Birthing Experience

The most exciting but dreadful moment in a mother's life is giving birth. I've been through it twice and not sure if I would want to experience it again. The changes your body goes through in a matter of hours are heartbreaking. Well, to me anyway. My first child was an experience by itself. And it seems no matter how much I read about it, that wasn't enough. I was in labor for 12 hours and it was the the longest 12 hours I've ever encountered. However, I was surrounded by family and good friends. After my son was delivered, all of my emotions changed. I just wanted him away from me. I didn't want to look at him or touch him. I was still in shock that a baby had come from me. It was a very painful experience.

On the other hand, my daughter's birth was quite pleasant. Well, that was after the medication. I now believe that my body isn't made for storing and delivering babies. Both pregnancies were very different but labor and delivery was almost the same. They were both full term babies. My son came exactly on his due date. My daughter a few days after hers. I'm thankful for the nurses and the medication because I don't think I would've made it through this experience without either of them.

As I searched around the globe for other birthing information, I found that in Africa some women die during childbirth. They die from lack of treatment to conditions such as high blood pressure, breech births, and hemorrhaging(The Guardian 2012).  African women lack access to good quality health care or a trained midwife. In the remote areas they have little to no choice but to give birth at home with a mother or grandmother present. If things don't go well during delivery, they would have to walk in the middle of labor to get the help they need.

As in the Western nations, men encourage the woman to go to a health facility to avoid complications.In Africa the woman has to get permission from the man which causes a delay in seeking care. Another delay is arriving a a health care facility because they may lack transportation and the lack of staff at the facility. These things all contribute to the high mortality rates.

References

Giving birth-the most dangerous thing an African woman can do? The Guardian. March 2012. Retrieved from http://www.theguardian.com/journalismcompetition/giving-birth-the-most-dangerous-thing-an-african-woman-can-do