Childbirth is often seen as a unique and intense experience in a woman’s life. The prospect of childbirth can cause anxiety in some women because of the expected pain. Capturing this moment on video is a personal decision, sparking heated debate. This article explores the advantages and disadvantages of filming your birth, in order to help future parents make an informed decision.
Childbirth: a unique experience
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Childbirth can and should be a beautiful experience. After giving birth to your child and holding this beautiful bundle in your arms, you may have a moment of reflection: how did this all happen? The whole process is impressive, but it requires a lot of concentration, which means it’s all very blurry in the end.
Natural birth versus birth with epidural
While many women choose to receive epidurals (partial anesthesia for pain relief) in order to give birth more comfortably, many choose natural births. The term “natural birth” is usually used to describe a vaginal birth performed without medication. Discuss options with your doctor or midwife to determine which method is best for you and your child. An epidural reduces pain by anesthetizing the lower part of the body. Women often choose to have one. It is also sometimes a medical necessity if there are complications, such as those leading to a cesarean section. An anesthesiologist pricks your lower back, between two vertebrae, to insert a catheter (a thin, flexible tube) into the epidural space which surrounds the dura mater meninge, close to the spinal cord. An epidural is also necessary in a cesarean delivery. Caesarean section is a surgical procedure consisting of extracting the newborn through the abdominal route after incision in the abdominal wall (laparotomy) and the uterus (hysterotomy). It is practiced when the low approach is impossible or contraindicated. The cesarean section is carried out by an obstetrician, in an operating room, under anesthesia. The risks associated with cesarean deliveries are not necessarily linked to the epidural. Unlike natural births, these are surgeries, so recovery times are longer and there is a risk of infection.
Testimonials from mothers
Three influential mothers kindly agreed to testify for us. She allowed him to bear the pain. “I wanted to feel my baby.” However, she quickly changed her mind. “I couldn’t take it anymore! I decided to take the epidural when I was 7 cm dilated. Indeed, it takes away all the pain of contractions. You just feel that it’s pushing.” she continued. Certain situations may be particular. Mother of three little boys aged 5, 3 and 22 months, she gave birth using an epidural. “A vaginal trial that ended in cesarean.” She explains to us, before continuing: “I was frustrated to end up with a cesarean section, I would have liked to give birth by whisper, but I don’t regret anything about that day since everything was done so that my baby could be healthy. In terms of the epidural, in my experience, it didn’t give me any relief.
Natural childbirth: another approach
Choosing not to take medication doesn’t mean the birth process has to be incredibly painful. With non-epidural births, the birthing person’s own hormones can naturally help labor progress steadily and without intervention. Endorphins released during birth can relieve pain and promote adherence and breastfeeding after the baby is born. Breathing: Being aware of breathing helps you increase awareness of sensations in your body. This can help you be more aware of contractions during childbirth to prevent complications. Breathing is also a relaxation tool that can help you stay calm, especially as the intensity of work increases. Breathing techniques during childbirth are not as dramatic as often portrayed in movies and on television.
Read also: Premature Birth at 28 Weeks: What You Need to Know
Growing popularity of natural births
Natural births have increased in popularity due to concerns that epidurals may interfere with the body’s natural responses to labor and delivery. Ashley Shea, a birth doula (woman alongside the pregnant woman and those around her, she listens to her wants, needs and follows her choices), yoga teacher, midwifery student and founder of Organic Birth, has also witnessed this trend: “Women want to be able to move freely to the machines, they want to stay at home as long as possible before going to the hospital, they don’t want to be disturbed or overly monitored. They want to have immediate, uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact with their newborn and wait until the cord stops pulsing before cutting it. It is important to prepare for the risks of a natural birth. Childbirth education classes help you prepare for what lies ahead. This provides a safety net in case of complications. Due to the complexity of labor, there is no universal method for birth. For most women who chose natural childbirth, things came together and everything happened relatively quickly.
Testimony about natural childbirth
We found some interesting testimonials on the subject on idkids. Mathilde, Charlotte’s mother, tells us more about this: “even if it hurts, I want to know everything about the birth of my baby. In the maternity ward, I feel my body but I don’t always know what’s happening there. So I climb onto the first bed I see, in the monitoring room, I hold on to the headboard and I shout that I’m pushing. I push because my body tells me to do it. It’s natural, it’s beautiful: It burns and I pushes. When my daughter comes out, I feel a little fish pass like a medicine that heals me. No more pain. 6 hours later, we are home with my first.
