(no subject)

[doyle]

I was online at about 3 this morning chatting on the fanfic_convos panels, and I started to get this uncomfortable feeling that I was blocking someone from trying to get through on the phone. The feeling got worse and worse, and eventually I logged off, but nobody rang.

Found out today my cousin went into premature labour and had a baby in the early hours of the morning, a little girl called Jessica, and my aunt was trying to phone but couldn't get through *g* Mum and baby are fine, although I feel sorry for my cousin. 9lb kid with no pain relief ("apparently she passed out a couple of times," my mother relayed cheerfully, reinforcing that I never want to have babies unless I can have a surrogate mother or grow them in a tank.)

Also you all continue to rock at buffyverse1000. It's just one big orgy. Much like tigannie_con.

Comments

[mefnord.livejournal.com]

Congrats to the new Mum! And how cool is the ESP? Wow!

[lasultrix.livejournal.com]

I'll have babies if I can have extensive pain relief.
Pardon me for saying so, but your cousin is insane.

[tweedisgood.livejournal.com]

Don't base a decision on other people's horror stories, is all I can say. Had the "extensive pain relief" for No1: most scary, out of control and demeaning experience of my life, surrounded by prodding doctors with instruments (of which there is a massively higher incidence in drugged labour) and offhand midwives only interested in pouring drugs into me and telling me from early on that I wouldn't be able to cope. No 2 was a few whiffs of gas and air and plenty of yelling, plus one very supportive MW. OK, yes, hurt a lot. But *I* was in control, did it all by m'self, and was on a high for days.

Go your cousin!

[lasultrix.livejournal.com]

You see, I wouldn't care a bit about being out of control or being prodded by doctors once I didn't have to feel my vagina ripping open. Bring on the drug-pouring midwives, say I!

[tweedisgood.livejournal.com]

One would not "feel your vagina ripping open". At that point the perineal skin(just the bit on the outside) is stretched so thin that if it does give, IME you don't actually notice: plus, bit busy! Tears aren't inevitable anyway.

I'm all for choice, but *informed* choice. The (mostly male) docs have an interest in medicalising and taking control and scaremongering is their stock in trade. If you want pain relief, of course it should be there: *with* all the risks and side-effects properly explained well beforehand. What isn't informed choice, is when people get terrorised by docs or what they've heard second-hand and believe there is no other way.

JMO, based on my experience and that of many of my friends who are mums. I'm in the UK and the routine medicalisation of childbirth isn't quite as advanced as it is in the States, I understand. Still, I see some very worrying developments.

This isn't an "advert" for "natural" childbirth (whatever that is), just an alternative POV...

[lasultrix.livejournal.com]

I'm in Ireland - I'm not sure what childbirth is usually like in hospitals (though with my birth, my mother's epidural only worked on one side of her body. Not a pleasant experience, considering it was a forceps delivery.

[doyle_sb4.livejournal.com]

My mum wasn't offered one. The (male) doctor briskly told her not to be so silly and that "sure it's only a wee bit of pain"...

[lasultrix.livejournal.com]

Well, they always told us life was brutal up North...

[indri]

Adoption. It's the only way.

[cicer.livejournal.com]

From what I've heard, epidurals make all the difference. If you're going the natural route, expect pain. The only person I've ever heard of that went through labor with no pain is my mother. She insists that she felt almost no discomfort while having me and credits it to mediation techniques she learned. Still not sure if I believe her. *grins*

Anyway, congrats to your cousin (and to you)!