The childbirth process may seem generalized in the United States but it is effective. Of course, there are things that go wrong and some women die from the process. These days, though, this process proves to be much safer than in years past and also safer than other countries. Without proper medical treatment and a sanitary environment, you increase the chance of getting an infection or not treating complications as they arrive. Some women have to use a c-section because of health risks. If they continue with natural birth, they risk their life and the life of their child. Personally, I would rather have 24 hours of being looked at and checked on than risk dying or losing my baby. Our system of childbirth gives us thousands of healthy mothers and babies everyday. Even if hospitals wanted to allow the mothers to choose their own elements to birth, they would be subjected to lawsuits because they did not follow procedure. I say, let other cultures have babies the way that they want to and we will have our children the way we see fit.
It is very interesting to how the article relates to child bearing as rituals. I never really though of it like that but they are in a way consider rituals. It is funny how we americans tend to go to hospital for the provided care for births verse other cultures turn to their ways. I never really understood midwives as of now. Midwives play an important role for a mother that wants to bear her child in a natural birth setting. I may do some research but I might want to have a natural birth after this article. In the future of course. I don't want kids until I am at 28. I have a long way to go but any who that is reference to the other article, " Our Babies, Ourselves". I rather sleep and not get up. I also do not want to take a chance in raising my kid the wrong way and have a socially awkward child. I feel like there is a right way to raise your child and a wrong way.I came to an realization after the two articles.
This article reminded me of a movie I watched in Psychology of Women last semester about midwifery and home birth. While the video was more centered around the facts that hospital births are not always necessary, how other countries that have more natural births have a higher birth rate than the US, and the feeling of empowerment a woman is suppose to feel during childbirth, it also has the same message as the article that hospital childbirth has become ritualistic. Being exposed to new theories and options, as a woman, changes the way I see childbirth. Not everyone agrees with home births but I feel that knowing there are other options, especially safe options that are available, is important. In our society, it seems that when a woman is having a baby, she goes to the hospital; that is just how it is. However, many women, like in the video I watched, researched these other options before just going to a hospital.
It is interesting that this article touches upon questions that keep coming up every so often about the "real birthing experience". I remember about ten years ago a class discussing the patterns and choices of women around the world concerning their choices of having a baby. Some of the same issues of the "sterile" environment of hospitals to the more relaxing and familiar places like home when delivering a baby. Even though our technology has improved and prenatal care is supreme, women often feel the lack of control when --the water breaks--and we are off to the hospital. Being a mother of two girls, I have felt the increased anxiety upon arriving at a hospital and the starting of the IV and the checking of the birth canal and being told what I should feel at given time. But, at the same time I felt if I chose a different path, I would be putting my child in danger and therefore a bad to be Mom. The design of the birthing rooms have changed to provide a more homey feel, but the control factor is in the hands of the doctor and staff. It is good that we have more choices now and that midwifery is legal is some states. I feel that the combination of a "nurse midwife" and the doctor and staff present a solid plan in case of any difficulties. The ability to choose your preference is great and we should encourage options that help both mother and child during this experience. The mechanical timing and keeping the doctor on schedule for all their patients seems to be more important than the mother's emotional well being.
People view the body as a machine. I found it interesting how the article relates a woman's body to a birthing machine, the nurses are technicians, and the hospital is the factory. It is also interesting that the article points out the negatives about the position while giving birth for people in the U.S. It would seem like giving birth from a different position would be better for delivering.
I found this article very interesting. I never really knew much about midwives until now; and have never thought about delivering my children anywhere besides a hospital. I like for things to be concrete and to run smoothly, especially when it comes to something this important and an anxious part of your life. I would be too nervous to have my baby at home because I would be afraid if something happened during the pregnancy, I wouldn't be able to get to the hospital in time. I also probably have never thought of having a midwife because no one in my family has every done this before. I definitely would think it would be a lot more relaxing unlike the routines and hustle and bustle of the hospital. The way the hospital "helps" you while you are in labor is kind of the opposite of the way it should be. In my opinion, many women who are in labor are very nervous and does not know what to expect; so the nurses and doctors should be more calming and comforting the family out more to take the anxiety away, rather than keeping the women on a time clock or a machine in order for the doctors. To me this is where a mid wife would be extremely nice! I have also never really thought of women in labor or pregnant as a "ritual." When you really think about it, it is in a way a ritual. Especially when you looked at the differences in pregnancies in other cultures and countries.
