Some things never get old- like welcoming a newborn into our lives. I'm an auntie again. The new baby girl was born around 3 am this morning. But I have yet to meet this new little person. She's at a hospital about 5 minutes from here- so why haven't I seen her? Well, I am watching the 3 older sisters and there are no children allowed at this maternity ward! My sis in law made it to the hospital with about 30 minutes to spare before the little one arrived. She opted for the 'no drug' route and showed up with a doula. I, too was a doula before I had my own children- but that was in LA county. The hospitals were not thrilled to have me there but dealt with it. Here in Arizona, where there are no helmet laws and children are still allowed to ride in the back of pick-up trucks, doulas are not so welcome. The request by the doula to have her out of stirrups on her back was met with absolute resistance. More than resistance really since it was just stated that , "We don't do that here." But she did save her from "mandatory pitocin after delivery to ensure a quick exit of the placenta." What on earth??
During the pushing phase when Mama was making some noise the lovely MD says to her, "Now, now... you're the one who chose not to have the drugs- so I don't want to hear it- you brought this on yourself." in a mocking voice of condescension. Unbelievable. And when they wanted to check out today to go home, the Pediatrician on staff said he would absolutely not sign the paperwork under 24 hours and if they decided to take the baby from the hospital prior to HIS release, they would be reported to CPS for endangering the baby. Unbelievable.
It's been nearly a decade since I was highly involved with the natural birthing scene and it seemed then that things were changing a bit. I haven't paid much attention in recent years because most of my friends and myself are past that phase and I stopped working as a doula when I had my own babies due to the very unpractical schedule! But, wow. How did we get here as a society? So cut off from our own birthing process and any sort of connection? The siblings have to be completely cut off from their mother and seeing the baby for two days if that baby comes during the inconvenient hours? I just wonder where we are headed as a society? What will it look like another 50 years from now? But on the bright side, there are options! Those who want something different can always choose homebirth. Thank goodness it is still a right that is available and hasn't become completely outlawed yet- though many are working on it...
