Hot Topic (7/14): "Pain in labor . . . has quite a number of benefits"
From Momlogic.com:
Getty Images
Wow, this really made us mad this morning.
In England, a prominent male midwife has come out to say that women "should go through pain in childbirth."
Say what?
"Pain in labor is a purposeful, useful thing, which has quite a number of benefits, such as preparing a mother for the responsibility of nurturing a newborn baby," Dr. Dennis Walsh says.
"Over recent decades there has been a loss of 'rites of passage' meaning to childbirth, so that pain and stress are viewed negatively," he added, arguing that patients should be told labor pain is a timeless component of the "rites of passage" transition to motherhood.
"Emerging evidence [shows] that normal labor and birth primes the bonding areas of a mother's brain better than caesarean or pain-free birth."
Of course, this would be A GUY who says this ... a guy who has never had to go through the pain of childbirth himself!
Do you agree with Dr. Dennis Walsh? Or do you think it's all just a bunch of hogwash?
* * *
What do you think?
No post? Alright, well based on the title, I sort of agree. It is naturally painful, so I guess it could indeed be said that it "should" be painful. Keep in mind though, my doctors have told me that I have an insanely high threshold for pain, so I may not be the best person to give an opinion for this, LOL.
The way I see it, isn't necessarily the way you see it. Or the way it is, or ought to be. What's more important, is that we're all looking for it, and a way to see it.
Desi DeNardo (via Starbucks coffee cup)
OK, so now that the article showed up, I have to say that I actually agree with this! All four of my babies were born via c-section, but I labored fully with my oldest, and there really was a difference in my experience. Maybe it was the pain, or maybe it was just the labor? I didn't labor at all with the other 3.
The way I see it, isn't necessarily the way you see it. Or the way it is, or ought to be. What's more important, is that we're all looking for it, and a way to see it.
Desi DeNardo (via Starbucks coffee cup)
I agree w/the guy sorry i labored for 27hrs naturally & would do it again in a heartbeat
I would say I agree. I had all three of my kids natural. My first I labored for 22 hours, my second, was 6 hours and my last was 2 hours. I would not change it for the world. I also would do it again!!
i definitely agree.
I had epidurals with my first 3, but had a wonderful homebirth with my 4th. I had such pride and sense of accomplishment that I could never imagine. I felt like I could do anything.
When we experience pain, we release endorphins, the baby gets those.
Check out Jacob's jouney on my home page!
See I completely DISAGREE. I had an epidural with both my children. I have a very high threshold of pain, and had my epidurals really late in the game. But I wanted my labor experience to be as calm and serene as possible. I wanted my child to come into the world to a calm mother with as much energy to bond with them as possible, not a screaming exhausted one cursing the day she ever got pregnant. Did I have pain YES! Did I feel like I missed out on anything, NO. Would the baby have come out with a NUMBER 1 MOM MEDAL if I had skipped the epidural, HELL NO. I choose the best thing for my children and I. If natural childbirth is your thing, congrats. I would not have changed one thing about my birth experience. Pregnancy is painful enough without the labor part, that getting a little relief right before your entire life changes doesn't make you a bad mom.
Well, imagine if having a baby was pain free naturally. There would be so many babies! lol
I labored naturally until I was 8 1/2 cm and I was forced to get an epidural because the doc wanted to see if I would progress faster with it. It completely freaked me out and I had them turn it off right away. I wouldn't suggest it for anybody. I think all women are strong enough to do it on their own. It's just tempting for a lot of women because the option is out there to be numb. I felt it stole from my birthing experience.
Hm...I don't think a man should be telling a woman what she SHOULD or SHOULDN'T experience.
I think childbirth is something that a woman should get to choose how she experiences..to the greatest extent possible.
Quoting izzybear0217:
I did both my labors natural my dd 40 hours and I was a bit whinny at the end and wanted my mommy instead of my dh and I have a very low pain tolerence. If i can go through 40 hours I'm sure almost any person can.
Can yes, but not everyone feels the need. I could have gone all natural and I waited to get my epidural until less than an hour before delivery. I choose not too. The point is I don't think anyone that has a penis should be telling me how I should experience childbirth.
Videos
Sometimes Single Parenting
The Kristen Chase Show
When your spouse is gone for days or even weeks at a time for work, how do you manage everything you need to do for your kids, your house and yourself? How do you prepare for your spouse's return so that the transition is as easy as possible for the whole family? Kristen is joined by Tracie Montgomery, working mother of two, to discuss some ideas to survive sometimes single parenting.
Watch More Videos from CafeMom Studios ››
Eight Year Old Girl Given "Catastrophe Award" By Teacher
Should P. Diddy's son return $54,000 college scholarship?
- Cafe GroupAdmin
on Jul. 14, 2009 at 12:49 AM