I believe that natural childbirth is best. I believe that the female body was created to give birth. We were not created to be cut open so that our babies could be through a man-made hole in our abdomen. We were not created to need the assistance of synthetic hormones to push labor along. And believe it or not, being created with the purpose of giving birth in mind, we were even made to accommodate the incredible size of a newborn baby’s head. I even believe that God’s intention was for childbirth to be an exciting, intimate experience that women would look forward to.
However, all of creation was affected by the fall of [wo]man – the first sin, which separated us from the perfect existence God had dreamed for us. Now there are miscarriages. There are stillbirths. There are breech babies. There are labors that stall or stop for various reasons. There are maternal deaths. There is pain.
So man has created ways to avoid these horrific experiences. We have ultrasounds to be able to view the baby and any potential health problems. We have cesarean sections, which have saved countless lives (both mother and child). We have pitocin, which can kick-start a stalled labor. We have epidurals, which numb the mother to the pain of childbirth.
It sounds like we have created the perfect labor – painless and safe. But it is not as risk-free as the doctors would have you believe. These interventions may be the best options when facing health issues for mother and/or child, but when they are used to accommodate schedules and personal preferences, they are putting health and lives at risk needlessly.
Inducing labor has gone from only being used when absolutely necessary to becoming the most popular option when a woman goes over her due date. In a time when science can tell us so much about the world around us and our own bodies, we come to think of “due dates” rather too concretely. Your due date could be two weeks before the doctor’s prediction, or two weeks after. If you induce labor because your baby wasn’t born by a specific day, you could be delivering your child two weeks early. And along with the health concerns that prematurity can cause, induction itself has dangerous side effects.
Induction causes more painful and intense contractions without the three to ten minute breaks that God intended our bodies to have during this exhausting process. Those unnaturally hard contractions have been known to cause uterine rupture and placental abruption (either your uterus or the placenta ruptures or tears). Induction can also cause limited blood flow and oxygen supply to the baby which can cause cerebral palsy among other things, and can lead to a drop in the baby’s heart rate. Because of these risks, induction also increases the chance of a cesarean section. And on top of that, inductions require constant monitoring, which limits the movements of the laboring mommy. Induced labors are also longer than natural ones. Still sound like the perfect labor?
Due to the intense contractions and decreased mobility, induced mommies often turn to the epidural for relief. I know I did when I was laboring with my first (which was also induced – I was blindly following professional advice – skip to the end for my opinion on that matter). Epidural risks are not explained by medical professionals. This is probably what frustrates me the most about nurses in the delivery room. Instead of coaching the laboring mother through the pain with helpful massages and encouraging words, they immediately go for the epidural permission form. But there are risks! They can range from week-long headaches to year-long backaches. When you think about the pain of labor and delivery, consider the relative speed with which that passes. Then compare it to living with a chronic backache AND a newborn. If you had to choose, which would you? Also, a laboring mommy with an epidural would not be mobile, and the absence of movement could cause labor to slow or stop, leading to a cesarean. Epidurals also could cause a drop in maternal blood pressure, which would, again, lead to an emergency cesarean. And then there is the ever-present risk of the needle which is inserted into your spine.
Cesarean sections are a serious abdominal surgery in and of themselves and are full of risk as well. The World Health Organization estimates that the rate of C-section should be between 5 and 15% of all births. Yet they found in sample hospitals that the average rate for a C-section was 27.3%! And part of the blame for the rise of that statistic is on uninformed women who are actually choosing C-sections over natural births because doctors tell them it is safer. However, these women are increasing their risk of maternal death, hysterectomy, hemorrhage, surgical injury to other organs, infection, blood clots, and rehospitalization for complications.
The following statistics from WebMD seem slim – until you know personally know someone in the 2.13%.
The most commonly seen complication with repeat C-sections in the newly reported study was attachment of the placenta too deeply into the uterine wall, a potentially life-threatening condition called placenta accreta.
Scar tissue that forms following a first surgical delivery increases the risk for placenta accreta with subsequent pregnancies.
Just 0.31% of the women in the study delivering by C-section for the second time developed the condition, compared with 2.13% of women who had a fourth surgical birth and 6.74% of women who had six or more cesarean deliveries.
A good friend of mine was having her third child. She wanted a natural birth, but due to complications, she delivered her angel girl via her third C-section. Afterward, the doctor explained that during the operation, he opened her abdomen to find the “most beautiful blue eye staring up” at him through a quarter-sized hole in her uterus. The doctor who had stitched up her previous two C-sections had left her womb resembling “Frankenstein’s monster” – a quote from the doctor himself. The doctor then explained that if her water would have broken – if she would have gone into labor naturally – due to her poorly stitched uterus, she and her baby would have died.
