Childbirth-In Your Life and Around the World

On August 24, 2011 I gave birth to a 7lb 10oz baby boy.  I was scheduled to do a cesarean delivery on September 10, but my blood pressure increased causing me to have an emergency cesarean delivery.  As I entered into the hospital, I was nervous because I was so unprepared. Although, this was my third child and I had a previous cesarean delivery with both of my kids I was still nervous.  I had never planned on having cesarean delivery but the my doctor was concerned with breaking the shoulders of my first son in June 06, because he was 9lbs and 11oz and so he encouraged me to have a cesarean delivery for the health of me and my child.  So as research has stated once you have one cesarean delivery, you must continue to have them.  Therefore in October 09, I had to also have a cesarean delivery with my daughter. In my last cesarean delivery my husband was there again through the whole process of the nurses prepping me and getting me ready as I went back into the operation room. When I was in the operation room, I had an epidural that was entered into my spine.  My whole top was numb through the whole process. The whole procedure lasted for maybe an hour.  After the doctors delivered my baby boy, my husband and the nurse left and went to take the baby to the nursery.  The anesthesiologist and the nurses were so comforting through the whole process.  After I left the operation room, I went to the recovery room and stayed there with my husband and nurses, while the rest of my family enjoyed the arrival of my new baby boy.  My birthing experience was short and simple, but of course pain came afterwards while I stayed in the hospital for three nights. After my days in the hospital were finally over; me, my husband, and my mew baby boy, Caleb went home to his sister Mackenzie and his big brother Tavion.

 

The country that I choose to read about in reference to their birthing experience was Japan.  In Japan the women try not to use any painkillers.  According to Azi Azuma, a Tokoyo native, this preference relates to the Buddhist perception of suffering:  There is a belief among Japanese that labor pains act as a kind of test that woman must endure in preparation for the challenging role of motherhood (Parents/American Baby, 2011).  However many doctors are now believing that women receive more peace when they receive an epidural.  But many women are keeping the tradition alive and opting out of having an epidural.  The Japanese women have their babies in the hospital, but fathers can only participate in the birth of their child only if they have taking prenatal classes.  Japanese women who have vaginal birth stay in the hospital for a minimum of five days; whereas women who have cesarean deliveries stay in the hospital for ten days. 

Many cultures and countries have their own unique way of childbirth and the customs that follow after birth. In the Japanese culture, I learned that regardless if the father is in the life of the mother, they cannot participate in the birth of the child, if they do not take prenatal classes.  In my culture, men do not have to take any prenatal classes to participate in the birthing experience.  Also, the only way American women stay in the hospital more than three days if there are complications. The only time I stayed in the hospital over three days was with my first son because I had problems with my iron, calcium, and other minor issues.

I feel that women have to have a safe and healthy birth because we want to have healthy children.  If we have complications in birth, then it will have an impact on their child’s development.

References:

Parents/American Baby. (2011). Birth Customs Around the World. Retrieved November 1, 2011,

from Parents Network: http://www.parents.com/pregnancy/giving-birth/vaginal/birth-

customs-around-the-world/?page=4