BEING PREGNANT IN AMERICA CAN BE DANGEROUS.....DID YOU KNOW THAT..........?

[BlackHomeSchoolers]

Did you know that America has a high infant mortality and maternal death rate compared to some 3rd world countries? The hospitals are largely responsible for the death of infants and mothers in cases where a normal natural birth would have spared both lives. Birth interventions through hospitals causes more injury and death to the mother and baby due to things that were not meant to be implemented in this natural procedure. Epidurals, other drugs, Cesarean Sections, forceps, suction births, ruptured uteruses among other things are just a few of our concerns. This very informative video has convinced us to do a home birth for the first time. Another mom on our site had a home birth and it really inspired us not to mention many others we've seen on Youtube. Well tell us your thoughts after viewing the video and getting facts about being Pregnant in America.

Video can be viewed at this link here. If you are pregnant or planning on getting pregnant, you may want to see the video in it's entirety. Tell us your thoughts here or at the video source. Thanks.

[Tyra B.]

I was pregnant with twins and threatened to give birth at 23 weeks, placing the babies at a high risk of complications. I was placed on hospital bedrest, given minimal medications to keep contractions at bay until I delievered vaginally at 34.4 weeks. I'm thankful there was medical intervention in my case.

[Nappykat]

Epidurals, other drugs, Cesarean Sections, forceps, suction births,
**********************************

These things have actually help the birth rate and reduce the mortality of infants and children. It it has also made it more comfortable to have a baby. Epidurals have risk but I really liked that stuff! Except towards the end, it reduced my pain trumendously. I screamed all my kids into the world.

For someone (anyone) espousing home births, to say that American maternal and infant death rate rivals that of so-called 3rd world nations is a bit of an overkill. I don't think it's true. In these countries, when babies and mothers die it is grief strickening but a lotta times it is expected because it happens so often. Some countries resists naming their child in the early months for fear that it may not live long enough to grow up. And some name their babies ugly names so the fear of death will pass over them and not want them.

For us, it is rare for to know someone who has died in childbirth - either the mother or the child. Many of us know someone or have ourselves experience stillbirth, SIDS, or miscarriage, but rarely do we know someone who has died while giving birth - either mother or child. It is so unexpected that it can take us by complete surprise when it happens or when we hear about it. But the truth of the matter is that people will die in childbirth regardless. We can reduce it, and in the west we have reduced it significantly, but we can't make it 0%. Somebody has to die I think and somebody (child or mother) will die regardless. From childbirth, from flue, from chickenpox, from almost anything.

Now I can't view the video - dial up. But I have no problem with one espousing home births. I wouldn't say it is better than being in a hospital or worse, but it is a viable option for many. I do agree that certain hospital inventions to deliver a baby (like C-sections) is becoming too routine. I had 4 kids in hospitals and while some of the experience was better than others, there were things I didn't like. One is laying on your back with legs up in stirrups. It's convenient for the doctor but I think it makes it harder to have a baby. It seems squatting would be more comfortable. Sitting or laying with legs up in the air causes you to have to push upward and against the grain. I had to have an episiotomy that I still don't care for with my first child. I was pushing upward and I felt rushed to have the baby - like if you didn't have it in a certain amount of time they would start doing things to push it along even if there was nothing wrong or no distress for either mother or baby. Squatting seems like it be more comfortable as gravity helps bring the baby down and takes some of the pressure off the back of the pelvis - where they make the episiotomy cuts. I felt the need to walk around or move but I was often strapped to a seat with fetal monitoring belts. I understood this and now that I've experience it, well I don't think it's necissary for me to have to experience this again.

If I have another child (I believe I would like too but I'm not sure), I would like to experience a birth on my own terms and not someone else (the hospitals). I want to walk and eat and drink while in labor. I want to possibly squat in a tub or pool or water to have a baby. I want whomever I want in the birthing room. So if I had another baby, I would not be running to the hospital as soon as I was in labor. I would try to deliver at home. Might have to do it by myself or with the help of my other kids or the child's daddy - but I would try to do it. If the insurance would pay for a midwife, I'd get one of those too.

[BlackHomeSchoolers]

Hello NappyKat,
When you are able too watch the video you will see that the information on epidurals and C-Sections and maternal and fetal Death rate is high in America. The hospitals won't tell you how detrimental the real facts are because it would cut into their Mommy Baby profits. It is definitely something to look further into when we consider the fact that C-Sections are more often forced on black moms. The 2 part video is full of info that shocked even me and my husband and I think it needs to be known as far as the risk of medical intervention when unnecessary.

I do see the need for hospitals in emergency situations, but when you consider the fact that many deaths occur because of unnecessary hospital intervention (drugs, pitocin, cytinex, edidurals, c-sections and more) on healthy none emergency births, you will pregnancy in America in it's true light.