Birth Beliefs

My husband and I are very passionate about how we were going to have our daughter and what kind of birth experience we wanted.  Before I talk about my experience, I want to give you some insight to my beliefs on birth. I believe that to give birth is one of the most beautiful and natural experiences that women are blessed to be able to go through.   I believe that a woman's body has the power and strength to go through natural childbirth and that we should listen and trust our bodies to do so.  I believe that when a baby is naturally born, meaning without any drugs and vaginally, that the baby receives what's called a "love cocktail" that assists in mom and baby to fall in love.  Being born vaginally, regardless of drugs also exposes the baby to neccessary bacteria that aids in the building of their immune system.  I believe that postponing cutting of the cord until it stops pulsating allows for important nutrients, including iron, to get to the baby.  I believe that the first hour after the baby is born is the most crucial time for a mother and baby to begin there bond which is why it is important that hospitals delay in weighing the baby and taking for observation and making the baby scream to make sure the lungs are clear (which I deem unneccesary in a healthy baby and making them cry only strains the heart and puts stress on the baby).  I believe a baby should be put skin to skin with their mother and that they have the time to get to know one another, as we are still considered animals and that is, for the most part, instinctual.  Now I begin each statement with "I believe" for the simple fact that there is so much "research" out there that does not support and so much research that does.  This is what I chose to believe because I believe in natural childbirth.  The research that typically goes against this is usually supported by hospitals, OB's, Surgeons and even some midwifes.  To each his own, however when a persons beliefs become ignored because the OB feels that there may be complications, that's a problem.  This is why I do not believe in hospitals or OB's for a healthy pregnancy and birth.  Hospitals are for sick people, not healthy babies.  Many doctors feel the need to find something wrong and create pathology where there is none.  This can lead to unneccessary intervention which more  than likely, especially these days, will lead to an emergency c-section.  Then they claim, "Oh we saved you and your baby!" No, you created a situation in which it became needed for you to do this when I wouldn't have needed you to start with! The proof is in the numbers, and boy are the numbers high.  It irritates me when people opt for a scheduled c-section becuase they don't want to deal with labor and they don't want their vagina to get all out of whack.  I have to say that I consider these woman to be uneducated in the realm of birth.  Never in my life would I think that a major surgery is a "preferable" way to give birth.  It robs both you and your baby of so much.  Now, this does not mean that women that it is truly medically neccessary for it is not a benefial thing to save lives.  The problem is that it's being used almost as a recreational tool and offered so casually that it's disturbing.  If you couldn't already tell, I have a bit of disdain for the medical field, especially when it comes to the birth process.  If you are interested in learning more about the benefits of a natural birth and what interventions can cause, the Ricki Lake documentary The Business of Being Born is a great place to start.  More of a reader? Some great books are Henci Goer's The Thinkig Woman's Guide to a Better Birth and Ina May Gaskin's Guide to Childbirth.  I can only end with the thought to educate yourself, I'll save my experience for another day.