I feel that everyone should be able to make their own decisions, especially when it comes to medical decisions. Unfortunately, not everyone is even aware that they can make their own medical decisions. Most just blindly follow whatever their medical professional says to do; even if it means that they are really uncomfortable with the decisions that are being made "on their behalf". Informed consent doesn't even mean what it was intended to mean. Mostly because, Americans anyway, follow whatever the medical professionals say. We are so used to just doing what they say and what they prefer, that we are uncomfortable even asking questions. Shouldn't we, at least, be comfortable enough to ask questions without worrying about being black listed??
So, what does this have to do with my decision for unassisted childbirth? I was one of those people. I thought, "Well, I am already being radical by seeing a midwife. They know what they are doing." My problem? I gave up my position in the decision making process and ended up with a c-section. My birth was suppose to be as non-medical as possible. I ended up with the most severe medical intervention. All because I gave up my position to someone (or a team of someone's) that I assumed had my best interests at heart. After all, that is what they are trained for, right? Well, I paid the price.
If there is any information that I can give anyone about getting the birth that they really desire, it's this:
Do not give yourself up to someone, no matter how much you may like them. I realized (after three years of processing through my traumatic birth) that I was never really asking the questions that I should have been. That I was thinking, "I am in good hands. They know what they are doing." I took on no responsibility for my own safety. NONE, what-so-ever! That, I must truly say, was the hardest reality to come to grips with. All because, I gave up my body to other "professionals with years of training".
Yes, I was reading. Yes, I was listening to what they were saying. Yes, I was eating well. Yes, I was exercising. But, I was only doing things that they were telling me to do. I had done no research, save watching TLC's series on midwife assisted home birth. (Which led me to my midwife decision.) Therefore, everything that I thought I was doing right, was leading me straight to the operating room. I thought I was just doing what everyone else was doing. No harm in that, right? Yes, well, if you would like the same outcome as everyone else!
This time, it is going to be different. This time I have done the research. This time I have asked the hard questions. This time, I will not be listening to everyone. This time, I will be making the decisions and having the birth that this baby and my family will benefit from!
So, what does this have to do with my decision for unassisted childbirth? I was one of those people. I thought, "Well, I am already being radical by seeing a midwife. They know what they are doing." My problem? I gave up my position in the decision making process and ended up with a c-section. My birth was suppose to be as non-medical as possible. I ended up with the most severe medical intervention. All because I gave up my position to someone (or a team of someone's) that I assumed had my best interests at heart. After all, that is what they are trained for, right? Well, I paid the price.
If there is any information that I can give anyone about getting the birth that they really desire, it's this:
ASK QUESTIONS AND DO RESEARCH!!
Do not give yourself up to someone, no matter how much you may like them. I realized (after three years of processing through my traumatic birth) that I was never really asking the questions that I should have been. That I was thinking, "I am in good hands. They know what they are doing." I took on no responsibility for my own safety. NONE, what-so-ever! That, I must truly say, was the hardest reality to come to grips with. All because, I gave up my body to other "professionals with years of training".
Yes, I was reading. Yes, I was listening to what they were saying. Yes, I was eating well. Yes, I was exercising. But, I was only doing things that they were telling me to do. I had done no research, save watching TLC's series on midwife assisted home birth. (Which led me to my midwife decision.) Therefore, everything that I thought I was doing right, was leading me straight to the operating room. I thought I was just doing what everyone else was doing. No harm in that, right? Yes, well, if you would like the same outcome as everyone else!
This time, it is going to be different. This time I have done the research. This time I have asked the hard questions. This time, I will not be listening to everyone. This time, I will be making the decisions and having the birth that this baby and my family will benefit from!
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