When looking at the differences between birth in the United States and birth in the Netherlands, Vietnam, and among the Inuit, the biggest difference is the United States puts medicalization and government first; whereas the others are putting the health of the mother’s first.
In Vietnam, the women realized the dangers that were present during childbirth. With women dying at an alarming rate after giving birth, or having birthing complications. They then turned to modern medicine to help aid in the process. What remains important to the women in Vietnam is carrying on traditions. They don’t want to lose their traditions in giving birth to modern medicine, but they recognize that they need help in providing safe conditions for women to give birth in.
Just like the women in Vietnam, the Inuit also value the traditions of having children at home rather than in a hospital. When the government forced the Inuit women to fly south to more urban areas to have their babies, it caused more harm than good. These women were being forced to leave their families and their homes for weeks at a time, just to have a baby in the hospital. After bargaining with the government, the Inuit people were allowed to open a maternity center filled with Midwifes trained in home births. After looking at years of data, it has been found to be equally as safe to give birth in the north and the south.
Similarly, the Netherlands also gives women a choice on how to give birth. Within the Netherlands they too focus on the safety of the mother. The difference within this country is they allow for variability. They have found that it is okay to have different practices of giving birth, as long as the people assisting are properly trained. Studies have found that when the proper medical professions – either doctors or midwifes – are present during the birth, neither is safer or more beneficial to the mother. They solely leave it up to the mother and her preference.
What makes the United States different is that if you don’t practice modern medicine it is seen as wrong. This has to do largely with the Flexor Report. In order to push out homeopath, osteopathy and biomedicine out of the way the government needed to turn people against it. This allowed for a formed consensus to agree that biomedicine was the only right way to go. When in reality, we look at these other three countries, and while biomedicine can be crucial in some aspects, it can also be used hand in hand with more traditional medicinal practices. It has even been proven that proper midwifery is just as safe as biomedicine. While there is currently a large movement in the US to incorporate more homeopathic practices, there needs to be more of an acceptance, it is still seen as “taboo” or “witchcraft”. There have been studies to prove both are safe and both are effective, we just need to take advantage of it
The following link by the US department of health and human services is a prime example of how biomedicine has taken over the birthing process. It promotes government interference and a one-way track to how a birth and pregnancy should go. It gives off the idea that the government has all the answers in how to stay healthy and to make sure your baby has the best chance at being healthy. If they can’t answer the questions online, then you should go consult your doctor and make sure that you understand what the government is telling you. It doesn’t list any options for alternative birthing methods, or who else could help you during your pregnancy. It promotes going to the doctors who have their education dictated by the government for the “correct” pregnancy and birthing process.
https://www.womenshealth.gov/pregnancy/youre-pregnant-now-what/staying-healthy-and-safe