Re: [ozmidwifery] The baby born in the shower - mum not knowing she was pregnant.

[megan davidson]

Perhaps it is an example of just how disassociated many women have become from their bodies and the need for greater self awareness/knowing that many other women demonstrate in labour. ----- Original Message ----- From: Deliverywoman To: "[EMAIL PROTECTED]"@dodo.com.au ; "[EMAIL PROTECTED]"@dodo.com.au Sent: Sunday, June 22, 2003 1:10 PM Subject: [ozmidwifery] The baby born in the shower - mum not knowing she was pregnant. Hi everyone, I haven't seen any emails from these lists in regard to the recent birth of the baby in the shower where the mother did not know she was pregnant. I think that this scenario is a perfect example of how society and the medical community has instilled the fear of birth and the fact that it can only be done safely with doctors and interventions etc. and reinforcing to the pregnant woman that 'maybe I can't give birth "normally"' The fact that this woman did not know she was pregnant allowed her to have no current expectations of labour or fear etc. (How different would her labour and birth would have been if it was a known pregnancy). She was totally able to react inately to what pain she was feeling because she did not know they were contractions. Her instinct sent her to a warm shower to reduce the pain. I am sure (although it was not stated) that she tried to lay down, move as desired to help reduce the pain she was experiencing. She didn't describe the 'excruciating pain' until the babe's head was crowning and the father was able to see that there was a baby coming........ Only then did it become an 'emergency' with him dialling 000 to get the ambulance there pronto as my 'wife' is having a baby right now in the shower.  The 000 operator talked him through the final steps of 2nd stage. It also shows that our body's ability to birth alone is certainly there, as this woman's contractions were increasing in strength, whilst she was able to tell they were getting worse her bodies normal endorphins were not inhibited by any adrenaline released due to the fear of the pain of labour and birth and any other fears that she might have experienced due to an unplanned pregnancy etc. What a wonderful and beautiful story that so totally reinforces that our bodies are able to do this without any intervention and so naturally.  To the point that I am 'envious' of this woman who escaped the telling of horror stories of birth and being told what to do and not to do. Mind you I am certainly aware that this could have had a totally different ending if there were any serious complications, but even then she and her partner would have known with the increase in pain etc. and have called 000 more than likely  in time to prevent any serious problems or the extreme the loss of a life. Anyone else hear feel the same when hearing the news......... -- Yours in Childbirth and with the Love of Friendship Rita «¤†¤ÐÈ£ÏVÊR¥·WÓMÄѤ†¤» Mother of David – 13, Haydie – 11, Alysha – 10 and Tyler - 1 Registered Nurse, Student Midwife (currently in hiatus – due to injury), Birth Attendant/Doula/Montrice and aspiring CBE -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit to subscribe or unsubscribe.