Has (wo)Mankind Forgotten...

Disclaimer; the following is my opinion only. This is not for those of you who get offended easily. If I offend you, please remember, we are all entitled to our opinions, so please try to keep an open mind.

Since I got pregnant, Hell, since I knew what pregnant was, I knew I wanted to have a natural birth. Once I found out about some of the procedures women endured just to avoid the pain of childbirth, I was scarred, appalled and disgusted.

I mean, a spinal? Come on, you can take a frigging needle in your spine, but you can't push a baby out? THAT'S WHAT YOUR BODY IS MADE FOR! There's a reason women go through pregnancy and childbirth, because we're the life givers, we're pure, wise, patient, and won't whine like a man would. But now, it just seems like womankind has forgotten this. Men told us we couldn’t do it, men told us we were too weak, and what did we do? We took the easy path, we took drugs that would numb us, make the whole experience surreal, more like a dream instead of the birth of our child.

How many women actually realize that epidurals and spinals can paralyze you? How many women actually take into consideration, if the drugs are strong enough you numb you from the waist down, what kind of effects might it have on your child?

Granted, I don't know what labor and delivery are going to be like. I'm not assuming it's going to be anything like a tattoo (which I have two), or a piercing (I have eight), but I'm anticipating something I can tolerate. I have suffered some brutal menstrual cramps, almost crippling, to the point where I can't move off the couch, or even eat, because of the immense pain I'm in. I've suffered migraines, light, sound, touch, smell, and even taste-sensitive migraines since I was 10 or 11. I've endured pain, tons of pain, on top of more pain, mental and physical pain…and I only ever took Tylenol or Excedrin. Neither of which worked, so I would usually avoid them unless it was absolutely necessary.

To me, it seems easy. My theory is, I was made to do it, and I'm sure it'll hurt like Hell, but I know as well as anyone else, it's going to be totally worth it. 25 hours of [brutal] pain for a lifetime of learning, imagining, teaching, loving? I'll be fine, it'll be nothing.

I have a handful of people who are supporting me, my husband and mom & dad, just to name a few. But I actually have more people (who will remain nameless *cough*my mother-in-law*cough*) telling me that I say I don't, or rather won't, need drugs now, but when the time comes, I'll be happy the medical scientists invented them. Yeah, right. Maybe if I was a wuss, and honestly could not put up with the pain, I'd change my mind at the last second. I don't see it happening!

I'm strong. I'm a woman. My body is literally fulfilling its destiny right now. Between pregnancy, labor, delivery and motherhood, I am doing what I was put on this planet to do. And I'm not going to foul it up by taking the easy way.

What ever happened to women believing in themselves? Trusting their instincts, providing a safe, healthy, happy upbringing for their child(ren)? Less and less women give birth without any kind of meds, breastfeed, and stay home for their kids. It seems as though the human race has officially lost touch with it's roots, and now everything has to be mass produced, and children should be handed over to a different baby-sitter every night, and taken to day care or school in the day.

What's wrong with enduring labor pains? Letting your child feed on breast milk (that is why we have 'em, girls, they aren't for our partners/drawing attention/getting out of a speeding ticket…though it helps)? And yes, I understand the economy sucks, and we can't just give up our jobs to raise a family, especially if we don't have anyone to help us. But those of us that can, or can get/have a job where we can bring our child(ren) (they are out there), why not do it? [There are also many legitimate work-at-home jobs and, also the opportunity to work a different shift than your partner] Children need a caregiver’s support, and love, and attention. There's no point in having a child if you're going to pay someone else to raise it.

Being pregnant is opening up my eyes. I've learned more about my mother-in-law than I wanted to know (seeing as how most of her ideals I completely disagree with). I've read about all sorts of methods, natural and man-made, to ease childbirth discomforts/pains. I've learned about feeding techniques, breast milk and formula storage, breast milk extracting (pumping), etc. I've seen how impatient most people are to learn the sex of their baby, when there's no actual guarantee it's correct, just because humans have the technology to do so (for the record, I did not learn the sex at my ultrasound, and I'm going to keep it that way).

Pregnancy, childbirth and parenthood has become a "by the book" procedure, it's rare you meet someone who has the same principals as me, and what I mean is, a more natural, dare I say, "traditional" (in the most literal sense of the word) way. There are too many things that supposedly make it all easier, when really, it's just taking away the experience and pleasure of it all.

I don't mean to preach, or to force my opinion on anyone, but honestly, sit back and pay attention.

Has (wo)mankind forgotten our roots, our 'real' natural selves?

-Cassie