My Birth Philosophy
The woman let out a soft moan and grimaced. The time we had all been waiting for was almost here. “One more good push!” the doctor directed. With a mighty roar from the woman, the tiny baby emerged from the birth canal. “It’s a girl!” exclaimed the ecstatic boyfriend. A flurry of activity surrounded the bedside as nurses, respiratory therapists, and the doctor and student doctor descended on the woman in the bed. The baby’s airway was cleared, the umbilical cord was cut, and the small tear was repaired. All of this happened without any notice of the young teenager in the corner. She was an eager observer, trying to stay quiet and out of the way to not draw attention to herself. She watched, enthralled at every aspect of the scene that played before her. Her mind was racing, thinking ahead to her future self, dreaming of one day being the one at the foot of the bed providing care for pregnant women. As she left the room after shyly congratulating the happy couple and thanking the attending nurse for allowing her to be present, she knew that her life was changed forever. She had witnessed a miracle in that small, dark room, and she would never be the same.
I know, don’t quit my day job, right? I’ll never be a novelist that’s for sure! But as you probably guessed that shy teenager was me. That scene was my very first experience of birth. A labor and delivery nurse that attends my church got permission for me to come to a large city hospital where she worked. What is unheard of nowadays, I was able to accomplish. I sat in the room for a 12-hour shift. I watched as this birthing woman went through labor and finally delivered about an hour before I had to leave. I took it all in and quietly internalized it to review later. I didn’t know anything before coming into that birth. I didn’t have opinions regarding artificial rupture of membranes, routine use of epidurals, cutting the umbilical cord right away versus delayed cord clamping, or episiotomies. I didn’t have a cynical view of our healthcare system in the USA. I didn’t know about the rights of a birthing mom or that there are options that differ from what is presented initially to the birthing family.
I find myself bemoaning the fact that my innocence is gone now. I can’t just see the world through a fourteen-year-old’s eyes anymore. But when I think about it, I wouldn’t want to. I have learned and grown so much since that first birth. I have had the privilege of attending many births since then. Some have been in hospitals with inductions and epidurals. Some have been unmedicated hospital births. Some have been in birth centers with midwives attending. One birth was at home with the midwife not making it in time. In each situation, I’ve learned something. My birth philosophy has been added to, and my beliefs and convictions surrounding birth have been stretched and challenged.
One of the purposes of this blog is to talk about different topics of pregnancy and birth. I hope to challenge you and your philosophy of birth. I also want to be challenged and to continue growing and changing as I learn more. Birth philosophies are not meant to be stationary. We will become stagnant if we never allow our minds to be challenged. I pray that we can learn and grow together through this blog.
At the end of all this, what is my birth philosophy? I believe that labor and birth are hard, but it’s not impossible to have a natural birth, even in the hospital. I believe the less medical interference intervention, the better. I believe in the woman’s innate ability to give birth. God has designed our bodies perfectly to nourish, protect, and grow a little tiny human being. What an honor and a privilege to be able to bring a new life into the world! I believe that doctors and medications save lives in complicated births and emergency situations. I believe that the woman should choose who gets to be at her birth, where she gives birth, when she gives birth (i.e., no routine induction at 39 weeks without a medical reason), and how she gives birth. I know my birth philosophy will continue to grow and change along with me. But as of today, this is it. I look forward to exploring aspects of pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and hot topics with you in the weeks to come. Thanks for coming along with me for this ride.
Until next time,
Abby