My Child's Birth vs China

David John

 

 

I gave birth to the most handsome little baby boy on September 18, 2012. I remember every little thing about it as if it were yesterday. I remember that the night before, I was on the phone with my sister. She called to tell me she had the next week off from work and that it would be great if I could have the baby while she was off. I told her that I could not make my water break. So, what else could she do to help other than look up ways to cause your water to break. We began to make a list of activities that I would do the next day when it was light outside. Then, we went through and found things I could do while she was on the phone. So, this might sound crazy but she told me to gallop around the house like a horse, so I did. Then, she told me to drink a hot cup of berry tea. So, I did. The tea made me so hot that I was going to go take a cold shower. Needless to say, I did not even make it into the shower. My Water Broke. I followed all the procedures like calling the doctor and gathering all my things I would need. We were then on our way. I remember everything in the labor and delivery room. I remember almost needing a C-section because my son rolled onto the cord for too long.  I remember the entire thing down to the nurse’s names that were so nice and helpful. It was the most amazing experience I have ever been through. It was very surreal.

 

I chose this example because it was a life changing experience for me. One night I was pregnant and the next morning my baby was here. The delivery went by so fast I couldn’t believe it. For a while, I couldn’t even believe that he was actually finally here. I could hold the little boy who was moving around and growing in my belly for the past nine months.

 

I think birth is an amazing thing. I took being pregnant very seriously. I followed everything my doctor said to do and what they told me to not do. I wanted nothing but the best for my son and me. All I wanted was to have a healthy little boy and I would do anything to keep him healthy. I think by listening to what I was being told and what I read helped my son to be healthy. I felt that his development was the most important thing to me and I would do anything to have him be on the right path. We actually are all the time saying how advanced and intelligent he is at 5 ½ months. Women who are pregnant and do things that the doctors say not to do really get to me. I just think of the harm they are causing their baby. Child development begins before they are even born and therefore we should treat them like they were here.

Birth in China

I chose to learn more about how women give birth in China. In China, many of their customs revolve or relate to the behavior and environment of the women. It is said that women working with glue or adhesives cause birthing complications and hammering nails is thought to cause deformity in the foetus. The baby is said to be cursed if the women use foul language. The Chinese society believes that the mother is to blame if their child is physically disabled or has a deformity. Infanticide occurs in some circumstances to spare the mother shame or public humiliation.

The Chinese women are encouraged to continue to work similar to that of women in the USA, including me. My doctor told me “pregnancy is not a disease” and that I can do whatever I did when I wasn’t pregnant. Chinese women are told to avoid arguments or disputes because it could disturb the baby. This too is similar to women in the USA in the way that our babies can hear us once they hit a certain point in the pregnancy. We too are told to eat nutritious foods while they are pregnant. I was told to watch certain foods such as different fishes and to only eat other fish once a week. There is a difference in the fact that Chinese women are told to stay away from “sharp” foods such as pineapples because they could cause miscarriages. I ate pineapples when I was pregnant.

Chinese women are also told to not name their unborn baby as this displays eagerness and may cause disappointment if the baby comes out a different sex. This is a difference in the USA. We have the option to know the sex of the child.  I found out the sex of my child because I wanted to be prepared with things other than just neutral colors. Another difference is that in China, the major responsibility for the care of the pregnant women is taken by the mother-in-law, not the husband. Whereas in the USA the care of the pregnant women comes from anyone, normally the person closest to the pregnant women: the pregnant women themselves, the father of the child, mother of the pregnant women, mother-in-law, friend, etc. For me, I had my family, my boyfriend, and my boyfriend’s family who were there the most. I then had my close friends.  When it came to picking a coach, I was allowed two people in the room so I chose my mom and my boyfriend.

I found it interesting to read the superstitions the Chinese women follow. I also found it interesting to read about the 30-day rule the Chinese women follow. Because of the high mortality rate in china, the women and newborns are watching very carefully for the first 30 days. During this period, the women and newborn are not permitted to leave the house, and sometimes, even the bed.  This is because of the immune system of the newborn.  Being confined is said to help keep the mother and baby from illnesses. They also look at this time as a bonding experience with the mother as well as time for the mother to recover after giving birth.  After the 30 days, the family has a party and that is when the family comes over to meet the baby for the first time.