Childbirth in My Life and Around the World

My daughter came at 1a.m on the 4th of October 2009 ( in her 41st week) after about 8hrs of labour. She weighed 3.6kg. Her prenatal development went well despite urinary tract infection I had. At some time I was asked to take antibiotics and other times was asked not to because it could be harmful on the emdryo, of course this was about the 3rd and 4th month. I was placed on calcium, folic acid, blood giving tablets and anti malaria drugs as malaria is a threat to pregnant women and children in Africa.
Contractions started on the previous day and I went to the clinic where I have always attended antenatat sessions. I was 2cm dilated but asked to stay back in the clinic as a first timer. After several contractions, I was about 8cm gone and was taken to the delivery room where I spent about 1hr before she finally came out through tht virginal with an episiotomy.

Gavrila, My daughter

I chose this birth experience because it was my first and it served as an eye opener to me- my subsequent pregnancy was much easier because I was prepared for every stage as I knew what to expect.

For me, birth is closely related to child development because the definition of child development put into consideration life before, buring and after birth. Birthing methods and processes I believe should be handled by professionals. At birth, tisues and organs(which are the development target) are still tender. So, all care should be taken in handling them so as to prevent any damage to any of these parts.

In Nigeria, births still occur at home and some religious centres unlike in the US where about 100% of births take place in medical centres. Herbs and concotions are taken by some pregnant women in order to hasten child delivery. Malaria has been a threat to pregnant African women in the past years, hence antimalaria drugs are given as prevention all through the nine months. Malaria during pregnancy is said to be the cause of jundice at birth.
During delivery in most clinics, family members are not allowed into the delivery room except on emergencies. Pain relief are rarely given and Non-Invasive prenatal diagnosis is not so popular in Nigeria. The most popular method of detecting any deformity of feotus is through the ultrsound.
Fibroid during pregnancy is a common case in Nigeria but thanks to the improving medicine that is able to manage that.