I knew that child birth can be viewed differently by women, but I never really thought about it being seen as a ritual. Natural child birth being chosen as a more sentimental means of wanting to naturally deliver, etc makes sense to me, and wanting to be in a hospital and have things go smoother and with maximum safety makes sense as well. I believe that were I to be female and have the choice myself, I would choose to be in a hospital. I don't really see the process as a "ritual" per se. However, I can understand wanting to give natural child birth for sentimental reasons, which I suppose could be considered ritualistic. But overall I do believe that everyone should have their own choice in how they want to give birth.
I believe this article is very controversial, and while I agree with some of the things that it mentions, I don’t agree with others. First of all, even though it explains that the birthing process of a hospital is just another example of our patriarchal society, I don’t agree with this. Women are the only ones who can have children, not men and it is completely up to the women how she decides to seek treatment during the pregnancy and it is completely her choice as to how the baby is delivered. She can pick a female doctor, or a midwife, she can have a natural birth, or she can have medication to help her through it if she wants. Even in societies that have different birthing systems than the typical way we do in the United States, they are still a patriarchal society where the male is still the head of the tribe or group. I also believe that the birthing system has improved and not declined, because everyday something new is learned and improved upon. There are way less deaths of the mother and child during births today in the United States than there used to be, so obviously something new is working better than it was in the past. I do agree with the part about administering pain medicine though. I just think that this is something embedded in our society though because as soon as people get sick, they go to the doctor to get a pill to make themselves better. This is true with physical illnesses and mental as well. People don’t struggle through their own for a little while before receiving instant help, and I think this is just part of our society saying that we have to keep going and get the fast fix. However, I feel like this article belittles the choice that women have for their childbirth. They are in complete control in their choosing, which I think this overcomes the patriarchal influence that our society may have on the birthing process. I do agree that the whole birthing process is a ritual, no matter if you go to the hospital or if you use a midwife.
The childbirth process may seem generalized in the United States but it is effective. Of course, there are things that go wrong and some women die from the process. These days, though, this process proves to be much safer than in years past and also safer than other countries. Without proper medical treatment and a sanitary environment, you increase the chance of getting an infection or not treating complications as they arrive. Some women have to use a c-section because of health risks. If they continue with natural birth, they risk their life and the life of their child. Personally, I would rather have 24 hours of being looked at and checked on than risk dying or losing my baby. Our system of childbirth gives us thousands of healthy mothers and babies everyday. Even if hospitals wanted to allow the mothers to choose their own elements to birth, they would be subjected to lawsuits because they did not follow procedure. I say, let other cultures have babies the way that they want to and we will have our children the way we see fit.
ReplyDeleteIt is very interesting to how the article relates to child bearing as rituals. I never really though of it like that but they are in a way consider rituals. It is funny how we americans tend to go to hospital for the provided care for births verse other cultures turn to their ways. I never really understood midwives as of now. Midwives play an important role for a mother that wants to bear her child in a natural birth setting. I may do some research but I might want to have a natural birth after this article. In the future of course. I don't want kids until I am at 28. I have a long way to go but any who that is reference to the other article, " Our Babies, Ourselves". I rather sleep and not get up. I also do not want to take a chance in raising my kid the wrong way and have a socially awkward child. I feel like there is a right way to raise your child and a wrong way.I came to an realization after the two articles.