One of the most amazing facts I have learned on this journey is the benefit to the baby to be born naturally. It is normally assumed that childbirth is a traumatic experience for the baby, and the connection then is often made that a C-section would be better for the baby, even if it may be worse for the mother. However, most babies born through C-sections have to receive breathing treatments and are more likely to have asthma later in life. Why? Because before birth, the baby’s lungs are filled with fluid – as they have no need for them in the womb. During natural childbirth, this fluid is squeezed out. During a C-section, however, this does not take place, making it more likely that the lungs will not inflate properly, which leads to the newborn laying in the incubation unit with tubes coming out of her nose. And more studies have shown that when babies are born this way, it effects their breathing for years to come.
And yet doctors continue to perform C-sections. They continue to recommend induction – which increases odds for C-sections. They continue to recommend epidurals – which increase odds for C-sections. They continue to perform episiotomies (I’ll let you research that one on your own) after research calls them all but an unnecessary evil. They get irritated (at the least and irate at the most) when you refuse to lay on your back during labor (my nurse actually told me the doctor would not deliver my baby unless I was in bed) – which increases your odds for needing an episiotomy and an induction, and with that, the risk of a C-section.
Henci Goer, award-winning medical writer, writes in this article:
How can obstetricians hold beliefs so contrary to the facts? Primarily because “If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.” Despite rhetoric about being “women’s health physicians,” obstetricians are surgical specialists in the pathology of women’s reproductive organs. The belief that birth is difficult, dangerous, and damaging and that major surgery is preferable validates and reinforces their sense of professional worth.
I appreciate doctors. In this fallen world, we need them. For unhealthy pregnancies, for breech babies that will not turn, for emergencies that would otherwise turn deadly – we need doctors.
However, they tend to lean towards a very unnatural laboring and birthing experience for mothers. And I Believe that, unless your specific situation prohibits it, childbirth should be left to progress as God intended: naturally.
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For those special mothers who have endured cesarean sections for their babies, I dearly hope that you do not consider yourselves less in any way. You have endured more pain and more risk for the safety and health of your child and I salute you for it.
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What do you believe?
Great article! I’m expecting my first, and my husband and I have chosen to use a midwife at home, because for us, this option makes the most sense with our beliefs about natural childbirth.
And a comment about breech births…it IS possible to have a breech birth completely naturally! My midwife has told me countless storys and statistics about hospital/doctor breech births vs. natural/midwife. Most doctors are NOT trained to deliver a baby breech! They will usually automatically do a C-section. I feel pretty confident that if my baby were to end up breech, my midwife would be perfectly capable to handle the birth, as she has been extensively trained and delivered many a baby that way!
Thanks again for this great post!
~Jordan
(I found your blog through Crystal Paine, btw 🙂
yay! a new thing. this is exciting. I didn’t do anything creative, I’ll try to be ready for next time. This time I just wrote on the topics you mentioned in your “be ready” post. I’ll try harder next time. here’s my link:http://mccurdygirl29.blogspot.com/2007/08/what-i-believe-part-one.html
This is fabulous. I couldn’t have written it better myself. I had my first baby this past October naturally at a hospital birth center with a midwife…it was precisely the labor experience we wanted, and it was wonderful. (Painful as all get out, but wonderful!)
Ashley sent me over here, and I’m glad she did!
Jordan – I’m glad you found me! And I’m glad you’re able to have a midwife! I wanted one with my last pregnancy, but was on Medicaid and there were no midwives in the county that took Medicaid patients. As a result, my birthing experiences have been very frustrating (but always with adorable results… :-)) And I’m just tickled that you called my post an “article.” 😀 Thanks!
Jes – Great “What I Believe” post! (Everyone else – go check it out)
Becky – Ashley has sent me to your blog so many times… I’m glad you found your way to mine! (I especially loved your Trash The Dress pictures… You are Beautiful!) Good for you and your wonderful birthing experience! *Trying not to be too jealous* I think my main problem is I move to a new city every time I get pregnant, so I have to find a new doctor and I just don’t take the time I should to find one who aligns with my beliefs. But also, I didn’t have my beliefs nailed down as concretely as I do now. So next time… next time… 🙂
The nurses who coached me discouraged an epidural. I had to demand one. I live in a crunchy area, so that may be why.
Another HUGE reason OB-GYNs do so many C-sections and inductions is because of the risk of lawsuits if anything goes wrong. It isn’t just convenience. The risk of infant mortality goes up after 42 weeks and if the Doctors don’t do everything that they can do and something happens to the baby a lawsuit is forthcoming. This goes for C-sections. If something goes wrong and a lawyer can give evidence that if the dr had done a C-section earlier, than the baby would be OK, the dr could be out of business. This is how John Edwards made his millions. Because of this, we have such a shortage of OB-GYNs. The malpractice insurance is just too expensive.
