Nursing: Childbirth Essay

Submitted By lseaman
Words: 1617
Pages: 7
Open Document
Homebirth: Your Best Birth

Leah Seaman

ENG 102

Baker College

Essay #1, Final Draft

4/24/2012

Homebirth: Your Best Birth.

Let me begin by stating, childbirth itself is an incredible experience. Every birth is a woman’s right of passage into motherhood; be it by water birth, cesarean section, home birth, or hospital birth. But in America, our health professionals have convinced the vast majority of women that they do not know how to birth. That their bodies cannot in fact handle what they were meant for without medical intervention. This is a sad misconception. Women need to empower themselves by taking a stand for their babies, their bodies, and their experience by choosing homebirth as opposed to hospital birth. If women took the time to do the research instead of feeding into our country’s failing prenatal care system they would find a whole different set of views, ones that center around the health and wellness the mother and the child; not around making a dollar. This is the business of midwifery. Rikki Lake’s documentary, The Business of Being Born (2008) brings a new, positive, and emotional view on the art of midwifery and birthing at home. It is a must see film for all concerned about homebirth or hospital birth. It gives real concrete evidence that birthing at home, or a birth center is profoundly safer and more relaxing than birthing in a hospital. Michel Odnt (M.D) a medical doctor who was interviewed for the documentary states, “Unfortunately, the role of obstetrics has never been to help women give birth. There is a big difference between the medical discipline we call obstetrics and something completely different, the art of midwifery. If we want to find safe alternatives to obstetrics, we must rediscover midwifery” (Lake, 2008). The documentary explores the dynamic of hospital vs. home birthing; it is easy to see why so many women now are turning towards home birth as their first option. The film opens women’s eyes to the choices they have when it comes to birth and letting them seek information coming from a place of concern rather than a place of fear. People are sadly misinformed about midwifery in the United States. Unlike being a doctor, being a midwife is not a profitable business; it is an amazing profession in which a person must have a passion for birth, mother, and baby. A midwife is trained to help birth along by providing support for the mother and teaching her to be strong while delivering using breathing techniques, positions that help the birth process unlike lying on her back which hinders the baby’s ability to move. Midwives are trained first at four year nurses in the medical profession but continue on to obtain a four year certification in midwifery while attending over 200 natural births. Unlike at a hospital, a midwife partners with the mother-to-be to achieve the best outcome for her child, instead of telling the woman how to feel or bear her child. A client can meet with their midwife in the relaxation of their own home or place of their choice and are constantly encouraged to give input and ask questions about the process of pregnancy. A midwife is available to the family 24/7 and women can find comfort in knowing that she will not have a stranger come in to deliver her baby but rather a friend and mentor that she has grown to love over nine short months. Midwives come to the home on the day of delivery equipped with not only love and genuine excitement for the mother, but with oxygen, medication, and anesthetic and a planned hospital contact if problems do arise throughout the birth. Everywhere else in the world we see midwives attending 70, 80, 90% of births and the United States stands alone because of the fact that our government is money hungry and childbirth is a billion dollar business. According to Hariet Hall of Science
Show More

Related Documents: Nursing: Childbirth Essay

Essay on Nursing: Childbirth and Premature Babies

Allyson Gordon Susan Swanson English 102 24 March 2014 Premature Birth Premature babies, also known as preterm babies or preemies, are babies born between nineteen and thirty-eight weeks, unlike full-term babies that are born during thirty-eight to forty-two weeks. When most people think about premature birth, they don’t think about all the issues that may be a factor. Prematurity, even with all of the advances in technology, is still a major cause of fetal and neonatal death. In today’s society…

Words 3310 - Pages 14

Essay about Virginia Henderson

Henderson Sarah Urbahns Maryville University This paper will discuss Virginia Henderson, her theory, and how her theory can be applied to the health promotion of prenatal care with childbirth education. Henderson’s Needs Theory is a great concept for this specialized area because it incorporates the nursing of well individuals. Instructing expectant mothers on self-care and care of the unborn infant provides the best prospect for a healthy birth. History Virginia Avenel Henderson was born in…

