Birth in the 23rd/24th century

[MikeS]

The c-section is not ideal even now. There are a myriad of reasons (both physiological and psychological) why standard vaginal birthing is preferred (and certainly not the kind where the mother lays on her back for hours on end "pushing") Check out the movie "The Business of Being Born" for an interesting look at different methods of giving birth that are far less stressful on the mother.

Are you talking about the use of a birthing chair or methods like that?

All kinds of things, like home births, birthing pools, being allowed to walk around during labor. I'll have to drag my wife in here to clarify, she just joined recently to post about Doctor Who stuff.

Funnily enough, the reason this thread idea popped into my head was because my partner gave birth naturally at home five weeks ago. She did it on her feet, moving around, using me as support and all with just paracetamol and hot baths for pain relief. I felt like I birthed with her, it was such an emotional high for both of us. The 36 hours without sleep were well worth it!

I realise the technology is there for when things go wrong (we were five minutes from a hospital), but I couldn't help thinking that we have lost something in our sanitised, medicalised modernity. I want to scream "natural birthing!" from the rooftops!

I suppose I feel like McCoy. Why use the technology if something more human, natural and just as good exists?

 

[milo bloom]

Are you talking about the use of a birthing chair or methods like that?

All kinds of things, like home births, birthing pools, being allowed to walk around during labor. I'll have to drag my wife in here to clarify, she just joined recently to post about Doctor Who stuff.

Funnily enough, the reason this thread idea popped into my head was because my partner gave birth naturally at home five weeks ago. She did it on her feet, moving around, using me as support and all with just paracetamol and hot baths for pain relief. I felt like I birthed with her, it was such an emotional high for both of us. The 36 hours without sleep were well worth it!

I realise the technology is there for when things go wrong (we were five minutes from a hospital), but I couldn't help thinking that we have lost something in our sanitised, medicalised modernity. I want to scream "natural birthing!" from the rooftops!

I suppose I feel like McCoy. Why use the technology if something more human, natural and just as good exists?

Exactly. We didn't really discover all the alternatives until afterwards, and even though we're not likely to have anymore kids, we still feel we should get this type of information out there for more people.

Again, "The Business of Being Born" is a great movie to show how we've let ourselves be removed from our natural customs.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

^ At the very least, you have to have the machine that goes PING!

 

[Smellincoffee]

I've seen a few birthing videos on YouTube: the water births seem quite peaceful. I could imagine seeing Crusher transport in a birthing tub into a given person's quarters...

 

[JRoss]

Yeah, Greg, that's the most Trek, most McCoy line that I've ever read.

 

[scotpens]

I've seen a few birthing videos on YouTube: the water births seem quite peaceful.

Water birthing is perfectly natural — if you happen to be a whale.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

Well according to the deleted scene of Spock's birth in ST:XI Vulcans find it perfectly normal to give birth outside with lots of sand and dirt blowing around. This was deleted though so it's not canon.. instead we have Spock's birth in ST:V taking place in a cave for no apparent reason.

 

[Smellincoffee]

Well according to the deleted scene of Spock's birth in ST:XI Vulcans find it perfectly normal to give birth outside with lots of sand and dirt blowing around. This was deleted though so it's not canon.. instead we have Spock's birth in ST:V taking place in a cave for no apparent reason.

On Vulcan, everything important happens in a cave, preferably with a frowning priest nearby.

 

[Rojixus]

Well according to the deleted scene of Spock's birth in ST:XI Vulcans find it perfectly normal to give birth outside with lots of sand and dirt blowing around. This was deleted though so it's not canon.. instead we have Spock's birth in ST:V taking place in a cave for no apparent reason.

Perhaps that's just a traditional birthing place for members of Spock's House that they have owned for over two-thousand years.

 

[Admiral Shran]

^ That's what I've always assumed. Spock's family has been shown to have special places on Vulcan for certain occasions, such as in Amok Time and Yesteryear.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

I wonder if Sarek showed Amanda this cave before they got married..

 

[Rojixus]

I assume Sarek gave Amanda a tour of the family holdings, I hope he didn't spring the cave on her when her water broke!

 

[Paradon]

Oh, please! Don't use the transporter! It would just diminish the experience. There are a lot of heartache and suffering in this world, and this is the one of the few moments that could be truly called a miracles that we can witness...both for the mother and father.