The Business Of Being Born Essay

I feel that the United States has over-medicalized pregnancy and childbirth. It seems that most women living in the states don’t know there is a choice when it comes to birthing, this was also true for all my pregnancies. Ricki Lake mentions in her documentary, The Business of Being Born, that she had no idea there was anything different than having a baby in a hospital. Just like Ricki Lake, I too didn’t know there was any other choice. I was told the hospital was the only safe option and real legal way to have a child. Shortly after getting married my husband and I found out were expecting, not one but two babies. I was 18 years old and had no idea what to expect. My mother was administered twilight sleep during deliver, she told me how she …show more content…
Another cervical check and I was now dilated and ready to deliver. The staff started preparing for a C-section, they never explained the procedure and proceeded to wheel me away from my husband. I heard the doctor ask where the anesthesiologist was and the nurses response, “I think he is on his way.” At this point the doctor whispers, “we can’t wait I will do the section with a local.” No one looked at me, no one explained anything to me and I was sure I was going to die. The nurse finally speaks to me and says, “don’t push we are going to have to do a C-section.” My legs were strapped down to the bed, my arms were strapped down, and something told me this was not going to be good. With everything I had I pushed as hard as I could and my first baby was born in the amniotic sack on my thighs, with his twin following right behind. Breach and all my body new what needed to happen. The doctor never said a word to me and he left the room shortly after. I’m glad most hospitals and doctors are adopting a more humanistic model for their patients, however I feel there is still a long way to go. Tradition, convenience and money still takes precedence in a lot of