I guess I am posting a lot of updates today! That's ok. More for you to read. lol.
So, after many many recommendations I went ahead and watched the movie "The Business of Being Born". It was basically a movie that was very pro natural birth/home birth. I guess you could call it a documentary, and it was a project Ricki Lake put together after the birth of her two children. Her point was to educate women on the different options there are in terms of birth. Meaning, you don't have to go to a hospital, have and epidural, and give birth laying on your back with a bunch of doctors all around you. And that C sections are not as necessary as many women think they are.
First of all let me say, that I am VERY much in agreement that women need to educate themselves about the birthing process before choosing their own particular way to give birth. I personally go to a midwife, and plan on a natural birth--in a hospital.
For me a natural child birth is very important.
Having said all of that, this movie was hard to watch. It was very one sided, it really demonized (to steal a word Chris used) doctors/OBGYNs in general. It made it seem like every doctor in America only cares about their liability and getting to dinner on time. It also did not really talk enough about why having your baby in a hospital can be a good thing. It focused almost exclusively on natural home childbirth, and didn't show the other side of birth what so ever (which I think a documentary should do). So, I was disappointed. I appreciate the desire to show another side of birth, than what most women are taught growing up but I still feel like I kind of had to dissect it a little bit and figure out what was legitimate and what was just propaganda.
I think it's a good movie for a woman to watch, but I wouldn't base any opinion on what that movie had to say. I think it's just a good tool to open your eyes and realize there are other ways to give birth than what you see on TV.
So, there that is.
Tomorrow we are 19 weeks. 19 WEEKS!! That is unbelievable to me. Well, it's late and I am tired. Goodnight.
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3 comments:
I think "THe Business of Being Born" was one sided on purpose--because shows like Maternity Ward, and A Baby Story, tend to show mostly hospital births where the doctor swoops in to call all of the shots.
I wanted a natural birth desperately with Grace. My doctor, a Christian whom I trusted, told me I HAD to have a c/s. I didn't want one, I told him, and he said, "You HAVE to." Terry asked, "isn't there another way?" and we were told "no." My op record says that we OPTED for the procedure. And there was NO reason for a cesarean, other than the fact that labor was taking longer than the doctor wanted to wait.
The problem is that doctors DO have to be careful of liability. They are more likely to call shots based on potential legal issues than what's truly better for the mother.
Look at VBACs!!! I had to jump through all kinds of hoops to get a natural birth with AJ, because although VBACs are usually safer than multiple cesareans, most doctors won't risk their insurance.
I don't hate doctors. But I do believe that they are trained as surgeons first, baby catchers second.
When in labor, you are essentially helpless. You have NO control over what medication goes in your IV, whether the doctor breaks your water with your permission or without,whether you're allowed in the birthing tub or shower, etc. You are focusing on contractions and trying to make it moment by moment. A birth plan can be regarded--or disregarded--at the doctor's discretion. Who is going to check out of the hospital in the middle of heavy labor just because you don't like the way the doctor is treating you? Your options are severely limited, and the doctor and nursing staff know it. The staff want it easier on them, which means pressure for an epidural. Natural labor is HARD work and the staff find it more time consuming to help a patient going naturally.
The best thing we did was hire a doula. :) She helped ask the questions we didn't think to ask and I feel that her presence showed the hospital staff we were very serious about the birth experience we needed.
Anyhow. Not every birth experience is like that, and I don't mean to paint all hospitals and doctors with this paintbrush. But this IS the general state of birthing in the United States. That's why we must be so educated on what our bodies can actually do!!!!
I appreciate the reason they made the movie. I feel like however, scaring people into a natural birth isn't right. And honestly, a woman who watches that before doing any of her own research would be scared to death--I've done tons and it kind of scared me!! I think movies like that can make their point, and even convince woman to choose natural/home birth w/o demonizing and generalizing all doctors/hospitals. I think the movie would be much more respected if it did show both sides and allowed a woman to make her own choice instead of showing such a skewed one sided vision of what birth is/can be.
hmm. . i hadn't thought of it from that perspective. I found it really helpful to see how great birthing can be. :) I loved watching the woman appear to so effortlessly push her baby out in the birthing tub.. . . that was soooo cool to me!
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