The Business of Being Born
by Nola
I watched The Business of Being Born last night. Every woman that is pregnant or may become pregnant should see this documentary. Seriously. Here is an excellent article on the film.
What this documentary is NOT about is suggesting all births should be done at home in a pool of water. It is also NOT about saying there is no place for C-sections. What it IS about is having truly informed consent about your own birthing experience.
CS and I went through lamaze classes and initially intended to have a vaginal delivery with all the drugs legally allowed. Then through the course, I began to realize that those drugs, though sometimes necessary, are very serious and can themselves have permanent devastating effects to mother and/or baby.
So then CS and I (really the decision was mine) decided to go natural and try NOT to have the pain meds (epidural, etc.) unless I was truly NEEDING them.
Then we discovered Sun was breech and my placenta was “old” and there was NO WAY my pregnancy would go 40 weeks safely. So a C-section was planned for 3 weeks before my official due date. And two weeks before that, my water broke and my doctor performed a C-section six hours later. Not emergency. But still horrifying.
I WAS NOT prepared for having my arms strapped down like Jesus on the cross. I WAS NOT prepared for the nurses counting scalpels and sponges to be sure all were accounted for once I was sewn up. I WAS NOT prepared to have the Spinal without having my husband present to comfort me. I WAS NOT prepared for the continous shaking I encoutered from the anesthesia. I was never so scared in all my life. And I WAS NOT prepared not to have Sun placed on my chest but instead whisked away for five hours before I would hold her for the first time.
But do not get me wrong, Sun’s birth went just as planned and as well as to be expected. From being wheeled into and out of the OR, it lasted 20 minutes.
And a lot of what I was not prepared for was because I didn’t ask more questions. I, honestly, chose to pretend Sun would arrive like a pizza–quick and effortless. I refused to prepare myself for major surgery whilst wide awake.
The Business of Being Born highlights shocking statistics–in America, in 1900 more than 95% of births were at home. By 1955, less than 1% were done at home and that statistic remains the same now. In European countries, 1/3 (30%!) of births are currently done at home. And yet the infant mortality rate is HIGHER in America than these same European countries. What’s going on here?
It seems as though there are several things going on:
- OBs are trained surgeons. “Normal” pregnancies don’t warrant an OB. So, to make themselves necessary, they “require” the birth to be in a hospital.
- Once in a hospital, that hospital wants mothers in and out of the birthing rooms ASAP. So, if that birth doesn’t come soon enough, start the pitocin to induce labor. Pitocin makes the contractions more painful. Because it is more painful, now comes the epidural. When enough time has passed and still no delivery, because you’ve started all these drugs, mother is now exhausted and baby is in potential trauma. Time for an episiotomy or forceps. Or, time for a C-section.
- Doctors and insurers realize that patients think C-sections under the above scenario was “necessary” and are less likely to sue.
- C-sections have become a status symbol among Hollywood (ala Brittany Spears and Posh Spice).
The point that got to me is that women have been conditioned to believe they cannot manage birthing their babies any longer without intervention. And those that decide to do home births are considered granola-hippies. Doctors and insurers (mainly of the male variety) facilitate this low opinion women have of their abilities because it is easier for THEM and means in the end more money earned by the doctor and less risk of lawsuits by the insurers.
Why isn’t this about the mother? The baby? Why aren’t mothers and feminists all over this issue? If a mother fully understands the manipulation and reasoning of her doctor and insurer and decides she wants a C section, that is her choice. But I will tell you, you tell your typical doctor you want a natural birth or a home birth, and he (or she) will try to talk you out of it. And it disturbs me that this talking out of is NOT likely to be for your best interest.
Another statistic, doctors across the board think home births are “bad,” but almost NONE of them have attended one to know what the real experience is.
It’s clear I have a lot to say on this topic. And this post is long enough so I am stopping here. GO WATCH THIS FILM and give me your thoughts.
I believe the patient has a responsibility to research, ask questions and get as many opinions as they deem necessary. If drs are in this to protect themselves then so should we.
Home births are not totally as they were back in the 1900′s. Midwives do have some medical training and there is always the chance for medical help, if needed. It never hurts to have your bases covered no matter how “natural” you go.
I don’t understand this statement: Once in a hospital, that hospital wants mothers in and out of the birthing rooms ASAP. So, if that birth doesn’t come soon enough, start the pitocin to induce labor. Pitocin makes the contractions more painful. Because it is more painful, now comes the epidural. When enough time has passed and still no delivery, because you’ve started all these drugs, mother is now exhausted and baby is in potential trauma. Time for an episiotomy or forceps. Or, time for a C-section.
