How do you rate your hospital on birthing aids?

duncanpowers · April 2010

I feel very strongly about natural birthing and have looked at Fruitful Vine (which I really liked, but obviously my family is concerned about it not being a hospital) and Ancient City Midwives, who deliver at Flagler, as well as meeting with Dr Phoenix at Van Scriver's office this past week. I liked that practice ok and my NP recommended her highly as an advocate for natural birth. Their C section rate was 10% and she said they did have a lot of natural birthers.

The downside is that they only deliver at St Lukes, and from her description, it is not really in the 2000s--no tubs, no balls, no snacking. You can walk around, change position, and use a squat bar, but the other tools are not available. Also there's a sheet in their new patient packet that states clearly, if you have not progressed beyond xyz at such a time, they will augment your labor, period.

I can't say that doesn't concern me. Obviously nobody imagines themselves having trouble getting past the timelines, but once you're there, you're there, and you already signed the papers.

Oh, with the Flagler one, the midwife said there were tubs or showers, bring your own ball and snacks, etc. But she was very hyper and I'm not sure she's the best fit with my personality. I'm a yoga teacher and I know I would always be trying to calm HER down, which doesn't seem like the proper set up for birthing, right?

I don't mind continuing to look for a while if I need to. So if you delivered locally, what kind of tools did your hospital have to help you, whether you ended up natural or not? Were you actually able to use them, or were they not really accessible?

Madisen · April 2010

My experience with Baptist South was also no tubs (although I didn't ask specifically if any of the rooms had one), no balls (said this was a liability in case of injuries), no snacking (although I thought this was dr's orders, but Gary could have easily snuck me some food if I wanted).

I was fine with this, but I was also not striving to labor naturally.

I really liked being in the same big, clean, private room that I occupied from contractions/labor to post-partum. I also felt comfortable with the NICU level they offered and it's proximity to a higher NICU if needed.

ETA: This board is jumping!

AustinzGirl · April 2010

Epidurals are your friend!

sorry, no other help here. im a hospital kinda girl!

Kristin&Adam · April 2010

Sadly, none of the hospitals in the area are really natural birth friendly. My childbirth instructor recommended St. Luke's as the best option, if you want to go the hospital route. I have a few friends that delivered at Fruitful Vine and they all have nothing but wonderful things to say about it. My doula and LC worked out of their offices, so I've been there a few times, it's a nice facility.. but like Madisen mentioned.. nothing like the gorgeous private rooms at Baptist South, plus you don't stay overnight, so be prepared to leave a few hours after delivery.

I delivered at Baptist South and they were very accommodating, everything is basically at your OB/midwife's discretion. If you want to be able to get up and move around, you will need written orders on file from your OB/midwife. If you have that, they'll honor it.

My labor was super fast, I was fully dilated when I arrived (best advice I have - stay home as long as possible!) and I had a great experience. I really recommend Bradley classes, you probably know a lot of it, but it was great to have someone who has attended numerous births there to talk to about options. I also LOVED having a doula.

duncanpowers · April 2010

That's interesting that she said that about St Lukes. Did she say why, specifically? Just that there are more people that birth naturally there over all? Or they're more accommodating?

Are there not private rooms there? Or are the ones at Baptist South just newer and better?

I think it's funny how all these places say that about birthing balls--Dr Phoenix said the same thing about St Lukes and it being a liability issue. Are there seriously that many women rolling off birthing balls and bonking their heads? lol

Kristin&Adam · April 2010

I think it is because Dr. Van Scriver delivers there, which is pretty much the only OB that she recommended.

There are private rooms at St. Lukes and they are very similar to the ones at Baptist South, the ones at Baptist are newer and slightly bigger, but there isn't a huge difference.

I had no desire to use a birthing ball, I would have killed myself.. I stayed on all 4's throughout most of my labor

AustinzGirl · April 2010

Kristin&Adam:

plus you don't stay overnight, so be prepared to leave a few hours after delivery.

Oh man, i could NOT imagine going home so soon!! That sounds like being run over by a truck and then being thrown to the wolves. maybe if it was like my 5th kid, but not the first!

Kristin&Adam · April 2010

AustinzGirl:
Kristin&Adam:

plus you don't stay overnight, so be prepared to leave a few hours after delivery.

Oh man, i could NOT imagine going home so soon!! That sounds like being run over by a truck and then being thrown to the wolves. maybe if it was like my 5th kid, but not the first!

