Birthing Experience

     I was 24 years old when I became pregnant with my first child.  I was nervous because I had no idea what to expect and also tired as most are in the first three months.  My mother had just moved to Florida and my brother had joined the military.  Emotionally, those were some big adjustments for me.  I went to the doctor's regularly and took my prenatal vitamins daily. The rest of my pregnancy was quite normal with the exception of the amount of weight I was gaining.  My doctor had told me that some people just have a lower metabolic rate during this time and I was one of them.  I was a small 102 pounds before pregnancy and a whopping 172 pounds the day I delivered!  My doctor had also said that the baby only takes what it needs, so the weight was nothing to worry about.  Luckily I was able to lose the weight within the first year.  I was two weeks overdue when I was admitted to the hospital to be induced.  I was starving and was not allowed to eat for the 8 hours I was being induced.  Finally, to no avail, the doctor told me I would need a C-Section.  My son, Bobby was born on Friday, April 13, 1990.  It was Good Friday, so it being Friday the 13th did not bother me!  While I do believe that C-Section babies have less stress through the birthing process, there are definite disadvantages to this procedure.  I was whisked off to recovery and my husband and sister were able to bond with my son.  I was not able to hold my son until hours later, which left me feeling devastated.  The advantage; however, was that I qualified for 12 weeks of maternity leave as it was my first C-Section. The next four days in the hospital were filled with family and friends as this was the first grandchild on my side of the family.  The whole child birth process is truly one of the most amazing things a woman will ever experience in her life.  My son, and the two that followed, were surrounded by so much love and support that they grew up knowing the importance of family and the value of relationships. 
    In comparing my birthing experience in the US to those in Sweden, I have to say that Swedish births have a definite advantage.  Because prenatal care in Sweden is free, it is unheard of for anyone not to utilize it. While it is common for children to be born in hospitals, the use of doctor's is not so common.  Highly educated midwives are used in hospitals and pain medication is discouraged (Denomme, 2007).  Swedish society places the utmost value on  parents and small children.  Parents are given 480 days off at 80% of their pay!  They must take 60 days each at birth and can use the remaining days within the first 8 years of their child's life.  Sweden holds the record for fewest deaths of children under the age of 5 (Walsh, 2008).
     I had always thought the United States was one of the leaders in medical advances, research, and economy.  I feel that while the U.S. does provide tremedous prenatal care and birthing experiences, it is not without cost to the families.  The use of midwives is so common in many countries.  The U.S. is now seeing an increase in the number of women choosing a doula or midwive to work with the hospital's medical staff (Berger, 2009).   This is something people may want to consider when having a child.    I would love to live in a country that puts such value on children and families as Sweden.  The paid time off and free health care would eleviate the stress and worry that some women experience during pregnancy and the overall value the country places on children make this an exceptional place to give birth.

    

Berger, K. (2009). The Developing Person Through Childhood. New York, NY: Worth Publishers.

Denomme, S. (2007). Let's Talk About the Cultures of Childbearing. retrieved from:

     http://pregnancy.families.com/blog/lets-talk-about-the-cultures-of-childbearing#

Walsh, F. (2008). Children are Sweden's Top Priority. Retrieved from: 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7202694.stm