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IMPORTANT: I am not advising you to avoid hospital birth, that's just what I would personally do. However, I am going to share a list of things that are important to keep in mind when preparing for hospital birth. Above all, make sure the hospital reviews are good.
Husband stitch
Husband stitch (also known as daddy stitch), is a medically unnecessary extra stitch or stitches, given to women who tore during childbirth, in hopes of achieving extra vaginal tightness for male pleasure. This is done without consent, taking advantage of women’s exhaustion and pain after birth. Complications due to husband stitch include deformities, vulval pain, being prone to recurring infection, and pain during intercourse. Though some medical practitioners claim that this procedure is an urban legend, overwhelmingly determined that the practice does exist. With cases like James C. Burt existing and considering how common episiotomy (more on that later) was, it’s safe to say husband stitch or something similar to it can happen.
Episiotomy
Here’s an extremely informative 6 minute video on episiotomy
Episiotomy is a surgical cut made in the perineum to widen the vagina, before a natural tear occurs. The logic is that episiotomy makes a cleaner cut, which would be easier to repair and heal, and the baby would come out easier and faster. However, numerous studies show that routine episiotomy has no benefit and actually leads to a greater blood loss, four times the chance of a 3rd or 4th degree tear, more pain during and after birth, long term effects such as painful intercourse. Episiotomies do have the potential to save lives occasionally, such as when the baby needs to be removed asap due to complications, or when the baby is too big to come through. However, episiotomy should never be performed routinely, even though some hospitals still do it.
Birthing position
We are told we must give birth laying on our back, despite all the evidence showing that sacrum-freeing positions like squatting, kneeling, side lying, being up right, or being on hands-and-knees, will widen the pelvic outlet, improve blood flow in aorta, and allow you to work with gravity, leading to faster birth, giving you lower emergency health risks (meaning there’ll be lesser need for instrumental intervention such as episiotomy, forceps(more on this later), c section, etc.), and being less painful! Unfortunately, most women in the US give birth on their back, for most hospitals will not allow you to give birth in any other position. Laying on back was introduced when forceps was invented, to make it easier for doctors to use these instruments. This birthing position is in the best interest of the doctors, not the patient.
Umbilical cord cutting
The umbilical cord sends oxygen rich blood from the placenta to the baby. The cord will continue pulsating after birth to continue this process. It is never an emergency to cut the cord, in fact it’s better if you don’t cut it immediately. Benefits of delayed cord cutting include obtaining 30% more blood volume, higher hemoglobin levels, less iron deficiency, improved myelination, and better motor and social development. Unfortunately, asking for a delayed cord cutting at the hospital isn't enough. For most hospitals the standard cord cutting procedure is to cut at 15-30 seconds post birth. And the “delayed” cord cutting procedure is to cut at only 30-60 seconds. So that’s what you’ll get if you don’t specify time. It is recommended to wait at least 3-6 minutes, or if you prefer visuals, when the cord stops pulsating and the color turns from blue to white.
Humanities life expectancies has greatly increased thanks to the power of science. Unfortunately our science is not perfect, and especially when it comes to hospital births, there are many flaws. It is important to not reject hospitals, but it is also important to stay critical of it. I will be prepared to rely on hospitals when absolutely necessary, but I feel comfortable avoiding hospital birth because I'm confident I'll have the proper resources and research done. Though evidence shows planned home birth with low risk pregnancies are just as safe as hospital birth, do not jump to conclusions without your own research.
*This blog is a work in progress and more will be added to it soon*
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