Natural Birth Bullies

I follow this blog and really enjoyed reading this post, Natural Birth: No Dreadlocks Required. I think what she says regarding the promotion of natural birth is totally on point.

You know, when I had my sons, 16 & 17 years ago, natural birth was almost not even an option. With my first son, I was not given choices. Of course I was young, and fit right into the population of minimally educated moms-to-be, who typically end up with every possible intervention available. I was induced with pitocin. I was given an epidural. I had an episiotomy. My baby was whisked away to be immediately cleaned, weighed, given silver nitrate eye drops, a hepatitis shot and an APGAR test. He was also kept from me, after our short introduction, because I had a fever. Despite my desire to breast feed (unusual for a 19 year old who knew of no other person who breast fed), the nurse gave him bottles in the nursery. Of course we know now that moms can continue to nurse even while very ill, so there was no reason to keep him from me. 

I credit the the induction process with my fever and exhaustion:

Exhaustion:I got very little sleep the night before due to anticipation and anxiety. The use of pitocin , which increased the intensity of the contractions. 

Fever: Exhaustion and side effect of epidural

I never thought that my decisions for my second birth were sort of "fringe" at the time, but I guess they were, especially considering my age and socio-conomic status. I chose a natural birth and to breastfeed. Of course I was constantly asked if I was "ready for the epidural," not IF I wanted one. It was assumed that I would at some point. However, I made it through without it. I did still get an episiotomy...had no choice in that. I did get to breastfeed an hour after my son was born and I roomed-in with him. He never saw the nursery. 

Both of my sons were circumcised. My first was circed in the hospital, where I saw and heard nothing. My second was done at the doctor's office when he was a few days old. The procedure was done in the room next to me. I heard him scream like I had never heard before or anytime afterward. The doctor came in, saw my horrified expression, and said, "Oh, don't worry. They just complain about being strapped to the board." 

Uh, I don't think so. So, had I known this, neither of my sons would have had the procedure. If my daughter had been a boy, she'd still have a foreskin. I'd never put another boy baby through that again. He could make the decision later in life. 

I have a feeling we'd have a lot more foreskins if it was left to men to decide later...and they'd have some sort of anesthesia. which newborns do not. 

My boys...couldn't get it to rotate!

Anyway, that was a slight digression, bit I'm following the blog by Mama Birth. 

She makes valid points. Even on Babycenter, moms tend to fight against each other when it comes to natural birth, breastfeeding, and circumcision. It seems choice is not respected. It seems like the "crunchy" mamas disregard other mamas as uneducated hicks, who have no idea how to "properly" bring a baby into the world and/or take care of them.  

Hell, based on the mentality of the population of mamas out there promoting natural birth, it's a wonder my generation exists at all! 

That said, according to the proponents of interventions, it's a miracle man exists at all! 

The extremes will get us nowhere. The extremes won't develop better mothers or babies. 

I think the important thing is to support educated and healthy choices for moms and babies, without judgment. Good mothers come from all sorts of backgrounds. The variety in life is what makes life interesting. We shouldn't all be the same. THAT mentality is what gave me my first birth experience...a birth without choice. THAT isn't healthy for mom or baby.