My memories of the birth of my only son being born start with (The Short version):
In the Beginning
· Hyperemesis (gravidarum (HG) is a severe form of morning sickness) (Weeks 7-40)
· Excessive weigh lost (Weeks 7-22)
· Slow weight gain (Weeks 23-40)
The Birth
I was 2 days away from my due date. I had the strongest contractions that I have ever had in 4 pregnancies. I was home awaken out of my sleep, the pain increased fast. We called an ambulance. My amniotic sac broken in the ambulance, on the way to the hospital. This was also the first time that my water broke with no assistance. I was in the labor in delivery room with increasing pain, mad, and frustrated that the anesthesiologists was taking too long to show up. I needed pain medication.
I remembered my son’s heart rate dropped a little. There was talk of a Cesarean Section (C-Section) I was in labor for 5 hours. But I wouldn’t hear of it, unless it was a last resort. I was tired and I just wanted for my baby to be healthy. I was able to have a natural birth. However my son had to be observed in the NICU for a week.
After Birth
The NICU was dark and depressing. There were rows and rows of babies there. There were numerous multiple birth babies there. I stayed in the NICU every night with my son. I was very relieved he only had to stay for 7 days. I am sure how I would have felt if he had to stay longer. I felt for the parents with children there, for a long period of time.
On a another note: All that I can think of is the fact that my Twin A didn’t make. And my friend “C” lost her son while our children were in the NICU for treatment (A nurse laid him down on his back after feeding him, and he chocked to death). R.I.P Twin A and Little M
Twins and triplets are exempt from the One-Child Policy (article)
Wealthy couples in China are turning to fertility drugs in growing numbers, with a report suggesting some may be using it to beat the one child policy. One hospital has reportedly seen the number of women giving birth to twins or triplets soar in recent years. For the last 25 years China has sought to curb the growth of its vast population by restricting many couples to having just one child. However, exceptions are made in the cases of multiple births such as twins. According to a report in the China Daily, a hospital in the eastern city of Nanjing has seen the number of twins and triplets jump from a yearly average of 20 sets to 90 sets in 2005. "More women are taking fertility medicine to help them become pregnant," Gu Ling, director of the Maternal and Child Hygiene Hospital in Nanjing, told the paper. The term "one-child policy" is based on a popular misconception that the birth control policy of the PRC requires all couples in mainland China to have no more than one child. In reality, though having one child has been promoted as ideal and the limit has been strongly enforced in urban areas, the actual implementation varies from location to location. In most rural areas, families are allowed to have two children, if the first child is female, or disabled. Second children are subject to birth spacing (usually 3 or 4 years). Additional children may result in fines. The families are required to pay economic penalties, and might be denied bonuses at their workplace. |
Sources: Nigma, E.(2007). Twins and triplets are exempt from the One-Child Policy. Retrieved from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4708432.stm, Askville by Amazon |
My Feelings and Differences
This article hit home for me out of every article that I read, because I would have given anything to have both of my Twins here with me today. But unfortunately only one made it. The difference is that no one (the government, etc.) forced me down to one child. I am a mother of 4 children. So to come across an article that reveals a country can intrude on one’s right to have child/children, is truly devastating to me. Prior to now I heard about the one child rule in China, however I never thought to do research for parents who have more than one child during a birth.
Sharronda, I am so sorry for your lose. I also lost a child, my little girl. Thank you for sharing your story.
ReplyDeleteYour article was very interesting. I did not now about the multiple birth exception in China.
Thanks for sharing such a dear and deep part of your life with us. I appreciate the information that you provided regarding China's both increase in mutliple birth pregnancies and how they approach families having more than 1 child. I agree with you, I am thankful that I live somewhere that allows me to choose the size of my family.
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