Health

"It's good for women to suffer the pain of a natural birth"

by generaldecay | July 18, 2009 at 11:11 am

239 views | 67 Recommendations | 13 comments

More women should endure the agony of labour because pain-relieving drugs, including epidural injections, carry serious medical risks, diminish childbirth as a rite of passage and undermine the mother's bond with her child.

When I heard this on the radio the other day, my first thought was: that's clearly a man's perspective. And, of course, I was right. How easy it is for this man to say that a woman should not protect herself against pain in what is one of the most painful experiences she will ever have.

Walsh, a senior midwife and associate professor in midwifery at Nottingham University, argues that many women avoid experiencing the discomfort of childbirth because hospital maternity staff are too quick to offer an epidural or agree to a woman in labour's request for a pain-killing injection in her back to ease her suffering. "A large number of women want to avoid pain. Some just don't fancy the pain [of childbirth]. More women should be prepared to withstand pain," he told the Observer. "Pain in labour is a purposeful, useful thing, which has quite a number of benefits, such as preparing a mother for the responsibility of nurturing a newborn baby."

He'll never have to give birth, so it's all the same to him, really. He can theorise all he likes about the difference that pain makes to childbirth because it will never be his body in question. Not only is his argument presumptious and patronising, but it is yet more evidence of men trying to control women's bodies and their decisions on what to do with their bodies. That, it seems, will never change.

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Amy Judd

at 14:22 on July 18th, 2009

I think it's a nice idea to have a natural birth, but I suppose it depends on your pain threshold - mine is VERY low, so I don't know how long I could stick to the natural plan.

generaldecay

at 23:54 on July 18th, 2009

Thanks for the recommendation and comment, Amy.

I think I have an average pain threshold but giving birth is a completely different scenario! That, I know, shall be above my threshold!And I shall have my drugs, as is my choice!

duo

at 19:03 on July 18th, 2009

By the time a child has grown inside a woman for 9 months, he/she has been her constant companion, and has made that presence felt in many ways. During the last trimester, it is possilble to literally stroke the child through one's skin, and feel every kick, every hiccup. More bonding should not be necessary. NO PAIN!

Thanks for your article. How many babies have you birthed, General?

Mary

generaldecay

at 23:53 on July 18th, 2009

No pain indeed, Mary! I have had no children, but it is my intention to have a child or two one day. And I shall be requiring drugs from the first contraction!

Thanks for the recommendation and comment.

Beaulieu

at 07:24 on July 30th, 2009

The pain sounds awful. I won't be having any kids. There is no way I am going to put up with the pain and even risk of death having them. One of my relatives died in childbirth aged 26. That's enough evidence for me-:-).

I have sponsored a child through Plan International. I enjoyed that and it is a lot less selfish as there are loads of kids that need help. You could write letters and send colouring pens etc to the 'community' and get letters back. It is much more enjoyable that having the intense pain of childbirth, and the financial pain that goes with having a child. I think any woman who gives birth deserves a medal. I could never do it! I even have a job watching it on TV. I have to walk out the door.

Patricia Turo

at 00:00 on July 19th, 2009

I had my second child natural not because I planned it but it happened and I had no choice. I don't recommend it! I say get all the help you can get. Talk is cheap! he will never have to have the experience.

generaldecay

at 00:02 on July 19th, 2009

Patricia, exactly. Talk is very cheap and it will never be his pain.

That does not sound like a pleasant experience that you had!

René

at 09:45 on July 19th, 2009

Hash works good.

Paschen

at 19:31 on July 19th, 2009

Well, his argument is also valid for illnesses such as fevers, that should run their course and help the body to immunize and become stronger healthier...

H. Rahmaker said in an address at the CFFO in Ontario that we are s afraid of pain and so easy to use drugs that Humanity will exterminate it self for lack of stamina and strength.

I support this idea even though I am not a woman, but I am a human a know what extreme pain. I also have compassion and would say okay let them have the pain killers and all the drugs they want but then logic and science as well as critical thinking kicks in and I have to say no to those pain killers and drugs and advocate the natural course of action for the sake of Humanities future to be able to cope.

Beaulieu

at 07:39 on July 30th, 2009

I have heard that some women give birth under hypnosis but alternative methods aren't discussed so much.

cyn.khoo

at 07:34 on July 23rd, 2009

It always amazes me, the power and conviction with which so many people can speak on things that they know nothing about, will never apply to them, comes from a completely different context than anything they'll ever experience, and that they have nothing to do with whatsoever--while the people who are really directly involved and affected nearly always have no say about what's actually best for themselves.

Barbara McPherson

at 09:00 on July 29th, 2009

Every birth is different, just as every child is different. Both my babies arrived by natural childbirth. I was young and lucky. Did it hurt? You bet. I told my husband the next one was his to carry. We stopped at two.

Beaulieu

at 07:49 on July 30th, 2009

I read about a woman who had 15 kids. How on earth does she do it? All that pain? Eewwww. I feel bad just with a headache. The thought that after childbirth you are kicked out of the hospital really quickly too and your insides are all messed up.