ReplyDeleteThis article reminded me of a movie I watched in Psychology of Women last semester about midwifery and home birth. While the video was more centered around the facts that hospital births are not always necessary, how other countries that have more natural births have a higher birth rate than the US, and the feeling of empowerment a woman is suppose to feel during childbirth, it also has the same message as the article that hospital childbirth has become ritualistic. Being exposed to new theories and options, as a woman, changes the way I see childbirth. Not everyone agrees with home births but I feel that knowing there are other options, especially safe options that are available, is important. In our society, it seems that when a woman is having a baby, she goes to the hospital; that is just how it is. However, many women, like in the video I watched, researched these other options before just going to a hospital.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting that this article touches upon questions that keep coming up every so often about the "real birthing experience". I remember about ten years ago a class discussing the patterns and choices of women around the world concerning their choices of having a baby. Some of the same issues of the "sterile" environment of hospitals to the more relaxing and familiar places like home when delivering a baby. Even though our technology has improved and prenatal care is supreme, women often feel the lack of control when --the water breaks--and we are off to the hospital. Being a mother of two girls, I have felt the increased anxiety upon arriving at a hospital and the starting of the IV and the checking of the birth canal and being told what I should feel at given time. But, at the same time I felt if I chose a different path, I would be putting my child in danger and therefore a bad to be Mom. The design of the birthing rooms have changed to provide a more homey feel, but the control factor is in the hands of the doctor and staff. It is good that we have more choices now and that midwifery is legal is some states. I feel that the combination of a "nurse midwife" and the doctor and staff present a solid plan in case of any difficulties. The ability to choose your preference is great and we should encourage options that help both mother and child during this experience. The mechanical timing and keeping the doctor on schedule for all their patients seems to be more important than the mother's emotional well being.
ReplyDeletePeople view the body as a machine. I found it interesting how the article relates a woman's body to a birthing machine, the nurses are technicians, and the hospital is the factory. It is also interesting that the article points out the negatives about the position while giving birth for people in the U.S. It would seem like giving birth from a different position would be better for delivering.
ReplyDeleteI found this article very interesting. I never really knew much about midwives until now; and have never thought about delivering my children anywhere besides a hospital. I like for things to be concrete and to run smoothly, especially when it comes to something this important and an anxious part of your life. I would be too nervous to have my baby at home because I would be afraid if something happened during the pregnancy, I wouldn't be able to get to the hospital in time. I also probably have never thought of having a midwife because no one in my family has every done this before. I definitely would think it would be a lot more relaxing unlike the routines and hustle and bustle of the hospital. The way the hospital "helps" you while you are in labor is kind of the opposite of the way it should be. In my opinion, many women who are in labor are very nervous and does not know what to expect; so the nurses and doctors should be more calming and comforting the family out more to take the anxiety away, rather than keeping the women on a time clock or a machine in order for the doctors. To me this is where a mid wife would be extremely nice! I have also never really thought of women in labor or pregnant as a "ritual." When you really think about it, it is in a way a ritual. Especially when you looked at the differences in pregnancies in other cultures and countries.
ReplyDeleteI knew that child birth can be viewed differently by women, but I never really thought about it being seen as a ritual. Natural child birth being chosen as a more sentimental means of wanting to naturally deliver, etc makes sense to me, and wanting to be in a hospital and have things go smoother and with maximum safety makes sense as well. I believe that were I to be female and have the choice myself, I would choose to be in a hospital. I don't really see the process as a "ritual" per se. However, I can understand wanting to give natural child birth for sentimental reasons, which I suppose could be considered ritualistic. But overall I do believe that everyone should have their own choice in how they want to give birth.
ReplyDeleteI believe this article is very controversial, and while I agree with some of the things that it mentions, I don’t agree with others. First of all, even though it explains that the birthing process of a hospital is just another example of our patriarchal society, I don’t agree with this. Women are the only ones who can have children, not men and it is completely up to the women how she decides to seek treatment during the pregnancy and it is completely her choice as to how the baby is delivered. She can pick a female doctor, or a midwife, she can have a natural birth, or she can have medication to help her through it if she wants. Even in societies that have different birthing systems than the typical way we do in the United States, they are still a patriarchal society where the male is still the head of the tribe or group. I also believe that the birthing system has improved and not declined, because everyday something new is learned and improved upon. There are way less deaths of the mother and child during births today in the United States than there used to be, so obviously something new is working better than it was in the past. I do agree with the part about administering pain medicine though. I just think that this is something embedded in our society though because as soon as people get sick, they go to the doctor to get a pill to make themselves better. This is true with physical illnesses and mental as well. People don’t struggle through their own for a little while before receiving instant help, and I think this is just part of our society saying that we have to keep going and get the fast fix. However, I feel like this article belittles the choice that women have for their childbirth. They are in complete control in their choosing, which I think this overcomes the patriarchal influence that our society may have on the birthing process. I do agree that the whole birthing process is a ritual, no matter if you go to the hospital or if you use a midwife.
ReplyDelete