Do you know how many times I've heard this opposing argument to my views on natural childbirth and home birth....
"Women have been having babies naturally long before Doctors and Nurses but the mortality rates were extremely high as well."A lot....
For years now, as a matter of fact, since I opened my big fat trap on how I was planning on doing a home birth for my first born...
I dont even see how its making a point about discrediting having a natural birth in a hospital..
But here's the thing..... Here's where the argument is invalid for me......
I am NOT giving birth in the 1800's & 1900's!
I am not in some cold cabin in the middle of the woods, or in a field, or in unsanitary conditions...My Midwife doesn't press her ear to my belly to try to hear the baby's heart rate, and we are not using the cross-your-fingers method of baby birthin'...
I am a MODERN natural Momma
I am not afraid to use use the science when necessary, I've done it! Its just not my first choice. Just so you know....
I am not afraid to use use the science when necessary, I've done it! Its just not my first choice. Just so you know....
For some reason the fact that I am not in a hospital makes people scared for me......Please dont be! I do realize that anything can happen anytime anywhere...at home and even in a hospital there are sometimes unfavorable outcomes. There are risks no matter what, you have to have faith. I am low risk and my family history & genetics include strong women who are very good at birthin...we ALL got them birthin hips for sure, lol..thanks NawNaw.
I feel like I have something better than gadgets and alarms hooked up to me...Nurses popping in and out and a Doctor that shows up just before the birth......I have my Midwife who NEVER leaves my side and her very experienced assistant, who herself is a Childbirth Educator and Doula....Their eyes are on me the entire time....these eyes have seen hundreds of births, not to mention the 15 natural births between the two of them! They know whats not normal and signs of distress.
Also, I am friends with these women and have developed very personal relationships with them over the years...They are the closest thing to having a Mother and Sister taking care of me while I am giving birth...so let me ask you this...WHO would take care of you and look out for the best interest of you and your unborn baby BETTER than your Mother and sister?? The wisdom and experience of these two women is honed in on one thing....Safe Childbirth.
I am not asking for you to do a home birth yourself, I am just asking for respect and support.
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Upon doing some research online The CIA World Fact book has statistics for the US infant and maternal mortality rates....forgive me if I am not impressed with the current system we have in place for birthin babies in this country....maybe, in the case of giving birth, we should respect mother nature first and rely on science only when necessary.
United States Maternal mortality rate:
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21 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 137 <---------- | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
These Countries have the best survival rates for mothers
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United States Infant mortality rate:
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total: 6.17 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 169 <--------
male: 6.75 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.56 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)
All of these countries have better survival rates for babies than the U.S! Are you kidding me?
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