Childbirth- in my life and around the world!

        As a mother of two, I have obviously had an active role in the birthing process.  However, I did not choose to write about either of these experiences.  The birth I would like to share was the birth of my “foster granddaughter” because through this experience, I was given a new outlook on the birthing experience.
         In July of 2010, I took in a 17 year old, who had just found out the day before coming to live with me that she was pregnant.  For the next several months, we bonded rather quickly.  I went with her to all of her prenatal appointments, held her hand when we saw the heartbeat for the first time and cried with her when we found out that the baby was a girl.  We went through birthing classes together and talked a lot about all of the changes she was going through and what it was going to be like to be a mom.  On December 16th, 2010, Cheyanne was induced and my foster granddaughter was going to be born.  Medication was given through an IV to start her labor around 7 am.  An hour later, the doctor checked on Cheyanne and she asked for some pain medication, which was given through her IV.  The doctor said she probably would not deliver until after dinner time, famous last words!  Not even thirty minutes later, after the doctor had left, Cheyanne told me she felt the need to push.  I called the nurses back in and it was definitely time. 20 minutes and 4 pushes later, Kyanna entered the world and my view of the birthing experience was forever changed!
        During those very long 20 minutes, I realized what a miracle the whole birthing process is.  Although I had already had two babies of my own, this experience was completely different because I could actually see what was happening.  I was able to help coach her through her breathing, hold her hand while she pushed and cut the umbilical cord.  My life has been forever changed because of this.
        Although Cheyanne and Kyanna are no longer in my home, I have a bond with them that will never be broken.     

        I chose to compare my experience to that of childbirth in Japan.  The first major difference I noticed was that in Japan, women were rarely given pain medicine.  In the Japanese culture, “enduring pain is supposed to make you a better, more fearless mother” (Kriegman, 1993).    Cheyanne wanted to have a natural birth but ended up having some medication just to get her through.  By the time she asked for an epidural, it was too late but she did have the option.  Another major difference is that in Japan, new mothers move back to their childhood home to be taken care of for two or three months.  During this time, new moms are taught how to take care of their baby and specifically how to breastfeed by the birth mother’s mother or grandmother.  Bottle feeding really isn’t practiced in Japan.  Cheyanne was encouraged to breastfeed and was told all of the benefits of breastfeeding but chose to bottle feed instead.  The last major difference I saw was that in Japan, co-sleeping is the norm.  Here in the US, we are taught that there are risks of SIDS associated with co-sleeping so babies are put in cribs or bassinets.

Resource
Kriegman, Michele.  A Japanese Birth.  Midwifery Today no. 26, pg 32-40 retrieved from    http://www.kriegman.com/culture/japanese-childbirth.html.