Rites

A rite of passage is a ritual event that marks a persons progress from one status to another. This seems a clear and simple definition.

Birth is both amazing and powerful, it is mystical, and sacred, and for most, it is the most significant and profound rite of passage in their lives.

Natural childbirth is slowly becoming endangered, being lost to technology and modern obstetrics. Lying in bed and conceding to every medical intervention in the book can be very overwhelming. This is not to say that some interventions are not medically reasonable such as blood pressures, where as a saline lock all though policy, may not be. How and with whom we give birth, are and always should be up to the birthing family and not industrialized. Families need correct and current information, autonomy, and choice, regarding birthing decisions. *** This opinion is taking into consideration a healthy, non~ high risk pregnancy and labor, I am grateful for medical intervention when necessary!

INTERVENTIONS:

Shall we begin simply with the hospital gown? A woman’s clothing is as individual as her personality; it is markedly hers. When we take this away we remove part of her. The message is clear that her autonomy no longer matters. The gowns tie at the neck and are open in the back. This openness also intensifies this message. It creates a belonging to some institutional inference of illness; exposing intimate body parts, lessening control of self. (Davis-Floyd, R 1992)

This principle, autonomy, or respect for people, has deep roots in our society as well as philosophy, and is synonymous with self-actualization concepts. As well as the right to refuse medical treatment, this form of autonomy is not only well established in medicine, it is established in law.

The bed: Restriction, back lying, non-movement, institutional handling and control. These are two standard hospital interventions that begin to set the tone for the westernized “ritual” of birth. There is a laundry list of about twenty more interventions that are deemed medically necessary for providing a safe birth. Safety is ambiguous, is it safer for the hospital, or for the mother and baby about to enter this world? It can not be ignored that we live in a litigious society, and have to provide safety for our patients at the best of our abilities but where do we draw the line, when do we start to not only listen, but hear the masses?

There is evidenced base research that supports movement during labor as well as position changes, and delivering babies in other positions than lithotomy are not only more effective they are healthier for the mother and the baby. The lithotomy position is convenience of the provider, and not effectiveness of labor.

I often wonder and question why is it in America that we have the highest rates of post partum depression, I question if it is our advanced technology and reporting systems, or a much simpler explanation, interventions. Is it the technology, which underlies the depression? Is it the way we labor and birth that may be an implication of our postpartum trajectory and consequences there of. With all of our interventions are we interrupting not only our rite of passage, but our baby’s rite of passage as well.

Inspired by Lauren & Jenn, Thank you ladies for the honor of attending your births