Thursday, March 6, 2008

Let's Talk Birth


This little film speaks for itself. It is just a small portion of a full length film but watch it and see if you don't change your thinking about how we in North America are birthing our children.

Just click on the picture to view the film.

Having been privileged to attend the births of my grandsons, two of which were home births attended by a midwife and doula, I find myself fully supporting natural home birthing.

After all isn't a birth all about the mother and baby?

You'll see after watching this film how the medical community has commercialized this most natural event.

A woman's body knows what it must do to birth a child. Only in rare circumstances when labour and birth is allowed to progress normally is medical intervention required.

Why do we rush everything? If the baby doesn't come on time, let's get things moving by inducing or encouraging contractions with chemicals, if the labour is too long, let's get it over with and perform a Cesarean section. Then, as soon as the babe is delivered, does the doctor wait for the cord to stop pulsing delivering those all important nutrients in the blood to the babe - no it's clamped and cut immediately.

When labour is induced babies are usually in the wrong position. These unnatural labours frequently end in a C-section giving North American the highest rate of delivery by C-section.
In 1965 according to the World Health Organization, the C-section rate was 4.5%. In 2007 they found that one in three woman gave birth by C-section. The United States is now performing C-sections at record levels.

Why is birthing this way? Once again business and commerce steps in and the $ rules.

A home birth is such an empowering experience.

At the birth of two of my grandsons, my daughter moved around as she pleased, sat in a warm bath to ease her contractions, then moved to the bed when delivery was close. She was surrounded by midwives, her doula, me and of course her husband. We were not told to step back out of the way, we each sat on the bed touching Sebrina letting out strength flow through our hands to her, speaking calming and encouraging words.

It was a powerful, quiet and moving experience for each of us in that room. It made me see that we are woman are unique, strong and so fortunate to be able to experience the creation of life.

1 comment:

COLLEEN said...

Yes, I saw this link yesterday too on Grace's blog and am very anxious to see it in its' entirety. It looks amazing. It is not playing anywhere around here though, so I will have to wait to rent or purchase a copy when it is released in May.
You are so right, giving birth should be a powerful experience for mother and baby -- it is not a sickness.

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