I could have done it, but I had a super easy delivery. Like, I was sitting indian style in my hospital bed about 45 minutes following delivery and felt like nothing really happened, the only recovery I had was sore arms from being on all 4's with my muscles tensing for so long I think it really depends on the person and the delivery though.

duncanpowers · April 2010

Yeah, I was aware of that with the birthing center, although I've heard a lot about you being woken up constantly in the night at hospitals. I'm such an insomniac that that would not work well for me. Really I would prefer to birth at home, but my house is 20-25 minutes from the nearest hospital, depending on traffic, and that's just too large of a margin for error.

Mrs_W_Pookie · April 2010

Okay, I am on the computer now and I can finally reply. I actually found an open network while we were at Culhane's for dinner just so I could read it

I delivered Mungee at Baptist South. No birthing balls allowed, for the liability issue. I am not really sure what tools they had other than really long hallways to walk around. I wanted to go natural, but I was not able to stay above the pain and therefore had the epidural. I was not progressing and the midwife did decide they needed to give me Pitocin, but I was also 6 days overdue (this was not MY midwife, it was the other one in the practice).

The rooms do have really nice showers and had I been able to move, I am sure it would have been nice to take a shower. They told me no snacking, so I didn't have anything, but I am sure that DH would have been able to sneak me in something.

Was there no other midwife aside from the hyper one who could deliver at Flagler?

I would hire a doula. I wish I had one. I would also do the Bradley classes. I tried to do the Hypnobabies on my own and promptly forgot everything the moment the pain of labor kicked in. I guess I am more of a wimp than I thought

Kristin&Adam · April 2010

You are so not a wimp, Jodi. I can't even begin to imagine contractions on pitocin without meds, yikes!

My doula said she has patients that go in the bathroom to eat, because that is the only place that the nurses do not follow you. Well, not until after delivery anyway, then you seriously have no privacy (and you thought it was bad in labor)!

If your preference is to birth at home, I'd definitely go check out Fruitful Vine, they have informational meetings once a month I think. I agree with Jodi too, I loved my Bradley classes and still think that my doula is an amazing and wonderful person, as soon as she walked in the door, my anxiety level (and pain level) significantly decreased.. not that I didn't have all the faith in the world in DH.. but well.. yeah, she helped

Mrs_W_Pookie · April 2010

Kristin, luckily(?) the pitocin was administered after the epidural otherwise I probably would have flat out refused it

duncanpowers · April 2010

Was there no other midwife aside from the hyper one who could deliver at Flagler?

Sadly, no. When they started the practice, there was an older one who was also a master yoga instructor, so I was really excited about working with her. Unfortunately when I went, I found out she had retired in December.

There is a larger OB practice down here with some CNMs on staff, but there are like 8 doctors and CNMs total, and I think after meeting with all of them, I would feel a little tarty, if you know what I mean. And would have basically no relationship with any one in particular, which I'm not keen on.

Mrs_W_Pookie · April 2010

duncanpowers:

There is a larger OB practice down here with some CNMs on staff, but there are like 8 doctors and CNMs total, and I think after meeting with all of them, I would feel a little tarty, if you know what I mean. And would have basically no relationship with any one in particular, which I'm not keen on.

You don't have to meet the OBs too, do you? I didn't meet any of the OBs at my practice, only saw the midwives.

I know what you mean about not having a relationship with any of them though, especially if you do decide to meet them all.

If you like Fruitful Vine, you should go with them, regardless of what Crazy says. It's YOUR body, not hers. The only thing I wouldn't like about that is the fact that you have to leave the same day. I couldn't walk for pretty much the entire next day after Mungee was born.

I'll be signing off the computer for a while, so we can chat more later

Kristin&Adam · April 2010

Maybe if you take Crazy to the birth center and let her look around she'll feel better about it? I considered delivering there, but I have incredibly too much anxiety to do it, I would never have been able to relax

You commented earlier about the nurses waking you up in the hospital - they only woke me if I was sleeping and it was time to nurse, which was one time, other than that B was the one waking me up!

