Comments on: Reclaiming Our Birth Rituals: Part II http://americanmum.com/2008/01/18/reclaiming-our-birth-rituals-part-ii/ Wife. Mother. Doula. Activist. Pacifist. Feminist. Environmentalist. World Citizen. Fri, 14 Nov 2008 06:36:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU hourly 1 By: Darellma http://americanmum.com/2008/01/18/reclaiming-our-birth-rituals-part-ii/#comment-2039 Darellma Tue, 25 Mar 2008 21:29:41 +0000 http://americanmum.com/2008/01/18/reclaiming-our-birth-rituals-part-ii/#comment-2039 i am gonna show this to my friend, man i am gonna show this to my friend, man

]]> By: Rachel http://americanmum.com/2008/01/18/reclaiming-our-birth-rituals-part-ii/#comment-1937 Rachel Wed, 30 Jan 2008 06:14:43 +0000 http://americanmum.com/2008/01/18/reclaiming-our-birth-rituals-part-ii/#comment-1937 Have you read 'Birth As An American Right of Passage'? It is all about birth rituals. It's a fascinating and enlightening read. Cheers! Rachel, homebirth midwife, nyc Have you read ‘Birth As An American Right of Passage’? It is all about birth rituals. It’s a fascinating and enlightening read. Cheers!
Rachel, homebirth midwife, nyc

]]> By: Dan http://americanmum.com/2008/01/18/reclaiming-our-birth-rituals-part-ii/#comment-1928 Dan Thu, 24 Jan 2008 12:45:29 +0000 http://americanmum.com/2008/01/18/reclaiming-our-birth-rituals-part-ii/#comment-1928 sorry, hadn't read the other comments before I wrote this so I'm repeating info a little: Interestingly enough many of the rituals you talk about don't seem to exist in england, at least not the three experiences i have had of witnessing childbirth (two my own children, and i was once present at a section during my nurse training). We don't have baby showers, or at least I've never known anyone who's had one. Kerry has taken and worn her own clothes into hospital. Kerry wasn't on an IV drip during either birth, and i don't think it's standard. Both births we didn't see a doctor once and it was all done with the assistance of a midwife. When amy was born she was the midwife's first ever baby as a qualified midwife, whcih was quite nice as it was special for everyone in the room. There was no baby warmer either. Both amy and evan were given straight to kerry and put on her bare chest - skin to skin. When she had to tend to herself they were given to me, which was lovely. and the UK hasn't had nurseries for ages as far as i'm aware. You get put in a communial ward full of other mothers with babies which is so noisy it acts as an incentive to bugger off out of hospital. sorry, hadn’t read the other comments before I wrote this so I’m repeating info a little:

Interestingly enough many of the rituals you talk about don’t seem to exist in england, at least not the three experiences i have had of witnessing childbirth (two my own children, and i was once present at a section during my nurse training).

We don’t have baby showers, or at least I’ve never known anyone who’s had one. Kerry has taken and worn her own clothes into hospital. Kerry wasn’t on an IV drip during either birth, and i don’t think it’s standard. Both births we didn’t see a doctor once and it was all done with the assistance of a midwife. When amy was born she was the midwife’s first ever baby as a qualified midwife, whcih was quite nice as it was special for everyone in the room.

There was no baby warmer either. Both amy and evan were given straight to kerry and put on her bare chest - skin to skin. When she had to tend to herself they were given to me, which was lovely.

and the UK hasn’t had nurseries for ages as far as i’m aware. You get put in a communial ward full of other mothers with babies which is so noisy it acts as an incentive to bugger off out of hospital.

]]> By: Agatha http://americanmum.com/2008/01/18/reclaiming-our-birth-rituals-part-ii/#comment-1920 Agatha Sat, 19 Jan 2008 16:48:50 +0000 http://americanmum.com/2008/01/18/reclaiming-our-birth-rituals-part-ii/#comment-1920 fabulous post - do I have permission to post a UK one over my way? fabulous post - do I have permission to post a UK one over my way?