Duration of work
If you’re going to be a first-time mom, active labor can take about eight hours. This is an average, it could be much shorter or longer than that. In general, it is unlikely to last more than 18 hours, although anything can happen! “It’s because I was triggered,” she explains. But fortunately, in this kind of situation, the goal is still more important than the pain: “I was thinking about the one time meeting with my baby. If you’ve had a baby before, your labor will probably be much quicker this time. Active labor will usually take about five hours and last, probably no more than 12 hours. Other factors can also affect the length of your labor. The onset of labor. The position of your baby. The first stage begins with the early, or latent, phase. At this point, you experience cramping, back pain and your water may break, although this is more likely to happen just before you feel ready to push You may also have an upset stomach, and have what is known as a bloody sight The second stage: your cervix will be fully dilated to 10cm The third stage is when you deliver the placenta. You may have friends or family members for whom this lasts two or three days. terribly long, but it’s a safe bet that this includes the early or latent stage of labor.
The advantages of filming your birth
Capturing the birth experience on video can be special. No matter how good or bad your self-esteem is, you will be impressed by yourself. You will cherish this concrete visualization of the perfection of this day and your fabulous beauty. Plus, you create a mini-movie so you can show it to your child one day. It’s a fun way to document the beginning of your child’s life for them, but also for your family. You’ll love reliving that day and your child will love seeing how it all started. The entire life of this generation will be told in one way or another. Of course, the upside is that you can also keep this movie for yourself. Why not accompany your birth film with multiple mini films? More and more mothers are embarking on this style of filmmaking: it’s not just the day the baby is born that is filmed – we sometimes get a glimpse of life before the baby arrives and another glimpse of life at home after the baby is born. The whole thing can result in something very cool! The video gives you the opportunity to look at how things were when it was just the two of you and clearly see what changed when you became a threesome.
An unforgettable memory
After giving birth to your child and holding this beautiful bundle in your arms, you may have a moment of reflection: how did this all happen? The whole process is impressive, but it requires a lot of concentration, which means it’s all very blurry in the end. That’s why capturing the experience on video can be special.
Read also: Solutions for the belly after pregnancy
Strengthening self-esteem
No matter how good or bad your self-esteem is, you will be impressed by yourself. You will cherish this concrete visualization of the perfection of this day and your fabulous beauty.
A gift for the child
Plus, you create a mini-movie so you can show it to your child one day. It’s a fun way to document the beginning of your child’s life for them, but also for your family. You’ll love reliving that day and your child will love seeing how it all began. The entire life of this generation will be told in one way or another. Of course, the upside is that you can also keep this movie for yourself. Why not accompany your birth film with multiple mini films? More and more mothers are embarking on this style of filmmaking: it’s not just the day the baby is born that is filmed – we sometimes get a glimpse of life before the baby arrives and another glimpse of life at home after the baby is born. The whole thing can result in something very cool! The video gives you the opportunity to look at how things were when it was just the two of you and clearly see what changed when you became a threesome.
Potential downsides
We all have a special relationship with our bodies, and this feeling is often amplified during pregnancy, which explains, among other things, why video during childbirth causes so much disagreement between certain people. This may be a problem of ethics or even modesty.
