Last night we watched The Business of Being Born by accident. It was one of those shows that I would never have thought to watch, but after a few minutes, I couldn't stop. And you know what? It was good! I really liked it. I mean, I could have probably lived a complete fulfilled life without ever seeing Ricki Lake naked, but you know, whatever.
The whole documentary is basically praising doulas/midwifes/homebirths and saying that OBs are not very qualified to handle a normal delivery. The mantra was labor is natural, beautiful, something women should not be afraid of, but should embrace. Very crunchy if you ask me.
I may have said this a time or two before, but I hated being pregnant. For me, it was not a bonding experience. In fact, I didn't think of Timmy as a real baby until he was actually born. I didn't "glow." I hated the attention that came with it. I hated how my body changed. I hated all the restrictions on my diet and activities. I was not terrified of labor but I didn't look forward to it either. I couldn't understand why women make birth plans... what music was playing, the lighting, the people there...none of that seemed important or even relevant. Labor was just a means to the end... having the baby in my arms.
Imagine my surprise when the whole process of giving birth was just awesome and amazing. Kind of like when you have a really good workout, the pain (what little I felt) made the high at the end even better. The surprise and wonderment of seeing your baby that you've been imagining for 9 months. Being catered to by everyone. The excitement that everyone around you shares. The fact that you're no longer pregnant! A lot of women say they feel empowered by it. I guess that's true...not that it was some super difficult feat in my case, but just because it's the coolest thing physically I have ever done and look at what I have to show for it! A baby who I automatically love more than I ever thought possible! And to think, if Timmy had waited a day longer to make his appearance, I would have been induced. Knowing what I know now--how easy labor can be if it comes on naturally--I would be super hesitant to get induced next time around.
Breastfeeding was the same way. I scoffed at stories of "the incredible bonding" and thought that was some more of the hyper-emotional, hormonal talk. I planned to do it for as long as it felt right because it was good for the baby and it was cheaper and easier than formula. But you know what? I like it. I like that my body in a year's time has completely nourished Timmy from a little seedling to a toddler-sized 4 month old. I like holding him close to me 6 times a day, when he curls his fingers around my shirt and sighs contentedly. I like that he needs me and I need him every day.
This documentary was cool because it wants women to take charge of childbirth. Even if it's not going to be a great experience and it is more about just getting that baby in your arms, information is empowering. Given that my first baby was over 9 1/2 pounds, I'm not sure a natural, drug-free childbirth is in my future... that epidural was pretty f*cking amazing. But I would seriously consider getting a doula or midwife next time. Someone who I can meet before I'm in the hospital and I already know. Someone who can make it a more enjoyable experience. Why did no one tell me about this before?
Maybe that's just the granola in me.
*p.s. Since we're on the topic, congrats to Trannyhead on Version 2.0 on the way :)
3 comments:
If the granola in you is still interested, there are some pretty good books on the topic out there. One is Born in the USA by Marsden Wagner, and another is Pushed, by Tina Cassidy. They both present compelling information that made me rethink a lot of the things I'd assumed about giving birth.
Do you happen to know whether you can have a midwife in a hospital, and have a midwife throughout your pregnancy, but still have drugs at the birth? I like the idea of midwives instead of doctors, but no pain medication is not something I'm interested in. (I know you're probably not an expert just from watching this--I also just saw it today--but since you have had a baby I thought maybe you would know?)
That's kind of what I had- the midwife type of birth with the epidural (like Allison a non-medicated birth did not interest me in the slightest, the phrase "Wants Epidural" was in big red letters at the top of my medical chart- that was my only birth plan ;). But I loved having a midwife instead of an OB. She was there almost the whole time I was in labor and was such a calm, constant present... I really loved it.
And to answer Allison's question- it may depend on the hospital, but I gave birth to Landon at Northwestern and used there physician's group which had 5 midwives. I never saw an OB/GYN my entire pregnancy. I hope to find something similar here in Austin for next time.
Post a Comment