Atul Gawande's article describes the birthing process for Elizabeth Rourke, who was forced to deal with uncomfrotable contractions for almost an entire day because it was the rules of the hospital that contractions needed to be five minutes apart and last for a minute. This article is a good transition into Henci Goer's article, "How Childbirth Went Industrial: A Deconstruction."
So far, we have discussed the intricacies associated with pregnancy and the decision of whether or not go to through with having a baby. The ins and outs of the emotional, mental and physical aspects of abortion (or not) are extremely complicated. Birth, however, is often seen as simply a miracle. "The miracle of life," though we know it is painful, is often viewed as both mysterious, and consistent from woman to woman. This, however, as Goer proves, is not at all the case.
Gawande states, "human birth is a feat involving an intricate sequence of events." The choices assoicated with these events and the sometimes false beliefs can often put women at danger, while completely demystifying the birthing experience and turning it into a technical process. The need for our society to keep peogressing and becoming more efficient seems to have interfered with a process that is completely natural, and made it far more difficult to understand. Goer states, "Contrary to Gawande's claim, at no time has the routine or frequent use of obstetric interventions improved newborn outcomes" (Goer). Goer also discusses Gawande's claim that cesarean sections are necessary for saving lives at the first sign of difficulty during a birth. In reality, more women (according to a 2004 systematic review of the research), die from problems directly assosiated with C-sections.
Goer states, "What happens during labor and birth has little to do with the condition of the woman or her baby, and everything to do with her caregiver's philosophy and approach." Unfortunately for many women, this means undergoing major surgery for reasons that to another doctor may not seem justified. So what do we do to deal with all this? All women do not have access to the kind of knowledge necessary to make medical decisions during birth, and all doctors are going to have different views on what is appropriate and safe. How do we ensure that all women are safe, without forcing them to undergo a painful process that may not be necessary?
Overall, I found these articles interesting because it shows just how complicated birth really is. While is is magical, mysterious and definately a miracle each time, there is much more that goes into it that is not so pleasant. I guess I see this as another reason for women to have the ability to make their own reproductive choices. Birth is not as simple as many people believe, and women should not be forced into a situation they are not ready for simply because it is illegal. Choice is the most important aspect of all of these things; whether or not to have a birth, how to go about it, etc...which is why choice needs to be valued above most other aspects of pregnancy, birth, and motherhood.
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Gawande writes, “thirty per cent of American deliveries are now by Cesarean section, and that proportion continues to rise. Something has happened to the field of obstetrics—and, perhaps irreversibly, to childbirth itself.” According to Gawande’s account, the process of childbirth has become increasingly mechanical; doctors are no longer focused on ensuring a positive birthing experience for the mother-to-be and her family, but simply on delivering a baby in the most routine, standardized, and efficient way possible. If for some women this means an unnecessary surgery, just because a complication has a slight chance of occurring otherwise, then so be it. Pay no mind to the mother’s wishes for a natural birth, and offer no alternatives for other ways to relieve pain.
ReplyDeleteThese criticisms of the industrialization of childbirth relate directly to Allison Crews’ definition of what it means to be pro-choice. Pro-choice is about reproductive freedoms: “Being pro-woman, being pro-choice, means being supportive of any reproductive choice a woman makes for herself. Women, of any age, in any social situation, have the right to bear children. We have the right to choose when, where, with whom and how we bear children” (Findlen 148). A woman should have control over what happens to her body, and that most certainly includes the way in which she gives birth. She should not be turned away from a hospital because she is not in the advanced stages of labor or coerced into a surgery she does not want to have. Safety of mother and child is absolutely paramount, but doctors too quickly resort to what makes them most comfortable, without considering the needs or desires of their patient. As Goer writes, “what happens during labor and birth has little to do with the condition of the woman or her baby, and everything to do with her caregiver's philosophy and approach." From my understanding, the birth process is daunting, scary, and painful enough that a woman should at least be able to determine the terms by which it happens.
In sum, the birth of a child is a memorable event in any parent’s life, so we should treat the process as something special accordingly. Instead, our current practices make birth into something possibly dangerous, where anything can go wrong at any moment, and silences the wishes of women. Women are all different, in subtle and not so subtle ways, so it is necessary to stray from “by the book” procedures and the standardization of childbirth.
There are so many different ways to give birth that one could possibly get overwhelmed by all the choices. There is natural child birth, giving birth in a bathtub, giving birth at home, using drugs to help with child birth, having a cesarean and many other options. However, women are now being pressured to have a cesarean, a procedure that is sometimes unnecessary.
ReplyDeleteWith our recent discussions about choice I believe that a woman should, without a doubt, be able to give birth the way that she wants to. But, if there is some sort of complication that puts either the mother or the baby at risk it is understandable that the doctor will step in and decide what is best for his patient and her baby. If a cesarean is unnecessary, then a woman should not feel pressure to deliver her baby that way.
Colleen discusses, in her blog, how society has interfered with the natural process of childbirth. While technology is great, and has helped us in many ways, it seems to have almost gone too far when it comes to childbirth. Yes, technology is great if there are complications, but if there are no complications then childbirth should takes its natural course.
Colleen writes, “Choice is the most important aspect of all of these things; whether or not to have a birth, how to go about it, etc…which is why choice needs to be valued above most other aspects of pregnancy, birth and motherhood.” I could not agree more. Choice is everything.
Really interesting thoughts, Colleen, Anna, and Meghan. What I like most about these posts is the ways in which you've stepped beyond Gawande and Goer's compelling arguments to connect these debates about childbirth to the issue of choice and the abortion debate. As Crews and Arcana points out, these are all "motherhood" issues, and all are part of reproductive rights. I look forward to talking more about this connection in class. Nice work!
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