This week we discussed in part the film "The Business of Being Born". The film discussed the dangers of cesarean sections, pitocin and epidurals on the baby. When I saw it I was honestly scared for my unborn- unconcieved child. The marketing student in me started to wonder if this was a scheme to sway more women towards home births. Then again the film pointed out that doctors had a similar ploy in the early 1900's to persuade mothers to birth in the hospital rather than at home. Did the film persuade you to want a home birth or are you stubborn like me and want to stick to the hospitals? Why do you think it is that we have so many cases of maternal and fetal deaths in the US? Do you think that, as the movie stated it is because of our reliance on doctors interventions and tendency to lean away from natural births? Or do you think that its because of the unnecessary drugs we take during pregnancy and the birth itself? Whatever it is you must agree babies are cute and should not be dying.
For the Wednesday class we were asked to read an article entitled: 'Scarlet' or adoption for unwed mothers. It talked about a law in Florida that makes unwed mothers advertise in a magazine for the possible fathers and state their name and address. Personally I find this ridiculous, however the fathers deserve a chance to claim their child. So where should the line be drawn? How many rights should fathers have? They can't stop the woman from aborting the child but should they be allowed to stop the mother from giving the child up for adoption? What punishment would be inflicted on a mother who doesn't notify the father of her pregnancy? The article points out that if the father has been away long enough to notice the pregnant mother than he must not love the mother or child. Do you agree? Would willingly let the father of your child raise your child on his own if you want to give the child up for adoption?
Jean Carr
(Sorry this was up so late my computer wouldn't let me log onto google)
Cesarean sections are something that really scare me as a women. for some unknown reason i rather just have the child vaginally and not have to worry about going under the knife, but whatever is necessary for my child is what would have to work. As far as epidurals, they are very dangerous, but what is one suppose to do while experiencing what they feel is unbearable pain. no one feels this but the mother. Many women want and intend to go the natural route but when they start dilating and having contractions this concept of natural birth goes out of the window. The plan is not for the baby to be harmed but i mean pain is terrible and no one likes it. As far as the florida law, i think it is ridiculous. If an unwed mother does not know who her child's father is, then it should be up to her to find him but not publicly, this is a private matter. Although i do think that if a child's mother wants to give it up for adoption the father should then gain rights. He should be able to raise the child as an option before all of his rights as a parent are given up. Some fathers are very capable of raising a child and it is just as much of their responsibility as it is the mothers.
ReplyDeleteJ'Quana Brown
Cesarean sections is the last thing I would want to go through to give birth to my child. I would not prefer it what so ever. Unless it is for medical purposes only will I agree to one. I do not not look down upon women who would rather do a home birth for their babies but I will agree that I would want my child's birth to take place in the hospital. Anything could go wrong where I would need to receive antibiotics for whatever reason and I will be taken care of. I honestly feel more safe and secure giving birth at a hospital rather than at home because overall it involve too many risk for my take. I think we may have too many fetal or paternal deaths because of the way the mothers carry their babies before birth and issues during labor may have something to tie into it. Epidurals are very risky and must be done carefully. I do not think it is an unnecessary drug cause when it comes down to it the pain can be very intolerable. I believe fathers should have enough rights to take full rights and guardianship of their child if the mother is deciding to put it up for adoption. I believe it goes half and half for decisions such as guardianship when it comes to a child. Both parents have equal responsibility but if one decides they do not want to take any party why throw the child off to some strangers?
ReplyDeleteVictoria H
Well, I guess as you all probably already know, I gave birth naturally and stuff. But I did give birth in a hospital, so you can have, I guess a mixed birth, something that combines natural and medical field. It is just important that women know the choice's they can have during pregnancy and birth. To many women just kind of take things for granted or don't question as to why they have to have a cesarean or why they should be induced. The film did a good job of showing the issue of birthing in America. yet, it didn't really talk about the lack of choice that some women (minority, lower class) in the birthing process. I would say that one of the reasons as to the issue of maternal and infant death is because of this disconnect between birth and the medical field. This has been happening for centuries, women have been helping women birth for a long time. And as with the movie, it stated that the other industrialized nations take a more midwifery approach to birthing instead of medicalized and they have lower rates of both maternal and infant mortality. I think this is a key issue that needs to be seriously concidered, not to mention the economic benefit of using midwifery instead of doctors.
ReplyDeleteWith regards to the scarlet article, I am right there with you Jean. I think it is ridiculous. This is just branding someone as an outcast. It is very hard trying to figure out the role that father's play in a pregnancy. They are obviously, affected as I mentioned my friend who need a lot of support after his girlfriend had an abortion. But I know in my situation, my ex was a child and could not make rational decisions at all. The article mentions that in the fact that the father has to be "found" signifies his lack of involvement in the childs life. I mean sure the mother may have not told him or what not, but that is probably for good reason. I mean if men were really concerned about being fathers, they should start calling their previous partners saying "Hey, I know we had unprotected sex the other month are you pregnant?" I know this is a little harsh on men, but my point is that making a woman put out an add looking for the father of her child in the end just pushes people to blame her for the "unplanned" pregnancy that followed, usually, unprotected sex. If the father is already uninvolved during the pregnancy then the mom should make the decision. But if the mother and father to be are in communication and the mother does not want to keep the child then the father should have a say in possibly take care of the child. That should be an option that, is probably over looked since it is seen as an all or nothing thing for women, either you parent your child or you have nothing to do with it, usually by (abortion, or adoption). In the end the roles of fathers in the process of choosing to parent is a very difficult one.
Maegen Hahn