Jaycine [link broken] has written an account of the recent birth of her daughter, interspersed with her husband’s commentary. It sounds terrifying and excruciating. I’m really scared about it now. Screaming? Screaming is not good. I can’t even remember the last time I screamed about anything.
Also, it bothers me that men can’t go through this as well. Obviously, you say, but it bothers me not for just the obvious reason that the burden is unfairly on the woman. No, I actually feel this is unfair in some ways to the man (yeah, sure, it’d be fun to watch him suffer for nine months for the next kid, though). I would like parenting to be equal, but it doesn’t seem that equality is possible, when there’s this intense physical experience that a mother has and the father doesn’t. I wonder if this is the beginning of a sense of separation in some marriages–before the baby, it’s “just the two of us,” but after the baby, not only are there three people, but mother and child were until just recently one single physical unit. It seems sad and unfair.
So now I’m worried about both the physical and emotional sides to giving birth. I can’t even say anymore that I’m glad it’ll be years before I have to go through this–it’s not like it’s going to get any better by the time I’m thirty. In fact, it’s quite possible, biologically, that it would be easier now, since I am younger and closer to the age at which [female] humans have historically been giving birth. Eek. I want to curl up in a ball and vow to adopt (babies, kittens, puppies, whatever) instead!
[This post was imported on 4/10/14 from my old blog at satsumabug.livejournal.com.]
satsumabug.com | Lisa Hsia 
cyn here
hi lisa. =) i’m sorry my
account scared you. it wasn’t
so scary per se, only so in
that it was an unknown experience.
giving birth and the ability to
do so is definitely *the* thing
that separates men from women.
it’s very clear how different we
are when one is pregnant.
some may say it’s a burden
for the women, but yes, i would
say it could be seen as a loss
for the man.
instead of thinking about
how both sexes may lose in
this situation, i would rather
see it as a major win for both
sexes.
i never thought bringing a child
into the world would be easy
or took it lightly.
it is an intense and overwhelming
experience when you *want* it.
but when a couple does decide
to take the plunge, it is one
of the most rewarding things
for a relationship i can think of.
no, it’s not *easy*, but neither
is marriage, i would say.
both take work and both reap
great rewards.
i look on my birth experience
as a very positive one,
definitely. =)
Re: cyn here
Thank you. 🙂 I feel better.
Re: Child birth
I guess everyone has different experiences for being pregnant and giving birth. But it was one the most wonderful experiences in my life. To me, it is sacred to be able to bear children. No words can describe the joy of seeing your child for the first time after nine months of expectation.
Love,
Mama
Re: Child birth
I know. You have told me so before. 🙂 But didn’t it HURT?!
[…] listen to raging feminists. It has been hard, really hard, for me to accept that men and women are different and really don’t see things the same way. It’s so unfair, because it means that as long […]