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Mia Valdez

Ms.Kenly

British Lit 1A

April 22, 2019

Final Research Paper

There are many forms of giving birth: Caesarean Birth, Hospital birth, Homebirth,

Waterbirth, Active birth and also Assisted birth. A Caesarean birth means a baby is delivered

through an incision in the abdomen. Sometimes it may occur after a long labor or may be done

upon request from the mother. In cases where there is a woman delivering multiple children, a

cesarean is the delivery choice for most obstetricians. An emergency cesarean birth can be

performed when the safety of the mother or baby is questioned before or during labor and may

be performed under general anesthetic, epidural, or spinal anesthetic.

According to the article, "Delivering In A Hospital", "A hospital birth is a birth that takes

place in a hospital setting where the mother can deliver her baby vaginally with or without

medication or intervention." This trend for babies to be born in a hospital is relatively recent. In

the 1960s and 1970s, many women were more prone to have a home birth compared to hospital

birth. While vaginal births could be done at home, an expected complicated birth or a cesarean
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birth will always be done in a hospital. One of the advantages of delivering in a hospital is that if

there are any complications that occur before, during, or after birth, the mother and her baby are

in good hands. Hospitals today are making great efforts to change the environment from clinical

to more homely.

In a home birth, a woman who has had a previous uncomplicated delivery may opt for a

birth in the comfort of her own home. Some may have had a bad hospital experience with

previous babies, and some may want to be in more in control. The mother will usually be

assisted by a midwife, with the backup of a doctor. She will have to make sure that all she needs

is available and on hand when she goes into labor and be aware that if things don’t run smoothly,

she may need to be transferred to a hospital.

Water birth is the birth of a baby directly into the water. It may be in a hospital setting or

at home, in a special bath or any pool filled with warm water. In an active birth, a woman is not

confined to a bed. She is free to move during labor and to give birth spontaneously in a position

of her choice. The women’s position choice is based on instinct. Assisted vaginal delivery is

vaginal delivery of a baby performed with the help of forceps or a vacuum device. It sometimes

is called operative vaginal delivery. It is performed when there are concerns either with the

mother or the baby. Complications include the baby’s heart rate pattern during labor, the mother

has pushed for a long time, but the baby’s head has stopped moving down the birth canal, the

mother is very tired from a long labor, or there is a medical condition (such as heart disease)

which limits the mother’s ability to push safely and effectively.

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The birth of a child is the most beautiful process in the world. If you are fortunate enough

to experience or witness a child being born then you should do it the right way, through natural

childbirth. Although labor is painful and may even seem unbearable without the use of drugs,

think of the long term effects these drugs may leave on both you and your baby. Labor isn’t

meant to be easy and if it was impossible to do it without drugs the generations before us

wouldn’t have existed. Be smart about the decisions you make during your labor process, easy

isn’t always better.

Anything that can cause harm to the mother can potentially cause harm to the baby as

well. From the food she eats to her daily activities, the mother’s actions affect the developing

baby from the start. It is the mother’s job to make sure she’s in top-notch health so her baby can

be born in the healthiest conditions possible. This is why it is extremely important to choose a

strong healthcare team to help you along your journey. Their job is to be there to prepare you for

the challenges your body is going to experience during pregnancy.

It is ultimately the responsibility of the doctors and nurses to educate you on the best

birthing methods for both you and your baby. From the time you confirm your pregnancy up

until the day you are released after giving birth, the healthcare workers are supposed to be a

support system. Neonatal nurses and OB-GYNs are there for you to ask questions but if you

don’t take advantage of this, it’s possible that you could be putting yourself as well as your baby

in danger. Some of these doctors and nurses won’t inform you of natural childbirth because it

can be done at home, which means no hospital bill. It is up to you to research the different
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options available, then use the healthcare workers as references for any questions you may have

about your choice.

Natural childbirth overall develops a deeper bond between the mother and child.

According to an article written by Paulina Perez (2001), a mother will take on a better attitude

towards motherhood if she goes through the labor process drug-free. She says that the mother

“will grow more confident in her abilities to handle any situation that she might face and more

responsible for her own destiny” (Perez, 2001), this means that the mother will feel more

comfortable taking on the responsibilities of motherhood because she knows how hard she had to

work for her baby to get here. The mother would also understand how powerful her body is, just

knowing that she was able to bring a new life into the world using only what God gave her will

give her a sense of pride. Drug-Free labor is also beneficial to the mother’s health which in

reality is good for the baby’s health as well.

After you give birth, your baby is placed on your chest for an hour of skin-to-skin

contact. During this time your baby is likely to start “suckling” for you to begin breastfeeding.

Research from an article found on the Wiley Online Library states that babies who had been

exposed to Fentanyl and synthetic Oxytocin during birth did not begin to suckle during this hour

of contact (Wiley Online Library, 2015, pg. 319-328). If your baby doesn’t latch onto your breast

your only option is to use the formula milk, which we all know isn’t the healthiest option.

