Are there any Boston-area moms on here who labored at Mt Auburn Hospital?

KnoxYamaguchi2011

I'm aiming for a low-intervention natural birth, and am unsure of how natural-birth friendly it will be at Mt Auburn. Please share your story and reassure me/advise me if possible. My OB/GYN seemed skeptical about my intention to have a natural childbirth (though I like her a lot in other respects). Mt Auburn is the best location for us. Cambridge Hospital is a bit far for us to travel (already coming from 40 min away). 

CorkySinclair

I had my first baby at Mt. Auburn and am planning to have my second there as well (I'm due in July). I used the Midwives at Mt Auburn Hospital (MAMAH) and had a completely unmedicated (and awesome) labor. I actually showed up to my 39 week appointment that afternoon 5 centimeters dilated and in real deal labor and they let me go home because I didn't want to be in the hospital yet. I got back to the hospital about 8 centimeters and labored in the tub (most of the rooms in the Bain Birthing Center have tubs) and then the fancy room with the real-deal birthing tub opened up and I did quite a lot of panting and grunting and swearing in there. They couldn't find his heartbeat after a while in the birthing tub so I actually delivered on the hospital bed. He got stuck on the way out and I was thrilled that there were back-up doctors in case anything happened but he wiggled his way out after a minute.

I felt completely supported in my desire for an unmedicated birth there. No one ever brought up drugs (besides me) and the midwives and nurses were incredible in helping me get through the hardest moments. They were also really great at helping my husband figure out how best to support me. My sister had a completely different labor there - induction/pitocin/epidural/c-section - and though it wasn't exactly what she had hoped for or expected, I think she felt really empowered by the choices she made there too and doing what was best for her and her baby. All in all, I am a big fan.  

My fear about Cambridge Hospital is that if anything goes slightly awry - you have a little fever or your blood pressure isn't perfect - you get moved from the birthing center to the hospital. The birthing center is super pro-unmedicated labor but I don't know about the hospital L&D.  

KnoxYamaguchi2011

Thanks for sharing your birth experience, I'm glad it was so positive for you. Part of me is thinking I should switch to MAMAH instead of my OB. Feeling torn. 

ZeusOprah

@KnoxYamaguchi2011 I'm in a similar situation - deciding if Mt. Auburn is the best option since I also want a natural birth, and wondering who I should see beforehand for prenatal care.  My OB's network (Harvard Vanguard) has other doctors that deliver there, but no one specifically in the office that I normally I go to.  I'm just curious if you made a decision yet and what you decided.