A Birth Story: North America and South Africa

My first birth was typical, full term (delivered on my due date), and happened a bit too fast.  At the time, I was happy and proud to have delivered an 8lb 10oz baby drug free and naturally.  However, several years and two births later I found that I'd experienced extensive damage during my first delivery (including a broken tailbone)- damage that eventually resulted in reconstructive surgery.  A small part of me now wishes I had known my first daughter was on the big side, and would have opted for a cesarean.  Hindsight.

While I was pregnant with my second I wished for a petite baby, and got what I wished for.  My second daughter, also delivered on her due date, was a full pound smaller than her big sister at 7lb 10oz.  She came quickly too, but without as much trauma to my body.  I felt incredible after her birth, and joked that I felt good enough to do cartwheels compared to how I had felt the first time.

My third baby didn't come on her due date, but the day after.  I had regular contractions during the night but was able to sleep.  I woke up knowing I was getting close.  My husband went in to work and I loaded big sisters 1 and 2 into the car.  I dropped them off at child care and drove myself to the hospital.  After checking in, donning the gown, and being hooked up on the monitors I called my husband to tell him to come on over.  Our third daughter was delivered easily and was the smallest at 7lbs 7oz.

I chose to write about my own births because they have given me the opinion that the human birth process is pretty darn poorly designed!  I have been disappointed that my body was unable to survive three uncomplicated, easy births.  Because of the repairs needed to my body my children's first years included experiencing their mother's hospital stay and recovery from an extensive surgery.  However, we were lucky that at the time of each of my daughters' births, we were healthy and happy and had the opportunity to bond and fall in love.  My daughters' early months and years were very special to us, and our relatively wonderful birth experiences set us up for a healthy start.

I am grateful that I had access to convenient, quality medical facilities for both childbirth as well as for the process of repairing my body.  I am thankful that a safe cesarean would have been an option had I needed to make that decision, and that stress regarding a safe birth environment was never a part of my birth experience.

My North American birth experience is almost beyond comparison with the typical South African woman's birth experience, where women's care during labor and delivery has deteriorated.  I've read that the number of maternal deaths is four times higher than it was 20 years ago.  It is heartbreaking to know that conditions for pregnant women are worsening, and that a woman might actually fear the hospital and birth at home unprepared only to face complications, or that a family and laboring woman would be abused and neglected at the hospital.  Terrible. 

I can only imagine the effects poor treatment of a woman during childbirth would have on the development of the child.  Even if the two survive the ordeal, all of the factors that our hospitals monitor closely could come in to play and place risk on the health and development of the baby.

Smith, A.D. (2011).  South Africa's maternal mortality rate increases fourfold.  The Guardian.  Retrieved September 8, 2012, from http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/2011/aug/12/south-africa-maternal-mortality-health. 

Nordqvist, C. (2011).  The shocking truth about giving birth in South Africa.  Medical News Today.  Retrieved September 8, 2012, from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/232413.php.