Breastfeeding is the best way for your baby to gain nutrients, using baby formula can cause the

baby to miss out on these important nutrients given off by the mother. Breastfeeding also
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strengthens the bond between the mother and child after birth, the baby has to depend on the

mother even more to eat and the mother will realize how much she is depended upon.

The drugs used during labor can also affect the mother’s heart rate throughout the

process. In a study provided by Informa Healthcare, researchers recorded the frequency of

arrhythmia (improper beating of the heart) during and after labor. Arrhythmia could cause a

woman not to progress in the labor process and be sent into an emergency C-section. Drugs such

as Prostaglandin and Oxytocin that are used to induce labor, both carry the properties that

increase heart rate which in the end causes arrhythmia (Kosus, 2012). Being that pregnancy

already causes a change in heart rate it is extremely dangerous to use these drugs that could

possibly affect it even more.

Epidural is a well-known drug used during labor, it is known to help reduce pain for the

mother. In a double-blind study discussed by S. Hoka (2000, pg.140-141), newborns whose

mother had received the epidural were placed under observation. The researchers found that the

drug doesn’t affect the baby, however, it, in fact, cause harm to the mother. The use of epidural

in this case left the mothers with uterine displacement. This means the muscles in the area

become weak and cause the uterus to shift, this in return could cause even more problems for the

mother (especially if she tries to have another baby).

Antidepressants are a great example of drugs with a powerful after effect. Not all women

are thrilled to be pregnant, sometimes it sends them into depression because they feel as though

they are not prepared for what they are about to face. Pregnancy changes you physically,
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mentally, and emotionally which is a tough adjustment for many women. In a study performed

by Aarhus University’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (2014), researchers found that

antidepressants pass the placenta. This is very harmful to the developing fetus because the

placenta is where it gains all its nutrients from the mother.

Painkillers have also been known to cause harm to babies during the developmental

stages of pregnancies. Many mothers are so focused on the pain they are experiencing at the

moment that they don’t take the time to research how the painkiller can affect their baby’s

health. Aspirin, in particular, is used quite often by pregnant women to help soothe body aches

and reduce swelling. Although it may seem to alleviate pain for the moment, it can cause

bleeding in the brain of the baby and even cause the baby’s heart vessels to close early.

Ibuprofen is also responsible for the closing of the baby’s heart vessels as well as prolonged

bleeding time, pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure that affects the lungs), and fetal

renal impairment.

Why natural childbirth? Ultimately, women find the answer to that question themselves.

Confident women who are supported and encouraged and who enjoy the freedom to tap into their

own wisdom find deep satisfaction in giving birth naturally. The process itself prepares the

mother and baby perfectly in every way to continue on their journey together.

Some women choose to give birth naturally because they love the challenge. Others find

great satisfaction in working hard and “getting the job done.” Many women are eager to avoid

anything that might harm their babies or themselves. But the most compelling reason to choose
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natural childbirth is a universal one. Women know how to give birth without machines,

epidurals, and fear. Why natural childbirth? The more important question might be “Why not?”

Natural labor is the best option for multiple reasons, it isn’t as invasive compared to the

alternative birthing methods so there is less risk for side effects on your baby. You can move

around freely during this process instead of being confined to your bed. Another major benefit of

natural childbirth is your partner can be really involved with your labor experience, which

increases the bond between your new family. The birthing process is often shorter than the other

methods offered and it has been proven that mothers tend to cope better with postpartum

discomfort after experiencing natural childbirth.

Another advantage of natural childbirth is the reduced risk of having a C-section, the risk

is lower by 25%. Mothers who go through natural labor also have a quicker recovery, many

moms are able to stand and walk around on their own shortly after birth. Studies show that

babies born through natural labor have better motor and social skills by age four. Another reason

many women choose this method is the ability to skip labor induction. Lastly, natural birth is

about $6,000 cheaper than a vaginal birth at a hospital which is extremely important to families

saving money to provide for their new baby.

In conclusion, I personally believe natural childbirth is the best way to go. In the end, it’s

all about the health of the mother and baby and natural birth is a lot less risky than the other

options provided. Overall, I want future mothers to be smart about the decisions they make from

the time they find out they are pregnant to the time the baby is born. It is extremely important
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that the birthing process is thought out and well-planned before the baby is set to arrive. Natural

childbirth has more pros than cons and if you’re going to bring a life into this world, do it the

smart way.

Analyzing Survey Data (Part 1)

● Out of 38 responses, 21 of the respondents were over the age of 18 years old with the

oldest being 48 (60%)

● Out of 38 responses, 17 of the respondents were under the age of 18 years old with the

youngest being 15 (40%)

● Less than 15% of the respondents were not a person of Black or African descent (5)

● Over 85% of the respondents identified as Black or African American (33)

● Over 65% of the respondents were female (25)

● Only 34% of the respondents were male (13)

This proportion of my survey allowed me to under who my general audience was when

formulating my paper. Due to the distribution of age, my youngest respondent being 15 and my

oldest being 48, I knew that I was encountering a mature audience that mainly identified with my

race and sex. I had a quiet proportional amount of respondents that identified as male or female

but the one thing that I would have liked to improved on was having more people who were not

people of color (ie. caucasian, Hispanics, Asians, etc.).

