Lately, I have seen a lot written about “natural birthers” versus “hospital birthers.” Women versus Women in a battle for who has a better birth plan, who has a better idea about how we should birth, who has a “safer” way to birth, who has an ideal way to birth.
Ladies, and it is mostly ladies-why are we fighting each other? We are all looking for the same thing- the birth that is right for us. As I have stated previously in my post on birth position, my birth position is that women should have the choice, prenatally, and during birth, to have their babies the way that they want to have their babies while preserving the mother’s health and the child’s health through a balance of the mother’s informed wishes and competent medical professional opinion.
This US versus THEM phenomenon does not need to occur. In fact, it is detrimental to women’s progress when we keep chipping away at each others’ choices and freedoms. There is no need to impose your belief system on others as the only true way. I hope that when people read my blog they realize that this is my opinion, my quest to educate women, their families, and the community about the very real physical and emotional ramifications of birth trauma.
As I have written before, I recognize that birth trauma can arise from hospital births, home births, non-medicated births, medicated births,medically assisted births, and anything else that causes the mother to feel helpless and full of fear. (remember, it’s in the eye of the beholder.) It is not up to me to tell another which birth would be less traumatizing, it’s only up to me to share MY story and help other mothers with birth trauma explore the options right for them.
It is when we reach a quagmire between two opposing groups that real progress stops. Yes, natural birthers make valid points. Yes, hospital birthers make valid points. And, YES, people can educate themselves and make their own decision regarding their birth choices. Let’s stop focusing on the birth and shed light on the issues that can result from any birth. Issues like birth trauma, physical and emotional.
Thanks for reading,
Lauren
peaceoutofpieces 