Heres a link to WebMD daily video on Premmie Miracles

[gentlebirthmothr]

Saw it and really thought it was horrible on how they handle birth in today society. http://www.webmd.com/content/pages/24/112501.htm

Thank you.

[Lousli]

Jessica,
I followed your link but I'm not understanding what you felt was horrible. It is difficult to see a tiny baby hooked up to tubes and wires, but I have the feeling you're not talking about that. Was it the way the mother's premature labor was treated (bedrest and medication after water broke at 26 weeks) or the way that the father said that people should "trust their doctors and nurses because they've seen this a lot more than you"?

I know that last part might be hard to digest or accept, and that here at MDC we're used to hearing a much more natural approach to labor and birth, but there is, in my opinion, a time and place for medical intervention. Babies born at 26 weeks have a very high rate of complications and even death. I agree that bedrest and medications are not how any mother envisions her pregnancy (I certainly didn't) but having a micropreemie isn't something anyone wants to face either. The woman documented was able to stay pregnant for another 5 weeks, giving her baby a much better chance of survival and fewer (if any) long term complications.

[OnTheFence]

Originally Posted by teagreenribbons

Saw it and really thought it was horrible on how they handle birth in today society. http://www.webmd.com/content/pages/24/112501.htm

Thank you.

Am I missing something?

Kim

[gentlebirthmothr]

lousli,

Thank you. Well, you the truth I'm just so confused with this aspect of this.

[Lousli]

I think it is hard for many here to see and imagine a birth that could be so medicalized, and taken out of the natural context, without feeling sad about it. Believe me when I say that it is even more sad to experience. But I honestly think that when you're pregnant and go into preterm labor, your first thoughts are with saving your baby's life and minimizing any chances of long-term problems, and often that means that your dreams about birth go out the window. I know some circumstances in which a more natural approach can be taken (such as the mama here whose water broke early on in pregnancy but did not go into labor, she used bedrest and I believe some treatments from her midwife to reseal her bag of water). But sometimes, when you're dilating and contracting, there isn't much that can be done. I understand that it is difficult to watch that video and not feel sad, but the alternative, a 1 pound 26 weeker, would be so much worse.

BTW, Kim, I don't know if you're familiar with Jessica's style in posting, I don't think she will mind me explaining that she has some difficulty expressing herself in writing but will clarify if you don't understand what she means. She is learning about birth and parenting by visiting these boards.

[gentlebirthmothr]

lousli,

Thank you, again for explaining things to me. I'm glad explain to Kim about my style of posting.

[sweetpeasmom]

I wasn't able to get the link to open so can't fully comment on the context obvisouly

you're pregnant and go into preterm labor, your first thoughts are with saving your baby's life and minimizing any chances of long-term problems, and often that means that your dreams about birth go out the window.

Exactly. I would have so loved to have a homebirth. I went into labor at 24 weeks and well I really wanted a natural as possible birth but that went out the window. I remember saying do whatever you need to do to save my baby. There was nothing that could have been done naturally, they did everything they could to prolong my labor, i lasted 6 days before i gave birth. Those 6 days i believe helped my baby tremendously, since at that point every day makes a big difference in the survival rate. Defintely wasn't my dream birth, laying there in the hospital, with an IV in me for all that time, not able to sit up, not able to even get out of bed, withstanding this horrible medication to help halt labor. But in the end it helped save my precious little baby and gave her a chance at life.