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Analyzing Survey Data (Part 2)

● Over 85% of the respondents either have children or are planning on having children (32)

● Only 15% of the respondents don’t have or are not planning on having children (6)

● Over 60% of the respondents believe that they are informed about the different options

them or their partner has when it comes to giving birth

● Only 40% of the respondents believe that they are not informed about the different

options them or their partner has when it comes to giving birth

In part 2 of analyzing the survey data, I took the two multiple choice questions that somewhat

dealt with my topic and was able to discover another very effective way to inform my audience

on the importance of my topic. I knew that I would be talking to people who are interested in

birth and I knew that I would be providing them with information that they may or may not have

already known.

Analyzing Survey Data (Part 3)

● All of the respondents knew 1 or more than 1 form of childbirth with the most believed to

be over 10

● 95% of the respondents were familiar with the term Natural Birth

● 76% of respondents were familiar with the term C-sections

● 68% of respondents were familiar with the term Water Births

● 71% of respondents were familiar with the term Hospital Births

● 61% of respondents were familiar with the term Home Births

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● 26% of respondents were familiar with the term Assisted Births

● 8% of respondents were familiar with the term Active Births

● When asked how the audience felt about c-sections, a few people said they knew nothing

about c-sections to answer the question, most said that they feel c-sections should only

take place when the baby and/or mother is at risk

● When asked if men were to give birth instead of women, most of the respondents

believed that there would most definitely be fewer children and that men would be more

sympathetic to women and their feelings; a lot of respondents wondered how the baby

would be created and where the baby would come out of lol

● 71% of respondents did not know that women are not supposed to give birth in a reclined

position on their back

● 24% of respondents heard about this but didn't do much research afterward

● Only 5% of respondents knew that women are not supposed to give birth in a reclined

position and even did further research on it

In part 3 of analyzing the survey data, I used this portion of the survey to actually build my

essay. I analyzed two multiple choice questions and two free responses in order to understand

what my audience already knew. I knew that I had a well-informed audience that pretty much

knew the basis of my topic. I also was able to develop a more concrete understanding of the

opinions my audience had about specific topics involving childbirth.

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Work Cited Page

1. "Assisted Vaginal Delivery - ACOG". ​Acog.Org,​ 2019,

https://www.acog.org/Patients/FAQs/Assisted-Vaginal-Delivery?IsMobileSet=false​.

2. "What Is Active Birth? - Active Birth Centre". ​Active Birth Centre​, 2019,

http://www.activebirthcentre.com/what-is-active-birth/​.

3. Brimdyr, Kajsa; Cadwell, Karin; Widstrom, Ann-Marie; Svensson, Kristin; Neumann,

Monica; Hart, Elaine A; Harrington, Sarah; Phillips, Raylene. “The Association Between

Common Labor Drugs and Suckling When Skin-to-Skin During the First Hour After

Birth.” ​Wiley Online Library.​ Vol. 42 (4). Birth Issues in Perinatal Care. 13 October

2015. Pg. 319-328.

4. Hoka, S. “Effect of Epidural Epinephrine Infusion with Bupivacaine on Labor Pain and

Mother-Fetus Outcome in Humans”.​ ​http://ovidsp.tx.ovid.com/​. Vol.20(3) Obstetric

Anesthesia Digest. Sept.2000. pg. 140-141.

5. Kosus, A. “Maternal Arrhythmias Detected During Labour Could Be Caused by Drugs

Used for Induction of Labour.” ​Informa Healthcare​. Vol. 32. No.5. ​ ​Journal of Obstetrics

and Gynecology. 2012. Pg. 502-503.

6. "The Advantages And Disadvantages Of A Water Birth". ​Knoji,​ 2019,

https://feminineproducts.knoji.com/the-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-a-water-birth/​.
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7. Science, Live. "C-Section: Procedure & Recovery". ​Live Science​, 2019,

https://www.livescience.com/44726-c-section.html​.

8. "Home Birth: Know The Pros And Cons". ​Mayo Clinic,​ 2019,

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/labor-and-delivery/in-depth/home-birth/art-

20046878​.

​ epartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology

9. Neonatal Adaptation.” ​Evid Based Med. D

/Institute of Clinical Medicine / Aarhus University / Aarhus / Denmark. Vol. 19, no.2.

Evid Based Med. April 2014.​ ​http://ebm.bmj.com/content/19/2/76.full.pdf+html

10. Perez, Paulina. “Research and Public Policies Help Advance the Benefits of

Breastfeeding and Natural Childbirth.” ​US National Library of Medicine National

Institutes of Health.​ Vol.10 (1). The Journal of Perinatal Education. 01 January 2001. Pg.

6-7

11. Urso, Anna M. “The reality of neonatal pain and the resulting effects.”​ Journal of

Neonatal Nursing​ ​Neonatal Nurses Association​,​ ​www.sciencedirect.com​, 5 Nov..

12. "Delivering In A Hospital | What To Expect". ​Whattoexpect​, 2019,

https://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/hospital-birth/​.
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