If docs don’t do things by the book and something goes wrong they are in trouble. I think it is important to see the stress they are under. I have seen drs who encourage inductions for convenience, but if the hopsital was staffed enough, they probably wouldn’t be pushing this.
Our hospital used to do VBACs, but they couldn’t afford the insurance, so they stopped doing them.
I think another reason there are so many C-sections is because so many moms are overweight/diabetic and having abnormally huge babies. The day I had my baby who was 7.15 at two weeks early, he was considered small. The dr told me that all the other moms were having these huge 10 lb babies. If the moms were healthier, there would be less of these problems. Women are waiting to have children later in life and this can cause more problems as well that would lead to c-sections.
Episiotomies are being discouraged and aren’t even used at the hospital where I worked and delivered (I’m a nurse.) It’s bettter to tear.
Just some things to think about.
I notice Zan said “the risk of infant mortality goes up after 42 weeks.”
Many OB’s are inducing babies MUCH earlier than that. Never
mind that the “average” first pregnancy is 41 weeks 1 day.
Technology saved my 32 week baby. He was born naturally with no drugs. It’s the part of the experience I treasure.. the feeling of what your body can just do if you let it is amazing. I just wish we could have had him peacefully at the birth center, at term, instead. Another example of how the world is not perfect, or as my midwife said, “Mother nature sucks sometimes.”
Regarding breech birth.. check out the breech birth coalition.
Zan – That is a good point about the doctors being pressured to induce and perform c-sections because of malpractice suits. However, that just furthers my conviction to use a midwife in a birthing center next time. And I have never known a nurse to discourage an epidural! When I was delivering my second, the nurses were talking to a couple interns who were in the room and I overheard part of the conversation:
Nurse: Have you seen many births yet?
Intern: Yeah.
Nurse: Is this your first you’ve seen without the epidural?
Intern: *Incredulously* Yeah!
Summary: They thought I was insane.
Mrs. B – I have heard of breech babies being born naturally. I guess I just included that part for a good friend of mine who recently had a c-section to deliver her breech baby. She was out of the country and there were no midwives and the doctors had not been trained to deliver breech babies. So for her, the safest option was the c-section. I didn’t want her to feel as though she had made the wrong choice. I’m glad your baby’s alright! Yes, doctors do come in handy sometimes… 🙂
What I believe: An Indispensable Budget
That’s my first contribution. We’ll see what else I come up with 🙂
The Mommy,
How many nurses do you know?
They taught us in nursing school to respect the wishes of the patient first and foremost. If the patient wanted an epidural (if it was OK with the dr) than they aren’t supposed to discourage it. This goes the other way around, too. The nurse I had was fresh out of nursing school and wanted me to pursue a more natural route. I didn’t want to do that. Nurses are supposed to be non-judgmental. It is the drs responsibility to inform the patient of the risks/benefits of a procedure.
All of my OB nurse instructors encouraged a more natural path when they were giving their lessons.
I’m glad that you are convicted to have you babies at a birthing center with a midwife. I had mine at a birth center that was attached to a hospital, the OR was right there if anything went wrong. I had the best of both worlds. 🙂
I loved my epidural birth. It was heavenly. My second was too quick to even think about. We will have to see what the next one ends up being (I’m 14 weeks along). I don’t have birthing plans. I leave it up to God and play out my labor by ear.
BTW, I would fight tooth and nail against an induction. I would have to be pretty convinced that the baby was in danger. Inductions are horrible!
Zan – Thank you for your insight into the world of OB nurses – and for standing up for them here on my blog. I’m sure you are a fantastic nurse and I hope I have not offended you in any way. I think my point is more that I desire a midwife to walk me through the process, rather than a doctor who merely shows up at the very end and the nurses who are busy enough with their many other patients.
It does sound like you had a wonderful birthing experience with your first. The birth center you used sounds fabulous. The nearest one to me is an hour and a half away.
Hmm… I don’t know if this is obvious enough, but “The Mommy” is “The Natural Mommy” – i.e., Beth. 🙂 I’ll have to make that clearer, won’t I?
so happy to come across your blog. 🙂 i enjoyed your article.
i, too, am a big supporter of natural childbirth. i had my 1st in the hospital with many complications and had to be induced, labor in bed on my side, catheterized, episiotomy, etc. no epidural, but i sure wanted one.
