Just so you all know

Doctors no longer are standing by in case something should go wrong with childbirth.
No, doctors treat every childbirth as if it is a medical emergency. Shoot the gal up with drugs immediately, look for the first opportunity to perform a C-section. Make sure that the birth is performed during office hours. Consult their handy-dandy gestation chart to pick the day of delivery (they always miss it by a month or so). Depend upon the mother's memory to determine the date of pregnancy (very scientific, this!).
Assure the mother several months of pain and discomfort by administering a saddleblock.

There are so many jaundiced babies in the hospital nursery that people would be shocked to find that babies are not naturally yellow.

You obviously haven't been in a maternity ward in a long time. Hell it wasn't even like that 20 years ago. Why are you spouting about something of which you know nothing?

Childbirth has been going on for a pretty good spell. It is amazing how 20 years would put someone out of touch on this subject. Nothing like the modern age is there?

As I recall, you didn't bother with the maternity ward 22 years ago. I've been in many over the last 20 years. It really is a shame when people talk about subjects that they have no first hand experience with.

The urge to eat the childbirth is also chemically caused and is the natural scheme of things.

I have four children, all delivered naturally, and I assure you I had no urge to eat any of them!

Now, THAT was funny. Maybe I had a Freudian moment. I'll go take some more meds.

We also have four children. Two of those were born in hospitals.

Trying to to put births into neat little catagories is senseless.....each one is unique and each one may be handled differently. My DIL had her first child by C-section.....she had no choice, either they performed the surgery or the baby was likely to die or suffer severe brain damage. 3 years later she had her second child at home in a "birthing pool", with only my son and a midwife in attendence. Not once did her doctors tell her she would have to have another c-section.

My first child, 38 years ago was natural, to a point, they had to administer a spinal anesthetic near the end because they were going to break my tail bone in order to deliver him (he was only 7.1 lbs.) He was laid on my tummy after birth and all checks of his vitals etc were done while he was in my arms, he and I were never separated except to weigh him. That's how it was done then. 8 years later I delivered my daughter by c-section, not because I wanted to but because I had major abdominal surgery when I was 5 1/2 months pregnant and all the muscles in my abdomen and around the uterus had been cut. I credit my surgeons and the two OB/GYNs who were in the operatin g room with keeping my daughter safe during that surgery.....she was born healthy by c-section. Once again, they laid her on my tummy where I could hold her and cuddle while they sewed me up, she was never out of my arms (again except to weigh her) as that was my wish and they honored it. She is my "miracle" child.

For someone, a man no less, to set themselves up as the difinitive word on what child birth is all about, what is good and what is bad, is ludicris. My experiences have been that doctors will work with mothers and fathers to make the experience exactly what they want, while still keeping in mind the safety of both mother and child. I would have much preferred having my daughter naturally (even with another broken tail bone) than a c-section, but I didn't want it badly enough to jeopardize my baby's life, which is what I would be doing.

On another note that I'm sure someone (guess who) will have some jack ass comment to make......

With my last two (they didn't have it available to the public with my son) I had them save the umbilical cord fluid. They usually only get one vial but I asked for another vial just in case with both. In the end I got two vials per child. That is a total of 4 which is awesome. It is expensive but well worth it if they ever need it. If you're going to have a baby check into this ok?

Being diagnosed with ADHD, myself - I think I can legitimately chime in.

a) Meds help in the short term

b) I don't think meds are a decent long-term solution (addiction, failure to learn how to cope)

c) I have days that are HELL thanks to ADHD (job, family, etc)

d) I think ADHD is a common situation - it needs not be considered a "disorder."
(it can create advantages in some parts of life)
It's only a "disorder" in that it creates behaviors and thoughts that are outside-the-box.

If Edidson were medicated, we'd still be living without the lightbulb.