Childbirth

My views on childbirth stem from my personal birthing experience.  I enjoyed being pregnant.  It was simply mind boogling to watch and feel another human being grow within.  At the prenatal stage, it is very important to take care of yourself because your actions affect the development of your child within the womb.   You must be responsible for eating healthy, prenatal vitamins, exercising, regular doctor visits, and educating yourself on the the process of birth.  These actions whether positive or negative have an impact on your unborn fetus as well as the delivery.
I gave birth to my one and only child 17 months ago via c-section.  With the help of my doctor I delivered a beautiful baby girl!  I was admitted to the hospital due to the fact that my water broke.  Once admitted, I was induced, having the drug pitocin administered and increased every 30 minutes.  I crossed the threshold of the critical period of 17 hours after my water having broke in which bacteria could set in and harm the baby, therefore, I was scheduled for an emergency c-section.  In addition, I was contracting only with the drug pitocin and I did not dilate beyond four centimeters.  I was sent to the operating room after my labor did not progress.  Although I enjoyed being pregnant and watching my belly and body change, I was completely terrified of the birthing experience, due to the fact that I a have a phobia of needles and a low threshold for pain.  So to say the least, the operating room was the most traumatic part of my birthing experience.  I managed to live through it :-) and as a result God blessed me with my daughter.  She was born 11:32 in the morning.  Once she was placed on my chest, I broke out into an uncontrollable cry.  So many feelings and emotions ran through me.  After nine months of not knowing what she would look like, how much she would weigh, whether she would be healthy-all of these unknowns vanished when I heard and saw her for the very first time.
Although my uncomplicated pregnancy and birth was over, I had no idea what was in store for me over the coming days, weeks, and month.  The next day, upon the her first assessment by her pediatrician, her abdomen appeared to be distended and test where down to verify that her bowels where blocked.  After what seemed to be a normal  night and brief morning of bonding, breast feeding, nurturing and caring for my child she was taken from me and placed in NICU.  A day later we were medvac to Sick Kids in Toronto.  This was a whole other level of feelings and emotions that I can not even begin to describe.  Once we arrived she was admitted in NICU Sick Kids, where she did very well and was then moved to the general surgery floor.  Here, all praises and thanks to God she did not need any surgery because her bowels unblocked on their own.  In the weeks to come she appeared healthy and she was discharged and we flew back home to finally begin a normal life-at least I thought.  To make a long story short, the months that followed she was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis.  Up until this point in my life I had never heard of cystic fibrosis and to this day I am still educating myself on this disease.  I am so grateful for her having her in my life.  She is not only a source of joy for me, but also my family, friends, and even strangers we encounter in the grocery store, restaurants, parks, etc. with her big personality.

In regards to childbirth around the world, I would like to compare Bermuda with the U.S.  I left Bermuda and lived in the U.S. for many years.  During these years I had family members and friends who gave birth.  I was with them during their pregnancy, I visited them in the hospital, and I remained in their lives as their child grew.  Both countries are similar in the prenatal care of the unborn fetus, which I mentioned above that it is vital to ensure that the pregnant woman maintains a healthy lifestyle during her   pregnancy.  Whether the pregnant woman is making healthy choices or not can affect the unborn fetus in a negative or positive way also once the fetus is born.  Women in both countries have the same services available to them, such as clinics, private doctors, mid wives, birthing classes, hospital tours, etc.  The differences are very suttle in the area of cosmetics.  For example, the birthing rooms are incredibly small and once you give birth you are moved to the maternity ward where according to insurance you are in a semi private room or a public room.  In the U.S. this is not an option.  The room you give birth in you remain in during your hospital stay and your significant other can stay with you.  I think that is vital, if the father is involved because immediately he can bond with the child as this has a positive affect on the newborn.