Last month (July 9 2016), Jessi Klein wrote an op-ed piece for the New York Times
titled “Get the Epidural” Here is the
link to the piece - click here.
I do not normally respond to op-ed pieces because they are
just that, opinions. And I believe
everyone has the right to their opinion.
This is no exception.
In her piece, Klein points out, either consciously or
subconsciously, several issues that expectant women grapple with nearly every
day.
Judgement
In life, we are unfortunately all subject to judgement and
criticism. Is it fair? No, especially not in the tender emotional
state of pregnant women. Strangers feel
it is accepted to ask personal questions and even invade personal space by
pointing at or even touching a pregnant belly.
These strangers feel that expectant women are warm and fuzzy mommies who
will be accepting of a variety of social behaviors. What strangers fail to recognize is that
expectant women are still people, with emotional and physical boundaries just
like anyone. And, these same expectant
women are fierce momma bears with an incredible protective instinct. So no wonder there can be a strong push-back
on invasions of personal space.
Symantics
The debate continues about the names of childbirth experiences. Words that have been tossed around include “natural”,
“normal”, “unmedicated”, “unassisted”, and “physiologic”. Most regular humans do not know the
difference and often use these interchangeably.
There may only be two types of childbirth: physiologic and intervented. Physiologic would mean that labor begins on
its own (without using any medications to begin or augment the labor progress),
void of interventions of any kind including medications (such as an epidural)
or instrumental assistance (forceps or vacuum).
Intervented would mean a labor and birth that required an intervention,
including the previously stated interventions or even a cesarean surgery. Both have their place in modern
obstetrics.
Birth options
Expectant women should thrive in an atmosphere of freedom to
make decisions about their birth experience based on the knowledge of
alternatives – such is part of the motto of the International Childbirth
Education Association. Klein implied she
was doing some learning and I hope that the internet is not her sole source of
information. I hope she explores books,
classes and perhaps even hires a doula who can significantly add to her
personal knowledge base. Expectant women who are in a solid place informationally
and who can make informed decisions, have incredible birth satisfaction and
some research has shown have a reduced incidence of postpartum mood disorders.
Tokophobia &
Relationship Issues
Klein’s last paragraph deals with her fear of different types
of pain, including pain associated with birth and breastfeeding. She seems unsettled about her postpartum
image and unsettled about adult relationships.
These are issue that may take time to resolve and are not uncommon! With so much information at our fingertips,
it is hard to discern what information is valid and what is tainted by
bias. Finding information that is
evidence-based can be more than expectant women can endure. This may be one reason why expectant women
find one source of information and remain locked on that source throughout
their pregnancy. True or biased, one
source is better and less time consuming than vetting multiple sources of
information. Doing intense investigation
can also facilitate the fear that may be present.
Support
Based on what I’ve said previously, I hope Klein cultivates
an environment of support. What support
looks like for expectant women is entirely up to them – whether that is family
support, social support, informational support, emotional support, or physical
support. All women need to feel
supported during the most challenging and exciting day of their life. To feel unsupported during this crucial time
brings about feelings of resentment and isolation. Feeling supported can promote calm and make
decision-making easier.
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