Is there such a thing as "Birth Rape"?

[IDrinkaRum]

Opinion piece deals with new breed of people who say woman who experience any sort of trauma during the birthing process are the same as rape victims

A post titled "A Discussion About Birth Rape and Its Results" on the "BINSI Blog" reads: "Some believe people use the term 'birth rape' to sensationalize their trauma and feel it is disrespectful to actual rape victims. The pain these women feel is just as real, and they are just as much victims as anyone else. One dictionary definition of the word rape is 'to violate or abuse.' State laws about rape usually consider any forceful penetration of the vagina or rectum to be rape. Ladies suffering from birth trauma display some of the classic symptoms of rape victims, including silence and shame about their ordeal."

I'm sorry, but babies come out of your vagina. Sometimes, the doctor has to take a peek.

That basically sums up the opinion piece for me.

I ... just don't understand. Like the author of this article, I ended up with an emergency c-section as either I or my daughter or both of us at the same time would have died during a "normal" delivery. I am not "ashamed" nor "traumatized" by the fact that I didn't deliver my daughter the same way other women through the centuries have.

Plus, has anyone ever heard of this term, "Birth Rape"? To be honest, I hadn't until I read this article.

[Greenday]

Never heard of the term "birth rape" until now but it's a complete load of shit. Rape is used for so many things these days that have absolutely nothing to do with rape.

Video Games: "Man, he raped you all game!"
Paychecks: "Man, the government raped my paycheck!"

On and on. This is just another way of people completely misusing the term rape.

[draggar]

So this is what happens when EWs give birth? Just because things don't go according to YOUR plan doesn't mean doctors, nurses, etc.. are trying to take advantage of you. Things don't always go according to plan - especially with children.

DISCLAIMER: Yes, there are some who will take advantage of a woman who is giving birth but I think those are the far minority.

The term "rape" is far over-used and I think many people are being de-sensitized to it. People here of a woman being raped (literally) and then others may equate it to being beat on a video game (to steal GD's example).

[Mongo Skruddgemire]

Am I the only one who has Family Guy pop into mind? The episode where Peter gets a prostate exam and cries "Rape"?

Goddamnit! I want my cartoons and my reality to be completely different. Cartoons are doing their part. The Real World needs to stop being this goddamn stupid.

[Mongo Skruddgemire]

Ok, I looked into this in more detail than I would ever want to. There are people crying "Birth Rape" when in one circumstance the Doctor had to reach in and untangle the umbilical cord before it...you know...kinda strangled the kid to death.

So her being able to decide on whether or not she wants to have a doctor's arm inserted into her vagina is more important to her than her child's first few (and potentially last) minutes of life?

God and Goddess help the kids because the parent's are sure as hell not going to.

[draggar]

Ok, I looked into this in more detail than I would ever want to. There are people crying "Birth Rape" when in one circumstance the Doctor had to reach in and untangle the umbilical cord before it...you know...kinda strangled the kid to death.

So her being able to decide on whether or not she wants to have a doctor's arm inserted into her vagina is more important to her than her child's first few (and potentially last) minutes of life?

God and Goddess help the kids because the parent's are sure as hell not going to.

Don't worry, if the child dies because the doctor hesitated to ask her if it was OK then she'll be able to sue him for malpractice. If he reached in there without her permission then she could sue him for taking advantage of her.

It's a win-win situation for her.

(I'd give the sarcastic smiley with this but that icon is smiling and this isn't something we should smile over).

[telecom_goddess]

Never heard of the term "birth rape" until now but it's a complete load of shit. Rape is used for so many things these days that have absolutely nothing to do with rape.

Video Games: "Man, he raped you all game!"
Paychecks: "Man, the government raped my paycheck!"

On and on. This is just another way of people completely misusing the term rape.

What you said It's a bullshit term that people are coming up with to find another reason to complain and sue someone.

[anakhouri]

Um. You choose to have a child, you don't choose to be raped.

When you decide to have a baby, you go in knowing it's going to suck. You just decide it's worth it, that's all. Comparing childbirth to rape is extremely disrespectful to rape victims.

I too had an emergency c-section, and I was doped to the gills- didn't feel a damn thing during the procedure, adore the doctor for saving my life and my son's. I think this woman just wants attention.

[HYHYBT]

Second thread in a row:
Just more proof, as if any were needed, that nutcases come in all varieties.

[Lachrymose]

This is just another way of people completely misusing the term rape.

Not really

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/rape

–verb (used with object)
6.
to force to have sexual intercourse.
7.
to plunder (a place); despoil.
8.
to seize, take, or carry off by force.

[IDrinkaRum]

But those, IMHO, don't describe what is going on during the birthing process.

There is no "plundering" when a doctor is checking to make sure the baby is coming out properly, NOT being strangled by its umbilical cord, or even if it's coming out feet first.

They are not carrying off by force the baby that is removed via c-section. A c-section is usually done if 1. the woman has scheduled a c-section for whatever reason or 2. (as in my case) it's to save the lives of both the mother and baby.

[Greenday]

Not really

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/rape

–verb (used with object)
6.
to force to have sexual intercourse.
7.
to plunder (a place); despoil.
8.
to seize, take, or carry off by force.

No, really. Those definitions have nothing to do with giving birth.

[protege]

There are people crying "Birth Rape" when in one circumstance the Doctor had to reach in and untangle the umbilical cord before it...you know...kinda strangled the kid to death.

Thought I'd throw this little tidbit out there. According to my parents, the cord somehow wrapped itself around my neck If the doctor hadn't reached in, I wouldn't be here. Of course, that's probably why I'm so fucked up now

[tropicsgoddess]

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/rape

–verb (used with object)
6.
to force to have sexual intercourse.
7.
to plunder (a place); despoil.
8.
to seize, take, or carry off by force.

I don't see anywhere where this "birth rape" fits into these definitions of rape at all.

[LadyBarbossa]

In non-emergency medical procedures, yes, most of the time the doctor or nurse will explain what he/she is about to do to the patient and make sure they're ok with it. But in a birthing situation, there's just not time for that kind of thing. Like someone said, the baby could suffocate or sustain injuries. Now, maybe these doctors should explain that these things might need to be done before the big day comes, but more than likely the EW mommies were caught up in the starry-eyed fantasy of what they think childbirth will be like and didn't listen to these particular bits of information.

I've never had kids, but any of the people I know who do, will tell you that that particular part is hell. It's not exactly a big secret.