I have given birth twice. Both in a hospital. I felt comforted to know that if anything
went wrong the baby, the hospital personnel could take care of it. The first one was a very long labor of over
24 hours. I chose not to use any type of
drugs, I changed my mind while in labor but they didn’t listen-it was too
late. Even though it was very stressful
I had a lot of support and recovered well and the baby (now 22) flourished with
no complications. The second one I chose
to use an epidural. It was less
stressful, but for some strange reason it took me longer to recover. I believe I had post pardom depression. I went to the doctor because I had no energy
wanted to sleep, felt depressed, and my hair was falling out. He told me to drink more water…I had negative
feelings toward the new baby and felt so guilty for them. She also was colicky and sick quite a bit. I can’t imagine what it would be like had I
not had support from my husband and family.
After reading about giving birth
in Uganda I feel spoiled. According to (allafrica.com,
2011) mortality
rate is 435 deaths per 100,000 live births, while the infant mortality rate is
estimated at 76 deaths per 1,000 live births. In Uganda, 16 women die every day
in childbirth. This is due to few health
practitioners or midwives and few facilities.
The health facilities that they do have lack basic supplies for emergency
procedures needed to save the lives of newborns. I would be so scared if I had to deliver a
baby knowing I could not trust the baby would be O.K. Here in the United States what we consider a
right is considered a privilege in Uganda.
My heart goes out to this country and it’s people.
n.a., AllAfrica Global Media.(2011). Uganda:
Maternal Deaths - Midwives Missing in Rural Areas
Retrieved from http://allafrica.com/stories/201110060862.html?viewall=1
January 12, 2013
Thanks for sharing your experiences. I love to hear stories about babies being born. I do cringe when the process is taking place but I always cry when the miracle comes. I am sure your children are greatful for all you went through. It is hard for me not to feel extremely spoiled when I read about women in Uganda and the birth rate, and I don't have any children.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the information about Uganda, its a little heart wrenching.As well as your childbirth experiences,I'm definitely going to read on epidural procedures before I give birth-whenever that is...
ReplyDeleteWow. You went through two very different labor experiences. I love hearing birthing stories. I wonder though, do you feel that the mother/child connection was different the second time around due to P.P.D than with your first born, or maybe even appears to be a slightly different relationship now? Thanks for sharing your story :)
ReplyDeleteAs far as the effect on my realtionship with my daughter, "love covers a multitude of sins." We are very close now, I just had to be more consciouse of building that realtionship, kind of the way you do when you have a child that you deem "difficult" at first but you love out of actions at first not feelings, then later the feelings come and you end up loving in a more deep special way as a result? Kinda like that.
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