Childbirth in my life and around the world

                                                   My personal birth experience

The only birth experience I had was the birth of my daughter here in Saudi Arabia. She came into the world 11days before her due date. All throughout the pregnancy phase, most of the information I got was through the internet, my mum via telephone and friends I met once in a while. Even though most of my friends back in Nigeria had kids, the whole experience was totally new to me, I thought Saudi Arabia had an organized system like back at home in Nigeria, where they educated new mums about pregnancy childbirth and post-natal care, but I was not so, my ante-natal visit were just for the doctor to check the growth and development of the fetus as well as the health of the mother. They also prescribe drugs to be used.
The night before the day I delivered, I had gone for a long walk with my husband, so I guess that stirred up the contractions. It started around 1.30am, but I waited a while for the time intervals between the contractions to get closer. I went to the hospital around 3am.30minutes after I got there the contraction had become intense but my water did not to break, the doctor had to break it and I was taken to the labor room for delivery. I was in labor for 11hours-12hours, but I could not deliver because the position of the baby’s head was wrong, the midwives tried to change it with their hands but was not able too, I was injected twice during the course of labor to relieve my painful contractions, eventually the baby’s breathing was getting slow and there was need to invite a senior obstetrician because my dilation remained in the same position. Immediately the doctor came to check, I was scheduled for an immediate C-section. My baby finally arrived around 4.45pm in the afternoon. I was awake throughout the procedure; I wanted to see my baby immediately she was out. They had to quickly take her to check if everything was okay with her. I was to stay in the hospital for 7days, in order to recover, as well as for the doctor to check on me, in the case of any complications but I left after five days, I guess I was feeling much better and besides I was not able to breastfeed my baby the way I wanted to during the time I spent at the hospital recuperating I was educated a lot about post-natal care after C-section, breastfeeding, and contraceptive. I was told the benefits of not having another child until at least two years later for my wellbeing as well as that of my daughters’. I went through soft exercises, to ensure, I was not having any breathing problems or chest pain. It took at least three weeks for me to really feel strong to do certain things on my own.
I chose my birth experience because my experience after birth really made me understand and appreciate the need for expectant mother to be well informed as well as get the appropriate medical attention during, pregnancy childbirth and delivery.
I believe that if proper medication attention is given to a mother and her fetus from conception till delivery and after birth, it would help reduce child and mother mortality as well as advert life long side effects as a result of complications. Saudi Arabia places high priority on their health and well being. The major setbacks is the increasing rate of Caesarian birth as against natural virginal birth

Birth experience in Yoruba land-NIGERIA

I guess the reason why I choose this part of my country, which is the South-West of the country, is because I come from there and I also tend to appreciate a lot about my culture, there are things I do not accept as well but bottom line motherhood is an interesting journey for a Yoruba woman. The Yoruba birthing experience I am about to write about is based on information from a friend who went through the process but she died during childbirth some years back as well as from a site I read on birthing in the Yoruba culture. I am not condemning the process but I believe there is need to educate everyone involved the more.
Pregnancy and childbirth plays a very important part of our lives as a Yoruba woman. A woman without a child or unable to conceive is believed to have lost all there is to gain in life. When a woman gets pregnant she is pampered and given a lot of care both during and immediately after delivery
Despite the raising attention of ante-natal and delivery in hospital by professionals, a lot of people still go through the tradition birthing method, while some combine both methods
There are so many superstitions and myths attached with pregnancy and childbirth. When a woman gets pregnant, she does not make it a public issue, this is believed to protect the child from evil. Most times people discover when it has becomes obvious and some people also know true changes in the body; the elderly women usually observe this. The pregnancy is kept secret until it becomes obvious. The mother –in law as well as the mother of the expectant mother continually visits, bringing food, fruits required for her to eat during this period. The expectant woman is expected not to go out at noon when the sun is at its pick, and very late at night, this is to protect the baby from evil.
Women who adopt the traditional method fully, pay regular visit to the tradition birthing home for their ante-natal check up, there they are given herbal concoction to help baby develop. Women are told not to drink water directly placing the bottle in their mouth while pregnant or the baby while have problem with his speech. The expectant mother his educated on the need for regular exercise in order to ease delivery. Some women believe if you are close to your due date, activities like fetching big buckets of water, washing large numbers of clothes will help speed up the delivery process
In Yoruba land, the birth attendant is called Iya Abiye or Iya Agbebi and it means mother of safe birth.  Doulas play an important role in labor by helping the mother feel safe so she can have the birth experience she planned for.
The Yoruba, like many indigenous people, believe that the baby begins to spiritually develop in the womb.  I believe that childbirth can be a very spiritual experience, and that natural birth is usually safe.
A pregnant woman hears, "How's the baby?" more often than, "How are you?"  Doulas keep mom in the equation and praise her worth.  We exist to serve mothers.
For those that adopt both the traditional and medical, visits traditional birth attendant who give them traditional concoctions and they also take drugs prescribed from the hospital. It is believed that these concoctions’ prevent complications, it also prevent children from having jaundice after birth.
Most hospital organizes antenatal classes to educate pregnant mums; this gives the women opportunity to socialize. The nurses and midwives educate them on food to eat, exercises, care of their body, and showing up for regular ante-natal check-up. The pregnant women dance and sing songs that reflect their state; this is also form of exercise.
When it is time to deliver, those that visit traditional homes fully ,goes there to give birth, but sometimes when there are complications, the expectant mother is rushed to the hospital. Mothers that visit the traditional homes partially some are given herbal soaps to wash their belly with; it is believed that it would help ease the delivery process.
After delivery, it is tradition that the mother-in-law takes care of the new mother and her baby for 40days, she is to bath the new mother in the traditional way, this bathing is believed would help the mother recover quickly, bringing back her body elasticity. The new born is also bathe and their body massaged regularly till the mother-in-law leaves, the new mum s continue s these process even after the 40days.this is done so as to promote the physical abilities of the infant
It is interesting to know that most of these practices have long been part of the culture, even though the advent of medicated birth, a lot of women still go through the tradition birthing process of doulas knows as Iya Abiye.
The traditional Yoruba birthing offers a very supportive role all through pregnancy and birth and post-natal, which was missing when I experienced by birth here in Saudi Arabia, I think there is need for avenue for pregnant mum, especially because of the new mums to come together to learn and socialize for the benefit of both the mother and fetus, sometimes doing everything alone could be depressing.

Reference

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