All's we want is a healthy baby, right?

We all want a healthy baby, there's no question of that, but I suspect there are underlying beliefs to the common phrase "As long as the baby is healthy" that deserve closer examination.

To me, it sounds like we're giving up elements of birth we think may not be important when we say this.  What are we really sacrificing when we say "As long as the baby is healthy?"

I have identified 6 underlying beliefs to this common phrase, but there are bound to be more.  Please comment below if you think there are others!  

The underlying beliefs I have uncovered are:

1. “I am not qualified. Someone else needs to manage my birth.”
2. “My rights and my health and safety are subordinate to my baby’s. I must comply with my carer’s treatment.”
3. “The hospital/my maternity carer wants the same outcome as me.”
4. “Birth is dangerous and needs to be managed medically. Positive births are due to luck.”
5. “Labour and birth are simply painful, pointless torture. My partner has only a limited ability to support the process.”
6. “My experience is irrelevant and women who seek a positive experience are selfish and exposing the baby to risk.”

In Part 1 of this series, I cover beliefs 1-3, which focus on women's rights in childbirth and informed consent.  Please give us your feedback.  Do you think this information speaks to expectant parents, new to the world of birth and probably concerned about risks and that talked about a lot in society?

​My thanks to Bashi Hazard and Bec Jenkinson for their contributions to this episode.

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Listen to ""As Long as the Baby is Healthy" Part 1" on Spreaker.

In Part 2 of this series, we cover beliefs 4-6:

• “Birth is dangerous and needs to be managed medically. Positive births are due to luck.”
• “Labour and birth are simply painful, pointless torture."
• “My experience is irrelevant and people who seek a positive experience are selfish and exposing the baby to risk.”

My thanks to the following speakers for sharing their contributions to this episode. 

• Dr Kirsten Small, obstetrician and PhD candidate
• Professor Alec Welsh, University of NSW and obstetrician at Royal Hospital for Women, Sydney 
• Dr Sarah Buckley, GP, author and researcher on physiological birth

Listen to ""As Long as the Baby is Healthy" - Part 2" on Spreaker.

- Sally Cusack