Childbirth in Your Life and Around the World

My Personal Birthing Experience:

I remember this experience as though it was yesterday. My sister was pregnant with my nephew and she called to tell us that her water had broken and she was heading to the hospital, so we told her okay that we will be out there. By the time we made it to the hospital we thought that she had the baby, but come to find out she didn't. My family and I was sitting around the room and joking around waiting for the baby to come. Well my sister was waiting for the nurse to give her something for pain and she told us that it feel like the baby is trying to come, so one of us hurry to go get the nurse. By the time the nurse came into the room she was checking my sister to see if the baby was coming and then the nurse said I see the baby trying to come call the doctor, but by that time the doctor was already coming down the hall because we heard his boots clacking and we knew it was him from the sound of it because he always wear boots. By the time he enter the room he told my sister to push because the baby head is coming and we were all excited and hollering push because he have a big ole head like his daddy. Finally the baby came and we seen all that slime and blood on the baby and then the daddy cut the umbilical cord. The End...I chose this example because it is special to me because I have never seen a birthing in real life until my sister had my nephew which was her last child. It was exciting to see him come into the world. My thoughts regarding birth and its impact on child development is that if the baby's oxygen level is low, then it can cause brain damage. The umbilical cord is nutrient to the baby and without it the baby will not survive or be malnourished.  

Birthing in South Africa: Indigenous Traditions

I learned that it's a pity that western women are afraid of birth. Today, in South Africa, it is a country of many cultures, language, and traditions, but at one point the area was populated only by an original group of indigenous people such as the Khoisan Bushmen and the !Kung who are a small group of San Bushmen. Men are hunters that is highly respected for their hunting and tracking skills along with their knowledge of the nature environment. Women are gatherers of roots, wild vegetables, fruits, berries and water as well as the materials that are used to provide shelter. Women are respected for their knowledge about edible plants and their abilities to find water and their ability to give birth and nurture their young. Now I am about to explain the differences and similarities. The U.S vs. South African, San Bushmen, Batu, Khoisan

Differences                                                                                                           
1. San Bushmen(!Kung)- 1. No Pain Relief. 2. Give birth alone in a squatting position a hundred meters from their settlement. 3. Pregnant women is expected to continue with her normal duties and should not complain.
4. Pregnant women are rarely over-weighed and an unborn will likely to be the right size for the mother to give birth. 5. San women bite the cord with their teeth and bury the placenta after giving birth, before walking back to the settlement. 6. She must return the placenta which is no longer needed to mother earth. 7. The Bantu mothers is secluded in her, but after birth with the baby until she stops bleeding and the burial of the placenta cord. 8. When the cord falls off, the newborn belongs to the mother and the community. 9. Traditionally an animal is slaughtered as a sacrifice and the skin of the animal is given to the new infant as protective clothing or sleeping mat. 10. A Khoisan woman knows when the baby needs to urinate or pass stool and will hold the baby away from her body to perform.

Similarities
1. The child is a gift. 2. Social recognition. 3. The Bantu birth was attended by grandmother or older woman/person. 4. Breast-feeding- Milk is nutrient for growth. 5. Baby learns that he is able to toddle, walk, and later on run. 6. Children brings joy. 7. Cooperation and friendliness are highly valued.