It is a common idea that there are only two options when considering birth, natural or caesarian This I think is a common misconception and something to look at more closely.
When you think about birth and especially natural birth; it is funny that the only ally we seem to have left is from Hollywood. I have not seen any movie recently that has had a women going in for a caesarian, and this seems strange from an industry on glamorising things especially where it is deemed as easier. Now this makes me wonder how it is possible that it seems in South Africa there are very few doctors who are still actively supporting natural births. It seems in my opinion that you either have a caesarian in hospital or a home birth.
Even when I gave birth with Mia a couple of years ago I was surprised with what ease the term caesarian was thrown around. I was in no way in any circumstance close to even considering this, yet I heard that the gynaecology seemed to be clairvoyant; he was mistaken, within six hours of laying his eyes on me the first time and sending me home, I have birth; and I could have done it without any assistance from him. This made me think…
I know that I felt pangs of dread, feelings of uncertainty. Birth seems like such a big deal; what if I “can’t” do it? I thought about this, and a couple of times came close to thinking maybe a caesarian was going to be easier. In hind sight I am so elated that I did not ponder this any further; and stuck to my original plan. I think in general it is all part of our maternal instinct to wonder and to even be afraid; but you can work past this. Natural birth is just that – the way nature intended us to give birth.
In the past 100 years the way in which Western civilisation give birth has been changed rapidly, we have been introduced to lying down to make it easier to see. This has been done mainly due to the introduction of men to gynaecology. Now although I am not ignorant to the amazing work that has been done in general in terms of intervention and medicine, I am however worried about the move further away from giving natural birth towards more “controlled” birth. Which brings me to my next point…
The first six weeks after giving birth is one of the most tiresome periods of mothering; between getting acquainted with your newborn and trying to get your hormones to relax; the last thing you should want to contend with is recovering from major abdominal surgery. YES MAJOR ABDOMINAL SURGERY… Think about this, when you have your appendix out, you are told by the doctor to go home and rest; don’t do anything strenuous- for six weeks. Now I am sorry if a caesarian where they cut threw and remove another human being from your abdomen are not seen in at least the same category as having your appendix out; then I am not sure what is.
I had one client who has one of each births, home, natural hospital and caesarian Her words to me was the main thing that made me focus on a natural birth, she said that even the worse natural birth can NOT be compared to having a caesarian When you are pregnant and ready to give birth your body prepare not only for the birth but for the healing process that needs to occur afterwards. In general if you have a caesarian, you interfere with there natural processes.
Another thing that also seems odd, are that a couple of women that I have talked to who have had natural birth all had one thing in common. They all felt “non-pushing” contractions. We all agreed that there were very real contractions which did not warrant any pushing. These contractions can’t be distinguished when a maternity nurse is feeling the contractions and telling you to push when you make use of an epidural. OK so now you think I have jumped off the deep end. No caesarian and no epidural… NO I think that you should have a chat to your mother and your sisters, you family members. Ask them how they experienced birth and how they felt, what was bad and what was good for them. In my family we give birth “easily” – short labours and we have a high pain threshold. This made a decision for natural easy, I wanted an epidural but since I was too far dilated there was no time. Today I do not regret anything that happened during birth, and would opt for a home birth if I ever were to have another child. That however is me, the point I am trying to make, is that instead of just making an “easy” decision to have an elective caesarian why not discuss this with your doctor, make an appointment with a midwife or a doula; ask them how they feel and get the other side of the coin.
I do not mean to judge people who have had or have elective caesarians as I am sure that they have their reasons, I only mean to press on pregnant mothers and fathers to review their options and to make informed decisions, as oppose to making decisions based on one-sided information. There is a massive movement to more natural products, why then do we not look further than what is “easier” to control from a medical perspective; and give birth the way AND WHEN nature intends.
September 2024 – I would still have a homebirth – not that that is in any way possible – hello menopause.
Also don’t stone me for using the term natural birth vs vaginal birth, this article was written before all the woke and political correctness that came with the internet.
