Rituals of American Hospital Birth

[Raphaeline]

All expectant mothers should read this article:

http://www.terrylarimore.com/BirthRites.html

I've been reading as much as possible about hospital birth, since I've pretty much been forced to give birth there, so that I can be as secure in it as possible.  Turns out, if I wanted to be secure in a hospital birth, I probably shouldn't have done any reading at all.

This article explains why hospitals go through such routine as pitocin and epidurals and IVs, even when they aren't needed.  It discusses the ways that hospitals affect our psychology to make expectant mothers more susceptible to their persuasion.

Although I intend to refuse any unnecessary procedures or medicines, I'm worried about a few things; will the staff get frustrated with me and care for me less when and if I truly need it?  Will my going against the doctor's wishes cause problems with my insurance should something go wrong? 

There are some serious setbacks to going along with the routine, but I can see some setbacks with separating myself from it, too.  I need to be in a hospital because that's the only reasonably nearby location of anyone trained to assist a birth should any health complications arise... but I really don't want to be strapped to a bed like I'm a sick person.  Obviously birth works; I don't want to be treated like a "defective machine."

[ShellieBear]

Oct. 10, 2009 at 11:14 PM

I've had all three of my boys in a hospital and it was wonderful, for the most part.  Just have everything that you DO NOT want written down, in case in the frantic middle of the night labor, you can't think of it.  Make sure your birthing partners feels the same way you do... AND RELAX!  STOP READING, and go with it.  You know your baby, you know yourself, and it will be wonderful.  Just don't go looking for reasons to doubt your choice.  Spend your time enjoying being pregnant!