A c-section doesn’t get you in and out faster (both mine came with 4 day hospital stays), it keeps you in longer. Also, there is a problem of mothers going to the hospital too soon. Labor is long and most can be done at home. So, if they want you out faster they would do better to let you progress naturally and maybe send you home. I know there are mothers that protest going home.
There is a reason it is called medical “Practice”. It is not an exact science and people need to stop thinking that their drs are GOD. If you have one with a God complex, find another one quick. I just did and the one I have now is much better.
SoMo’s last blog post..The Reincarnation of Oscar Madison
Nola, don’t fall for the fallacies of that documentary. A home birth does not equate to a safe birth. The birth statistics they claim are not actually true. Many of the statistics cannot be compared between countries (even the industrialized ones) because what constitutes a live birth in the US is not considered a live birth in other countries. The US resuscitates infants at earlier gestational ages than other countries; this inflates our infant and neonatal mortality.
Being an OB is a stressful job. The lives of two people are in their hands until they pass the infant to the pediatricians. Even then, OBs know that birth is not without its complications and that the complications aren’t predictable. So many who are advocates for home birth tell women to trust birth and their bodies, that somehow if you think positively enough, that everything will be fine. That simply isn’t true.
Should women educate themselves about all the options for birth? Sure, but don’t go blaming the doctors and nurses when things go badly.
Sarabeth’s last blog post..What do you think?
I see both sides to this issue and try to not to be too judgmental, although I do feel a bit appalled when C-sections are scheduled for convenience only.
Documentaries like this tend to be a bit overblown, and the point about what constitutes a “live birth” is very critical. As with all statistics, the data is only relevant when fully equivalent, and that’s hard to come by.
I do know from personal experience that many doctors want to control things in an effort to minimize what they consider risk. Comfort of the mother is generally not one of those factors.
It is imperative that women educate themselves, ask questions and I always recommend a doula, at least, even if you’re going to have an epidural or even a C-section.
The hospital staff just doesn’t have time to provide really personal care of the mother. And my doula proved critical in communicating with the hospital staff for me (probably saving me a 2nd C-section), even though the OB nurse was a gem.
I bet you will hear A LOT on both sides. On a lot of “Mommy” blogs whenever there is a birth about to happen there is always a HUGE controvesy that starts whenever the mother to be states what her preference is. Both sides come out and go at it….so um good luck.
stacey’s last blog post..One Month to go…
i had to have a c-section also. i already told you that. and…i remember all the yucky stuff that went along with it. but…it was a necessary evil.
when i found out i was pregnant again…i decided i was going to do vbac. and i did. successfully. WITHOUT ANY MEDS!!
and…then i did it again a third time. WITHOUT ANY MEDS!!
i think this was an excellent post and i will be sure to check out that documentary!!
melissa’s last blog post..Give Me Color or Give Me Death…
I am sorry for your experience and know how horrific an experience like that is. I’ve had a C-section (breech and placenta previa), a VBAC, and a C-section (high risk twins at 44). My first C-section, in a city hospital, was abyssmal— the same as yours…almost. Away from my husband, complications with the epidural, strapped on a cross and intubated whilst I was awake.
VBAC at the same hospital was a similar disaster. That said, I now live in a community that values a woman’s participation in birth. Lots of midwives, lots of alternatives for birth and support from the medical community for such. My OB-GYN has a midwives practice on the side….
“normal” births are handled by the midwives…. The twins’ birth was fabulous…even though it was C-section. I was awake, J was there, I could see the girls and Jeff could hold them and we were all back in the same room together as soon as I was recovered (even though E was 4 lbs at birth).
I think it depends on the environment..if it is pro-mama, I think it can be done…
to me, this just points up what i see as a flaw in our health “system” in the u.s. – chemicals and surgery fix everything … except of course, when they don’t. many – not all – doctors make more $$ from surgeries than from “regular” visits of any sort. they’ve got huge school debts they want to pay off … it doesn’t take an economist to do that math.
there are plenty of doctors out there who are more concerned about the *people* involved, but those doctors aren’t always the ones available in your area and covered by your health plan.
whether it’s birth or chemo or a frigging never-ending headache, we have to be educated consumers of our own health care in order to safely tell the doctor, “no, thanks, I’m going to birth this child at home with a qualified midwife.”
(sorry if this is incoherent – i know i’m leaving something out – but i’m exhausted and going to bed now)
Having not had children, I don’t know how it feels to be in the situation of birthing, but I was in attendance at the birth of my 2 youngest cousins, both of whom were scheduled c-sections due to enormous head sizes (seriously, like an orange on a toothpick). She’s due to have her 3rd child in January and it’ll be a c-section as well. Her c-sections were for the safety of her children and her and not because a doctor pressured her or because she was afraid to endure the birthing process (though after her son weighed in a 11lb 3oz, I was officially horrified at the idea).
