Childbirth In Your Life and Around the World

 

    I've been working with youth for about 20 years. I definitely thought by now I would have my own children. However, I do not have my own children. The above picture is of a new born baby. I do not believe I will ever have the pleasure of experiencing a  personal birthing experience for a child of my own. I cannot recall my own birthing experience. However, I do know that I was born at 6:30 pm, weighing 6 pounds and 5 ounces. I have never witnessed a child birth. I have visited several friends in the hospital after the birth of their children. I can recall a feeling of excitement for the child's arrival. Thankfully, none of my friends experienced complications during delivery. The birth of my friends children was a long time ago, 20 plus year. Therefore, I cannot recall a lot from those moments. However, I do remember when my god son, Michael, was born a sense of responsibility for him came over me. He was the first child born to a friend of mine. I have always maintained a relationship with him and provided for him when he was in need. Although, I have not had my own birthing experience, I believe that being a supportive friend during my friends child birthing experiences was important to my friends. 

    My thoughts regarding birth and its impact on child development, is birth is only part of the beginning. Child development begins during pregnancy's continues to birth and then throughout a life span. Prior to the birth of a child it is important for women to have proper prenatal care for themselves and their unborn child. The development of a child begins 9 months before they are born. Smoking and drug affect the development of a child prior and after birth. It is important to provide a child with the best possible birthing experience. 

Like most births in the United States, Japan has the majority of its child births in a hospital. According to, Birthing in Japan, "Most births in Japan take place in either a hospital or doctor’s clinic, however much of the labor is handled by midwives. This is similar to much of Europe, but differs drastically from North America, where less than eight percent of births are attended by a midwife" I can never recall meeting or seeing or hearing about a midwife at the hospital with any of my friends while they delivered their child. The last person I ever heard about having a midwife help with a delivery was for my mother. My mother mentioned to me that she was born in a home. She explained to me that my great great grandmother was a midwife who helped with her delivery. The practice of having a midwife during delivery is not as common as it use to be in past in the United States. The additional insight that came about in regards to the impact of the birthing experience on development that I gained from this comparison was the importance of a midwife in other countries. In my personal experience, I have only heard of the father or parents being in the delivery room.

The birth of a child has critical moments. I only hope that anyone that must experience child birth has the proper staff and care available for the child as well as the mother whom is delivering the child. 

References

Iimura, Brett & Macnab, Iona. (2020-2021). Birthing in Japan. Retrieved from: Birthing in Japan (tokyoweekender.com)