Words 1846 - Pages 8

Essay on Cheryl Postpartum Depression Theory

of postpartum depression: Teetering on the Edge. Concepts and definitions of the theory are outlined, as well as assumptions and propositions. The postpartum depression theory is further examined and evaluated in its relation to the field of nursing, its applicability to practice, and author’s scope of practice. Keywords: postpartum depression, Beck, pregnancy, Middle Range Theory For over 20 years, Cheryl Tatano Beck has focused her research on postpartum mood disorder and anxiety. In…

Words 2849 - Pages 12

Childbirth and Reflective Practice Narrative Essay

Reflective Practice Narrative (RPN): Pre-natal Education Childbirth could be an exciting experience in which for most pregnant women and even if a woman has already a child, labor and birth process are both overwhelming and joyful. For some expectant mothers, they are seeking knowledge in order to be well-informed on what could be expected during labour and delivery. Some women may be interested in childbirth (prenatal) classes that help them prepare for labour, birth and parenthood…

Words 658 - Pages 3

Nursing: Health Care Provider and Student Nurse Essay

The reason why choose I nursing as a profession? There are a number of reasons, personal, professional, money, job security, and just a love for people. When I decided to enter into nursing I knew it to be a life-long commitment. As a student nurse I’ve committed to the core values of becoming a nurse which include human dignity, integrity, autonomy, altruism, and social justice. I had this vision that when starting out of how they want me to be as a student nurse, they expect to be the perfect…

Words 551 - Pages 3

Nursing Living Research Paper

I believe that The School of Nursing Living-Learning Community (LLC) will be a great factor in my journey to becoming a registered nurse. My professional goal is to become an Advanced Nurse Practitioner Midwife. Since I was young my interest in the wonders of childbirth was evident. I love the idea of pregnancy and the process of creating a child within the female body. I would love to further my knowledge of the female reproductive system by graduating with a BSN, completing an accredited CMN program…

Words 507 - Pages 3

Academic Degree and Pediatric Nurses Essays

for women during and after childbirth. Since many obstetricians also do work in gynecology, which is the general diagnosis and treatment of women's diseases and reproductive issues, they are commonly known as OB/GYNs. Requirements for path (school, military, training, age, location, skills, etc.) Registered nurses can must have one of the following: a bachelor's of science in nursing, an associate's degree in nursing, or have graduated from an accredited and approved nursing program. A licensure is…

Words 589 - Pages 3

Nursing Student Reflection

well as rewarding, molding us towards our respective goals, and Kimberly, you are absolutely right, it did take us out of our comfort zone. It has made me more assertive and boosted my leader skills. I have found a new passion of wanting to mentor nursing students or new graduates in my clinical settings, and share my experience. I had the opportunity to speak to a graduating class at St. Xavier about what to expect as they enter into practice, at the end of my speech I realized that all the preparation…

Words 488 - Pages 2

Postpartum Research Paper Outline

Page 1 of 2 Effects of PPD on Mother and Baby: Postpartum depression can have significant consequences for both the mother and her baby, including: POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION The purpose of this pamphlet is to give you important information regarding postpartum depression, its signs and symptoms, treatments, and resources for support and help. What is Postpartum Depression? Postpartum depression is a mood disorder that occurs during pregnancy or in the first 4 weeks following birth. It has an overall…

Words 719 - Pages 3

The Pros And Cons Of Abortion

believe women should have a choice, but they should choose differently because abortion is not safe for women. Many people believe abortion is safer than childbirth. If abortion is safer, why are women who get abortions at a higher risk of getting HIV/AIDS and other infections due to abortionist not using sterile instruments (mayoclinic)? With childbirth you do not have to worry about uterine perforation because some abortionist cut your uterus while trying to abort the unborn baby. Do women really want…

Words 1643 - Pages 7