2nd birth was at home and was such a different experience and so amazing. even though my son was a surprise footling breech, i had him naturally with the help of my midwife.
i hope we can make a shift in this country back to natural childbirth with midwives and at home if possible.
p.s. added you to my blogroll. 🙂
Amy – Good for you! I’ve read about home-births, but just can’t take that leap of faith yet. In a perfect world, where absolutely no complications would arise… Also, we live in an apartment. It’s small. (So is our bathtub). Not ideal, I don’t think.
Thanks for adding me – I feel special now. 🙂
I was visiting your store – you have some cute stuff there! My favorite might have to be the “I make milk” shirts.
Like you, I am a believer in natural birth. Unlike you, I don’t believe my unforeseen complications in childbirth which led to emergency C-section are the result of primordial woman, or Eve, or whatever, having once sinned. I think I had the C-section because even though i was in a birthing center with great midwives, trying my best to have a natural birth, my baby’s cord was wrapped twice around her neck. And so, even though we labored as long as they would let us, in the end, the C-section saved at least one life.
It’s a shame that promoters of natural birth can often come off as arrogant. Suggesting that breach babies, C-sections or other medical misfortunes are somehow connected to sin won’t convert many to the cause.
thanks for visiting my store. 🙂
the thing about home births is, midwives are very trained to see complications before they are out of control and take you to a hospital if that is needed. most complications give lots and lots of warning signs so there is plenty of time for a hospital transfer if needed.
my son had the cord wrapped around his neck three times, he was breech, his arm was behind his head and he came out not breathing. none of these things were a serious issue because midwives are very trained to deal with them. he got a few puffs of air mouth-to-mouth and he started breathing. 🙂
and no need for a c-section if a midwife or OB is trained on how to deliver a breech baby. unfortunately, in our litigious society, hospitals are too afraid of something going wrong so they are too quick to cut to avoid a lawsuit.
Slightly unrelated, a post I came across today about natural birth- both physical and spiritual. A beautiful piece that puts natural childbirth into perspective as an experience symbolic of being born again.
Just thought I’d throw that out there 🙂
No Beth. You didn’t offend me too much. I couldn’t figure out you first name by glancing at your blog.
I do feel that there is a trend of nurse and dr bashing by more natural type people. The majority of drs and nurses are not out to make women’s lives harder so that their job is easier. There is a method to the madness and I think that people outside the medical proffession are not aware of all the reasons. There is a lot of politics that are behind the workings of a hospital and that can interfere with patient care.
Crabmommy,
I think that sin is the only reason bad things happen. A cord wrapped around a baby’s neck is not good. Would cords be wrapped around a baby’s neck in a perfect world? No.
I think the reason women have such a hard time with labor (no labor is “easy”) is because of sin entering the world. I don’t see what else it could be.
I agree with Zan. I think that difficult and painful labor is a direct consequence of our sin. (Thanks, Eve!) Our bodies breaking down – things not going according to plan – things getting “messed up” is more of an indirect consequence of the original sin. My husband posed the question to me yesterday: “So did God originally intend for our bodies to remain perfect all of our lives? Were we supposed to be immortal?” I am not a biblical scholar, so I don’t know, but my initial thought is “yes”. The end of Genesis 3 sounds like that hard work and death are part of the punishments – “By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.” (Gen. 3:19)
Crabmommy –
I’ve reread your comment several times to try to give you the benefit of the doubt, but I still cannot see how declaring my personal belief that pain and death originated with the first sin is arrogant.
I’m glad you came. I’m glad you took the time to read the post. I’m glad you shared your experience and how your beliefs differ from mine. I look forward to your responses to my future What I Believe posts. So long as they are not irrelevant personal attacks.
I hope you read Ashley’s latest comment referencing Genesis 3. Take the time to examine that passage in the bible (if you don’t have one, try BibleGateway.com) and you will see where the foundation to my beliefs come from.
And no, explaining to unbelievers that childbirthing pains originated as a result of disobedience to God might not “win many to the cause.” I don’t usually start with that.
Maybe I should have prefaced that little ditty with an explanation that God became man, lived a blameless life, suffered brutally more pain that any laboring mother could imagine… all to rescue my sinful soul.
…
I’m glad your C-section saved the life of your precious little girl.
The Mommy — hold on there. I don’t know that Crabmommy was engaging in an “irrelevant personal attack.” Could it be that perhaps she was pointing out that original sin taints ALL childbirth (all aspects of our lives in general), and that sin is not more connected to c-section than it is to natural birth? To me, considering this option (which is how I interpreted the post initially) would be giving Crabmommy’s comment the benefit of the doubt.
