"How I gave birth" stories are kind of like "big fish" tales. With each retelling, you get more hardcore. First time around, you gave birth drug-free. Second time? Drug-free with one arm tied behind your back. And so on. But did you give birth in absolute silence at home?
This one mom from Jerusalem kept quiet during the whole OMG, ouch labor and delivery process. And then, the woman who happens to practice the Jewish faith also managed to sit, quiet and patient, with her newborn still attached to her via the umbilical cord, until sundown! She didn't even get to coo over that sweet little pumpkin!
The new mom had taken a vow of silence for the Jewish Sabbath day, and she refused to give up ... even when her rabbi called the paramedics. According to a report in The Huffington Post, even the idea of a rabbinical tribunal to relieve her of her vow didn't make the mom budge.
Yikes!
I would have thought that the fact that the rabbi actually called upon the paramedics would have given this mom a break, but I'm not Jewish, and as such can't really comment on how these sort of rules of the faith work. I don't know why or how or any of it. So I'm not going there, OK? It's too easy to criticize when you aren't well versed in someone's culture.
I can comment on what it takes to be 100 percent silent during the birth of a baby and after. I'll tell you right now, I know I couldn't do it! And I don't know many women who could!
We don't scream when we're in labor because we're wusses (contrary to certain male opinions). We do it because it's in our nature: scientists have proven that there is actual pain relief to be had when we swear or shout.
I remember lying in the labor room (at that time my hospital moved you to another room for the actual delivery), listening to women up and down the hallway screaming their lungs out. I wasn't a screamer, but you can bet your sweet bippy that I was making some noises while I produced a human being. My version was repetition of a certain curse word muttered under my breath.
As for after the baby's born, all I wanted to do was talk to my daughter! I was cooing and telling her how beautiful she was, and I probably did not shut up for a good hour or so ...
How about you? How long could you take the silence?
Image via futureshape/Flickr
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Comments 47
I didn't scream for either of my two, but it was because I had a bad experience. I had some complications with the first pregnancy and ended up being admitted to the hospital a couple months before my due date. When they admitted me they put me in a delivery room and the woman in the room next to mine was screaming her head off. It scared the hell out of me and so when it was my turn to deliver I didn't scream, out of respect for my neighbors.
I didn't scream or cuss. I might have moaned in pain but I don't remember making much sound at all.
I never screamed but I do remember every other word out of my mouth being one of 3 curse words until I got the epidural. Then I was ok until the meds wore off and I kept repeating that I hated her father and it was all his fault while waiting for the stronger meds I was given.
i challenge any men who claim women are wimpy for screaming during childbirth to push a baseball out of their peehole without screaming. not possible right? that's what i thought.
tarae27 on Jun 28, 2012 at 6:15 PM
This is an interesting topic. I wonder what the consequences are within the religion if they are unable to keep quiet. You'd have to ask my sister or husband, but I don't think I made any noise when I had Colleen and hardly any with Kerry. I was pretty irritated by the screaming from the next room!
I didn't make much noise. I did have an epically fast labour though, no drugs, think I was too much in shock to make any sounds LOL :)