A birthing experience

I do not personally have a birth to share but I have been present for several.  The birth I am writing about, though is that of my little cousin who is now thirteen years old.  Wow, how time flies.  This birth was a significant one in our family because no one initially knew that my cousin was pregnant.  For one, she was still in high school and she managed to keep it secret for about four months, my sister who was also her best friend was the only other person who knew.  Other than not practicing safe sex (and of course, telling us) she did everything right.  Throughout the entire four months before we found out about the baby, she had gotten proper prenatal care, she was taking the prenatal vitamins and her eating habits had changed--all changes we realized we had noticed but only thought she was into being healthy.  It's funny now thinking back on it because even though she admits she was scared out of her mind, she made some very adult decisions for the sake of her baby.  Anyway, fast forward we all found out about the baby, what's done was done the only thing to do was to help her get ready and support her.  When the time came to go to the hospital, intially only she, the baby's father and the new grandparents went as everyone said she would be there a while.  The next morning I went to the hospital with my mom.  We heard about their long boring night of walking the halls of the hospital, contractions and slow dilation.  As the time got near, she was offered and refused the epidural (a decision she later tried to retract but it was too late);   I remember thinking, "man, this is taking forever" and was ready to leave when finally she had dilated enough to go into delivery.  It was then that the nurses had to thin the heard as to who could go into the delivery room and I was honored and scared that she specifically asked me to come with her.  She was actually pretty brave, there was a lot of screaming, moaning and pushing and not just from her trying to deliver!  My aunt, her mom, was doing a dance in the corner of the room.  I watched the birth standing opposite the dad while looking in the overhead mirror.  I kept thinking, I can't believe she made me come in here and I wanted to cry because she seemed to be in so much pain but when I saw that little boy's head I almost dropped to my own knees.  It was really amazing, this was actually my first human birth (previous experience--puppies) and it was truly a miracle.  The room quieted as DK made his entrance into the world and I swear it seemed that time stopped until he made that first little waaaaa.

DK at 4

I chose to learn a little more about childbirth in China.  In my research I came across some interesting information about various traditions including one after birth in which the mom gets to "sit the month."  Chinese culture considers the first month to be a healing time for the mother, no duties other than the baby.  Another tradition is to not name the child until he/she is older, often using many names including false names to trick spirits.  During preganacy there are many beliefs about the mother's thinking and foods she may eat.  It is believed that the thoughts of the mother transfer to the child.  If mom eats light colored food the child may be fair skinned.  Baby showers, which in America are a big custom are not given until after the baby is born.  Mothers are given a herbal potion to help with labor which occurs in an armchair or futon.  I chose to write about these traditons because I found it interesting that while ancient Chinese consider birthing a woman's career they take great care of her, much better than most careers.  There is a lot of history involved in the conception, birth and post partum time.  In our own culture, there are laws in place that allow mothers to take time to recoup from childbirth and be with their child, but she still has many other responsibilities.  Baby celebrations are usually just that for the baby, American mothers don't get much pampering as everyone ooohs and awws over the baby.

Reference:
Brown, L. (2011).  Childbirth traditions around the world: China.  Babyzone.com. Retrieved September 10, 2011 from http://www.babyzone.com/pregnancy/labor_birth/birthing_traditions/article/childbirth-traditions-china