Comments on: Fathers and the experience of traumatic pregnancy and/or birth http://janetfraser.id.au/blog/2009/12/28/fathers-and-the-experience-of-traumatic-pregnancy-andor-birth/ Where birth and feminism intersect. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:14:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Morgan McFarland http://janetfraser.id.au/blog/2009/12/28/fathers-and-the-experience-of-traumatic-pregnancy-andor-birth/comment-page-1/#comment-689 Morgan McFarland Fri, 08 Jan 2010 21:11:38 +0000 http://janetfraser.id.au/blog/?p=189#comment-689 I feel so glad that my husband was able to experience two peaceful, safe homebirths of his two biological children, and spared the horribly traumatatic hospital birth experience I had with my oldest child (whom he adopted). To him, birth has only been an empowering, shared family experience. I feel so glad that my husband was able to experience two peaceful, safe homebirths of his two biological children, and spared the horribly traumatatic hospital birth experience I had with my oldest child (whom he adopted). To him, birth has only been an empowering, shared family experience.

]]> By: Janet http://janetfraser.id.au/blog/2009/12/28/fathers-and-the-experience-of-traumatic-pregnancy-andor-birth/comment-page-1/#comment-655 Janet Mon, 28 Dec 2009 23:10:56 +0000 http://janetfraser.id.au/blog/?p=189#comment-655 I think it's a good idea to flesh out our understanding of the ripple effects of brutality in hospitals. I would hesitate to say it is worse however since watching someone have their vagina cut open doesn't really rate against being the screaming woman having her vagina cut open. It is however still a traumatic experience of that there is no doubt. It is a bit of a slippery slope to claim that other people are experiencing something worse than the woman being raped. I hope that studies like this will also help the many women whose partners deny that birthrape exists or that the woman's experience of trauma is not to be believed. The researcher is hoping to spread the word about her research so feel free to send to everyone you know! I think it’s a good idea to flesh out our understanding of the ripple effects of brutality in hospitals. I would hesitate to say it is worse however since watching someone have their vagina cut open doesn’t really rate against being the screaming woman having her vagina cut open. It is however still a traumatic experience of that there is no doubt. It is a bit of a slippery slope to claim that other people are experiencing something worse than the woman being raped. I hope that studies like this will also help the many women whose partners deny that birthrape exists or that the woman’s experience of trauma is not to be believed. The researcher is hoping to spread the word about her research so feel free to send to everyone you know!

]]> By: Guggie Daly http://janetfraser.id.au/blog/2009/12/28/fathers-and-the-experience-of-traumatic-pregnancy-andor-birth/comment-page-1/#comment-652 Guggie Daly Mon, 28 Dec 2009 18:13:37 +0000 http://janetfraser.id.au/blog/?p=189#comment-652 I am glad to see that studies are beginning! I think fathers are the forgotten voice in this culture of violence surrounding pregnancy, birth and parenting. My own father had a lot to process after my birth, stuff that still affected our relationship for a long time. (He found a lot of healing with Christopher West's books and we had a real heart to heart at one of West's seminars). It is easy for people to recognize that the person being hurt is going to experience trauma. But what about the person who is forced to watch, feeling powerless to help the ones he loves? In some ways, I wonder if being a captive bystander is more painful than experiencing the abuse. I am glad to see that studies are beginning! I think fathers are the forgotten voice in this culture of violence surrounding pregnancy, birth and parenting.

My own father had a lot to process after my birth, stuff that still affected our relationship for a long time. (He found a lot of healing with Christopher West’s books and we had a real heart to heart at one of West’s seminars). It is easy for people to recognize that the person being hurt is going to experience trauma. But what about the person who is forced to watch, feeling powerless to help the ones he loves? In some ways, I wonder if being a captive bystander is more painful than experiencing the abuse.

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