Thank you, Charlotte. And Zan, your personal beliefs — in original sin, for example, and specifically original sin as having a bearing on complicated births — offend mine. I am not a meanspirited person who seeks to attack other bloggers, but I find it arrogant when people use their religious beliefs to explain the suffering or misfortunes of others.
To my mind, the reason my child had problems during labor originated with the cord around her neck, not with original sin, mine, Eve’s or anyone else’s. To my mind the solution came from medicine, not God. That’s all. Again, I find it arrogant that you ask me to read the Bible to understand your perspective. I don’t believe in the Bible, but somehow, many Christians (not all) have a hard time respecting that.
I’m sorry. I directed my comment at Zan, but it was meant to be for Beth.
I also had the chord wrapped around my neck. I came out normal way, and my mom could not have the epideral because I was in danger.
I ended up fine, but spent some time in the NICU.
My mom, although, took the epideral for #2, my brother.
I agree with both sides. Not everyone can have the perfect birth. Some people need the hospital for the emergency techniques and specialities. Some people that are totally comfortable with au natural might go there if their pregnancies are healthy and fit.
My mom commented that if I wasn’t born in the hospital, I might not be around today. (I dunno)
I never thought about it as ‘because man sinned, my birth was more painful for my mom and I.’ I guess that gets kind of sticky for people who have had such bad or painful experiences when it comes to birth and labor. It would be painful and difficult for a mother of a stillborn to come to terms with this, let alone others.
I think Beth is trying to say, if you are comfortable with natural birth and have a healthy pregnancy…then this option might be good for you. It’s not ok for everyone. In a perfect world we wouldn’t need hospitals or c-sections, etc. This ain’t a perfect world. Even Crabmommy can agree with that statement.
Charlotte and Crabmommy –
Apparently there was a misunderstanding. Maybe I should have been more clear, but I believe that <i>all</i> childbirthing experiences were affected by the original sin. I quote from the Bible (which I know Crabmommy does not believe in, but I will get to that point): “To the woman he said, ‘I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.'” (Genesis 3:16)
This was in direct consequence to Adam and Eve’s disobedience of God’s command.
And to address the arrogance of my asking you to “to read the Bible to understand [my] perspective” – If I wanted to truly understand a Muslim’s point of view, I would read the Koran. And to understand a Jew’s perspective, I would study the Torah. If you honestly want to know where I’m coming from; read the Bible. If you could really care less and just like debating, then I’m not forcing anything down your throat.
My intention for this series was to create dialogue to help people process what they believe (myself included). It requires a lot of grace to deal with people who hold to different convictions. I am prepared to hear your convictions and the research you have done to back them up. In turn, I thank you in advance for your grace when you hear mine.
And, Bonnie – Good summary. You were paying attention in class. A+
I’m glad that Crabmommy explained that she doesn’t believe the Bible. Her statement makes sense, now. I was confused.
Crabmommy,
Christians believe that bad things happen because of original sin. Labor pains are a very bad thing. They hurt terrible and women can die from giving birth. This is the result of original sin as Ashely pointed out. That is what Christians believe. It is not arrogant to have a belief in something to explain it. I am very thankful that I have an explanantion of why I’m in pain when I am in labor. If it was “just because…” I would be pretty ticked. There is a reason for everything and Christians believe that the reason for pain and death is original sin. That is why Christ came. Christ endured this physical life with all of it’s pains and died a horrific death in our place and rose from the dead. That is our hope. There is no room for arrogance in such a belief. That God would humble himself for us should never give anyone an arrogant attitude.
Zan – You said everything I should have. Thank you!
Thank you both for explaining the basis of your beliefs. I am sorry to say that it still doesn’t clarify for me the idea of a loving God.
I never have understood Christians’ celebration of God’s compassion when pain and suffering abound.Yes, I went to a Christian school and I understand the backup that explains sin…that sin is something man committed of his own “free will.” Which is always a headspinner to contemplate, since God made man so where’s the freedom there? A Christian would say God gave us the choice of being good and we chose to be bad and thus we deserve punishment. I am just glad I don’t believe in any of that. A God who creates one capable of being a sinner and then punishes that sinner. It’s not for me. And then one is meant to feel ever-grateful to Jesus for shouldering our burden. It still strikes me as logically imprecise somehow.
I never did previously come across that Bible quote about God giving us women husbands to rule us as part of the punishment. Again, I’m glad I’m not a Christian so I don’t have to buy into that. By this logic, a good Christian woman accepts a dominating husband as an appropriate punishment for sin, just as she accepts labor pain as getting her “just desserts” as a mortal sinner. My husband doesn’t rule me. Does this mean I’m not a sinner then? I don’t get it.
