I choose to talk about my birthing experience because it is sometimes assumed that because you have an easy first pregnancy, that all your pregnancies will be easy. That may be the case for some women, but not for all. I sometimes wonder if I did not have to work through my pregnancy and was able to rest when I felt like it that maybe having less stress would have made the pregnancy go a little smoother.
I think that pregnancy is a beautiful journey that women get to travel along with their child and in most cases their husband or significant other. Giving birth can also be a very rewarding experience. The idea of bringing another human life into the word is awesome. To be able to bond with your child immediately after birth is so rewarding. My first son latched on and started nursing right away and when he heard my husbands voice he turned to look at him. We could tell that he was happy to see his Dad and he cuddled up to both of us right away. My second son seemed a little overwhelmed with everyone but he always seemed to calm down when my husband was holding him and he was following his older brothers voice to try to see him. It was amazing to watch. I think the stress of my illnesses and the fast birth affected my second son. Babies are connected to their mothers so of course they are affected by whatever is happening to the mother at the time of pregnancy. Everything the mother does or is exposed to could potentially affect the birth and the development of the baby not only in womb but possibly for years after.
After looking at different birthing practices around the world, I decided to take a closer look a Japan. In Japan it is now acceptable to have the significant other in the delivery room but that was not always the case. It used to be customary for only the doctor and nurse to be present. The mother is also allowed to have a "Doula" present in the delivery room. A "Doula" is someone who the mother may have been seeing prior to delivery to help with breathing exercises and who gives also relaxing massages to help ease the discomfort of pregnancy and ease the pain of delivery. I did not have a "Doula" but I did see a massage therapist and a chiropractor during my pregnancy and that seemed to help ease the discomfort. Japanese women strive to give birth without using any pain medication because they believe that the labor is like a test they need to go through in order to prepare them for motherhood. Through all the pain of labor, they are not supposed to yell out during labor because this brings shame to the family. That would take a lot of strength to not yell because for me, I felt it helped to release some of the pain or maybe it just took my mind off it. After my delivery, I was able to have a room to myself because that was the only room the hospital had available. In Japan the recovery rooms usually have about 3 to 6 patients in them.
It was interesting to see the customs of pregnancy and delivery of Japan. I like the ideas of having a "Doula" to help with pregnancy and delivery. I have not heard of anyone in my area that provides that kind of service, but I think that that would be something important to include as part of an obstetrician's office.
Web sites:
Japanese Traditions
www.hawcc.hawaii.edu/nursing/RNJapanese_04.html
www.parents.com/pregnancy/giving-birth/vaginal/birth-customs-around-the-world/?p...
I think that pregnancy is a beautiful journey that women get to travel along with their child and in most cases their husband or significant other. Giving birth can also be a very rewarding experience. The idea of bringing another human life into the word is awesome. To be able to bond with your child immediately after birth is so rewarding. My first son latched on and started nursing right away and when he heard my husbands voice he turned to look at him. We could tell that he was happy to see his Dad and he cuddled up to both of us right away. My second son seemed a little overwhelmed with everyone but he always seemed to calm down when my husband was holding him and he was following his older brothers voice to try to see him. It was amazing to watch. I think the stress of my illnesses and the fast birth affected my second son. Babies are connected to their mothers so of course they are affected by whatever is happening to the mother at the time of pregnancy. Everything the mother does or is exposed to could potentially affect the birth and the development of the baby not only in womb but possibly for years after.
After looking at different birthing practices around the world, I decided to take a closer look a Japan. In Japan it is now acceptable to have the significant other in the delivery room but that was not always the case. It used to be customary for only the doctor and nurse to be present. The mother is also allowed to have a "Doula" present in the delivery room. A "Doula" is someone who the mother may have been seeing prior to delivery to help with breathing exercises and who gives also relaxing massages to help ease the discomfort of pregnancy and ease the pain of delivery. I did not have a "Doula" but I did see a massage therapist and a chiropractor during my pregnancy and that seemed to help ease the discomfort. Japanese women strive to give birth without using any pain medication because they believe that the labor is like a test they need to go through in order to prepare them for motherhood. Through all the pain of labor, they are not supposed to yell out during labor because this brings shame to the family. That would take a lot of strength to not yell because for me, I felt it helped to release some of the pain or maybe it just took my mind off it. After my delivery, I was able to have a room to myself because that was the only room the hospital had available. In Japan the recovery rooms usually have about 3 to 6 patients in them.
It was interesting to see the customs of pregnancy and delivery of Japan. I like the ideas of having a "Doula" to help with pregnancy and delivery. I have not heard of anyone in my area that provides that kind of service, but I think that that would be something important to include as part of an obstetrician's office.
Web sites:
Japanese Traditions
www.hawcc.hawaii.edu/nursing/RNJapanese_04.html
www.parents.com/pregnancy/giving-birth/vaginal/birth-customs-around-the-world/?p...
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| The boys bonding. |
Hi Julie, thank you for sharing your experience and research. I can not imagine myself not being able to express some emotion during labor. As you researched, the women are not allowed to yell during their labor pain because this brought shame to the family. This is something their culture embraced.
ReplyDeleteI love how to stated that," Everything the mother does or is exposed to could potentially affect the birth and the development of the baby not only in womb but possibly for years after" Your husband and sons were form and instant bond and this is so important to the development of the child.
Thank you again for sharing.
Thank you for sharing your experience. I think it is wonderful that your husband and son were able to form an instant bond with your second son. When my niece was born I was in the delivery room with my sister's husband and our mother. It is difficult to find words to express the emotions that take place, witnessing the family bond with a new baby!
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