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OMG - "babies need to born into harsh stimulation or..."  

post #1 of 22
10/30/05 at 8:59pm
Thread Starter 
this has to be the winner of ridiculous things people have said. I was telling a group of women that I am planning a water birth, one of whom is an OB nurse. She starts shaking her head and says, "Well I hope you do some research because I can tell you that there are so many studies done about how terrible water birth is for babies. They can't be born from water TO water - they need the harsh stimulation of noise and lights and sometimes a spank to jump start their systems. Babies who are not stimulated at birth are not as smart as babies who are. Do you want your child to be stupid?"

Can you believe this? i was flabbergasted. I have heard a lot of ridiculous things in this journey of parenting, but this one took the cake!
post #2 of 22
10/30/05 at 9:26pm
You should have said "No, if I wanted my baby to be stupid, I'd plan on feeding it formula."
post #3 of 22
10/30/05 at 9:33pm
post #4 of 22
10/30/05 at 9:48pm
Ask her to show you the studies. (there aren't any, btw, in case you were wondering).
post #5 of 22
10/30/05 at 9:50pm
Abstracts from waterbirth studies

I actually had an OB say to me (at work in L&D) "waterbirths are fine if you want your baby to DROWN". I asked him for the studies to support that statment and he just rolled his eyes at me.
post #6 of 22
10/30/05 at 11:15pm
OMG that is absolutly ridiculous I guess those people think home births where a child
is born in a quiet bedroom is harmful too huh....what idiots!!! The baby isn't going
to take it's first breath til it comes out of the water and air hits its face anyways
and you can still rub their backs vigerously if needed so WHAT THE F***. I think
it wonderful that you are apting to do that and I think those people and just all
idiots!!
post #7 of 22
10/31/05 at 12:18am
She sounds confused...her reaction suggests that you were intending to have you child live in the birthing tub, not just be born there. My DD was a water baby, and I can assure you of several things....1) She did not drown 2) She somehow figured out how to breathe, cry, nurse, etc. without anyone ever hitting her or shining lights into her eyes 3) She appears to be quite bright (which I say as a completely non-objective parent, but a somewhat objective psychologist who was extensively trained in early child/cognitive development and has been doing IQ testing for a LONG time).
post #8 of 22
10/31/05 at 12:43am
Ugh. Some people. It drives me batty when medical professionals get so hung up on the idea that clinical and medicinal methods are the ONLY way, and the general public is too stupid to know otherwise. :

mom2seven....the OB does understand that eventually you take the baby out of the water, right?
post #9 of 22
10/31/05 at 9:47am
Quote:
Originally Posted by momma2emerson
You should have said "No, if I wanted my baby to be stupid, I'd plan on feeding it formula."
:

I mean really... being born gently makes one stupid? How do you explain the large number of Americans with no common sense? Waterbirth isn't exactly how a large portion of the population is born.
post #10 of 22
10/31/05 at 11:06am
Thread Starter 
LMAO at your responses - the formula one would have been good! Darn! I knew you would get a kick out of it. LOL. And DH wonders why I hate hospitals...
post #11 of 22
10/31/05 at 11:44am
I'm sorry that someone would say that to you. I don't know why people have to be so rude.
post #12 of 22
10/31/05 at 4:35pm
I'd say, "Well, I"VE done some research, and have found that many doctors/nurses got their degrees from a cracker jack box!"

Nah, I'd probably just stand there dumbfounded.

Unbelievable.
post #13 of 22
10/31/05 at 6:22pm
Yet another example of research-based medical advice...circa 1950! :
post #14 of 22
10/31/05 at 7:50pm
I know this was hurtful and probably made you feel like crap, but there is something so preposterous about this it just makes me laugh and laugh. Until I think about the women who deliver with her! Ugh.

ETA: They don't seem to have a problem with C-Sections which deprive babies from the natural stimulation of going down the birth canal and improve their chances of being able to breath normally and effectively right out of the womb.

And I also want to add...I'm planning a waterbirth, but I'm doing it for ME so that I can effectively push and feel supported and strong. After pushing on my back for 3 hours last time, I'm really motivated to find an alternative way to get the baby out of me! I obviously wouldn't do it if I thought it was too risky for the baby, but there are more benefits to waterbirth than simply a peaceful way for the baby to come into the world. And I think what works for the mom counts!
post #15 of 22
10/31/05 at 10:05pm
Ya know... I just have to add this because I'm feeling snarky and gaggy today.

#1 was an induction at 38 weeks... thankfully I was already 3cm when Pitocin was started so my body was friendly to the idea of labor, even artificially induced labor. Fast forward, I cave into a shot of Nubain... shortly thereafter I'm pushing half-lying with my feet in stirrups and pushing just as hard as I can, except I'm in a lousy position with no gravity to help me out. Episiotomy, baby is born, bright lights, cord is immediately cut, I hold her to my (covered) chest for a minute then she is taken away to be cleaned, tagged, gooped and poked... after all that "stimulation", she is very sleepy and hard to nurse for several days.

#2... prodromal labor for three weeks, active labor begins at midnight, I labor for awhile leaning over the birthing ball with lights off and candles lit, midwife checks me and I'm 8cm just as my intuition said, I get into the pool and labor for awhile, get out to pee and midwife checks me again at my request, 9cm so I have midwife break my water... get back in and ds is coming down already... he wooshes out and is born quickly. I hold him to my naked chest, he latches on as the placenta comes out two minutes after his birth. Soothing quiet waterbirth, a very alert baby.
post #16 of 22
11/1/05 at 2:42am
Ugh. i think it's sad how many idiots there are in the medical profession.
post #17 of 22
11/1/05 at 4:06am
Crashing the DDC here....

I would have thrown something at her. Preferably something hard. I mean if harsh stimulation makes babies smarter - think what wonders it would do for her!
post #18 of 22
11/1/05 at 11:07am
Quote:
Originally Posted by AdinaL
Crashing the DDC here....

I would have thrown something at her. Preferably something hard. I mean if harsh stimulation makes babies smarter - think what wonders it would do for her!
:
post #19 of 22
11/2/05 at 12:10pm
LMAO!!!!! I might have smacked her and blamed it on the hormones.
post #20 of 22
11/2/05 at 12:16pm
Thread Starter 
LMAO - I wish I could be that snarky on my feet! All I could say was "that's the stupidest thing I ever heard."
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