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 tolay 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.Whata 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
FriendshipRita«¤¤ÐÈ£ÏVÊR¥·WÓMÄѤ¤»Mother of David 13,
Haydie 11, Alysha 10 and Tyler - 1Registered 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.
