CHILDBIRTH EXPERIENCEThe birth experience I would want to talk about is that of my third child. I choose this particular experience because of two reasons : My conscious preparation for the birth by having child education and the fact that her birth was quite different from the two previous ones, while they were through c section, hers was natural. When I became pregnant again after two previous births that were through C section, my husband and I were terrified, not with the believe in my country then that after two C sections a woman should not be pregnant again otherwise it could be fatal. We were fortunate to meet a doctor who assured us there is no need to worry provided we do not take things for granted and we do all necessary things especially attending all prenatal appointments, take childbirth education, and optimize health measures for both mother and child. We took to her advice and did everything we were asked to do. Every pregnant woman is always expecting, especially when it gets to the last trimester, I think that is why pregnant women are called expectant mothers in my country. Though my EDD was given as 24th of December, I had already packed my hospital bag weeks before but the day came and went with no sign of the baby coming. I went to the hospital the following day just to be sure and the doctor said there is no problem and that the baby was still high and my cervix wasn't ready in letting a baby out soon. I was not only disappointed and frustrated, I became apprehensive. The following day I told my husband that I would like to go to work so as to get myself engaged and stop brooding over the non-arrival of the baby, he agreed with me. After taking a shower, I started noticing some signs: my stomach will harden for about fews second with occasional pain. I told my husband this, and he said we should just leave for the hospital immediately in view of our previous experiences and not to take chances. The doctor did not suspect labour when she saw us, she thought it must be somethings else, but she did an IE, she discovered I was 7 cm dilated! I was quickly taken to the delivery room and they started preparing me for the “show”. My husband was not allowed to enter with me, though the pain was getting unbearable, I managed to let him know that, I am determined to birth naturally, if only to experience what it takes to give birth as a woman- the natural way. I was dilating one cm every 30 minutes or so, the last hour of contractions was so painful but I remained strong and refused to scream and say a word, which made the doctor to name me “Iron Lady” I pushed when I was asked to push and within few minutes, it should be about 10 to 15 minutes my little angel came out. She was cleaned and handed to me. That was a moment in my life that remain indelible. When I look at the growth of my three daughters, I have not been able to see any significant difference in any of them that can be attributed to the circumstance of their birth, however, I realized, I am more attached to my third daughter than her sisters. I am afraidthough that at times I feel the sisters were taken out of me, while I birthed her and kind of produced her. I think it is psychological and cultural. Has anyone experienced such? Or you have something to say about this kind of feeling? I would welcome and appreciate your view.
CHILDBIRTH IN NIGERIA
I found out the last time I visited Nigeria that traditional methods of delivery is still common. As a woman who has witnessed what many women passed through when giving birth through the traditional ways ( some did not survive it), I have my reservations about this system. Some people might say some of these practices are beneficial, it remains an undisputable fact that many cases of child birth deaths and complications are traceable to these practices. According to UNICEF, West Africa has the world highest fertility rate, Nigeria's population arguably is about half of the population of the region. Half of Nigeria's maternal mortality deaths are due to post partum haemorrhaging which these unskilled traditional health workers lack the knowledge or equipment to stop. Unfortunately with inadequate health facilities, insufficient trained personnel, and poverty this practice will continue for a long time. At present about 60% of women of child bearing age depend on traditional birth attendants, quack doctors, traditional healers, religious healers, and herbalists as aresult of any of these reasons. I hope governments around the world, corporations, and individuals will show more concern to the plights of these women
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