I think this will be a good film for women who have been terrified by the prospect of having a baby. It doesn't have to be scary if you work on educating yourself about the process.
I can speak from experience because I had both my kids naturally - at home, no drugs, in a birthing tub with a midwife to assist.
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I personally do know people who have almost died from "modern" childbirth. I know 2 babies and 1 Mother who on seperate occasions were pressured into Meds or C-sections and almost lost their lives as a direct result.
shareMichael, the first thing I want to say is that your opinion *is* valid - don't ever let anyone silence you because of your gender. Your child's birth affects you as much as it affects your partner, and men have an integral role to play in the process. Many women I've talked to have said that their husband's support (or lack thereof) is what tipped their birth from a negative to positive experience, or vice versa.
That being said...you are correct that fear is fabricated, but you and I and everyone we know are the ones doing the fabricating. Comments like "I've never known anyone who was deformed or died due to modern [medical] childbirth" reinforce the fallacy that birth belongs in a hospital. What we (men and women alike) need to do is focus on birth as a natural bodily function rather than a medical procedure. That's where the change will start.
I think it depends on your definition of "deformed". I would consider having my uterus sliced open and scarred over a deformity. Neccesary in a small number of cases, but still a deformity. I would also consider having my perineum sliced down the middle to be a deformity. I'm sure that, if you were constipated and you went to the doctor and he said "Your anus is a bit too small. Let me take this scalpel and make it bigger for you," you would be seeking a second opinion.
Yes, the fear is artificial. The birth industry thrives on frightened women, and it does everything it can to keep them frightened. Frightened women will do what the doctor says, especially "for the good of the baby," and the more procedures the hospital performs, the more money it earns.
Certainly, research should be done. That's the whole point. We have a vast array of options when giving birth, and it is the responsibility of the mother to educate herself and make informed, loving decisions. As was pointed out in the film, American women probably spend many more hours researching before they buy a stereo or a car or a dishwasher than they do before giving birth, and a savvy consumer would never just take the salesman's word for it, but so many women just accept what the doctor says, or what the hospital says, as Gospel.
To me, it's not so important where you have your baby as it is who attends the birth. It is up to the mother to find a midwife or docor whom she can trust, whose values are similar and who will work to ensure she gets the birth she wants. I had a fabulous water birth with an amazing midwife in a hospital! I was fortunate to have a set of circumstances that many women unfortunately don't: a well-quipped hospital facility, a short labor, and a fabulous group of midwives, one of who I've known since I was a teenager.
The fact that you are wlling to do the research puts you light-years ahead of many men. You will likely be a better husband and father because of it.
The point is we have something now that our mothers and grandmothers often didn't; we have choices!! And we should use them.
"I would also consider having my perineum sliced down the middle to be a deformity. I'm sure that, if you were constipated and you went to the doctor and he said "Your anus is a bit too small. Let me take this scalpel and make it bigger for you," you would be seeking a second opinion. "
-THANK YOU!
I'm sure that, if you were constipated and you went to the doctor and he said "Your anus is a bit too small. Let me take this scalpel and make it bigger for you," you would be seeking a second opinion.Bad example IMO because in childbirth, you're giving birth to a 7 lb baby, not a 4 oz. turd.
I wish I could remember the name of the medicine given to women in labor in the 90s that was mentioned in the movie, but I believe that it was the same medication given to my mother who developed post-partum cardiomyopathy (a serious heart condition) after having my little brother. She nearly died, was in intensive care for a week, and 16 years later still has to take a ton of medications. There were 4 other pregnant women in her small town around that same time that also developed the condition and my mother's doctor told her he believes it was because of the medication. I know the family of one of the women...twin boys whose mother (and baby sister) died in labor when they were just 2 1/2. The boys are now well-adjusted 19 year-olds, but they grew up without a mother because new medical interventions were used that weren't well researched. People seem desperate to determine the cause of rapidly accelerating autism rates and I wonder if it will eventually be linked to current medications being used in delivery.
I'm not trying to fear monger, just offer that some of these cases where damage did occur hit close to home. I'm planning on having children in a few years and I will be fully exploring my options when the time comes.
I saw this preview on NetFlix and I can not wait till it goes out on dvd.
I will also send copies to my friends and maybe they will show it to their friends.
I also gave birth naturally at home (without drugs). I was educated enough to make a choice that was right for me and use my intuition and that's why I chose to give birth at home. After I gave birth, I felt empowered and euphoric for weeks. I guess that's why I felt empowered and never suffered from postpartum depression is because I didn't surrender my power to someone else.
Now my son is a very smart and happy 4 year old.
Giving birth in a hospital with drugs isn't "surrendering your power to someone else". Surrendering can only occur with your permission, similar to fear being self-imposed. Fear is just False Evidence Appearing Real.
shareI think this is a film everyone should see-
Speaking of Fear, yes, it is normal to be afraid, or to have some fear. I think it's normal for a woman to wonder if her delivery will go smoothly, some fear as to will her baby be okay? Will she be okay?
It takes a courages woman to stand up for what she wants. It's her baby, her body, what is right for her, not someone else.
Having the courage to do what is right isn't about the absence of fear but rather the mastery of fear.
Fat People Are Harder To Kidnap
it was weird because ricki lake was on rachel ray this morning and then netflix dropped this movie off this afternoon. anyway, to my point...i now want to have my own biological child and prior to this movie i did not. in fact, i would not even consider it before this movie but now i'm sure that its exactly what i do want. so yay for the filmmakers.
share[deleted]
I guess that's why I felt empowered and never suffered from postpartum depression is because I didn't surrender my power to someone else.You do realize that postpartum depression is a very real illness which is not caused by "surrendering your power," giving birth at home or in a hospital ...