Giving birth

DVFlyer wrote: I heard an interesting thing on the radio today and wondered if it echoed what most of the women here feel.

Do you feel you are putting your life at risk by giving birth? This does not count high risk births or C-sections.

My2Beauties replied: Really? What radio station was this? I know that there can be complications when pregnant and during birth, however, I believe I felt more like I was giving life, not risking mine! But I wasn't high risk. I have a friend that has a lot of heart problems, she may never be able to have children, so someone like her may feel this way, but without any medical complications or previous near death experiences with previous children during childbirth I have never known any women to feel that way

Jamison'smama replied: I must be in the minority but I would say sure to some extent. You never know what your body will do when pregnant or giving birth, there can be blood pressure issues, toxemia, excess bleeding while giving birth etc. These risks weren't high enough for me to think twice but the risks are there.

MommyToAshley replied: While I know there can be complications and women have died giving birth, I never really thought much about the risk to me.... I guess I was too busy being paranoid that the baby was ok.

amymom replied: No, I don't feel like I risked my life, but I guess when I think about it I probably did. But all my pregnancies & births were very uncomplicated, even the ones that ended with a bad outcome. Also, I do not know of anyone personally who died during childbirth so I guess that would affect my answer if I did.

Jamison'smama replied: You know, I really never thought I was putting my life at risk when I was pregnant or giving birth--I'm with M2A--the focus is completly on the child's health, however, now that I am out of it and have seen others, I actually recognize that we do take a risk--are we risking our actual lives...maybe I suppose anything can happen but we do risk major wear and tear on our bodies. I have a good friend whose blood pressure is out of control and stroke level high at times and has been since her pregnancy--9 months ago.

So, what were the thoughts of the person on the radio?

kit_kats_mom replied: The first pregnancy no. The second pregnancy, the thought did cross my mind a couple of times but it was more "what would my family do if something terrible happened to me during delivery" than anything else. Both of my girls were acting up during delivery (lost heart rates etc) so I was more worried about them than myself.

A&A'smommy replied: Um no not for me I was nervous that delievery would be hard (which is was) but other than that I was WAY more worried about the baby. Her heart rate went WAAAYYY down and I ended up with an emergency c-section when I was being wheeled down everyone was crying I looked straight at my mom and said "WE are going to be okay!" and smiled then of course after I got past her I was nearly screaming for the pain and being cold OHHH the joys of giving birth but I don't know I think its probably different for everyone. Did it worry you?

Celestrina replied: Although I was considered high risk (I'm epileptic), I was too concerned with the baby's health & well being.

Josie83 replied: I think Dee Dee summed it up perfectly! I was more worried about the baby than myself, I never really gave it a second thought aboutnmy own safety xx

Jamison'smama replied: Okay, maybe I need the question clarified. Of course I never thought about my own health WHILE pregnant or giving birth--I totally agree with everyone else here on that. I read the question as in "in general" --looking at the overall picture do you feel women are putting their lives at risk giving birth? I am a C-section person so I didn't count my own delivery--I agree with Cary though --during my second c-section it did cross my mind.

ediep replied: well, I voted other because I didn't really think I was risking my life by giving birth, but when I was actually pushing him out....it was so incredibly excruciating, that I thought I was going to die.

MommyToAshley replied:
I am with you here... during my PG, I never really thought about it. But, looking back, I do realize that there was a risk and that there is a danger when giving birth. The whole process really is a miracle... there are so many things that have to be just perfect. I think we felt the same way, we just interpeted the question differently.

mama3x replied: I voted yes because you never know what will happen when you have such a dramatic change happening to your body. Especially when a c-section is always a possibility - that's a major surgery and there can me infection.

But I didn't go into either of my pgs worrying about that. Well, maybe my last one but otherwise, I just figured ok, I'm having my baby and things are going to be fine. And I'm happy they were.

DVFlyer replied: The radio station was Dr. Laura's show. She was reading a letter from a Dr. of Philosophy etc (lots of PHd's in this guys title). He wrote in about a number of things responding to another call which I didn't hear so I don't know the whole circumstance.

One thing he said which caught my attention was that how women and men differ (like that's a mystery ). One way they differ was that women risk their life by giving birth and men will never be able to relate to that (obviously).

I never thought my wife was risking her life (in a general sense- although both of our kids were C-sections). Of course, I understand the "risk" of any surgical procedure, but in that vain, I risked my life getting a nose job. But I don't think that is what this person was trying to say.

I believe he was speaking to what he thought was a real issue and belief of women- that deep down, they think they risk their lives giving birth so I thought it would make for an interesting topic of discussion.

Thanks! Learning, caring and sharing.... that's what it's all about!

CCTandME replied: I chose YES! because I have a heart mur-mur and require medication for it. It scares me a littleIF/WHEN I think about it. I also had a friend who died the day after her daughter (1st child) was born. She had a stroke. I made sure I was active during pregnancy so I wouldn't get blood clots. That scared me more then my mur-mur. That and I am RH-. I dread getting that rhogam (sp?) shot, but know it's necessary. That's my

lisar replied: I actually had a very complicated first pregancy and with my blood pressure the way it was they took her c-section right then and there so that I wouldnt have seaziure (spelling?) so I think you can risk your life although I voted NO cause I look at in the way that I am giving life not risking mine.

Lisa