And what of animals? They have labor pain, complications, and medical misfortunes. Are they sinners too? I thought animals were innocents, like children. Mind you, if babies are innocent, then why should they be imperiled by the sins of their parents…through childbirth complications…? Doesn’t make sense to me.
I’ll bow out of the forum now. If anyone wants to know more about me and my beliefs, feel free to visit my blog. Beth, Zan, you put your beliefs on the table and so I critique them as someone who has come to read the blog and is allowed to comment freely. I think it’s to your credit that you keep the comments forum open in this way. Then again, if the words or questions of an atheist like me are offensive, maybe you should close or moderate the comments. To my mind, one happy and secure in her beliefs is not afraid of the critique, and writes prepared for it.
First I just want to say how glad I am that Beth decided to create these “What I believe” posts. It is so importand for us to know what we believe, not just about God, or child raising, but everything. If we do not know what we believe we will be easily moved to believe a wrong view. Beth’s posts have challenged me to really dig deep , research and pray about what I believe. I hope it will make others do the same.
Crabmommy,
Thank you for commenting and sharing your beliefs. It is very important for us to see what other people believe too. it challenges us all the more. Thank you. I will be checking out your blog. I have pretty much stayed out of the comments because I felt everyone else was doing a good job at replying, since I feel the same way they do I didn’t think it needed to be repeated.
I do want to say something about your comment about husbands. I don’t recall anywhere in the Bible where it says husbands are part of our punishment, I do not feel they are punishment. As far as us “submitting” and them being dominate and ruling over us- I think many people have a misinturpreted view of this topic. Submitting doesn’t really mean doing everything they say exactly when they say it or having to view our husbands as a fierce ruler. There is a great book I am reading called Creative Counterpart that explains it very well. Husbands and Wives are to work together in life, not compete. When differences arise they should be talked about openly and honestly but in a loving way. The wife should make sure the husband knows how she feels and the husband should make sure the wife knows how he feels, after that is all said and done the husband should have final say. This is not because we are inferior or because husbands are so much smarter than us, it’s because everything that happens is going to fall back on them in the end.
Please forgive me for my spelling errors, I am a terrible speller.
Thanks again for joining in on this blog.
Crabmommy,
I don’t mind you critquing me in the least. Just don’t suggest Christians are arrogant when we use our religion to explain something like labor.
Animals are affected by original sin, too. However, I did grow up with a variety of animals and they seemed to have a much easier time than humans. 😉
I’m sorry you don’ t think God is loving, but he sent his Son to be willingly crucified. Ever read about crucifixion? That doesn’t sound that unloving to me.
I know you are out of this forum for now, but what would be your answer for why there is so much pain in the world be? Just because…that’s the way it is.
Crabmommy –
I know you have bowed out of this forum, but in case you come back, or if anyone else reading this shares your concerns about Christianity, here are my responses:
All of creation was effected by the fall – as Zan mentioned, this includes animals. It also includes babies. And plants. The very soil is effected. Nothing is perfect because of our willingness to disobey God. Children are “innocents” in that because they are incapable of grasping the concept of belief in Jesus, they are not required to do so to go to heaven when they die.
And why did God create us with the ability to disobey, the ability to choose not to love him? That is a very good question. Imagine a relationship where you gained the unswaying love of your partner through a love potion (if you’ve read Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, you might recognize this story :-)). He is completely unable of resisting the potion and therefore loves and obeys you completely. He is unable to wrong you in any way. Is that the truest, strongest form of love? Wouldn’t it seem manufactured? Robotic? Forced? Wouldn’t you start to wonder whether his love and commitment would be as fierce if it were up to him to decide for himself?
The love God desires from us is love in its truest form. The kind of love that we commit to willingly. The kind of love that we work hard to maintain. The kind of love that we wade through persecution for (I’m not ending a sentence in a preposition. Technically, that was a phrase :-P). The kind of love that we choose.
God created us, yes with the ability to sin, but also with the ability to love him the way he truly deserves to be loved. It’s up to us to decide.
This ability to choose for ourselves causes us pain. It also causes God pain.
So yes, there is pain and suffering in this world. But that is the beauty of Christianity – our Hope. We know this life is not all we have. It is but a breath compared to the eternity we will spend with our Lord in Heaven.
Beth, after reading through much of your site I am really impressed with your ability to MULTItask with both Olivia and Benjamin.
