Babies know how to birth and women knows how to give birth!

For fourth one weeks and three days I had watching her pregnancy – my sister’s pregnancy. With it, there was a great wish to break a taboo that is in society (something so common in other times): the natural birth. During all that time, she studied about the subject, its benefits and also its arbitrariness. Yet, she remained strong with her choice.

By choosing the natural and humanized birth, she faced, at beginning, her husband (my brother-in-law), which over time realized how beneficial it would be for the child who would come and for her; at the end, he realized how beneficial it was for him too. She gained support and encouragement from her brothers and sister, who understood that that desire it was not a simple “fad”, but a deep desire to give her child what he (Isaac) deserved, to provide him a calm arrival.

She also had to hide her choice. Not by selfishness but by protecting her own desire – the natural birth is seen as something freak, and the humanized birth is seen as something insane and wild. From beginning to end, she faced it all.

Keeping her choice, she researched a lot about the issue; she hired a doula – one that provided physical and emotional support throughout the pregnancy and childbirth process; she hired midwives – currently known as obstetricians, who were absolutely important in labor, providing an amazing structure whitin the family environment. Thais, my sister, realized she would not be helpless and could proceed with her choice until the end – or beginning.

Soon – or not so soon – she found that the baby she was carrying in her womb was a boy. It was Isaac. And more happiness came from then. Studies about the humanized birth were never-ending, and not just part of her, but also by the husband and we – brethren. We always talked about it. And we yearned for the arrival of Isaac.

Near the end of pregnancy, about the thirty-ninth week, it was asked an ultrasound for her. When she arrived at lab, asked her how many weeks she was; answering what was asked her, immediately they rebuked her for being there, and not in a hospital. On examination, she was diagnosed with low amniotic fluid, placenta in level 3 – maximum level of maturity – and an outstanding circular cord – when the umbilical cord is wrapped around the baby’s neck. It made her upset.

As my brother-in-law was at work and away, we (myself, my husband and my other sister) arranged to pick up the car and take her to another lab to do another ultrasound; there, unlike the first, she did not mentioned anything about the pregnancy time, and not on the result of the previous examination. The doctor who attended, took the exam; result: no circular cord and an adequate amniotic fluid level.

We were excited with the result, but appalled by the system. System, this, by cesarean interventions. According to the Brazilian Ministry of Health, 2013, normal births in the Brazilian SUS (National Health System) account for 63.2%, while the percentage of natural births in private hospitals reaches less than 20%. On that account, Brazil reaches the top of the world ranking of cesarean interventions.

The problem is that many of those interventions are unnecessary – scheduled for the birth in specific day, comfort for doctors and parents, not to suffer pain; or by manipulation of doctors that induce the mother to choose the intervention, by placing dozens of obstacles that, if studied, do not prevent anything for the natural birth.

In Brazil, the cesarean interventions are the priority and the appointment of doctors, while the natural birth is considered the abnormal. And what happened to my sister proved that that system exists.

After the worry, it began the preparations for the long-awaited moment – the baby moment, because he would come whenever he wanted to. And it was that way. Prodroms – the “pre-labor”, when contractions are very irregular and far between, but preparing the pregnant for the labor – started around the thirty-seventh week and lasted until the forty first week (four weeks of irregular contractions). But Thais keep strong. Although warned about the problems of other people watching the childbirth – as the delay to engage in labor –, she wanted, even then, my sister and I watching it.

On Tuesday night we were warned she was having contractions less spaced. That night, we can’t sleep. At 5h30 on Wednesday we went to her house – I, photographer, and my sister, watcher. We spent the whole day there, helping with my brother-in-law (Fábio), and the doula – which had an endless participation in that process. We exchanged naps to help her and to score contractions; but it was not that time. At 2h00 on Thursday, the midwife – who had been called to check the progress of the process – asked us to go home, as this (our presence) was making the labor difficult for her (Thais) engaged indeed in labor. So we left it.

The Thursday was of anxiety. All the time with the mobile in hand, waiting for a message or a call; but nothing – we had forgot that it was Isaac’s time, not ours.

On Friday morning, my sister – who waited anxiously like me – sent me a message saying that Thais already was nine centimeters dilated. Shortly after, at 15h00, she called me and said that Isaac was born. I saw nothing in front of me, what I did was put on my shoes and go out from my house; we went to her house. Once there, we find the two midwives and the doula, and thank them so much for everything; we saw blood stains on the kitchen floor, bags with dirty cloths and bloodied paper, and all the equipment of the midwives – properly safeguarded not to let the mother and the baby in troubles in an emergency. We went to the room.

In the soft light in bed, Thais was lying; in her lap, Isaac slept, wrapped in a blanket. Fabio, my brother-in-law, watched the two, and you could see in his eyes the satisfaction of that moment.

I hugged Fabio and congratulated him on having been strong since the beginning of pregnancy and having supported my sister in her decision. He cried, said that really wanted me and my sister there at the birth time, but we said that we had no problem, we were there in thought, because we understood the grandeur of the situation and how the moment was for both of them (the couple). I kissed Thais and congratulated her on having been so strong, too.

Finally, I saw Isaac.

When I looked that little prince, my eyes filled with tears. I remembered the endless strength of my sister during all the suffered contractions. I wondered, if my emotions and my satisfaction were so long, they would be greatly satisfied; giving birth at home, in the comfort of your home, feeding at the time you want to, taking a shower when you want to, dressing in clothes that you want to (and if you want to be dressed), having the company of each other at all time, being in the best position for you, staying in the room with the light that you feel most comfortable. It is incredible! It is, in fact, reborn. Isaac could stay there, next to his mom, for all the time. Fabio could get there without having to stand in anguish to wait her back to the room, or spend hours without eating. We, the family, we were able to visit and see them all together, without waiting for another visit out of the room.

I am not saying that the cesarean intervention must be banned, because it is totally useful – but when it is required. It is useful in emergencies where no option for it can cause the baby or the mother’s death.

But I tell you that everything must be rethought; that the natural and, who knows, the humanized birth need to be known by all those who want to have children. Everything is fine, and I think it was in a hospital could not have been so – no unnecessarily.

Women need to rediscover the strength and the ability they have. They need to be supported by society, not judged. No more fear, uncertainties… Let’s look to the future and rediscover the past!

It is like we have been hearing throughout pregnancy, and we concluded at the end: “Babies know how to birth and women knows how to give birth!”.