WOMEN’S BODIES: CHILDBIRTH. IS THIS IT?
Most women will recognize the gradual build-up of strength and frequency contractions and other signs (show of blood and breaking of the waters) that signal that labour has started. But not all labours go according to the books, of all you’ve learned, you can be taken by surprise. My favorite story, though unusual, is of a friend who, without any warning, at 37 weeks delivered health on the dining-room floor within minutes of serving the soup to dinner guests! Don’t be alarmed: this is a very rare experience.
It’s generally better to set off for the hospital early rather than too late. Check with the delivery suite if in doubt (there is someone on duty 24 hours a day). Your partner or the taxi driver could probably rise to the occasion if necessary, but I’m sure that both you and they would prefer
experienced hands for your delivery! Until about 70 years ago, most babies were born at home, usually with the help of the local midwife or GP. During the 1920s the trend to having a baby in hospital began, and by 1950 a home birth in Australia was a rarity. Childbirth in hospital became (and still is) favoured for its greater safety, leading to the rapid growth of obstetrics as a speciality, and medical technology was applied to childbirth. We’ve now gone the full circle. Since the late 1970s there’s been an increasing demand for the services of midwives for home births and for hospital services that would allow a natural delivery if appropriate, rather than every confinement being subjected to high-technology
interference.
Twenty years ago women rarely questioned what happened to them during hospital confinement. Today the reason and need for many common obstetric procedures has been challenged, and women expect to have a much greater say about how they would like their childbirth to be managed. The aim of all obstetric interventions should be the birth of as healthy a baby as is possible with minimum risk to the mother. Here are some of the controversies.
Recent changes in approach to childbirth
Many women these days have well-formed ideas about how they would like their labour and delivery to proceed. Judith was delighted when I confirmed her first pregnancy. She said: ‘I want to have this baby naturally. Jim and I have decided that we want our baby to be born without anaesthetics or any interference.’ Marie’s reaction was quite different. She said: ‘Refer me to a hospital where they believe in pain relief in labour. I don’t mind how the baby is born, as long as everything is done to ensure a safe delivery.’
Which approach is best? It’s impossible to say. It’s good to gather information about modern childbirth services so that you can decide what you would prefer, and then find a birth attendant – GP, midwife or obstetrician – who will respect your wishes, answer your questions clearly and carefully explain anything that necessitates a change in plans.
Judith may be sadly disappointed if, for safety’s sake, she needs assistance during delivery. On the other hand, Marie may be pleasantly surprised if she doesn’t need pain relief during labour. Because what’s going to happen is so unpredictable, I think it’s better to keep an open mind.
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Categories: Women's Health | Tags: Women’s Health
