Tell me about your birth at Strong Memorial Hospital

Saemilyn

We're planning (hoping for) a non-medicated birth, we've been attending Bradley Method classes. I have yet to ask my OB & midwife about how things go down at Strong, but definitely plan to at my next appointment. Since I've never done this before and I've never even step foot into a maternity ward, I have lots of questions.

So... whats it like? Did you have to have an IV? Can you eat? How much control over things do you have? Can you listen to music? Dim the lights? Do you have to lay flat on your back for the birth?

thanks ladies!

xKimx

No clue on how Strong is, but just wanted to say I've had 2 fantastic births using Bradley (one hospital, one home). Let me know if you have any questions

jnk062602

I wanted an epi, but knew that sometimes things happen where you can't get one, or it doesn't take or whatever.  So from what I remember from the childbirth class and being at Strong - yes you can dim the lights, yes you can listen to music, and also there is a tub there if that is something you are interested in.  They also have different things like the elastic bands to pull, pressure point stuff, and the bouncing ball.  Although the ball kind of skeeves me out thinking of all different pregnant water-leaking women bouncing on it, but I'm sure like everything else there it is cleaned well.

Since I was there for an induction, I got an IV placed right away.  And they gave me cervedil to ripen my cervix that evening.  I know the plan was to start pitocin the next morning, but by the time I was supposed to get pitocin, I was already an 8, so they didn't ever do it.  So unless they gave me fluids (which honestly I really can't remember), I don't know if they ever used the IV in my arm.

I was originally told I could eat until the dr was planning on coming in to do the pitocin at 8am.  But since I was a 5 at 5am, and in active labor, I think I was supposed to stop eating somewhere before that.  But I remember being in the tub and eating some crackers and snacks that I had brought from home and the nurse saw me and said I should have already stopped eating.  I totally blamed DH and told her he gave me the food, haha, I distinctly remember that part.

I did give birth on my back.  I wouldn't say flat, they had the head part up a bit, so it was more like sitting reclined and then the feet were up too.  But maybe that was also because I had gotten an epi at that time?  I don't know, I certainly didn't ask to change positions at all.

Strong was wonderful.  I think they will let you do things for the most part how you want.  I personally also loved the food while there and am sadly looking forward to it for this next baby.  Although sometimes slow to arrive, so I would recommend ordering before you really feel hungry.  Even once I had dd, I was having trouble nursing and they offered me to stay another day which was awesome since I didn't feel rushed out.  We didn't stay that night (I totally wish we did since it ended up being the single worse night ever home), but we left after dinner so already past the normal checkout time.

emiliemetcalf

I live in Syr, so I didn't give birth at Strong, but just wanted to say that if you have strong ideas about what you want, consider getting a birth doula, or at the very least write a birth plan and talk to all the doctors at your practice about your wishes.

Things didn't go exactly as I "planned" but the fact that my doctor discussed every intervention with me first and referred to my birth plan on several occasions made me much more comfortable with the things that needed to be done for my health and Tess'.

Good luck! 

Read2Me

I gave birth at Strong.  They are very open to your choices.  They never offer drugs- you have to ask for them.  I was hooked to an iv because I was induced but when the induction wasn't "taking", they didn't push it.  I was unhooked and allowed to walk around and eat.  Once I actually began laboring the nurses were phenomenal!  I ended up having some complications and everyone was fantastic.  I cannot say enough about the care I received there.  Good luck!

olivia_eve

I gave birth there. I did not go naturally, but I got to 7cm without an epidural (I had a very long labor and needed to rest). I would make sure to discuss your wishes with your OB and midwife. My OB knew I didn't want pitocin or an epi if possible and was very supportive. However, Strong does have residents and they tended to try and push the pitocin and epi with me. I had residents ask me multiple times if I wanted anything for the pain, which was annoying. Maybe they would have backed off if they knew I absolutely wanted to go naturally.

. But other than that they were great, they have the birthing balls which are awesome, I did not have an IV until I got the epi, I could walk around and did not have to be monitored constantly. I did push on my back, but I had the epi for that. They did put up a bar over the bed, wrapped a towel around it and had me pull on the towel while pushing, which is a midwifery technique. Also, I have two friends who delivered naturally at Strong, one with twins! They both praised the staff and had great experiences.

Saemilyn

Wow! Sounds like you all had great experiences! Thanks so much for taking the time to answer me. I do plan on printing out a birth plan to have on hand for anyone who walks into the room. I'll have my hubby and mom there with me too. I love hearing that they have other birthing tools like ball, bands and tubs. Cool.

tvbride04

It was great.  Nurses were awesome.  I did have an IV.  I could eat after I gave birth.  I went into labor at 10p so there weren't issues about eating.  I felt like I had control over most everything.  Not sure about music or lights. I did lay flat on my back for birth but I don't know if that's a must or not.  Delivery was so quick in my case. I pushed for only 20 minutes. 

tvbride04

I forgot to mention that I had a natural birth as well.