The birthing experience I remember is the one of
my nephew. In 2005, my sister went into labor while we were at church. She
asked me to take her to the hospital, and we were there all night. After many
hours of being by her side, she asked if I wanted to be in the delivery room.
After saying yes, I got my camera ready to take some pictures. She began to
have heart-wrenching contractions, and I was taking pictures. When they asked
her to push, I was taking pictures. When she was fussing and asking me to put
down the camera, I was taking pictures. When she was in pain, I felt sorry for
her, but I was still taking pictures. I enjoyed this experience because; I had
never seen a child come into the world. It made me smile and feel warm on the
inside. When his head came out and I saw his pale face, I jumped with joy; I
was the proudest aunt alive. This event taught me how to love, live, and how to
respect those who have been through this type of pain. I chose this example
because, I do not have children right now, and this event is one that truly describes
bonding, nurturing, and love at its best. I will never forget how important I
felt by being a part of something so great. My sister and I still laugh about
all of the personal pictures I took of her that day.
Birth is something that is so meaningful; it
allows you to feel something that is indescribable. Seeing a child being born
is one of the best things you can experience in your life. Depending on the
parent and the environment of the delivery, it can have a major impact on the
development of the child. If it is a happy and healthy mother, the child’s
development will foster; however, if the child is being born in an unsafe and unsanitary
environment, the health and development of the child is at stake.
The region I chose to
research is India; I looked long and hard and finally, I found a place that had
the answers I was looking for. India has many practices related to birth. Most
of the girls marry at a young age. When she becomes pregnant, foods that
produce a lot of heat is avoided during the entire pregnancy. If a woman goes
into labor, she is passive and follows everything the health care provider says.
Medication and pain relievers are not used during the birthing process. Once
the baby is delivered and the placenta is expelled, then the mother can find
out the sex of her baby. In the U.S., many fathers are present in the delivery
room; however, in India, there are no men present in the room with the mother.
After giving birth, the mother and child recuperate for forty days and the
mother is catered to each day. They provide the mother with warm oil massages
and special foods to replenish the mother’s body. Boys are wanted over girls in
India; therefore, if a woman has a girl, they feed the little girl less, and
treat her poorly.
The birthing practices
are totally different in India than in my example. My sister had me and her
boyfriend in the labor and delivery room; but in India, only the older female
family member can be present. In my example, my sister already knew the sex of
her child; however, in India mothers cannot know the sex of the child until after
the placenta is expelled. This is because they are afraid the mother will become
upset if the baby is not a boy; it is believed that her emotions will prolong
the process. My sister was able to receive pain medication during labor, but In
India, medication is not permitted. In the U.S. many women are not catered to
after delivery at home, and they do not have forty days to relax as the women
do in India. In the U.S., most individuals do not care if they have a boy or a
girl, however in India, girls are frowned upon and boys are praised. Overall,
there are many differences and fewer similarities between the birthing
practicing in my example than in India.
In my example, whether
a girl or a boy was born, the birthing experience would have great impact on early
healthy development and growth of the child because; both parents loved and
cared for the child and they had great medical care during labor. They provided
him with love, nutritious food, clothes, and shelter. In India, if a girl was
born, her birthing experience would be the same as a boy, but when she is out
of the hospital, she will receive none nutritious or very little food, very
little education, and no respect throughout her life. The boys birthing
experience is the same as the girl, and it would have a good impact on the
development of the child, and the boy would have great developmental
opportunities throughout life including nutritious food, a great education,
respect, and love.
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