Just a few comments from someone who for the last 20+ years has been involved in the care of laboring women. I agree that for the most part the induction of labor is not really necessary. There are sometimes as you mentioned that there is a medical necessity for the health of mother or baby. Having said that, almost all inductions are done because the MOTHER is just “plain tired of being pregnant”. I challenge you to find a board certified OB/Gyn who will tell you differently. A variety of factors come into play, but still by and large, most women almost “demand” an induction be scheduled. They have family coming from a long distance, and child care to be taken into account. Mind you, none of these are medical issues, just issues that are face every day in an OB’s office. A woman who is 9 months pregnant is often hard to have a rational conversation with when it comes to the subject of induction/natural labor.
As far as the epidural goes, you might want to dig a little deeper into that one. The epidural is placed below the level at which the spine ends, so there is no needle going into the spine. You might have that confused with another type of anesthetic known as spinal anesthesia. As you said, there are risks with any type of anesthesia and no one should be encouraged to have a medical procedure without having had it fully explained. A spinal anesthesia is used for a variety of different surgeries, including C Sections. Which leads me to the subject of surgical delivery.
Again, if you search for a board certified physician, you will find that over 75% of Cesaraen’s are done not because of a real risk, but because of a potential risk to mother or baby. The judicial systems makes it almost impossible to justify not having done a C Section if there is a bad outcome.
Just had to put my two cents worth in. Loved seeing you and your family at the wedding reception. Thanks for letting me hold your precious Benjamin.
Oh, by the way, I’m Ashton’s mom…..
Laura, thanks for joining the discussion! It’s especially nice to have someone from the medical field share their experiences.
You’re definitely right about women *wanting* inductions. That wasn’t my case; I succumbed to my doctor’s advice. But since then, I have heard my share of pregnant women expressing desire to have an exact due date – and one that comes before a full 40 weeks, nonetheless!
This might be, however, because they haven’t studied the connection between induction and c-sections. And they might not know how extremed induced contractions are. Which leads them to the epidural.
Speaking of which, thank you for that clarification! But there are still risks involved, it still slows labor because of the inability to walk, among other things that then lead us back to a higher risk of c-secions.
And I agree that malpractice cases make it very difficult on doctors. I wish it wasn’t so! (NOT voting for John Edwards, for your information…) I know you, as medical personnel, have to do what’s best for the patient WHILE protecting yourself at all angles.
However, if the mother is well-informed (going back to my original point), then they won’t be requesting procedures that increase their risk, which will, in turn, decrease the risk of their doctor being sued!
So that was really the point of the original post – to inform the uninformed, who assume induction, epidurals, and c-sections are the safest and easiest paths to take.
Thanks again for your input! Hope I get to see you again soon – Benjamin is WALKING all over the place now!
I think we agree. Being an imformed patient whatever your condition is paramount in receiving the best care. And by the time of this posting mr. edwards (all lower case on purpose) is no longer a candidate! Although I am opposed to him on many levels…
I can’t believe Bejamin is walking! And way to go Olivia! Such a big girl now!
I know that this is an old post, but I just linked to you, (from where I can’t remember.) All I can say is Amen. I have delivered both of my children at home with a midwife. My second was a water birth. It IS one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had. Painful? Yes, and so worth every hour of it. My recovery time was fast. I had my first, with tearing, so I had something like 8 stitches, but was still up and moving around with in hours. Same with my second. I am surprised at how many people asked me if I will do it again the same way. Well, duh. If I know that I can do it, why would I choose a different option. I feel like I would somehow be shorting my self and my child of that experience. Not to mention that I can labor my way. I can move and change and don’t have to worry about everyone else idea of what I should do. I can give birth the way I need to. I love it!
Oh I how I love internet treasures! I just found your old blog site and linked to your new site for the first time tonight and for the last hour and uncounted number of minutes I’ve been sitting here soaking it all in. How enlightening and engaging and thanks to you my poor starved brain is now feeling fat and happy! : )
For starters, I am also 25, I am the mother of one beautiful little boy who will be 5 in a few short weeks, I’m married to the love of my life (who is also the father of my child — odd how I feel I must clarify that today) and have been suffering from secondary infertilty for over 2 years.
Now that you know a little about me, (sorry I didn’t give you a choice, just always feel I should introduce myself) I wanted to comment you on such a well written, informative article! Natural childbirth is a very touchy subject and one I feel all alone here in my own little world contemplating. You see, I’m not pregnant but I’m surrounded by pregnant women. To keep my sanity I research and try to further educate myself in the many facets of pregnancy, childbirth, infant care and all sorts of other topics that I *God willing* will once again be blessed with. Hence my google search of “the natural mommy.” : )
With my son I didn’t have much time to prepare or even enough mental capacity to consider what my options were in all above mentioned topics. My mother was an original “natural mommy” but of course I wanted my own unique signature on motherhood and did things a little differently: ie: I blindly followed my doctor’s advice. Well, in my own defense; I wasn’t completely diluded, I did breast-feed until my son was 15 months, I did have a heatlhy, smoke, drug, alcohol, caffeine-free pregnancy, I tried my best to eat right, to exercise, to take my vitamins and see my doctor and of course I read the usual pregnancy books.
