Home » Blogs » Jessica Kramer's blog

No Such Thing as the 5-Minute Vaginal Delivery

Fri, 12/09/2011 - 01:05
Submitted by Jessica Kramer

This morning Carlin sent me a link to this youtube video.  Videos like this make me angry. This video, though self-described as educational, does not provide education. The only accomplishment I see in this video is a video documentation of one doctor’s ability to get one particular baby out quickly.

This video does not teach skills (though an episiotomy is done, it is neither shown being performed not explained). It does not teach indications for rushing a baby out with an intervention such as episiotomy. It does not inform about risks vs. benefit of the interventions performed. And it does not acknowledge that behind this vulva and vagina are two human beings, a woman and a baby, each having a huge experience.

I wish this video was from 1970. Unfortunately, we are shown the copyright date of 2005. No wonder so many women have huge fears of childbirth.

“The 5 minute Vaginal Delivery” is shown on screen followed by a shot of the clock. Is the goal in childbirth to achieve a record breaking time?

Here’s the thing about childbirth: it takes more than 5 minutes and that’s okay. Maybe the goal of childbirth should not be speed but health (of both mom and baby) and quality of experience. Peak speed does not usually accomplish either of these.

Setting aside that several medical protocols are performed in this video that run counter to research, without any explanation as to why, there’s a bigger concern I have; this video feels to me the equivalent of a video in a man’s voice, singularly focused on a woman’s vulva, called “how to bring a woman to orgasm in 5 minutes”. Who wants to orgasm that quickly? And orgasm doesn’t happen singularly in the vulva. An orgasm is a full body experience and most women I know would like more than five minutes before getting there. This goes for childbirth. It doesn’t just happen in the vagina. And most women are thrilled to have a quality experience in relationship to her body and environment, something that takes time and generally makes for improved health, motherhood, and memories.

Here are a couple videos that illustrate that illustrate woman-centered, humanistic births that support the health of mom and baby in the process. It takes time and effort from mom, baby and their care providers.

This video shows a vaginal birth in which the mom is slowly easing her baby out to avoid tearing while hearing supportive words from the people around her.

Or this video that educates about the possibility of cesareans that are woman-centered.

Liberating Birth
http://www.resourcebirth.com/index.html

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.

The natural unmedicated birth

Fri, 12/09/2011 - 03:23
Jake E

The natural unmedicated birth video was very moving and the caesarean was caring and very professional. A natural birth of the 1st video in a hospital room would be ideal. You have the emotional and psychological benifits of the 1st and the ability to intervene with lots of very expensive amazing equiptment and expertise should anything go wrong.  

I agree the 5 min birth was'nt very impressive, it was impersonal disconnected and inconsiderate emotionally, that's what the music was there to hide. 

terrifying

Fri, 12/09/2011 - 03:57
NorthernGirl (not verified)

wow, by the end of that first video I was pretty much decided to never ever, ever go through labour. I'm relieved I watched the second video, that looks like something I may be able to handle.

The miracle of birth

Fri, 12/09/2011 - 15:51
Betty Dodson

Although I never wanted to get married and raise a child, I did want to give birth. The whole process is such a fantastic happening demonstrating Natures' wisdom. In 1961 when I was married, I did get pregnant. I had many mixed feelings. However, even back then I knew I wanted "natural childbirth." The La Maze Method was fairly new but I already sensed it made more sense than the standard procedure with doctors and hospitals. My mother's awful doctor stories had alerted me to the dangers of modern medicine, especially where men take over the birthing process that had always been a woman's art. Now with midwifery and home births making a come back, there is once again a glimmer of hope. Although I miscarried, I have never once regretted not having children. My life has been full with mothering mothers and helping my spiritual daughters claim their bodies and orgasms.

I didn't watch the videos

Sat, 12/10/2011 - 22:07
Heylin

I tried to watch the first video but the guy's voice creeped me out. Plus, as a mother I feel guilty for admitting this, but watching women give birth is not my cup of tea. I'm actually feeling a new surge of respect for my husband who has watched me give birth. That's actually kind of funny considering that I work in healthcare but each of us has different things that we find "gross". I don't find childbirth gross but it's not something I would choose to watch or assist in. However in the second video, that lady is in a position that seems much easier for birthing. My own births took place in a hospital and while I would redo most of the experience with the first, I don't have too many complaints about the others. It does make me glad that there are women out there like Jessica who are advocating for women to make their birth experiences better. Because the creepy voiced dude has no business being in OB.

Women deliver babies, not doctors

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 00:34
Sarah J (not verified)

I

am so glad to see these videos up here!  I have watched them both before,

and had pretty much the same response - the first video disgusts me.  I am

not a mother and I am not sure I want to be, but these videos gave me a clear

idea of what I would or would not want for my delivery.  Personally,

provided the pregnancy is a healthy one, free of complications, I would not

want to be in a hospital at all - hospitals are for sick people.  Pregnant

women are not sick.  The second video shows in fact how strong and

powerful these women are.  I always remember, as a teenager, being struck

by the birth scene in Anita Diamant's The Red Tent: why wasn't Leah lying down

to the convenience of those delivering her baby for her? 


 


Post new comment

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.
By submitting this form, you accept the Mollom privacy policy.