I started feeling contractions around 5:14 a.m. I slowly got out of bed and charted the contractions. By 6:00 a.m. we were at the hospital and I was admitted. I had dilated to 5. I called my mother who then called all of my sisters and a few select church members. This was my first birth and my husband and I were both excited. I was given an epidural which numbed me from my waist down. At 7:18 p.m. we were parents of a healthy baby boy, what a joy. My stay at the hospital was pleasant. I had visits from a nutritionist, clergy and various other support staff. I received a case of books from the state of Michigan. I believe it was called ready to read. My son received the best of care and I was released two days later.
In reading about pregnancies in Africa, the experience is quite different. According to NPR, one out every six children dies before age five and for women giving birth, the mortality rate is three times more. Many of them rely on herbalists and traditional healers to deliver their babies. They are untrained and many can't read.
The experiences are quite different given that prenatal care is at the bare minimal which leads to unhealty children at birth.
