My Memorable Birthing Experience

Memorable Birthing Experience

In June 2007, I found out I was having a baby. I was not completely excited, about having another child for a number of reasons: I was thirty eight years old, my son was just beginning his first year of high school, my past pregnancies had been high risk and my husband and I were contemplating a divorce. Because I had been diagnosed, with an incompetent cervix, a surgical procedure (cerclage) was done on my cervix. The amount of stress I endured was too much for the pregnancy to handle; and as a result, I began to feel lots of abdominal pressure and pain. An hour after arriving at the hospital, I went into full blown labor, and was given magnesium, in an attempt to halt labor. The magnesium made me feel lethargic and weak, but labor was stopped; and it gave the baby more time to incubate. Four days later, I gave birth to a 2lb4oz baby boy. The medical staff was prompt and thorough. I had lots of support. My husband, who was putting on scrubs, missed the entire delivery; but I actually had doctors holding my hand through the entire process. One of the doctors, imitated the cry the baby made, when he was delivered. It was comical. My mother is a secretary in labor and delivery, which may have been one of the reasons; I had a good support system, while I was in the hospital. Because my baby was only 26 and half weeks, the NICU team, was standing right there to receive him. I was grateful for all of the knowledgeable, and professional medical staff, I had assisting with my delivery, and the care of my baby. My baby has gone through lots of challenges, but he is doing well today.

Unlike my positive experience, the women in South Africa are treated with complete disrespect! I was appalled at the information I read, concerning the maltreatment of women and infants. Women are pinched, slapped and treated harshly, by the nurses caring for the women (Nordqvist). The medical treatments and standards are low, and no one is enforcing the rules. According to an interview, done with prior patients, women were sent home without antibiotics or pain medicine (Nordqvist, 2011). Here is a statement, given by one of the women, who happened to be HIV positive: “My uncle advised me to call the ambulance when labor started but I did not want to go to the hospital. I was scared of how I would be treated. I hear the nurses are very rude and they are too rough. After giving birth I developed serious problems. I was bleeding too much and I couldn’t breathe properly. Luckily the HIV treatment center took me to hospital, and eventually I got treatment” (Nordqvist, 2011). What a sad story. Every year, 4,500 women die of treatable pregnancy complications. 87% of deliveries in South Africa are performed in a health facility. The Human Rights Watch is working with South Africa government officials to put a stop to this nonsense!  

Nordqvist, C. (2011, August 8). “The Shocking Truth About Giving Birth In South Africa.” Medical News Today. Retrieved from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/232413.php.