When I think back on delivering all four of my children, I do not often think about the problems that occurred or the pain, I remember holding my babies for the first time. That is until I read an article on births in the Philippines. First I will tell you about the birth of my last child. He was not the worst, nor was he the best birth I experienced. He was typical, until the end. I had started bleeding heavily and I remember being really scared. I know that women can die in child birth, but I never thought problems would happen to me, especially here in America. They asked my husband to move out of the way and they took my baby from me. I do believe I blacked out for a while. The problem was I was hemorrhaging and they could not stop the bleeding. I do not remember much, but my doctor obviously did stop the bleeding eventually and my son is now 12. Now, for the story about women giving birth in the Philippines. I chose the Philippines because that is where my husband is from, my children are half Filipino. After reading the article I realized how truly lucky I was, to be here in America and to be able to receive the care I did. Many women/girls in the Philippines do not have access to the resources that are available here, many women/girls in the Philippines die every year. According to MNPI (n.d.), between 4-5 thousand women/girls die every year and many more become disabled from complications during or after child birth. One of the causes of death is bleeding/hemorrhaging during or after birth. There are some similarities like clinics for women to obtain care for before, during, and after child birth. There are also family planning centers for care and immunizations and postpartum checkups. However, they are limited and therefore many women, especially those in rural areas do not receive the care they desperately need. I have added the link to the article I read if any of you would like to read more about it. http://www.policyproject.com/pubs/MNPI/Philippines_MNPI.pdf
Maternal and neonatal program effort index: A tool for maternal health advocates. (n.d.).
Retrieved from http://www.policyproject.com/pubs/MNPI/Philippines_MNPI.pdf
That is really sad that so many women are dying in that country after giving birth. The doctors in that country must not be doing a great job. You would think that there would be protesting outside the clinics and hospitals there and also the government stepping in to really see what is going on for the death rate to be so high. I thank God for being in the U.S. and having great doctors who care about us.
ReplyDeleteI'm really surprised at how the birthing process is viewed around the world.. I have gone back and forth with thinking that here in the states we are overly cautious and then I read your post and I think that maybe we're on the right track with having the birth process remain in a hospital setting. Like you, I didn't think I would have complications and I really did think I would be able to give birth naturally. It just didn't happen that way for me. I just wonder what would happen in a country like China where a women is expected give birth by herself after her first child is born. What would happen if the child is in a breech position during that birth experience? I think it's good that we do have options for how we give birth her in the US. I also like the comfort of knowing that if something goes wrong, there medical professionals are there for any complications that may occur.
ReplyDeleteYou are right we now have many options in the United States but we should have a lower death rate for all the technology and health care that is available
ReplyDeleteHi Elizabeth, that must have been very scaring bleeding after birth.It is so true mothers put their lives between death and life in the process of child birth. But nature has made it that once the baby is out we forget about the pain and then we go in for another baby. How cool.Women are really brave and men don't see that in women. I wish men could get a taste of labor pain in the next world.
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