For a contemporary woman to experience pain when giving birth has no value. False.  Epidural injections used in labor and delivery are necessary, safe, and have no side effects. Also false. Exercise is dangerous during pregnancy. Again false. There are many common misconceptions in existence today regarding the process of pregnancy and birth. Although we have come a very long way in the physiological understanding of both pregnancy and childbirth, there are still many lingering myths and common misconceptions about them in our society.  Most of the common false impressions are generated in the media through movies and television. Very rarely do people even question how pregnancy and birth are dealt with in our country.  However,  when examined, the dominant social and medical practices involving these processes reveal them to be fraught with myths and unnecessary interventions.

 

RED LIGHT,  GREEN LIGHT, 1, 2, 3- GO

After watching all the movies and dramas on television, it is hard to blame those who believe the common myth that labor starts with the water breaking.  In actuality, as stated in an article this year in the Everyday Health: Pregnancy and Parenting network, after a woman’s waters break “labor may not start for another 12 to 24 hours.” You won't run out of amniotic fluid in the meantime — your body continues to produce it right up until delivery. Media representations also show the birth itself as happening very quickly. It is these visual representations that generate people’s ideas about the process of birth. Unfortunately, most of the time these representations are not the reality. For example, a woman will be portrayed as rapidly proceeding from a state of total wellness to her water breaking to urgently racing to the hospital, as if the baby is going to explode out of her at any moment. This misconception can lead to undue stress. Fortunately and more accurately, this is not the process of birth. The birth process proceeds in stages with signposts along the way to delivery. 

The first signs indicating the body is ready to give birth are contractions. Labor contractions are the periodic tightening and relaxing of the uterine muscle, the largest muscle in a woman's body.  Contractions are mostly described as a cramping or tightening sensation that starts in the back and moves around to the front in a wave-like manner. Others, like Jamie, a 23 year old first time mother, say the contractions feel “like pressure in the back.” In the childbirth process, the work of labor is done through a series of contractions. These contractions cause the upper part of the uterus to tighten and thicken while the cervix and lower portion of the uterus stretch and relax, helping the baby pass from inside the uterus and into the birth canal for delivery. This process takes many hours, especially the first time a woman delivers. It’s a common misapprehension to believe in the media’s version of a speedy birth.

HUGS, NOT DRUGS

HUGS, NOT DRUGS

It is during these fairly long stages of labor that women are subject to being given a variety of drugs. Depending on the choice of a hospital or home birth, the use of drugs differs. In a home birth women are not provided with forms of medications. On the other hand, they are used very commonly in hospitals. A common myth proposes that drugs, like in the epidurals used in labor and delivery, are necessary and completely safe. Perhaps this is wishful thinking when the woman is in pain or it is an unquestioning belief that the doctor will do no harm. This myth is, however, easily proven false as documented in various studies. The article labor and delivery cites several side effects and risks of the epidural: infection, dural puncture, and bleeding and nerve damage

Another problem from the use of drugs was described in the documentary,  “The Business of Being Born”. Hospitals were shown giving women epidurals and/or Pitocin mainly out of convenience. If labor is taking too long, the doctor will provide Pitocin, speeding up the labor with more painful shorter contractions. Due to the increase in pain and the faster contractions, the women will more likely receive an epidural to kill the pain, which in turn slows down the labor. The two counter-act each other, the drugs balancing each other out. The woman receives all this treatment and, shockingly, the unborn baby is now under stress. So, as a solution to the stress of the baby, the doctor then performs an emergency C-section. Stated in a another study by Ms. Rooks, a noted epidemiologist and researcher on the subjects of midwifery and childbirth and author of Midwifery and Childbirth in America,  “In many hospitals, epidural analgesia is routine and is provided to more than 90 percent of all women who are in labor.”

A CRY FOR HELP?

Myth: 21^st century women should not have to endure the pain of labor because it has no value. This is a common belief held by many people today. Once again it is a provable misconception. The fact of the matter is that pain during labor is a natural function of our bodies; in other words, the pain serves to provide natural benefits. For one thing the normal pain of labor serves physiological functions. It alerts the pregnant woman that labor has begun and is a sign she should prepare for it. The pain is designed to trigger a hormonal response in the women’s body of protective, maternal behavior, as well as help her work with the labor pains to help position the baby.  Pain from the contractions that stretch the women’s muscles and tissue releases endorphins,which help both the mother and the baby cope with labor and feel better. According to a study in Anesthesiology ,1983, by TK Abboud, mothers who have epidurals no longer produce endorphins. It is not possible to artificially get rid of or numb the pain without also diminishing the forms of maternal satisfaction. (Science Clarified)

So why do women giving birth insist on making so much noise? A couple of male perspectives hypothesize it is because they want attention. While that might be the case, there is another reason. A few theories suggest it is simply because of the pain. While both of these are somewhat true it turns out that vocalization in labor can be a great tool for releasing tension and stress from your body. ("Labor and Delivery.")This is similar to how a personal trainer advises you to count in the middle of exercise at the peak of the hardest point. People often overlook these benefits from making noise and even having pain in the first place. They just believe the myth or common perception that neither serves any useful purpose. No one truly seems to understand, yet no one really ever stops to question it. So they follow suit and believe the myth that the pain and the noise have no true value.

EASY ACCESS

In 1955, it was recorded that less than 1% of births took place at home. The number of births in hospitals today still stands greater than that of home births. A major misconception is that hospitals are the safer place to give birth. Although this is a myth, the evidence to prove it is a whole other issue and deserves a properly designed paper. Another myth for discussion in this paper, however, is that the hospital environment is more beneficial for the mother than delivering at home. Often times people are oblivious to the simple difference between he two settings. Birthing at home, the women is in her own environment; she is free to move around. The women at home can give birth in whatever position she wants (more or less). On the other hand, births in hospitals position women on the table with their legs spread. Why? It is explained by most doctors that this position is ideal when giving birth for the following reason: “Your chin down and use a rounded back to help your abdominal muscles assist your uterus in pushing your baby.” In other words, its best for the women. Logically this argument is flawed. It makes sense for a woman to give birth in a position where gravity is helping. Squatting is a position not practiced in hospital but a position that helps the women during birth.  This opens the pelvic outlet to its maximum width, as well as using the advantage of gravity. Sitting is another helpful position, also using gravity; it is also a good resting position. Many people often do not think about birthing in the position of Lying on Your Side. Nevertheless, this is also a very good resting position and may be helpful in avoiding an episiotomy.  While these positions make sense for women, the legs spread apart is what makes sense for the doctor. Directly at eye level, the doctors have both a front row view and comfortable, easy access for themselves. (Cassidy)

WHAT TO DO?

While it seems to go against common belief and practice to give birth naturally nowadays, it is still a possible method. Women can give birth today without all of the drugs and participation in standard medical practices. Mankind, after all, exists right now in spite of thousands of years without our modern technology and medical knowledge.  It is hard to believe that births were successful in those times, but they mostly were. Now with the knowledge of standard antiseptic practices and physiology,  as well as the proximity of hospitals if needed,  there can be an even safer parallel with those women who have natural/ home births today.

There are many common misconceptions regarding the process of pregnancy and birth. People are often oblivious to the reality surrounding labor and delivery and the methods and practices that are truly the most beneficial for both mother and baby. The solution is to simply educate people and make the changes needed ourselves. In spite of modern medical advances, we still have a long way to go in providing optimum care for mothers and babies from conception through childbirth.

 Cassidy, Tina. Birth:The surprising history of how we are born. New York: Grove Press, 2006. Print.

"Labor and Delivery." Sutter Health. N.p., 2008. Web. 4 Apr 2011.