The pain of childbirth may have benefits on which women who opt for painkilling epidurals miss out, a senior male midwife has said.
Dr Denis Walsh, associate professor in midwifery at Nottingham University, said pain was a "rite of passage" which often helped regulate childbirth.
He said it helped strengthen a mother's bond with her baby, and prepared her for the responsibility of motherhood.
Key words in this passage? He said.
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7 comments:
actually, the key words are 'associate professor in midwifery' or are you actually suggesting that his lack of a womb negates his experience, training and expertise?
should my mother ignore the advice of her specialists because they themselves aren't blind and therefore can't understand? should my father in law rejected chemo because the operatives weren't themselves cancer sufferers?
if you had taken the trouble to follow the story up rather than jumped at the first tabloid rant then you might have found that dr walsh was not in any way belittling the pain of childbirth, but, basing his argument on evidence collected by midwives across the country, was warning against the practice of widespread use of epidurals, which is common in us hospitals, and making inroads into uk ones.
just linked over to where you got the story from; you didn't even bother to read any further than the first paragraph- not the most honest of posts.
Well done to you for actually reading the link…after first releasing all your initial pent up prejudices that is. Well done to you – and a gold star (or should that be a redstar?) – for being able to analyse the seven words I actually wrote within the entire post - and then extrapolate my meaning and intention to such a degree.
How insightful you are. Nailed me straight off.
Can you tell me what I’m thinking now? Even how much of your comments I read before coming to a rather hasty opinion of you? Before, that is, you bluster off to another site armed with your trusty cudgels of derision and preconception.
Not the most honest of comments.
having listened to Dr Walsh's interview live yesterday on Radio 4,
and bothered to read his actual comments, I think it is clear that in answer to your original question 'what does he know..?' I think we can venture- a fucking sight more than you
I, unlike the Dr, can only comment on my own experiences of watching my partner give birth. Due to my masculine predisposition, we obviously experienced this phenomenon differently.
For instance, her constant screaming for hours on end, during the birth our first child, could have been alleviated - had I actually given her back the fucking gas and air mask.
Pain is obviously a complex phenomenon, with different women experiencing different levels of pain during labour. My partner had various pain relief during the births of our children. Punching me in the face was her preferred choice.
However, she always declined to ask for an epidural. That doesn’t mean she thinks that all women should not be able to have it. Indeed, she has continually remarked on how she would never abort a pregnancy, but supports other women the right to do so. I feel I have little or no bearing on whether or not a woman should terminate a pregnancy – I will not be carrying it.
Simplistic but true. Likewise with pain relief.
"What does he know?" Ever hear of irony?
Yes, this short post was predicated on a light-hearted, self-deprecating joke about males not being able to experience birth pain. And I agree the Doctor’s findings have been misrepresented. However, your shrill response was enough to get me calling for the epidural.
Remove the fucking cork will yer - either with or without pain relief.
After giving birth to twins, I can tell you gentlemen "it" is no picnic! Every woman has the right to choose their form of birth, whether it is water birth, C-section, with or without drugs. It is sooooo goddamn painful that, at that moment, anything goes...
As for the doctor, I am sure scientifically he is correct in concluding that pain has a purpose during birth. But then again, who cares!!!! in 2009, such findings have little importance as couples have tons of choice and medical support.
I needed drugs just watch my children being born! Now I need drugs just to be able to live in the same house as them!
I concur and bow to your greater knowledge, Nevin:
"I'll think Every woman has the right to choose their form of birth...who cares...in 2009, such findings have little importance as couples have tons of choice and medical support."
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