|
marfknox
SFN Die Hard
USA
3739 Posts |
 Posted - 10/31/2011 : 11:09:04
|
Why is water birth so controversial? Some of the things said by the water birth advocates in these video clips sound so crazy. A lot of debate got stirred up in the comments section, particularly by Dr. Amy of The Skeptical OB. She's written a lot in her blog about the dangers of water birth, such as this article from last year.
The more I read, the more it seems the arguments can be boiled down to this:
Proponents of water birth make a variety of claims of health benefits, but none of those seem to be well established by studies, and the supposed benefits that are most emphasized is the idea that it makes the experience more pleasurable for the laboring mother. In one of the videos from the first link above Barbara Harper talks about women in "ecstasy" while giving birth, and suggests that the reason we don't see birthing pools in hospitals is because OBs haven't seen women experience birth in this way.
Opponents of water birth are concerned about the risks to the infant's life and health, particularly infection and harm done by breathing under water. They mainly emphasize and point to documented instances of infants who have died or been injured from complications connected with water birth.
Um, yeah, I gotta go with the opponents. The purpose of birth isn't a fabulous orgasm. It's a healthy mom and baby.
|
"Too much certainty and clarity could lead to cruel intolerance" -Karen Armstrong
Check out my art store: http://www.marfknox.etsy.com
|
|
Water Birth
