Food for thought
Tonight I went to a showing of "The Business of Being Born," a documentary on birthing options that my friend Caitlin F. brought to campus. It made me think about having kids of my own, and how I imagine that experience to be. I don't really think about it all that much. I do occasionally think generally about being a mom, and I know that I don't want to choose my kids' names before they're born (I have a list of names I really like, but I don't want to settle on one until after the baby's born), but I haven't given a lot of thought to the actual process of giving birth.
I did sympathize with a lot of what the movie said, about how the hospital experience can be really rushed and impersonal, and how there's a lot of pressure to get epidurals and drugs and C-sections. I think doctors don't spend nearly enough time with their patients, and in my opinion, if you're going to do the job you should do it all the way. That's probably what attracts the small percentage of women who use midwives to the experience- you have someone who's willing to take their time and give it their all, and who lets you determine your own boundaries rather than pushing you to numb the pain.
I certainly wouldn't be opposed to having a natural birth myself. However, I think it might not be an option for me. Because I'm so small physically, there's a chance that my pregnancies might be too high-risk to be done outside a hospital. (I seem to remember my mom mentioning this to me as a concern at one point, but I can't recall when.) In that case, though, there are still options that I can pursue. I can ask them to put off an epidural or drugs to induce contractions unless it's absolutely necessary. And I can try my best to find a doctor that will get to know me really well and stay with me all the way. But the movie implied that I would have to fight the current system really hard to get those things, which is unfortunate considering how emotionally beneficial they would be for a mother in labor.
I do know I want to have children. Even if I never end up having them naturally, I'd like to adopt them. Not every woman wants to be a mom these days, but I feel like it's a stage in my life that I want to embrace- being responsible for the upbringing of at least one person other than myself. Teaching kids is one thing, but I've always thought there's nothing quite comparable to raising one of your own. It's a tall order, though, so I do respect women who don't wish to do it. And I don't believe that my (or anyone's) femininity would be compromised if I (they) didn't do it.
All in all, an enlightening film about an aspect of my life that I don't pay much attention to. It's a bit early to be planning this yet. ;)
It was a good day today. I got some work done (though not much, admittedly), and I also got to squee over the final segment of "Sense and Sensibility" (the new one on PBS). I think this adaptation was the best of all the ones they did for this series that just ended. Gen agrees.
Well, busy day tomorrow! I'm going to call it a night. :)
Sarah
I did sympathize with a lot of what the movie said, about how the hospital experience can be really rushed and impersonal, and how there's a lot of pressure to get epidurals and drugs and C-sections. I think doctors don't spend nearly enough time with their patients, and in my opinion, if you're going to do the job you should do it all the way. That's probably what attracts the small percentage of women who use midwives to the experience- you have someone who's willing to take their time and give it their all, and who lets you determine your own boundaries rather than pushing you to numb the pain.
I certainly wouldn't be opposed to having a natural birth myself. However, I think it might not be an option for me. Because I'm so small physically, there's a chance that my pregnancies might be too high-risk to be done outside a hospital. (I seem to remember my mom mentioning this to me as a concern at one point, but I can't recall when.) In that case, though, there are still options that I can pursue. I can ask them to put off an epidural or drugs to induce contractions unless it's absolutely necessary. And I can try my best to find a doctor that will get to know me really well and stay with me all the way. But the movie implied that I would have to fight the current system really hard to get those things, which is unfortunate considering how emotionally beneficial they would be for a mother in labor.
I do know I want to have children. Even if I never end up having them naturally, I'd like to adopt them. Not every woman wants to be a mom these days, but I feel like it's a stage in my life that I want to embrace- being responsible for the upbringing of at least one person other than myself. Teaching kids is one thing, but I've always thought there's nothing quite comparable to raising one of your own. It's a tall order, though, so I do respect women who don't wish to do it. And I don't believe that my (or anyone's) femininity would be compromised if I (they) didn't do it.
All in all, an enlightening film about an aspect of my life that I don't pay much attention to. It's a bit early to be planning this yet. ;)
It was a good day today. I got some work done (though not much, admittedly), and I also got to squee over the final segment of "Sense and Sensibility" (the new one on PBS). I think this adaptation was the best of all the ones they did for this series that just ended. Gen agrees.
Well, busy day tomorrow! I'm going to call it a night. :)
Sarah