MrsVeeVee · April 2010

Can't provide any other informtion not already previously posted. I delivered at Baptist downtown due to my condition. I was suppossed to deliver at Baptist South, but they decided to transfer me just in case DS was born early, which he did (2 months early). I didn't really use any tools/aids or anything as the goal was not to move at all. But I concur about the birthing balls, as it's been said that it was a liability. I did like the fact that they transfered me to downtown so I could be close to DS. It was sure that he was going to the NICU if delivered, so they didn't want to have to fly him to downtown from Baptist South. And that way, I could visit him as often as I wanted while I was still in the hospital.

cakenbake · April 2010

I'm still a relative newbie here, but I just wanted to thank you all for the information! I delivered our first baby overseas, and it's a whole new world Stateside! Not to mention we'll likely deliver at the Naval hospital, and I'm really nervous about our options there. I'm looking to try for a VBAC, and we're meeting with the OB on the 14th, so this is all good information to have, so I know what to ask about.

Thanks!

adarlingzta · April 2010

I LOVED Fruitful Vine. DH's parents werent that keen on it and in the end, we did not have them there for the birth. We just had them come to the house the next day. As for leaving a few hours later, it was truly no big deal. I was there for 6 hours b/c I like to bleed. If it weren't for that, I would have been ready to go about 4 hours after he was born. You have to be up every couple hours to feed anyway so taking a temp and counting breaths really isn't a biggy. They send someone to your house within 24 hours to check on you too. Sharon and Hope are AMAZING!

As for birthing at home, if this is what you want, go for it. If you have a midwife, they will have plenty of time if something starts going wonky. They are not going to take any chance with you or your little one. If I were to have a 2nd, it would likely be at home with Sharon or Hope. I was not comfortable with it the first time around but now that I have seen the process, no doubt in my mind.

On a negative note, I have not heard very good things about Dr Pheonix. I am on a Natural Moms board and several of the members will not even see her for check ups. Really bad bedside manner among other things. Van Scriver is the only way to go over there.

A doula will be a wonderful asset to you. Kristin and I used the same one and she is fantastic. I can't speak to Bradley classes as we just did the short one (6 weeks) at the birth center. I felt very prepared though and read through the Bradley book on my own.

If you have any questions about the birth center or would like to talk to someone who has been there/done that, I am most willing to help you. Truly, let it be a decision you make for yourself. Crazy has no business in this decision.

GL!

duncanpowers · April 2010

Thank you so much for the report, ZTA, that's great to hear.

I'm very sorry to hear that about Dr Phoenix, though, and I'd be interested to know more details on that. I thought she was a little odd and harried, but since I work with personality-challenged surgeons, she didn't strike me as too obnoxious. But, birthing is a totally different situation and I'm concerned with finding someone I can work with.

Also, would you mind PMing me the link to the board you read?

Manalyzer · May 2010

Okay, here's my deal. I wanted a natural birth as well. Like, it was my number 2 priority (first of course being healthy baby.) I delivered at Baptist South with my midwife. The plan was to be able to change positions, walk around, labor in the rocking chair, take a warm shower during contrax and etc.

This did not happen because they thought I was getting pre-eclampsia. My midwife checked me, I was already contracting (irregularly) and at a 3, so she sent me straight over...to be induced. I was hooked up and my dream birth was unable to happen. Which still upsets me greatly. I think I would have had a much more pleasant experience had I been able to move and get up. I labored naturally, as the epidural that I finally broke down and got because they said it would lower my bp failed and I honestly didn't want it in the first place. Contrax on pitocin are AWFUL. Seriously, I'm cringing now.

However, Baptist South doesn't allow balls, but they will work with you to help you with a natural birth as much as they can. Talk to your OB/MW about what you want and see what he/she thinks is the best fit for you.

I'm thinking next time, I'll be going the fruitful vine route. I'll be doing natural again, since, hey, been there, and I'd really like to be some place where I can be free.

I'd also LOVE to labor in a tub.

duncanpowers · May 2010

Thank you for sharing all that, Mana. I think after hearing everyone's experiences and seeing JenC's hospital birth up close, I am all about Fruitful Vine. I've been to a couple of appointments there and it's so quiet and peaceful. They're so experienced that it instantly made me relax, and that's really what I want.

Manalyzer · May 2010

I look forward to hearing about your delivery there! I definitely want to know more people that used them.

Good luck! I can't wait to see baby DP.

adarlingzta · May 2010

::sniff sniff:: what, Im not good enough, Mana? ::sniff sniff::

j/k

Manalyzer · May 2010

You know you are, girl

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