Lauren RabainoWe all have made that journey from our mother’s womb into this world. But many people – including me – remain oblivious to the miraculous, and seemingly mysterious process of childbirth until we learn about and experience it ourselves.
Well, talk about pain! The more I watched real-life labor and delivery videos in my childbirth preparation class, the more I became nervous, disturbed and even frightened of the process.
I know labor and delivery is supposed to be a euphoric and remarkable experience, but for first-time mothers, the average 14-hour rollercoaster of emotions and physical endurance to get to the promised land is beyond demanding – except, that is, if you are one of those lucky women with a short, fast labor where the baby seems to have suddenly “fallen out.”
Fortunately, women these days have the option of limiting the pain of childbirth through pain relief medications such as an epidural – the most popular anesthesia during labor – which looks painful being administered.
A 5-foot-long needle (OK, I’m exaggerating – a very long needle) is injected into the epidural space of the spine, and a catheter is inserted. The catheter is left in place for continuous administration, and takes about 30 minutes to dispense.
Most of the time, the epidural relieves painful sensations of contractions and birth, and allows the mom to be awake and alert. But with most drugs, it can have undesirable effects on the mother and baby such as low blood pressure and can cause fetal heart rate to drop.
Typically, a woman in labor cannot get an epidural if her cervix has dilated 4 to 5 centimeters – by that time she’s basically assed out. If an epidural is given too late, its effect increases during the second stage of labor, causing a possible inability to feel the urge to push and may increase the risk of fever during labor.
Take my good friend for instance: When she got to the hospital it was too late for her to get pain relief medication and she had to give birth the all-natural way. She said she was in so much pain that she was somewhat “traumatized” by the experience of giving birth to her first – and only child – that she swears not to have another baby again.
But all women and labors are unique. Some women are sticklers about giving birth the all-natural way – vaginally with no pain meds or any type of technological equipment to help get the baby out – until, that is, active labor comes along!
In many of the real-life labor and delivery clips I have seen, those “organic” women walk into the hospital all giddy and excited that labor is finally coming, but when active labor sets in – when contractions increase in intensity and become closer together – they suddenly turn into the girl from “The Exorcist,” as if their head will do a 360-degree turn, begging for an epidural but by that time it’s too late! But some women stick through it like troopers and I applaud their courage.
It bewilders me how my grandmother amazingly popped out 10 babies – and on my father’s side 12 babies – in a Third World country such as the Philippines without having any pain relief meds or advanced medical equipment and care. Of course the infant mortality rate is higher – my father lost two siblings at a young age – but both my parents and their families flourished, obviously, since we are here today.
Many people describe “pushing” in labor like taking a huge dump, and for some people, they actually do take one during delivery. But now that can be prevented by getting an enema, a procedure to empty the bowels before delivery by administering liquids directly into the rectum and colon through a small, tube-like syringe.
My childbirth teacher said that when the baby is in a posterior position, which is when the back of the head puts pressure on the mother’s spine, in some cases the pressure during labor could actually break the mother’s tailbone.
Oh, and I have to mention an episiotomy. In some cases, mothers need a surgical incision of the perineum – the area below the anus – to enlarge the vaginal opening at the time of birth. This makes more room for the birth of a large baby or for the use of forceps. I hope I don’t have to get one of those!
Despite all the trials and tribulations a mother goes through during labor and delivery, once she sees her beautiful baby, she is overcome by an indescribable feeling of euphoria, and says it was all worthwhile.
And then – hold on to your hats – comes the sleepless nights and child rearing!
Jennifer Ingan is a journalism senior and a Mustang Daily reporter. She will chronicle her experiences as a pregnant Cal Poly student every Thursday until she gives birth.