The birth of a baby is an experience to be treasured, and no two occurrences are the same. It is a joyful, scary, life changing event that is not for the faint of heart. I can recall the birth of my son, now seven years ago to be one of those epic moments that can only be related to someone that has exiperences it. No words can truly describe the miracoulous moment when you bring your child into the world. I remember feeling terrified, and extactic all in the same breath at the time I was 19, in college, and single so it was overwhelmed to say the least. I had a healthy pregnancy and delivered my son with the help of an epidural vaginally. I choose this example, due to the extreme gravity of the situation, and the fact that i attribute my son's birth as one of my crowning achievements in life. The impact that birth has on a child's development greatly depends on the choices of the mother during pregnancy. For example, a mother who chooses to smoke during pregnancy can cause her unborn child to have major health issues later on as they develop. However, there are circumstances that happen which are out of a mothers control, that can have an adverse effect on child development such as; diabetes, pre-term labor, STD's, genetic abnormalities and many other factors.
In my exiperence the United States birthing customs as a whole are uniquely, different, when weighed on customs in other parts of the world. In the Netherlands it is customary for womens primary care to be taken care of by a mid-wife and not a doctor, they only intervene in extreme cases when complications arise. Another difference is the use of pain
Medication, most births whether at home or in a hospital is done naturally. The administration of and epidural is normally done, at the leisure of the anesthesiologist, which does not happen in most cases. Additionally, the Dutch have a type of maternity care offered to all called a (kraamzorg), this is where a professional maternity nurse will come to your home and look after you and your baby after you have given birth. Mother's are entitled to this excellent, professional maternity care during the first eight days after the birth of the baby. The nurse shows the new mother how toto care for the baby, how to bath him or her, and how to breastfeed properly. The nurse also assists with the other children, preparing meals and may also take care of laundry and light housekeeping. This is a tremendous support for new mothers and mothers with young children at home.
This is very different from my own exiperence, where I did opt for an epidural, however I am 7 months pregnant at the moment and have been contemplating about having a natural birth. Many women in the U.S decide to have natural births, although an equal if not more decide to have some pain medication assitance. The use of a (kraamzorg) is a difference that I believe is a truly beneficially option for many mothers new and old, if only the U.S could have adopted this custom, cuz I would have loved to have one with my son. Thank-fully I have a huge extended family, who took on many of those same tasks as a kraamzorg who helped me greatly with my previous birth and hopefully will again with this one that's coming in October.
I gained an abundance of information regarding the unique differences between the United States customs, and other parts of the world. Upon researching multiple countries I've found that the U.S is actually not the norm in terms of similar customs of world, and it would be quite beneficially if this country adopted some customs of other countries especially, the (kraamzorg) :)
References:
Birth Customs Around the World By Lara Schalken from American Baby Retrieved from: http://www.parents.com/pregnancy/giving-birth/vaginal/birth-customs-around-the-world/?page=2
Hey Ashley,
ReplyDeleteI know the feeling about your first pregnancy being very scary and a life changing event. I was also very nervous with my first born I was worried about is the baby going to be normal and healthy. You know people can come up with a lot of things to worry about when they are scared. But I was truly blessed with a health child.
Hello, I understand the terrifying excitement. I wish I could have experienced the pain and the pushing of my children. My doctor decided to cut me, I was having strong contractions (they say) and only dilated 3 centimeter. Of course he said it was an emergency, because her heart rate dropped. However, no other attempts was made. I late found out, he cuts most of his patients. C sections are more money. I changed doctors with my third child. He told me if I would not have been cut the second time, I could have had a vaginal delivery. I feel so cheated. . I don’t think c sections affect a child’s development,with the exception of a cone shape head during vaginal delivery. By the way, You are very pretty.
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