A Birthing Experience
The birthing experience that I am going to discuss is the birth of my youngest niece, who just turned twenty in March. I chose her birth because it was the first one that I was old enough to remember. My sister was several days past her due date and on Thursday, March 12, she began having contractions but they were not consistent. Our family is very superstitious so having the baby on Friday the 13 was not an option so her doctor put her to walking laps around her house. She was admitted into the hospital and gave birth to my niece at 11:50pm after ten hours of labor. When my sister saw, my niece my sister and her husband named her and my sister told the baby that she had been waiting for her. I believe that birth has an affect on child development because it is literally the beginning of life. If a child experiences complications at birth, they may lead to a lifetime of complications.
In China, births do occur in the hospital but many births occur at home. All Chinese women are expected to give birth un-medicated because it shows their strength and readiness to become mothers. Chinese births and pregnancies are heavily influenced by culture. The expectant mother is traditionally helped by other female family members but does not have visitors typically until a few days after the birth of the baby. Expectant mothers are also usually required to stay indoors for one month after birth to let their bodies recover. In the United States, some mothers do not get that option and only a few days after birth life resumes as normal.
Work Referenced
Kartchner, Robin, and Lynn Clark Callister. Giving birth: Voices of Chinese Women. Journal of
Holistic Nursing. Vol 21. Pg. 110-127.
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It is so interesting to read about the different approaches to child birth around the world. I have been told that Chinese women are also discouraged from reading during their pregnancies and immediately after giving birth, due to the hormonal changes in the body. Apparently the shape of the eyes changes and they believe it damages their vision. This was shared by one of the Chinese visitors I had at my daughters birth. The family also brought nourishing food to the hospital for me to eat. They said that it is the family's responsibility to feed the mother in order to ensure her health. I was so touched by their very thoughtful gesture.
ReplyDeleteHi Joseph,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading about your niece's entrance into this world just shy of being a Friday the 13th baby! Her birth was definitely influenced by her family's cultural superstition. I have read in some places it is bad luck for a child to be born on a Monday. It's interesting to learn about how birth and childhood is seen in other cultures.
Hi Joseph, I think birthing experience is really nice and the fact that you saw your nice being born and that thats the one that you remember. I enjoyed reading about the Chinese culture because now I know that things have changed.
ReplyDeleteI applaude anyone who can watch children being born, I love my daughters very much, but I could not watch them being born. My husband did; he helped, took pictures, and cut the cord. The hold time the doctor and nurse was trying to get me to look up at the mirrow on the ceiling while all of this was taking place. I looked once saw nothing but blood and merely passed out. I kept my head turned to the side until she was born and they placed her on my chest;it was love at first site.
ReplyDeleteOf God's many blessing, being born in America is one of them. The people of China would think of me as weak and not ready for child birth because I would yell for drugs and a Hospital.
I work with a family that is from Jordan and their culture also encourages women to stay in the house with the child after delivery, unless necessary. Other women will come over to deliver meals for the family that just delivered a baby and also help with household chores. This is one custom that I wish America would take part in. I think it gives the mother necessary time to heal and bond with their newborn.
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