I do think that the c-section is overused, but I don’t think that doctors push them unnecessarily. I spoke with the husband about it some and he agrees. They are probably done more often than necessary, but doctors do not prefer them as they are MUCH more work for them, much costlier and much more dangerous.
I don’t know, but I’ll add this to the list of reasons I’m not having children for several more years.
Katie’s last blog post..Things I’ve learned today*
I have had 3 c-sections. The first one was due to some complications that made it necessary. I completely trusted my dr and she said I needed to. Unfortunately, I needed general anesthesia, so I was asleep through the whole thing. That was my only regret. For the subsequent children, I had c sections because I was nervous about the complications of a VBAC, especially since I was AMA. I only did the crucifix strap down for the second, and I didn’t much like it. But, my husband was with me for all three, and I held the baby right away for the last two. And, for the third one, the dr, anesthesiologist and I talked about American Idol and getting Police concert tickets through most of it. I never found recovery too bad, and I always felt like I had a choice in what to do. But, I always felt super comfortable with my doctors and confident in their advice. Just my take on it.
Kelly’s last blog post..If It’s Tuesday, I Used to Be…..
Oh Nola. Just reading about your c-section brings back so many memories. Although I didn’t have one with my daughter, I’ve attended hundreds as a nurse, and I ALWAYS feel awful for the mother lying on the table. By the time I was pregnant with my daughter, I requested to not attend them anymore because it was so difficult to not place myself in their shoes.
Sadly, I see many sides of the issue here. In recent years, more and more women in the U.S. have high risk factors (pregnancy at later age, IVF, multiples, poor diet, lack of prenatal care), and I’m curious how this affects our overall infant mortality rates. I’m also concerned to see how women often ASK or prefer to have c-sections out of convenience. It’s sad to see how it’s become a trend. After seeing what mothers have to endure during and after c-sections, I cannot imagine why.
Momisodes’s last blog post..Soy Sauce Will Make You Yellow
Nola – This looks like a fascinating documentary, and as others have already pointed out, it’s a multi-faceted issue. For you and I, doctor intervention was somewhat necessary. I had trouble going into labor the first time and had already had a miscarriage, so I was considered “high risk.” Even so, the doctor gave me 13 hours to try and do it myself on just Pitocin. When my daughter’s heart began showing signs of distress, he ordered the epidural (up to that point, I had no drugs, though I probably should have asked for some! I was trying to do it completely naturally in a nice birthing room). As he prepared for what we thought was the inevitable – a C-section – my baby started to crown and I delivered her. Because I was so exhausted and weak at that point, he did have to use forceps.
With my son, almost 4 years later, it was a quick delivery. I had about 3 hours of contractions and delivered with no drugs. It was great. For me, it worked. After some of the problems my mom had giving birth, I always thought I was safer being at a hospital. I’m glad there are plenty of options, though. And each woman has to decide.
Very provocative post! Peace – D
RiverPoet’s last blog post..An Appointment and Baby’s Coming Home!
Don’t know if the film mentions this, but my allergist told me (when he had to call my OB for permission to give me an allergy drug) that OB’s are the most sued doctors in the medical field, and that you can thank trial lawyer and former pres candidate John Edwards for the c-section craze: http://www.fumento.com/fumento/edwards2007.html
I didn’t want a c-section, but the OB coerced me into one while under the influence of heavy drugs. Since I hadn’t planned one I frantically did research after my baby was ‘born’. I am not a sentimental person, and wasn’t particularly bothered by the act of the surgery (I actually laughed when they strapped me to the table and started making Braveheart jokes. Yes, I have a black humor, no?), however I WAS bothered by my rights being taken away.
I’m due to deliver my next baby in May, and when I asked my OB about a VBAC they told me 95% of former C-sec women wind up having another. Looks like I have no choice in the birth of this baby either.
As soon as I have time today I will watch it. Looks very interesting.
pistolette’s last blog post..Po-Boy Fest
What seems to be missing from your article, and perhaps was missing in the documentary, is the fact that midwives are present at ALL births, whether in hospitals or at home births. The birth of a child is the preparation, the labour, and the after effects. It is easy for a medical team to get you through a C-section, but how about all the before and after?
I had c-sections with both of my children. There was no choice in the matter. It was the doctor’s decision both times: for the benefit of my babies health. Yet, in the monthly visits to my gynecologist, a midwife was there. The hours before the operation in the pre-op ward, a midwife was there. The first ten days after coming home from the hospital, a midwife came to visit and check me and my babies. All of this service was paid for by my universal medical insurance. Midwives are what make giving birth a dialog between you and your unborn baby, and not a medical procedure dictated by hospital administration policies.
lilalia’s last blog post..Postcards from Past Lives: Grade 7