Judging Birth

pinksweetpea2

One of my MW posted this on FB and I thought it was a very thought provoking blog entry.  If you have time also read the responses too because there is some really great stuff in there:

https://midwifethinking.com/2011/04/09/judging-birth/

haleymay18

A good and interesting article. The only thing I disagree with is that nurses only discourage screaming and encourage breathing as to not scare other women. I think they encourage breathing to encourage breathing. I was with my cousin during her labor at the end of June and when she would scream or gasp, her face would get so bluish and clenched it was like she needed to be reminded to breathe. I hate that there is so much judgement towards hospital birthing professionals because everyone assumes they have ulterior motives.

pinksweetpea2

haleymay18:

I hate that there is so much judgement towards hospital birthing professionals because everyone assumes they have ulterior motives.

I didn't get that at all from this post.  She was talking about all care providers- even MW who attend homebirths.   

aliska

pinksweetpea2:

haleymay18:

I hate that there is so much judgement towards hospital birthing professionals because everyone assumes they have ulterior motives.

I didn't get that at all from this post.  She was talking about all care providers- even MW who attend homebirths.   

This.  I got the impression that she was saying that the judgement comes from every angle mostly from within.  I did not see this as a rant against hospitals.

haleymay18

pinksweetpea2:

haleymay18:

I hate that there is so much judgement towards hospital birthing professionals because everyone assumes they have ulterior motives.

I didn't get that at all from this post.  She was talking about all care providers- even MW who attend homebirths.   

This is the part I was referring to:

"How many times have you heard a woman?s labour described in a positive way because she was ?so in control and quietly breathed her baby out?? In contrast, the loud woman is encouraged to breath (ie. stop screaming/shouting) and focus. This happens often in the hospital setting where midwives attempt to keep a woman quiet so as not to ?frighten the other women?."

LaComtesse

There is no right way to birth. ... The focus should be on ensuring women have access to adequate information on which to base their choice ? not on the choice itself.

Can I get this embroidered on a pillow, please? Or perhaps just made into a Looney Tunes style sign which I can hold up in the middle of obnoxious conversations and then use it to whack the person over the head?

bluerevolution9

LaComtesse:

There is no right way to birth. ... Thefocus should be on ensuring women have access to adequate informationon which to base their choice ? not on the choice itself.

Can I get this embroidered on a pillow, please? Or perhaps just made into a Looney Tunes style sign which I can hold up in the middle of obnoxious conversations and then use it to whack the person over the head?

 

yes! 

Hallil

Fantastic read, I think she hits the nail on the head where it (basically) says who are we to judge what someone does if they had adequate information on the pros & cons and made an informed decision.

Birdies08

LaComtesse:

There is no right way to birth. ... Thefocus should be on ensuring women have access to adequate informationon which to base their choice ? not on the choice itself.

Can I get this embroidered on a pillow, please? Or perhaps just made into a Looney Tunes style sign which I can hold up in the middle of obnoxious conversations and then use it to whack the person over the head?

Thanks for linking the article! I wish I had read this before I gave birth. I was one of those women apologizing between yells. I was not prepared for how out of control I felt, but (as my doula said), it got my baby out. I could feel, too, that grunting during pushing helped move things along. I guess I just expected to have a more calm and quiet birth, but everything was perfect, so I wish I hadn't worried about it at all! 

pinksweetpea2

haleymay18:

pinksweetpea2:

haleymay18:

I hate that there is so much judgement towards hospital birthing professionals because everyone assumes they have ulterior motives.

I didn't get that at all from this post.  She was talking about all care providers- even MW who attend homebirths.   

This is the part I was referring to:

"How many times have you heard a woman?s labour described in a positive way because she was ?so in control and quietly breathed her baby out?? In contrast, the loud woman is encouraged to breath (ie. stop screaming/shouting) and focus. This happens often in the hospital setting where midwives attempt to keep a woman quiet so as not to ?frighten the other women?."

FWIW, she said it happens "often" not each and every time.   She is speaking from her experience as a MW and you are speaking from your own.  ::shrugs::

I am sorry that is all you got out of her post.   

pinksweetpea2

Birdies08:

LaComtesse:

There is no right way to birth. ... Thefocus should be on ensuring women have access to adequate informationon which to base their choice ? not on the choice itself.

Can I get this embroidered on a pillow, please? Or perhaps just made into a Looney Tunes style sign which I can hold up in the middle of obnoxious conversations and then use it to whack the person over the head?

Thanks for linking the article! I wish I had read this before I gave birth. I was one of those women apologizing between yells. I was not prepared for how out of control I felt, but (as my doula said), it got my baby out. I could feel, too, that grunting during pushing helped move things along. I guess I just expected to have a more calm and quiet birth, but everything was perfect, so I wish I hadn't worried about it at all! 

LOL  I thought I was SO loud during my labor, but my MW said that I was actually very quite.  Too funny.  I was picturing all of my neighbors hearing everything, but none of them even knew I labored and gave birth until we went for a walk with Lily a few days later.  LOL