My birthing experience

            I would like to share my experience with my latest birth of my son.  I am currently a mother of three boys.  My first was about eleven years ago, then my middle five years ago, and now my latest was only three moths ago.  I will touch on the previous deliveries only because they were significantly different.  Due to my first delivery having to be an emergency cesarean, my odds of repeating the procedure was rather high.  Of course, my age was different with each child.  Which would contribute to my maturity level and the ability for my body to recover.  From the first delivery to the last the support for pregnant women has truly improved and gained great knowledge to support healthy development.  I feel now hospitals and doctors promote nurture and attachment sooner, then in previous years.  I can remember the nervousness was no different with either delivery.  Being a scheduled c-section, we knew the exact day and time.  Understanding the complications and knowing the odds did increase to a level of anxiety for me.   Having this knowledge at every delivery created stress and keep me from getting enough rest the night before entering the hospital.  Just as my previous deliveries family and friends gathered in the waiting room to celebrate his arrival.  With the new policy enforced in the hospitals, my son came immediately to me once he was examined.  Once everything checkout with fine and healthy he was placed in his father’s hands and brought to my chest.  Due to the nature of my delivery I was not able to hold him until I was in recovery.  Due to the amount of scar tissue from my last two caesareans, the time to suture me together was a bit longer than anticipated.  Nevertheless I remember the nurses being eager for him to join me.  Referring to my last two deliveries, it was totally different.  My first son the nurse offered to keep him in the nursey until I got some rest.  There was a delay on the attachment with my oldest son to say.  My middle child was a bit different with a stronger support for lactation and he was brought to the room while in recovery, but no support or guidance on skin-to-skin contact.  Personally, I would have to say my last delivery was the best for healthier development.  Mother-baby attachment is enforced stronger and the support for lactation is promoted.  At this last delivery there is not a nursey for healthy infants.  They must go to the room with the mother.  I truly appreciate the attempts to create an instant attachment to the mother as this is vital for a child to thrive.  Even though the mothers, as I was completely exhausted, the support to help one rest and receive help is ample.  Nurses, volunteers, and interns are willing to watch the infant for and hour to two to allow some time to rest.  As rest is vital for the mother, from every aspect.  

            I chose to research the birthing options available for women in Australia.  From the article I read it appears that the women from Australia have very similar options as women in the United States of America for delivering their babies.  Of course as in American there are similar environmental influences on the mother and fetus, such as socioeconomics, health concerns, genetics, and more.  Nevertheless, the available birthing options are as followed: Public and private hospitals, birth centre, or at home.  Of course insurance is a contributor in which choices some women make.  Per the policies in Australia in insurance and medical procedures there is a degree of differences.  For example, in public hospital the option for c-section is not allowed unless medically needed.  Another example would be the use of Birth Centre, this procedure is covered by Medicare and is free.  Of course private midwifes and doctors charge and can be file with insurance.  It is apparent that the options are similar in American, but due to hospital polices and those of insurance providers, there are limitations on the choice of delivery.  American can also be said to have policies through insurance and the hospitals.  These policies differ from region to region.  (2018, McCulloch).

            Birthing experiences indeed vary from region to region.  Many factors can contribute to how a baby is born.  For example, as I mentioned above my first child ended up being an emergency c-section.  Thankfully in American that is a possibility.  For the regions that have improved health care the focus on development of the baby should always focus at the starting of prenatal care.  Then the next focus of development should be after delivery and the impact of skin-to-skin contact, breastfeeding, and attachment to mother.  These focuses can allow an infant to strive in development.

Reference:

            McCulloch, S., (2018, June 5).  Birth options in Australia: public, private, birth centre or home.  Retrieved November 2, 2018 from https://www.bellybelly.com.au/birth/australia-public-private-birth-centre-home/