Intro to natural birth board

jscagcia1

Hi, 19w 5d here and hoping for a natural birth. I have done research and reading online a lot since finding out I am pregnant on going natural. After a recent OB visit, this week, I decided that I should switch OBs. This came after a recent interview (the night before the appt w/ OB)  with a local doula whom had not so super experiences with the hospital I had chosen through my insurance. The OB was not for any other pushing position other than on my back and the hospital's policy was 12 hours for labor. I felt that both of those policies put limits on my birthing goals so I decided to change to a different OB and hospital in my area. I guess I am looking for feedback. What else should I keep in mind when interviewing this new OB and taking the new hospital tour to help my chances of natural birth success. BTW, my doula is also a licensed MW in the state and also does hypnobirthing and birth education classes. I feel like with her, I have the full package.

Texas77again

welcome!  is there a reason that you don't want to deliver with your doula/mw? 

~ i would want to know what your new dr's policy is regarding inductions (what methods do they use) and post date babies.  what they do when a patient goes over her due date.

~ what is their c/s rate.

~ are they trained in vaginal breech birth deliveries.

~ episiotomy rates

~ policy on water births, if you're interested in that

~ delayed cord cutting, if important to you

~ does the hosp have a lactation consultant, or will your doula/mw be around in the postpartum period to help with that.

there are a million things i can think of, hopefully this will get you started.

 

 

jscagcia1

Hi, Texas77again, thank you for replying.

I am not delivering with my doula/mw because I am not doing a homebirth and there are no birthing centers in my area. DH and I talked about it and he felt more comfortable with a hospital setting. Also I am active duty military and although I know of other members that have delivered at home, I'm not sure if that's actually acceptable with TRICARE.

My doula is a lactation consultant and will be available to me postpartum.

As for the other topics you hit on. I will be sure to have those on hand for my first visit with new OB and ask the hospital as well on the tour. I have already scheduled the hospital tour.

JuneBug0611

It's a very rare OB these days who is trained in/open to vaginal delivery of a breech baby (at least in my area), so I wouldn't let that be a deal-breaker for you.

Have you and your MW/doula worked on a birth plan together?  Ideally you could take your birth plan in to your appointment with the new OB and ask them if that kind of a birth is something that would be possible with them, or if there were particular parts of it that they would not be able to accommodate.  That would give you a good sense.   

jscagcia1

About breech delivery: that's exactly what my doula said. She has delivered 15 breech babies....all home births.

I have worked out a birthplan...one that I found on here, printed out and filled in but will be having our first meeting with her on Wednesday so I will share it with her and if we need to change anything, I'm open to that.

 

Nechie122

Although this is not about the birth per se, you might also want to ask about the hospital's policy on mom/baby separation. For instance, it was very important that I was never separated from my LO, even during tests. I never left her side the entire time; I even wheeled her to the nursery for her newborn screening.

I actually arrived at the hospital fully dilated so I don't have much experience there, but being able to move around was key at home. So I'd ask about intermittent monitoring

CTri17

welcome!

jscagcia1

Nechie122:

Although this is not about the birth per se, you might also want to ask about the hospital's policy on mom/baby separation. For instance, it was very important that I was never separated from my LO, even during tests. I never left her side the entire time; I even wheeled her to the nursery for her newborn screening.

I actually arrived at the hospital fully dilated so I don't have much experience there, but being able to move around was key at home. So I'd ask about intermittent monitoring

I do know that the hospital that I am delivering at has bluetooth fetal monitoring. You wear the device and it sends that readings back to a machine in the room. However, I am not sure about the hospital's policy on separation so that's a good question that I need to ask. I do know that I can keep my little guy in my room for the duration of our stay.