But I did get the epidural, I did have an induction (just breaking my water, no pitocin, but still…) no episiodomy (sp?) (thank God), but also, no birth plan.
Which brings me to my ever-so-long-at-getting-around-to-it point. I think a lot of women would SOOOO benefit and make things much easier and more simple if they write a birth plan! Of course this involves being educated but to me, seems well worth the effort. I fell into the : “I’m not sure what to do, somewhat-educated but don’t have the guts to stand up for myself, young mother” category. I’ve learned so much since then and I hope my next birth will be much different. Just reading your article has tipped the scales toward not having another epidural. Especially after my sister in law came home from the hospital a few weeks ago with horrible, terrifyingly painful headaches from a botched epidural. I had good luck with mine but did (and still do) suffer from backaches. Before I had my son and the epidural, I never had a backache in my life!
So, thank you and my two cents for anyone who is interested (sorry for the rambling!) is to make a birth plan! They are excellent and if you want a website with a link to an easy-to-make birth plan, just let me know! ; )
I appreciate the information and will surely be back for more!! You are a talented writer and I can’t wait to put the information and advice I’ve gathered into action!
~Kristen : )
P.S. AMEN to everyone who said women are using induction as a dayplanner!!! I am surrounded (and infuriated) by women who are throwing hissy fits because they are nearing the 40 week mark with no sign of labor and demanding inductions!! It kills me! To the Dr’s credit however, they have been wonderful at advocating for these precious babies who obviously have no one else to advocate for them by telling the mothers they must wait until 42 (barring any medical complications) before an induction would be considered! I’m amazed and have much more faith in the OB/GYN practices here. I wonder what they’ll think of me when I insist on NO induction at all until the baby is ready?? Probably tinkle in their crocs. ; )
I really love your blog! Glad to have found it. I had my second baby at home. The rest will be born that way God willing!
Looking forward to reading this post and others on your blog (I’m in the middle of school right now and should NOT have sat down here – lol!). I LOVE finding others and hearing their stories about childbirth, breastfeeding, and striving to raising our babies naturally! We only had our 4th at home and loved it!
Glad to have found you through 5 Minutes for Mom and I’ll be hanging around for more….
Andrea
I know this post is a little old haha, but I still felt like commenting.
It makes me very happy to see that there are still women who believe in the natural ways. I’ve always wondered how it seems that every birth has to be with some kind of medication or it had to happen in a hospital because that’s not how Eve did it and not how most of our ancestors did it. I’m only 18, so i don’t have kids yet, but I hope to be able to do it the natural way that God intended. Though I’m not of the exact same religious beliefs as you, I agree fully that God intended for the natural birthing process. Thanks for the awesome post!
Thank you so much for this article. I’m currently expecting #2 and can’t wait to have an all natural VBAC. My first was born via emergency c/s after I was scared/forced into induction for pre-eclampsia, and then into an epidural which caused my sons heartrate to drop so low that if he wasn’t born immediately he would of died. While I’m grateful that c sections are available and life saving in situations, had I not been forced/scared into an induction in the first place, it could of been avoided. My aim this pregnancy has been to educate myself and acknowledge what God has created my body to do. I can’t wait to deliver this new baby the way GOD intended.
My four kids were all born perfectly healthy after uneventful pregnancies and births. I was healthy but my kids were all larger than average, including my third who was 11 lbs even. And it wasn’t that big a deal, either. No tearing.
As a mom-to-be who was overweight pre-pregnancy and who is researching natural birth, I am pretty disappointed that the only reference in this post to overweight moms and natural birth is that we are a bunch of unhealthy fatties who have overweight babies.
Apologies. I see that was actually a comment, but that is still disappointing. I am being very careful to watch my weight and eat well during pregnancy, and I hate the idea of being written off immediately as someone who HAS to have an epidural or even a c-section just because my body is less than ideal.
I am so with you on Natural. My daughters due date was 9/26 and she was small. My dr checked me repeatedly with ultrasound and because my fluid was ok and her size, he opted to leave her in…. and let Natue take its course… I went into labor 10/27 and had her 10/29. all natural. She looked good and was 7lbs and 21.5inches long. She was very good coloring and her eyes… dark dark brown. amazingly, no health problems, janudice. Nothing. and my healing, within 3 days I felt normal!! Induction is not always needed or necessary if everyone is ok.
Everyone loves it when people get together and share views.
Great website, keep it up!
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