]]> By: Rachel http://americanmum.com/2008/01/18/reclaiming-our-birth-rituals-part-ii/#comment-1916 Rachel Fri, 18 Jan 2008 13:46:14 +0000 http://americanmum.com/2008/01/18/reclaiming-our-birth-rituals-part-ii/#comment-1916 I've had a baby in American and now England. thought you might be interested in the "British Way". In England, I had a very different birth experience. Weight: I was only weighed the very first time I saw the midwife. Baby Shower: Very rare! I've never heard of anyone having a baby shower here. I was given a ton of gifts once I had the baby though. Wheelchair: Didn't get one coming in or out. the only time they used one was tranferring me from the room I gave birth in to the postpartum room. Gown: You're asked to bring your own clothes to give birth in. (I actually took a long time shopping for just the right nightgown for the occasion!) IV/Monitor: No and no. Unless you're having trouble you aren't hooked up to either. Exams: I was given one upon admittance to the hospital and that was it. They don't evendo this during the last month of pregnancy either at checkups. It's considered intrusive. (This actually kind of annoyed me. I wanted another exam after an hour or so of hard labor to see if I was getting anywhere!) Stirrups: Didn't even see any in the hospital! Baby Warmer: Nope..Mom's stomach is used. Nursery: Doesn't exist, except in the NICU. The only downside to a British hospital birth is you share a postpartum room with 3 other moms and babies. But, can't complain if it's free, right? :) O I’ve had a baby in American and now England. thought you might be interested in the “British Way”. In England, I had a very different birth experience.

Weight: I was only weighed the very first time I saw the midwife.

Baby Shower: Very rare! I’ve never heard of anyone having a baby shower here. I was given a ton of gifts once I had the baby though.

Wheelchair: Didn’t get one coming in or out. the only time they used one was tranferring me from the room I gave birth in to the postpartum room.

Gown: You’re asked to bring your own clothes to give birth in. (I actually took a long time shopping for just the right nightgown for the occasion!)

IV/Monitor: No and no. Unless you’re having trouble you aren’t hooked up to either.

Exams: I was given one upon admittance to the hospital and that was it. They don’t evendo this during the last month of pregnancy either at checkups. It’s considered intrusive. (This actually kind of annoyed me. I wanted another exam after an hour or so of hard labor to see if I was getting anywhere!)

Stirrups: Didn’t even see any in the hospital!

Baby Warmer: Nope..Mom’s stomach is used.

Nursery: Doesn’t exist, except in the NICU.

The only downside to a British hospital birth is you share a postpartum room with 3 other moms and babies. But, can’t complain if it’s free, right? :) O

]]> By: womantowomancbe http://americanmum.com/2008/01/18/reclaiming-our-birth-rituals-part-ii/#comment-1915 womantowomancbe Fri, 18 Jan 2008 12:30:06 +0000 http://americanmum.com/2008/01/18/reclaiming-our-birth-rituals-part-ii/#comment-1915 Great post! I would just add that while you're right about "rooming in" now being preferred instead of the nursery for the mom's hospital stay, they still generally take the baby from the mom for those first precious hours after birth, leaving mom aching for her baby, and leaving baby to bond with the heat lamp. Seeing a nurse robotically diaper a baby and stick it under a heat lamp while the poor thing was just wailing was a very powerful image that cemented my desire to have a home birth. This particular hospital said that there were no exceptions to this rule. A friend of mine said that her hospital said, "For the first three hours it's our baby; then you can have him/her for the next 18 years." That was the straw that broke the camel's back, and made her decide to give birth at home. Kathy womantowomancbe.wordpress.com Great post! I would just add that while you’re right about “rooming in” now being preferred instead of the nursery for the mom’s hospital stay, they still generally take the baby from the mom for those first precious hours after birth, leaving mom aching for her baby, and leaving baby to bond with the heat lamp. Seeing a nurse robotically diaper a baby and stick it under a heat lamp while the poor thing was just wailing was a very powerful image that cemented my desire to have a home birth. This particular hospital said that there were no exceptions to this rule. A friend of mine said that her hospital said, “For the first three hours it’s our baby; then you can have him/her for the next 18 years.” That was the straw that broke the camel’s back, and made her decide to give birth at home.

Kathy
womantowomancbe.wordpress.com

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