Does it bother you that so many women are so uneducated about childbirth?

[Rohan]

Right, let me start by saying that I know that not everyone is interested in the whys and wherefores, and that many women are happy with their experiences regardless of whether they understood every technical detail or not. And that's all fine. I'm not suggesting everyone should have a midwifery degree in order to give birth.

But does it rankle with anyone else when you hear mothers talking about their experiences and those of others without the faintest clue about the fundamentals of childbirth? I mean, they've been through it, surely they had some passing interest in what their options were and what would/could happen? Surely they were offered some type of education on the subject? Yet there they are spreading misinformation time and again. I'm not suggesting they're malicious or stupid or anything like that, honest I'm not - but there are some things I'd honestly expect every mother and mother to be to know, even if they don't particularly care.

To give an example of what I mean, these are a few things I've heard recently from mothers I know (and like!! I'm not making this a competition)

"I can't believe they're making her have a natural birth this time, if she couldn't get the first one out she won't be able to get this one out either, will she?' (Without knowing what the preferences of the mother were)

"I cannot believe they've let her go overdue, and it's supposed to be a big baby too! It's cruel" (Again without knowing preferences)

"Water birth can drown the baby"

I just don't get it? Feel free to flame me, although I'd prefer if it you didn't , I'm trying to get some frustration out here and still be fair. I'm not saying against these women, merely wondering how they can be so disinterested in a subject that affects them so personally?

I've heard much worse than those but I don't want to start an argument

I do agree with lulumama that MWs do not have time to tell you everything. But as it happens I have a MF who cannot care less. I do lots of research myself because i want to know what is happening to me and what may happen in the future (I am currently 35+5 and this is my 1st PG). I just need to know if something goes wrong, I need to prepare for it. Mentally I mean. I do not think being more or less educated can have a major effect on your birth as it is ( sometimes there are things that are just out of your control when you are trying to give birth) but I am 100% sure that having knowledge helps you to cope better and panic less, that in the end it can give you more okayish experience.

When I went to my ante natal classes in hospital, we had like 25 women there, and guess what: most of them had no clue about labour, stages of the labour, really basic stuff, nothing!!!! it was shocking AND disturbing. There are so many things that can go wrong during child birth and especially after, when baby is few days old, and those women with all due respect had no clue about fundamental things! Still after a month of finishing the class I cant get my head around: how they can be that not bothered?
But also MW...when I came to see mine at 28 weeks and I had few questions to ask her written dowen on the piece of paper ( because you do forget), she saw my paper, and went: oh... so many questions! ( 4 to be exact)... I am like.... thinking...what are you actually then doing here, woman?

you know what I mean....

A friend of mine came to see her at routine appointment, and the girl had a bit of cold. So when this MF saw her, first thing she told her: why did you come to see me if you have a cold? you should have stayed at home, coz now you are gonna pass it onto me.

CAN YOU BEELIEVE THIS???
so WHAT is she doing there then, in health care?????????? i cant beileve things I hear sometimes....

Yes but you can be educted about stages of labour, process of childbirth etc... and then find that your body does it differently and that is scary.
Like why was I in prelabour for 2 weeks, why were my contractions one minute long and 2 minutes apart and strong enough to make me shake and fall over, when I was only 1cm dilated. I cried after being examined and told that. On the partogram the spikes were reaching the top of the chart and were regular etc... but I still 'wasn't in labour'.
All the classes I went to were a load of utter rubbish and all the advice was useless. In my case at least. I wish I had not bothered with any of it as it just made me feel that body was abnormal.

Four DCs on, and I still don't want to be 'educated' about birth. I'm not interested. Baby comes out one way or the other. If we're both fine, that's all that matters.