Understanding Your Childbirth Options

I recently watched Ricki Lake’s documentary, The Business of Being Born, and I found it really interesting (my teenage daughter, on the other hand, was horrified at how difficult pregnancy and childbirth can really be).  Having given birth to three children, I can say with all honesty that each time was different but the last one, which my doctors felt needed more medical intervention, was definitely the worst (and I’m saying this despite the fact that I had my second child, who was just under 10lbs, while I was battling pneumonia).  I felt like I was being told that I couldn’t trust my instincts, or my body, and it made it really tough.  My first baby was as close to natural as you can get since my doctor took a real hands-off approach (while still being very supportive).  During my second and third births, I felt like pain medication (the epidural, in particular) was being pushed on me despite the fact that I had successfully given birth without it the first time.  I managed to avoid it with my second child but they said that they feared for my health (I was having heart problems) with the third and basically forced the epidural on me.  It was the worst thing because I not only had a severe allergic reaction to the drugs but they used it to their advantage later on to stall my labor so that my doctor could do an emergency c-section.  It felt unnatural and I regret it to this day.

On the Today show, they talked about the different options that modern women can choose from when they give birth.  I encourage all expectant mothers to take advantage of all of the information available to them and to choose the things that they feel are most compatible with their needs, wants and lifestyle.  Feel free to stand up for yourself and do what is right for you because, in the end, this is your life (as well as your child’s), your body and your memories.  You are in control (to a degree) of how things proceed.  Be a part of the childbirth experience instead of it being something “that’s happening to you.”  Women were born for this purpose – trust yourself!