Child Birth Experience

When thinking about my personal birthing experience, my memory takes me back to a room filled with crying infants. I do not know whether it was my actual day of birth or one of the days that I spent in the hospital before being released to my mother. The room was very dark and infants as well as myself were crying for a long period of time. I can remember that my bed was in one corner of the very large room. I would see many nurses walking around in the room but not attempting to pick up any of the crying infants. It seems like I cried forever then suddenly this sweet nurse walked over to my little bed and picked me up. She held me and comforted me from my crying. Still till this day I remember the comfort that I felt once I was picked up b y that nurse. This is the only memory that I have as an infant. As an adult I asked my mother if my bed was in a corner area of the nursery and she says that it was. I chose this example to show that infants are aware of how individuals handle and care for them. Often individuals may believe that infants are babes and are not aware of their surroundings but that is not true.

The birthing process is very unique and a special event. I believe that when a mother is mentally and physical well, the chances of her having a joyous birthing experience is great. Socioeconomic status has a huge impact on. Births are tied closely in to child development. The results of birth and any experiences that take place during birth will effect a child. If a mother did not receive the proper amount of nutrition and supplements, the chances of her infant being born under weight are high. If a mother had proper medical care and necessities, likely her infant baby will have great child development experience. But then again, both scenarios can be vise-verse for no given reason.

I studied the birthing process of mother who are from South Africa. These mothers are very strong women. African mothers mostly give birth without any type of medical treatment from hospitals or doctors. African women have been know to give birth of their children sometimes alone. In a squatting position. These women do not have the fine and fancy luxuries as modern women who have 5 star rooms to give birth in. African women do not have central air and heating just the warm heat or cold misty weather to add to the top of their already uncomfortable bodies. I also learned that in 2012, more than 170,000 African women died in pregnancy and child birth due to the lack of medical attention. This is very disturbing!

The similarities of birthing between Americans and African women are the idea of home birthing. American women often choose to give birth in the comfort of their own homes just as African women. American women often opt out of taking medications to ease labor pains and enjoy the natural experiences of giving birth just as African women. The differences is that African women do not have the appropriate medical facilities nor resources for pregnant women who are in labor. African women have to deal with an awful amount of pain without any sort of pain relief. African mothers infants are given to their mother directly after birth and the mother provides all of the nursing and care. These women do not have anyone to take on their duties as a mother while they rest up.

I have come to learn that birthing experience do matter in a child's life. Infants are meant to be welcomed into this world with loving parents who are ready to give their infant much love, attention, and guidance.