After my friend congratulated me over the birth of my child, her first question was boy or girl? I said boy then she said - wow! strong woman. Then her next question was natural or artificial? I said CS and she replied with an eeyahhh as if someone died. Then she said dont worry you have many more babies to deliver naturally. See the look on my face and me rolling my eyes. I wanted to give birth like the Hebrew woman. Painless and walk out of the hospital that afternoon proclaiming I had conquered..... Well it did not work out. When I did not go into labour 2 weeks after my due date an induction was scheduled for me. After hours of induction and baby was not coming and a final check revealed that the baby’s heart rate was declining I remembered the doctors urgent words clearly, he said we dont have a choice and there is not much time but we need to have an emergency operation on you. Those words stabbed my ego like a knife. The first thought that crossed my mind was: “What will people think? That I am incapable, unworthy and even worse weak. Where I come from, women are not allowed to to scream in the labor room, because giving birth is a woman’s honor and giving birth naturally was her ultimate pride. Now they want to tear me open without giving me much choice. I shall never be able to wear my badge of honour as a mother with pride. Long story short, Hebrew woman badge went down the drain as in tears I signed the hospital form giving consent and taking full responsibility off the doctor if anything goes wrong. The Hebrew woman delivery is a dream for many women but for some of us, it is was not and may never be a reality. Many women have died as a result of this honor. Many have risked their babies because of this honor. Instead of agreeing to do the needful, most have resorted to praying and fasting at the late hour to deliver like the Hebrew woman. Haba! No woman wants to be seen as weak and not being able to give birth to her child naturally. Having an operation or caesarean is a taboo in our culture. What?!! You want doctor to tear you up? God forbid. Why cant you just push..push.. then some will say pray hard or you didnt pray hard enough. The bible says............ Now, dont get me wrong I am not against the bible says - but there are many reasons why a natural birth cant take place due to the mothers anatomy or the position or size of the baby. In my own case all went well till the last minute when artificial labor led to baby being distressed. If you can be induced which is not natural then how can you claim Hebrew woman. A Caesarean section is one of the oldest forms of major surgery. It has a long history and has saved the lives of many mothers and children. Prolonged labor can sometimes be dangerous to the mother and baby. Staying too long in the birth canal starves the baby of oxygen and may lead to babies born with long lasting mental defects. I know a lady who has a horribly pronounced limp. I used to think she had a disability from birth till i heard she had prolonged labor that disfigured her for life. Women who have natural births are sometimes seen to have had remarkable recoveries within days!! At least thats what it looks like on the outside. Not many know what they are carrying about between their thighs! Many husbands are not getting any either. If you have had a caesarean for whatever reason, YOU ARE NOT A FAILURE like people will have you believe. A birth is a birth. Every birth that ends in a healthy mum and a healthy baby is a success. The only thing that matters is a safe delivery of a healthy child by whatever means necessary. For me, the reality was a c-section, I may have opted for it during my 3rd delivery not like I had much choice after 2 cs. Yes I can hear some people say im too posh to push. But Im alive and healthy with healthy children. Every mother wants the badge of honor of the hebrew woman but only a loving mother will sacrifice that honor to save her babys life.
Posted on: Wed, 03 Dec 2014 10:00:00 +0000
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