I know this comes across as weird nearly 3 years after I became a mom (rather gave birth to my son). Just like any mother, I had my set of apprehensions regarding the birth when I had conceived. I was mentally preparing myself for a natural birth yet within me, I was extremely scared too and inwardly wished for a C-Sec.
All was well (my health and the baby's health) until the 7th month when my gynaec told me that my baby is in a breech position (head up and body down) and that I might have to go in for a caesarean if the position of the head did not change. I had mixed feelings then - happily thinking I don't have to go through the labour process and simultaneously feared the thought of the operation table too. I had no "Coimbatore Parenting Network" (CPN) then, only a baby website to depend on, which kept mailing me growth newsletters regarding my foetal growth (what my baby is doing now etc). All this was virtual. But I had hardly any physical contact with other mommy groups. Now when I look back, I wish I did have one then. My birth as well as my life now would have been so different.
My reasons for a C-Sec...
These were one of my reasons for a casearean ('coz I thought there was low risk for my child). Mostly a picture surfaces in the mind of mothers when it comes too normal births - screams and curses from the labour wards, nurses yelling, anxious dads roaming around and doctors scuttling about in their white coats. Admit it, but most of us have been psyched by such scenes in real life. I was one of them too.
Importance of informed choices
Having digressed from the topic of the caesarean births, I get back to what I wanted to talk about. If I had awareness about natural birth - perhaps counselling, done research too, met the right birthing experts, I would have made the right, informed choice.
The reason I feared normal birth then, is every mom's story (even now) who is even now psyched by hospitals, doctors, the world wide web and sometimes even friends into opting for an Elective C-Sec (glossy name for a C-Sec).
Medical fraternity, marketing & refusal to take risks
Over a period of time, caesarean births have been glorified by the medical fraternity and promoted for various selfish causes (read: marketing). A C-Sec earns more revenue for hospitals than a normal birth. Most doctors also do not want to take "risks" when it comes to "complications" in pregnancy. I often wondered why hospitals never tied up with natural birthing experts and midwives. Now I know the reason.
I realized that my breech birth could have easily been a normal delivery if I had done research and found out about normal birth options and places like the Birth Village in Cochin, Kerala.
After I met this wonderful group of moms (CPN) who believed in unconventional methods of childbirth and parenting, I discovered my answers as to why most moms opted for a C-section vis-a-vis a natural birth and how different my birth could have been. I, just like moms whom I meet today, felt dejected that I did have a choice but did not know then.
CPN and how it changed me
Having worked (joined as member and then worked as admin) with CPN for nearly 3 years now, my life's perspectives completely changed. All of us have been working relentlessly to bring out women from their homes for our monthly meets and the positive sign is that more dads are attending these meets. The reason I mentioned CPN in my blog here is because they motivate women and their families to opt for more natural ways of birthing and most importantly making sure moms get to make their birthing choices (normally dictated by the medical fraternity or respective families). CPN even conducts a monthly breast milk donation for the Government Hospital's Human Milk bank at Coimbatore.
This Mother's Day, on May 13, 2018, CPN is ushering this special day by conducting a workshop on Informed Birthing choices in Coimbatore. Be there to support us!
Join the event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/166357647384610/
All was well (my health and the baby's health) until the 7th month when my gynaec told me that my baby is in a breech position (head up and body down) and that I might have to go in for a caesarean if the position of the head did not change. I had mixed feelings then - happily thinking I don't have to go through the labour process and simultaneously feared the thought of the operation table too. I had no "Coimbatore Parenting Network" (CPN) then, only a baby website to depend on, which kept mailing me growth newsletters regarding my foetal growth (what my baby is doing now etc). All this was virtual. But I had hardly any physical contact with other mommy groups. Now when I look back, I wish I did have one then. My birth as well as my life now would have been so different.
My reasons for a C-Sec...
These were one of my reasons for a casearean ('coz I thought there was low risk for my child). Mostly a picture surfaces in the mind of mothers when it comes too normal births - screams and curses from the labour wards, nurses yelling, anxious dads roaming around and doctors scuttling about in their white coats. Admit it, but most of us have been psyched by such scenes in real life. I was one of them too.
Importance of informed choices
Having digressed from the topic of the caesarean births, I get back to what I wanted to talk about. If I had awareness about natural birth - perhaps counselling, done research too, met the right birthing experts, I would have made the right, informed choice.
The reason I feared normal birth then, is every mom's story (even now) who is even now psyched by hospitals, doctors, the world wide web and sometimes even friends into opting for an Elective C-Sec (glossy name for a C-Sec).
Medical fraternity, marketing & refusal to take risks
Over a period of time, caesarean births have been glorified by the medical fraternity and promoted for various selfish causes (read: marketing). A C-Sec earns more revenue for hospitals than a normal birth. Most doctors also do not want to take "risks" when it comes to "complications" in pregnancy. I often wondered why hospitals never tied up with natural birthing experts and midwives. Now I know the reason.
I realized that my breech birth could have easily been a normal delivery if I had done research and found out about normal birth options and places like the Birth Village in Cochin, Kerala.
After I met this wonderful group of moms (CPN) who believed in unconventional methods of childbirth and parenting, I discovered my answers as to why most moms opted for a C-section vis-a-vis a natural birth and how different my birth could have been. I, just like moms whom I meet today, felt dejected that I did have a choice but did not know then.
CPN and how it changed me
Having worked (joined as member and then worked as admin) with CPN for nearly 3 years now, my life's perspectives completely changed. All of us have been working relentlessly to bring out women from their homes for our monthly meets and the positive sign is that more dads are attending these meets. The reason I mentioned CPN in my blog here is because they motivate women and their families to opt for more natural ways of birthing and most importantly making sure moms get to make their birthing choices (normally dictated by the medical fraternity or respective families). CPN even conducts a monthly breast milk donation for the Government Hospital's Human Milk bank at Coimbatore.
This Mother's Day, on May 13, 2018, CPN is ushering this special day by conducting a workshop on Informed Birthing choices in Coimbatore. Be there to support us!
Join the event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/166357647384610/
No comments:
Post a Comment