Modesty and privacy
It is essential that you are prepared for the production of this video, because you will be filmed in your most intimate moments. This part of the article will be aimed more at future dads who want to “do well”. We give you some advice on how to be as present as possible for your wife, if that is your wish. By reading all of this, future mothers can have access to the different decisions to take into account in order to have the best experience of this pregnancy. You may be wondering if it is usual to be accompanied during this often stressful moment by the future father or by someone else, such as a mother, sister, friend or professional. Most often, it is the spouse who is at the side of the mother-to-be. Indeed, welcoming a child is often for parents one of the most beautiful adventures of a life together. Of course, talk about it among yourselves. If the mother-to-be’s wish is for the father’s assistance during the birth, consider determining in advance, with your partner, how she would like you to support her during this ordeal. If you know that your wife likes to be reassured through touch, you can massage her using techniques learned in childbirth preparation classes. On the contrary, if your wife is more receptive to words, then you can simply encourage her, show a little humor, or help her find an object of distraction to focus on during painful moments. In certain cases, your role may also be to warn the midwives of certain wishes (no epidural for example) in the event that your partner is not able to express them herself. In some cases, the father does not want to be present at the birth. It’s rare, but the dad can be very anxious at the idea of seeing their partner give birth. In this case, he can wait in the waiting room. In each of the testimonies collected, our three influencers confirm it to us: being accompanied is a real happiness. I think it’s essential to be accompanied by someone you love more than anything in the world to share this magical moment. I have no regrets, I really enjoyed my birth and I hope the second one will be the same. It’s really a very, very good memory. My husband and the midwives were great. Also not to be overlooked: the famous baby room. It is an opportunity for the future father to fully demonstrate his involvement and interest in the situation. Your life as a couple must not go by the wayside! We all know: life as a couple changes your daily life as a couple. Face-to-face moments are becoming rarer. Whether during or even after pregnancy, remember not to neglect your partner (and vice versa). Remember to reassure your lover, tell her that she is pretty just the way she is. Pregnancy can be a real upheaval for a woman who sees her body change day by day. Hormones can affect mood and cause very difficult times. Be attentive to her, and don’t forget the little touches. Your presence and help with daily tasks allow your partner to maintain her strength until the day of delivery, particularly during the last two months of pregnancy.
The role of the partner
Unless you hire a professional or have someone else in the family take care of it, the dad-to-be will normally be behind the camera. He may later regret or feel a little frustration about the fact that he did not take full advantage of your birth, or even be by your side enough to support you.
Read also: Pregnancy and constipation: a sign of childbirth?
Please note that cameras are generally permitted, but check with your maternity ward to be sure and avoid unpleasant surprises.
Episiotomy and other realities of childbirth
So, still anxious? Above all, I trusted my midwife throughout the pregnancy, we did as we felt, above all not putting pressure on ourselves and thus enjoying the present moment.” So, it’s up to you to read this part of the article or not. Even if most mothers, after the fact, explain to us that it is indeed the happiest day of their life, we must know that this moment is far from being a pleasure, even if the finality makes us forget all the pain suffered previously. Episiotomy is a surgical procedure consisting of opening the perineum during childbirth to allow the child to pass through. This incision is ideally intended to cut the levator ani muscle. While in the United States, the episiotomy rate is currently around 12%, it was 47% for the period 2010-2013 in France for women at their first birth, according to a survey by the Collective interassociative around birth (Ciane) carried out among 9,700 women. All midwives will confirm that it happens that you defecate during childbirth. This little accident happens very frequently (approximately 80 to 90% of cases) when giving birth and is completely natural. Indeed, when the cervix is completely dilated, you feel an irrepressible urge to push. It is a mechanical reflex due to the baby’s head pressing on the levator ani. Don’t hold back, you risk blocking the baby’s descent. Pushing is essential to giving birth to your child. Don’t worry, the medical staff are used to it and will take care of this little incident without you even realizing it. Besides, by the time this happens, you usually have other priorities to manage. After giving birth…
Legal and ethical aspects
Is filming the birth of your child possible or forbidden? Keeping a video memory of the birth of your baby, is it absolutely necessary? We give you 10 reasons to do it and 10 reasons not to (especially) do it! Then, it’s up to your free will to decide! Childbirth filmed in the delivery room, possible? “In fact, when I gave birth, I came across a lovely doctor who made a video for me. I think there are very few people who have that. This is the full video of my birth. I even have my son’s first cries when he was born. » This statement from Nabilla following the birth of her son may shock, surprise or on the contrary give you the good idea to do like her. Immortalizing your childbirth is not a brand new thing. Many couples have already taken photos of this special moment. Others have already filmed it. And a new trend has emerged with social networks: publishing the video of your birth on the Internet. Whatever your choice, ask the medical team beforehand if they give you permission. Certain internal maternity regulations stipulate that it is forbidden to film or take photos of the birth. Whether for childbirth, illness or pain management, women’s lives are often punctuated by clinical meetings with their bodies.
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