Saturday, May 11, 2013


Childbirth in My Life and Around the World

The birthing experience I chose to write about is my personal experience of my first born. In my opinion, no matter how many books you read, shows you watch, and/or testimonies you hear it never prepares you fully for the actual birth, especially after you feel that first hard contraction. For my first pregnancy there are so many different emotions. There is excitement, fear, nervousness, happiness, anticipation, etc. I remember I had to be induced and my mother was at my side the whole time. I didn’t want any nurses to touch me but my mother calmly said I had no choice. I was in labor for 12 hours with my mom and husband by my side. My labor was quick after my water broke. After two or three pushes my 7lb 3oz daughter was welcomed into the world by my mother first. With the proper prenatal care, supporting family, wonderful nurses and doctors I was able to deliver a healthy baby girl.

In South Africa women deliver their babies under different and sometimes unhealthy conditions. They have a high maternal death rate because of unskilled midwives, obstructed labor, diseases, etc.  A lot of the women cannot afford the proper prenatal care or postnatal care because of social status and lack of education, which leaves them open for the diseases. In rural areas mothers may give birth in community health centers and/or district hospitals. In populated areas it is usual to go to provincial tertiary and national central hospitals where wards can be crowded. Mothers may also give birth at home. In private sectors mothers have an option of home or hospital birth. Pain relief is available at private facilities but it is different for public facilities and rural care facilities offer fewer resources.

Through my comparison I feel that giving birth in South Africa will only be positive if you have that high social economic status. They offer the best care depending on the type of area you live in. I believe they should offer the best care all over therefore the maternal death rate can decrease.
Reference

3 comments:

  1. Shonda, I did not have the experience of natural birth,I had to have a C-section because of health issues. I was not happy about it but after reading about the conditionssome African woman have to go through,I want complain.Yes there are high social economic status as well as under privileged but neither can compare to the woman in African.

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  2. I have not had the honor of birthing a child. I am thankful just to leave in a part of the world where I will have a chance to deliver a baby in safe and healthy environment.

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  3. Reading your share, it reminds me about my first give birth experience. I was in labor 24 hours because my labor was so slowly. I had been in hospital for three days because my health issues.

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