|
Women’s health and childbearing
2006-03-28 09:23:01
By Correspondent Holidah John
Child bearing remains a remarkable achievement both in traditional and modern societies. However, the act of childbearing is an area that is considered such a natural affair that very little publicity has been availed on it.
Much attention however has been on pregnancy and the dos and don’ts that go with it. Thanks to the modern technology that has greatly contributed to better anti-natal care.
Although women in third world countries are most vulnerable to complications arising from pregnancy and childbirth, due to poverty and illiteracy, this trend is slowly changing as more women are becoming educated and aware of how to take charge of the situation.
Two methods of delivery exist: natural method and caesarian method. Women view each method differently.
Among most of the rural folks, nothing else is preferred than the natural method. But among the elite, urban and the career women, the choice is not so automatic.
In fact as the modern woman tries to establish herself in education and career; the need to plan for the conception and delivery of the kid becomes an important issue.
Women who prefer cesarean method do so for the sake of convenience.
They argue that it is possible and easier to plan for the arrival of the baby instead of waiting for that unpredictable time.
Caesarean section, which involves surgical incision through the abdominal and uterine wall to deliver a baby, they argue, ensures that the woman is under constant attention of the medics.
Others are driven into it by the desire to have good head shapes for their children.
Others still do it out of fear of the labour pangs or even worse, the fear that the kid may suffocate in the process of pushing hence suffer brain injury or die.
Others still cannot bear the tearing of the tissues in the process of pushing.
Those who prefer the natural method believe that though the process of giving birth is painful, it creates a very strong bond between the mother and the baby.
Where sufficient anti-natal care has been given, there is no reason for fear.
Medics agree that caesarean-section method should be employed only when the natural method cannot work. This might be during cases of emergency, where the life of the mother, the kid or both is endangered.
Apart from being expensive, women who undergo c-section take longer to heal than those who give birth through the natural method.
Althogh in rare cases medics negligence have ended up in the injury of the woman’s reproductive system.
At other times, surgical blades and towels have been left in the woman’s body! c-section is also not favorable for those women who intend to have more than two children because of the medical complications that arise from it.
Women health is an issue that needs more resources especially in Africa where a vast number of women and pregnant teenage girls continue to lose lives, and many more lose fertility through inadequate health care and ignorance.
|
