katrina, just days ago, who had a woman in the back of his car in labor said, "I just didn't know what to do."
In contrast, another Katrina survivor gave birth to her son while stranded in an attic, with the help of loved ones who did know what to do. The baby was delivered by his father with the help of other family members. They attributed their being prepared and knowing what to do to watching the Birth Channel.
Last, there are growing numbers of women dissastisfied with hospital birth settings who are choosing to birth at home. These women will be capable of giving birth or assisting at birth in times of local and national disaster. If you know a woman who has given birth at home, be sure and pick her brain to find out what the essentials of emergency childbirth are and stay in touch with her. She may prove to be a valuable resource to you or someone you know down the road.
In all fairness to the Red Cross, the young woman I spoke with was very kind and more than willing to send my request for emergency childbirth classes to her supervisor as well as my suggestion that childbirth procedures be added to Red Cross Emergency Preparedness courses.
If we can get the Red Cross to offer Emergency Preparedness, including standard, childbirth procedures for the public, maybe we'll be getting somewhere.
Written by Lori Ann with contributions from Susana
