Birthing Stories

I am choosing to write about my own birth because it is the only birthing experience I have ever been a part of. Clearly, I have no memory of the event so I have asked my mother if she would write what she remembers because I figured she would have the most accurate information.

Here is what she said:

"You were born using the 'Modified LeBoyer Method' - dimmed lights (more like would be used in a home birth, not a hospital), natural birth-no drugs, once you popped out, the staff or maybe your father placed you in a body-temperature bath for a short time to clean you and keep you cozy and snug as you had been in the womb.  

"After all of that, they wrapped you up tightly and gave you to me for attempted nursing, but I don't think you were ready yet.

"In case you need some other info - doctor's name was Sheerin, he was the head of the ultrasound unit at what was then Boston Lying In and Hospital for Women, so he also had an ultrasound machine in his offices and so you were one of the first to be seen in this way in Boston.  I used to have a Polaroid pic of you in-utero, but I've looked and cannot find it.”

When I consider what impact birth has on child development I waiver between ways of thinking. On the one hand that very first experience could have an impact on later life. If complications arise or the birth is particularly stressful for the mother and baby that could impact the later development. On the other hand, I find myself thinking that apart from major, life-threatening complications the important part is what happens before and after birth- prenatal development and a child's life experiences.

I ended up researching a few different countries to find out what they recommend or what is most common for birthing experiences. What I found was that in some countries (like Brazil) doctors are recommending c-sections at an alarming rate because it costs more and requires longer hospitalization and so is a bigger payday for them. In contrast, I found that in countries like Japan and the Netherlands that epidurals are even uncommon and in the Netherlands home births are preferred by many women. In fact, even if a woman chooses to have her baby at a hospital she is still required to have a medical kit in her  home that has all of the supplies necessary for a home birth (called a kraampakket ). Also, every expectant mother is referred to a midwife and almost none will ever see an obstetrician.

The midwife has a number of duties which you would expect- like assisting during the labor and delivery process. A nurse however also comes into the picture after the birth to provide maternity home care, or kraamhulp/kraamzorg depending on your source, and will come to the home for around seven days covered completely by insurance to provide medical care as well as to clean, cook, and provide basic parenting tips. According to Lara Schalken from American Baby magazine- who gave birth in the Netherlands, "another important duty of the nurse is to manage the flow of visitors and make the traditional snack to celebrate a birth: beschuit met muisjes, which literally translates as 'biscuits with mice.' The 'mice' are actually miniature licorice bits with blue-and-white coating for boys, pink-and-white for girls"

The type of birthing experience you might find in the hospital in the Netherlands (as I mentioned the use of epidural is uncommon) might be somewhat similar to my own birth. However, I like the idea of the dimmed lights and warm bath that make my birth story seem more like a home birth even though it took place in a hospital setting. It does not surprise me at all that my mom would choose to have no painkillers and the soothing setting given that she always seems to be ahead of her time in cultural aspects. We have been calling her a hipster for years- even before it became "cool."

References

Court, H. (2016, May 13). 5 things about giving birth in the Netherlands. Retrieved from http://dutchreview.com/featured/5-things-giving-birth-netherlands/

Schalken, L. (n.d.). Birth customs around the world.  Retrieved from http://www.parents.com/pregnancy/giving-birth/vaginal/birth-customs-around-the-world/