Currently reading this (while re-reading Hypnobirthing by Marie F. Mongan). Actually I became interested to read this book after it was mentioned in the Hypnobirthing book as well as most websites on gentle, natural birth.
I. love. it!!!!
Just who is this Ina May Gaskin, you may ask.
Ina May Gaskin has been called “the most famous midwife in the world”. A pioneer in a millennium-old profession on the brink of extinction in her country, she combines scientific evidence and analysis with her own broad experience in exercising natural medicine. Ina May Gaskin is a role model for midwives who still dare to think in different paths, trying to implement more humane obstetrics in their countries, and providing women with the chance to choose the way of giving birth that seems right for them.
(For more, read here)
Why should I bother reading this book?
Well, unless you are living in a parallel universe where other (experienced) mommies DO NOT share their horrific, gory and scary birth stories, you should try reading this book. It's filled with positive, empowering birth stories from mothers who had natural childbirth without too much medical intervention.
I personally felt that listening to all the moms' and aunties' negative stories about birth a great disservice to us preggie mums2be... Sure, it's done with good intention (to prepare us for the 'inevitable' etc) but it just creates more unnecessary tension and fear. And you know what, tension and fear (and stress) are the last things you need to have a natural childbirth. Unresolved fear and tension will result in our body responding by getting tense and this results in pain. Pain because our mind and body is fighting something that is supposed to be natural. Our body responds to our state of mind. (refer to previous post, I've written something about this there).
Ignorance is NOT bliss.
To understand childbirth, we must first understand our female reproductive system. God has created us with the ability to give birth naturally, He wouldn't give us the short end of the stick by giving us the ability to procreate but then, we must suffer while doing it (will not go into a theological debate about this, TQVM!). I mean, look at the animals on Discovery/ NatGeo/ Animal Planet... Their labor and birth are so serene and peaceful, so why must it be any different for us humans? Animals don't over-analyze things, they relax and let nature take its course. That's what we need to do. Have some faith in our own body and its abilities.
Before reading more about childbirth, I must admit that I was feeling a bit intimidated by labor and childbirth. I mean, who wouldn't? We've been conditioned by the society and the media that childbirth is painful and dangerous and probably fatal. Look at the scenes in TV dramas and movies, you'd get what I mean. Thankfully after joining and participating in the online support group, I started to do more reading on gentle, natural birthing without (or with minimal) medical intervention (induction, painkillers, epidural, episiotomy (ouch!), etc) and also gaining more information on alternative choices of birthing (waterbirth, hypnobirth, etc). I have always had the belief that medical interventions should be used only if there is a clear and present danger to both mother & baby. Sadly, sometimes hospitals and medical practitioners use medical interventions to make it easier & faster (for them) without any regard to whether it is necessary at all.
Episiotomy is NOT a must.
Surprised? Don't be. Actually episiotomy cuts take longer time to heal (and more painful too) than natural tears. Actually tearing can be avoided if we only push when the body is ready, not when the nurse or doctors tell us to. There are also many labor positions to try: hands and knees, squatting, etc (on your back, legs up in the air is for the convenience of the doctor, definitely ain't doing us any favor). Oh, and read up on perineal massage. That one helps too, I'm told
:-)
There are also other practices that are questionable yet widely practiced in many hospitals. Such as, no food & drink before labor. Without food, in labors that can last anytime between hours and days, how on earth could we expect a laboring woman to have any energy at all to 'push'? I doubt that she will even have any energy to lift her arm, let alone to deliver her baby. The practice of not allowing laboring mothers to eat and drink was originally due to the fact that, should there be a need to perform surgery, the risk of the mother choking on her own vomit under the anesthesia can be reduced. However, this was waaaayyyyy back when General Anesthesia (GA) was still used. Nowadays, things are different. C-Sec does not usually require the mother to be under GA. But sadly, this practice of 'fasting' still continues. By eating, I don't mean having a big feast, just some light snacks for energy. But hey, if you feel like having Nasi Beriyani, by all means. He he he
Informed Mommies = Informed Decisions.
After educating myself on all these (did both reading and actual discussion with my friend who's also a doctor and other mommies who've had natural birth), I have decided on what I think is in the best interest of my baby. So mums2be, please don't be lazy to read and learn more about childbirth, after all, it is you giving birth and not others. Unless it's a risky pregnancy, your doctor should not have the last word. So be informed to make informed decisions. The choice is yours.
Oh, and I love these quotes by Ina May Gaskin;
“There is no other organ quite like the uterus. If men had such an organ they would brag about it. So should we”
“Remember this, for it is as true as true gets: Your body is not a lemon. You are not a machine. The Creator is not a careless mechanic. Human female bodies have the same potential to give birth well as aardvarks, lions, rhinoceri, elephants, moose, and water buffalo. Even if it has not been your habit throughout your life so far, I recommend that you learn to think positively about your body.”
