Women have been giving birth since the beginning of time, so why do they need to take classes to teach them how to do so? Many people ask this question. Unfortunately, in many ways women today have lost the knowledge of how to give birth. In non-industrialized cultures and in previous generations, women were taught about birth by those who surrounded them. They were able to witness the labor and birth miracle of other women in their families and communities. Many times the women of those times even assisted with the births that they were present for. Birth was, and in some cultures still is, considered just a part of life. In today's modern, medicalized world we have lost sight of this wonderful process. Birth is now seen as a medical event to be managed, rather than a natural process to be experienced. The poor nutrition and inactive lifestyle of some American women lead to a common occurrence of complications and disease during pregnancy, labor and birth. This increased incidence of problems, as well as the threat of litigation, has prompted care providers to be cautious and fearful about the process of pregnancy and birth, which has led to the routine use of interventions. In many cases, these interventions may not be necessary.
The evolution of our birthing society has led to the need for education of expectant families as to what to expect when giving birth, wether in the hospital, birthing center, or at home. They are often misinformed from the media, friends, and family members about birthing "normally." Often this misinformation leads to anxiety and fear of the birthing process. Moreover, the need for medication and interventions often arises from that fear of birth. They don't often hear their friends and family describe birth in a positive light. They may even hear phrases like "Don't be a martyr" or "Why feel pain, when you don't have to?" It is a rite of passage that can change ones life. If we teach families their options and provide them with current, research-based information, just maybe we can change how women view birth in our society. Author of this article unknown
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