I am not a fan of hospitals, doctors, or anything related to modern medicine. In my early twenties, I saw took a trip to the ER, saw at least five doctors, and was on more than five different medications for close to a year before I figured out what was wrong with me, made some adjustments, and moved on with my life.
About five years later I was pregnant with my first child. The pregnancy was relatively easy, but near the end as my anxiety started to rise, so did my blood pressure. At my last ultrasound, the technician thought that my amniotic fluid was low. All of this increased my stress level, and I was eventually diagnosed with preeclampsia. My baby's delivery date was scheduled for November 23rd, the day after Thanksgiving, 2007. My husband and I made arrangements for our dog, packed our bags, and notified our employers. Happily trudging off to the hospital under a light snow, after having taken about a million pictures, we were ready to meet our baby. After arriving at the hospital and undergoing what seemed like an endless stream of testing, my blood pressure was normal. It was normal for the next four hours and the baby was doing great. I was told that I could either wait until midnight at the hospital (another 12 hours of doing nothing), because they could not legally induce me until the following day with no cause, or I could go home and come back at midnight for my induction.
At this point, it struck me. Why couldn't I just go home, monitor my condition, and see my doctor on Monday, in order to let this baby choose when to arrive? With tears in my eyes I asked the most understanding nurse I have ever been in contact with. She agreed with me 100%, stating multiple findings that every moment a baby can stay healthfully in the womb is another moment ensuring further development and readiness for birth. She placed my request and another hour later I was headed back home. This was the first time I officially advocated for my child. I felt empowered, and realized that I was ready to become a mother.
My daughter was born the following Friday, November 30th, 2007, at 2:43am, as my husband directed his snow plowing crew from the window of the delivery room. :) There were no complications. I was aided by an amazing staff and my incredible family. I was confident in making decisions regarding my child and myself, and still am to this day. She is an amazing, happy, healthy six year old, and I am lucky to be her mother.
When heading to the hospital, just over two years later, exactly 10 hours before my scheduled induction--when my spunky spitfire decided she was ready to make her appearance--I knew more about what to expect and was prepared when things didn't go quite as planned. She was facing backward, and needed to be turned to prevent spinal injury. After an exhausting night of turning and pushing, she decided she needed a break and settled in to rest for a few hours. At about 8 am, she woke back up and was raring to go. After a mere 23 minutes of hard labor, and one final push that the nurse was not quite ready for, my second little girl arrived while the doctor had stepped out of the room. Yet again, I was blessed! I cannot believe that I am currently in the midst of planning her 4th birthday party!
Both experiences were quite different, yet similar in that they took place after a full-term pregnancy in a hospital with doctors from a practice I had chosen. This would not have been the case in many parts of the world. I chose to do a little research into what my experience may have been like in Poland, where my ancestry lies.
From what I gather, Poland utilizes a public health care system, so while the cost is significantly lower than in the US, you are not generally provided with the same amenities or quality of care that you can choose here. Polish hospitals offer very little privacy, meager food, minimal monitoring and no other amenities (diapers, drinks, blankets, etc.) Husbands were just recently allowed in delivery rooms, and apparently bribery is common in order to secure preferred care. My experience seemed like a resort vacation, compared to some of those described.
On the flip side, however, women giving birth in Poland have more freedom to move and it is expected that you will breastfeed, as they do not provide alternative foods. They are also given more time to rest and recover than here in the US.
Women may choose to give birth at home, but they are required to make ALL of the arrangements and it is often not a covered service. There is also no guarantee that there will be a doctor on call, or emergency services available if need be.
While I do not have complete and utter faith in all that our current medical professionals provide, I like to have the choice, and the emergency services readily available should the need arise. I was very lucky compared to millions of women worldwide, and for that and my incredible children, I am grateful!
Thanks for sharing your story. Both of your birthing experiences where very different. I'm glad that both of your babies where delivered healthy and okay. I never read about the birthing experience in Poland but the information that you have provided was very helpful, so now I can do some research on it myself to understand more.
ReplyDeleteI really appreciated reading about both of your experiences. Despite the fact that each one of them were different, it is wonderful that you had two healthy children. You are truly blessed. What you shared about Poland was very interesting. I had never heard or read that information before. It is interesting. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI also had low fluid with my daughter I had to be induced due to my stress level and low fluid. My doctor told me I couldn't carry her any longer with the amount of fluid it was very unhealthy for her. I think all countries have their ups and downs on what they are offered in the hospital and with the care provided. I wonder sometimes if a woman who could give birth in different countries would say about our procedures compared to other countries who would be the best for the mother/child.
ReplyDeleteI like how your writing is very detailed and vivid. Thus your first experience was a bit scary I’m happy to read that you experienced the wonderful joy of delivering a healthy baby. I applaud you for taking a stand and advocating not only for yourself but children of the world.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many stresses and complications that can come along with childbirth. I myself have not experience it quite yet, however I think the way you wrote about your second birth and giving her the time she needed during labor is such a sweet sign of the loving mother you must be! Patience is such a virtue when working with children, whether they are your own or others, and you seem to have an abundance of this quality.
ReplyDeletethankyou for sharing your experience with us. i think the health situation in China and Poland is quite similar. Mother delivering the baby does not have much privacy as it is part of public services. Unless you can pay a very high premium, then you can get a better services and privacy.
ReplyDeleteThough there are a lot of articles or experiences saying delivering babies at home is good. But personally i still think that there is always complications in delivering of babies. HOme setting is no way to compare with the hospital facilities. I still prefer hospital rather than home.
thankyou'