In 1957 I was born. My mother went into labor, but I never dropped. A C-Section was performed to safely remove me from my mothers womb.
In 1982 my daughter was born. She never dropped. My doctor refused a C-Section, and instead I survived three days of labor, including two trials of medically forced labor. My husband stepped up, verbally fought with the doctor, and I had a C-Section at 3AM on June 12, 1982. My husband was escorted into the room by security, as the doctor was afraid of him, due to his anger about the situation. I was exhausted after three days of labor. Our daughter was beautiful! Our daughter has many health problems, caused by partial crushing of her head during my three days in labor. If my husband had waited any longer to complain, my daughter's head would have been irreversibly crushed into my backbone. Our daughter is mentally very quick, but has many physical problems, which seem to be caused by the malfunction of the gland located in the center of the head. A gland that was damaged due to pressure on her head during my labor.
Today, I question the cause behind the familial history of difficult births in my family. My daughter has had two children with the same scenario, two C-Sections. I have questioned the physicians, and they cannot tell me what makes a baby drop. My family seems to proove that it must be an inherited, genetic trait. I would challenge any researcher to discover the genetic dispositon which causes the birth problems that run in my family. Due to the birth problems, we have many relatives with cognitive damage, psychological damage, and physical damage.
If I lived in Ethopia, or almost any other third world country, I probably would have died during child birth. In Ethopia, hospitals are scarce. When a hospital is found, the quality of care is often poor. A birthing room is nothing more than a room with a table. Sonagrams, heart monitors, and other sophisticated medical tools often are not available. In Ethiopia, health centers provide care for the baby after it is born, and delivery services. However, most women cannot afford the services, or cannot get to the center because it is too far away. Most women deliver at home, and 1 in 27 die during childbirth. If my family lived in Ethiopia, we would have trouble delivering our babies. My ancestors probably would have died during childbirth. I probably would never have been born.
Mary,
ReplyDeleteWhat a heart wrenching story! Thank you so much for sharing that with me. I wonder if your granddaughter will have the same issue when she is older. Hopefully her doctor will take the family history into consideration when it comes time for her to give birth and they will save her the agony of trying to deliver naturally. Isn't it funny to think how our histories could change had we been born in another country? It is nice knowing how "easy" we have it here in The States when it comes to medical advancement and yet it still doesn't seem to be enough! I feel for the countries who struggle even more than ours does.
Amy
Thank you for sharing a joyful moment and sad one at the same time. It is amazing to know that we live in a conutry that has the best and really lack nothing but the answers to the question that you posed to the doctors. how does the women get to the hospital when they are in labor?
ReplyDeleteInteresting! Thank you for sharing Mary. I'm glad we are together again! I know we will learn a lot from what you share. With regard to the difficult childbirth experiences in your family, first of all, thank God that no one died. Given different circumstances and environment, you would be writing about "death" instead of "difficulties". Have you tried to reasearch the possibility of genetic influence on a baby's ability to descend during labor? I agree with you. Surely, it is not coincidence.
ReplyDeleteI have a friend from Ethiopa. She grew up in a family considered "royalty". Her father was chief of the village. It sounds like she and her family had everything they needed. This highlights disparity in healthcare between the haves and have nots, even in countries like Ehtiopia.
Mary, I have no words for your birth stories. I'm glad your husband raised hell. I have found that, sometimes, professionals can be stubborn, and they don't always have the answers or know what's best. We have to be our own advocates. I can't believe how brutal you and your mother were treated during labor and delivery.
ReplyDeleteEthiopia sounds similar to India. Though in India, more mothers die than babies.
Mary thank you for sharing. I couldn't imagine 3 days of labor because 3 hours were horrible but I am very thankful for our childbirths. My mom always says God puts no more on us than we can bear but I find myself talking to him quite frequently about HIS faith in me and what I can bear.
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