Caesarean, freebirth or no choice at all? 12 women tell their stories
In some countries, childbirth means a private ward; others are lucky to see a trained midwife. Twelve women share their experiences – from the joyful to the tragic
Aderet Shatz is 24 and a student. She lives in Oranit, an Israeli settlement on the West Bank, with her husband, Yehonatan, and daughters Noam, 18 months, and Rotem, two weeks My husband is in the army, so he had to get a driver to take him to the hospital when I went into labour. Within 20 minutes of him arriving, I was dilated and there was no time for an epidural. As we are practising Orthodox Jews, my husband can’t touch me from the birth until I stop bleeding – which can be weeks. Until then, we have separate beds.
Jean, 31, lives in the Kasaï-Oriental Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo with her family and four children, aged 11, eight, six, and five-day-old Lorette. My husband is a diamond digger and went away to find work – he doesn’t know of his child’s birth yet. I wasn’t able to save money for Lorette’s delivery [a delivery at Cijiba Referral Health Centre, where Lorette was born, costs 7,000 Congolese francs – about £4.50]. I must stay here until the bill is paid. My husband is due to return to our village soon – I’m hoping when he does that he will bring back some money and come and get us.
Jean, from the Democratic Republic of Congo, with five-day-old Lorette
Photos and stories at link: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/mother-tongue/10687938/Caesarean-freebirth-or-no-choice-at-all-12-women-tell-their-stories.html
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