You might be surprised to find out I am not sold into the modern birthing philosophy, as I have been an OB nurse in a traditional hospital setting since 1978. In nursing school, my OB instructors were so enthusiastic about childbirth and breastfeeding; that combined with a sister who was involved in LaLeche League really got me excited about having a baby. In fact in an English class in college we were instructed to write a paper on something we would like to be. Some wrote they would like to be streams of water, other certain animals; I wrote a paper that said “I want to be a mother”. I elatedly received the news I was pregnant with my first son in Dec. 1977 and started working in OB in Jan. of 1978. I immediately delved into childbirth books, the most influential on me being “Immaculate Deception” by Suzanne Arms. I naively gave a copy of it to my OB to read; needless to say, she was not impressed! My husband and I took a childbirth preparation class outside of the hospital, given by an independent instructor; I interviewed our pediatrician to see where we stood on important issues, and I strongly considered delivering with a midwife at an attached birthing center in South Bend. (I think it was an insurance issue that prevented me to deliver there.) I was ready for a completely natural childbirth and had told my husband to stand behind me 100%. After a long unmedicated labor, I was taken to the delivery room and the doctor said “Well Kathy, what do you want to do?”~~meaning did I want the spinal block that he gave to nearly 100% of women. I remember wearily looking at my husband and asking “do I want it?”~~NO! he shouted. (My hero!) I had four children pretty much as I wanted to give birth; not one IV, minimal monitoring, up out of bed as I desired, no medications for pain.
I have had to adjust my attitude as the years have gone by to accept the way most women want to give birth and most doctors want to manage their labors, at least in our community. But I still know in my heart that there is another way to have babies, and that is why I was so thrilled to be part of Brooks’ birth at the birthing center, with the wonderful midwives.
Kathy
~ this is written by the grandma of 2 (about to be 3) Goshen Birth Center birthed babies!
1 comment:
Thankful for my mother in law's support of me birthing my babies naturally and with our last out of a hospital. Looking forward to another GBC birth!
amanda
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