Birth Experience

                                         

My first birthing experience was on April 8, 2007. I watched the birth of my baby sister Aaliyah. Even though I had been prepping for this moment it was so beautifully surreal. I remember that I was not only excited but a little fearful of how she would turn out once she was born, mainly because my mother was in her 40's, she has chrones disease which can be passed on to children.., and my mom gives birth to SMALL babies and I just wanted this one to be healthy. The doctors inserted a heart rate monitor into my mom which was attached to the baby's head (it seemed so painful), all the IV's and swabs were almost overwhelming. Nonetheless, my beautiful sister was born at 5lbs 6oz and healthy, and I had the great honor of cutting the umbilical cord. I will always remember this being that it was my first time witnessing a live labor and because it prepared me mentally of everything that I may have to deal with once my child bearing stage begins.I chose this particular birth because I know that there can be complications during birth that can affect the mother and the child. My other two sisters were both born pre-mature with hernias, which resulted in one of my sisters having digestive problems and being on a breathing machine (which even at the age of 19 still deals with these issues) and both having speech problems as young children.

                                                    IN AFRICA

    "Healthy women and girls are the key to meeting the social and economic development of Africa. However, women on the continent are extremely vulnerable to disease because of their low social standing, lack of education, reproductive role, and traditional gender expectations (amrefusa.org)."  According to my research on how birth is done in Africa, it is obvious that it is a very dangerous procedure for both the mother and the child. This causes an extremely high risk of developmental problems for the baby and could even result in their life. 

    1 in 39 women die as a result of pregnancy, which by my own experience of witnessing my mother in pain from contractions I would imagine that alone could put someones body in shock if it is not reduced by things such as epidural or IV. The Death rates of the mother are high in Africa because of  the lack of skilled midwives, obstructed labor, anemia, and malaria. Pregnant women in Africa are vulnerable to many diseases because their immunity is low and they often do not have the knowledge or the means to prevent this (www.amrefusa.org). 

      This is a big difference from my experience and what goes on in the US. With our advanced medical care, medicines and professionals to guide women through the pregnancy process and can detect issues during pregnancy it is, I would say a smoother process than it is in Africa.