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Re: FRI Tough labor leaves lasting mark on new moms: studyFrom: Henry Gregor (henrygregor@yahoo.com)Fri May 27 10:01:01 2005
Well chosen and well explicated analogies. Hank Cheri Van Hoover <cherivh@xdcr.com> wrote: rmodugno@aol.com wrote:
> I haven't experienced Cesarean birth, and I certainly can't speak for all women. I can only speak for myself. Labor is an extreme physical and emotional test. I'm not a marathon runner or a mountain climber, but I suspect there are similarities with those experiences. Not only are there physical challenges, but the hormonal changes that happen during labor are profound and cause an altered state of consciousness. You truly do go to a different place. Like all of you, I hold a healthy baby and a healthy mother as the highest good and the absolute most desirable outcome of pregnancy. I am not inexperienced with birth. My 30 years of experience have given me considerable respect and caution. I do not consider Nature to be a benevolent and kind force. Nature is fearsome in her power. Human beings as a group have decided that some of Nature's apparent plan is unacceptable to them. So have I. When Cesareans are necessary to prevent harm to mothers and babies, I am behind them 100%. Not every woman chooses to experience labor in the same way. That is an absolutely individual choice, which I respect and honor. I am convinced, however, that doing something as profoundly difficult and consciousness-altering as labor and completing it under your own power can be a life-changing event in the best possible way. Laboring heroically, then needing a Cesarean as a way to prevent injury to self or infant is in no way inferior, but may feel less satisfying to some women, just as having to drop out of a marathon because of exhaustion or injury, or leaving the mountain on a stretcher instead of walking down after reaching the summit may feel less satisfying to those who experience those physical and mental tests. An amusing aside...(or amusing to me, anway).... I've recently returned to Washington State after living in San Francisco for 32 years. I've long been a fan of mountain climbing disaster books, although I've never been (and never would be) a climber. My extremely loving and thoughtful daughter gave me 2 of them for Christmas. The contractor who is remodeling my kitchen saw one of them on the table when he came to take measurements and became very excited. Turns out he has dozens of these books, but hadn't read mine yet. He returned the next day with one of his favorites for me to read. I loaned him the one I'd finished. Then I returned his and he came by with yet another. He brought back the one I'd loaned him and the general contractor snatched it up. He's still savoring it. I mentioned to my new dentist that I was reading these books. He got all excited and started telling me about his favorites. The next day his receptionist called me up and told me he'd brought in a book for me to pick up and read. I've fallen into some kind of den of climbing disaster afficionados!! What I like about these books is the human drama. The choices people make that lead them to this state of affairs. The personal characteristics that pointed them towards these choices to begin with. The varying reactions that they and their companions have as things start to turn sour. The ways they try to cope with the challenges, applying whatever emotional and intellectual resources they possess. Then the inevitable moment of truth when they realize what they will have to do to survive this mess and they decide if they are willing to do that. And finally, their struggle to live. So maybe the answer for "Josephine" is to go ahead and take on that karate instructor. Cheri Van Hoover, CNM Faculty, Midwifery Institute at Philadelphia University Yahoo! Small Business - Try our new Resources site!
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