Vent Post: Birth

[tabloidscully]

I just got around to posting over at birthtrauma. I joined that community probably sometime in October, but finally felt the urge to post because I just finished watching "Nine Months." I've never seen the flick before, but I thought it was pretty good, especially considering it's a Huge Grant movie

Comments

[tabloidscully]

Thanks. I agree. I admit, I used to be very judgmental of women who would just seemingly opt for a C-section because they were too posh to push or whatever, but looking back on it, who was I to say that they hadn't reached their pain threshold? I know that about 12 hours into my labor, I actually started having hallucinations from the pain, and with the rare exception of asking for water and one scream right after breaking my water, I never made a sound. I was afraid making noise would increase the pain. Weird, huh?

Anyway, there are those who would say I put Sephie's life in danger, like that crazy woman at the prolotherapist's office, but they weren't there. It's easy to armchair quarterback until you're in that position, but the doctor told me later given the intensity of the back labor, Sephie facing the wrong way, the cord being wrapped tightly enough that she was strangled on her way out, it's not just impressive I was able to give birth vaginally--it's damn near unheard of. Given that I am five months postpartum and still dealing with the physical ramifications, I understand why.

That doesn't, however, mean I have the right to tell every other woman how to birth. I think the line, "I did it, so you should be able to as well" is just so counterproductive in nearly every usage, especially here. As you pointed out, pain thresholds vary greatly. It'd be great if we were all the same, but we're not. Just because I was able to do it doesn't mean another woman in the same circumstances can or even should--birth is a personal choice for the mother.