Just a Birth
By danotoyou2
February 1, 2008
After finding out I was pregnant only 7 months after my first son was born, I began planning for the latest childbirth. Much to my surprise, I was in for a long road filled with denials, threats and nuisance. For one simple reason: my first son was born through an incision in my uterus, and I was determined to have my second son the way nature intended.
I live on the Olympic Peninsula in
Eventually I found a midwife who lived 3 hours away and was willing to attend this birth, provided I came to her in early labor. Travelling 3 hours for every appointment was a hassle, but it was necessary.
VBACs are considered better and safer than a repeat cesarean by most medical studies. And yet, women who are planning a VBAC are made to feel like ticking time bombs, waiting to explode. There is a separate care guideline for VBAC mothers, which generally includes more tests, more intervention and less freedom to simply let things be. They are treated different; like high risk patients. They are denied access to the simplest things; like movement during labor, food, water and even the ability to go into labor in their own time.
But it is just a birth.
When the VBAC “failure rate” is relatively the same as a first time mother’s “vaginal failure rate,” the medical community still refers to it as a “trial of labor” and a “VBAC attempt.” They still convince women that this birth is something to be feared, and something that she can fail at.
The only difference between any birth, and a VBAC, is a 0.5% increase in the risk of uterine rupture. That is all. Despite that, I’ve been called courageous, brave, foolhardy, stupid and narrow minded. I’ve been told that I’m putting my desires for a vaginal birth ahead of the health of my baby.
It is just a birth.
One half of a percent does not make me courageous or brave. Not any more than any other mother giving birth. I’m just doing what my body naturally does. One half of a percent of risk does not make me stupid or foolhardy or narrow minded. It makes me a mother who weighs the risks. One half of a percent does not put my own needs before the needs of my child. I understand the risk, but want a peaceful, loving, intervention free birth for my son; and I could not accomplish that in a hospital.
What am I? I am proud. I am immensely proud that I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy without the help of doctors, drugs or modern medical convenience. I am proud that I was able to say “no” to the pressure from family, friends and healthcare providers. I am proud that I stood up for the rights of my child.
But it was just a birth. Like any other.
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That was a great article. I really loved it.
I really hate the way the medical community tries to convince women that birth (first, second, vbac or cesarean) is something to be afraid of. So many women I know act as though every women is at risk of death.
I also hate the silly idea that if your baby is big it won’t fit. That is rare, but so many people now think that a normal sized baby needs a c-section because it’ll be too big to fit.