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January 2012 Moms
Med free hospital birth?
I am taking the Bradley method and my instructor and the whole class have bugs up their butts about hospitals. Apparently doctors are the root of all that is evil and if you give birth in a hospital you will fail at having a natural child birth. I don?t know if this mindset is typical of Bradley classes but it is certainly the experience I am having.
So? Are there any moms here who had a med free hospital birth? If so do you have any tips for being successful?
Are there any mom?s that tried for a med free birth but decided to be medicated in the end? If so what made you change your mind?
TIA
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Re: Med free hospital birth?
I am hoping for a med free hospital birth. It's definitely easier in some respects to have a med free birth if you're not in a hospital, but I've talked to plenty of women who say it's totally possible to have a med free birth in a hospital.
I really liked the book "Natural Hospital Birth" and found it really informative and positive.
April 2011: Metformin 1500mg + Clomid 100mg + Ovidrel + Prometrium = BFP!
Beta #1 at 14DPO: 197 Beta #2 at 18DPO: 1296
At 40w6d, our Team Green surprise came by unplanned C-section and changed our lives forever!
I have had two hospital births and both have been pain med free. The first was completely med free and wonderful. The hospital we birthed at had tubs and I moved around during the entire experience. I was even GBS + so I had to have antibiotics every 4 hours or so but was able to have a hep lock so they could just plug in the IV when they needed. The birth went off without a hitch and I was never pressured for pit, and epi or a c-section.
With my second I choose an induction but wanted it to be as natural as possible. We had moved at that point to a remote place about an hour from the hospital. I was also GBS + with this baby so we had to think about being there in time to get the antibiotic and we didn't know how fast the second birth would progress. With this experience I came in and they started a small dose of pit to jump start my labor. After about 3 hours they turned the pit off and let my labor progress naturally. Again no epi, no c-section and a fast beautiful birth.
You can have a med free birth if that is what you want. You have to advocate for yourself and be willing to do what is best for your body and your baby. I hope this helps.
My sister took the bradley classes and went totally med free at the hospital with no issues... In Florida, A state that has all sort of dumb rules about L&D.
You will be fine. Stick to your birth plan, make sure DH is very supportive and knows exactly what the plans are. And remember, the hospital will ask if you want, or suggest interventions regularly, but the only time you need them is if your child (or you) is in distress.
what you are encountering is very common in Bradley method. My sister was so mad at her instructor at some point because they kept telling her she would fail at hosp. and that she absolutly MUST change her mind. They truely believed the medical industry is evil in my sisters mind and she broke contact with the group as soon as baby was born.
I have done neither, but I have friends with both experiences.
One ended up having to be induced, and she finally asked for the epidural when she was about a 7. She and her DH had taken Bradley classes and were in the right mindset, but she said the pain was just too intense for her (she thinks the pitocin had something to do with it - I have heard the same thing from others). The hospital/nurses normally keep women in labor in the bed, but she had a detailed birth plan that her doctor had signed off on that allowed her to be out of the bed so she could use the birthing ball, walking, and other techniques.
My other friend was not induced and she ended up having the med-free birth she wanted. She had a doula in addition to her DH, and she gave birth in the birthing tub in the hospital room. She was also able to move around freely while in labor.
If going med-free is something you and your partner want, you can do it! Stop listening to everyone else and go in with a plan and mindset that you will be successful. Talk to your doc/midwife and make sure your file reflects that you want to go med free and that your doc/midwife will allow you to be up and moving about the room. Good luck!
i am sure you can do it!
You might look into getting a doula. Lot's of them are great with breastfeeding, too
Where ya been, fire??
I am planning a med free hospital birth. My DH knows my wishes and he'll be an advocate for me. I've also talked with my OBs and they are on board, too. I think it's all about managing those types of expectations up front.
I'm a FTM so I can't give you my experience (because I have none), but I just finished my Bradley course and I'm sorry yours were so anti-doctor/hospital. My instructor was very "go with a healthcare provider that you feel comfortable with," whether that's a doctor, MW or doula, and tried to encourage questioning instead of fighting/challenging everything the hospital staff does so you have a clear understanding of what's going on vs. what you are hoping/expecting. Besides, even the Bradley book, since there should be a doctor near by in case an emergency should arise. I mean he was DR. Bradley.
Out of the 6 couples in my class, only one was doing a MW/homebirth, the rest were at the hospital with OBs (one may have hired a doula as well). Sorry your instructor had a bug up her butt! I wish you the best of luck!!
Got a promotion at work so I have been MIA.
We are the ONLY couple in our class using a hospital! Sorry if I am not paying $4000 for a home birth and like the idea of being down the hall from the NICU just in case!
Thanks ladies.
Congrats!!!
I am a FTM, but I just wanted to say that I found this really unfortunate and sorry your class is so negative on hospital births. My Bradley class wasn't like that at all. All of the couples in my class were having hospital births and the focus was what the most common interventions are, and the best way to obtain the natural birth you want within the hospital setting. So far in my class there have been three natural hospital births and one emergency c-section.
We were very strongly advised to get a doula. I think it also helps to have one who is experienced with the hospital where you are delivering. But you don't want someone who will be forceful and argue with the hospital staff. They serve as an intermediary for discussion and support. Our doula has told us that if we get in a situation where a "heavy" is needed, it is usually perceived better if it is DH and not her.
Good luck! I know it can be done although you have to go into it with eyes open and a measure of flexibility.
Congrats on your promotion! I agree liking the idea of the NICU or OR being right there, if there's a true emergency.
I had my first 3 prematurely, but I had them without pain relief and they were very much in the hospital. The third was completely med free except for an antibiotic because I had pneumonia, but they didn't try to stop my labor as it hadn't worked the previous 2 times and I also refused the let them give me anything to stop my labor.
I have learned through all of my deliveries that when I start screaming for meds (and I do) that I really just need to shut up and push that baby out. That isn't always the case, some ladies have severe pain at 4cm I have been pretty lucky to not have bad pain until 8-10 cm and then during the delivery. With my 4th birth I was hysterical at the end because the doc had told me that this baby was going to be twice the size of my others because she was "full term". They had to give me a lil demerol to shut me up and I pushed her right out and she weighed a whole whopping pound more than my largest preemie. I wasn't very happy with doc.
You control to an extent of what the hospital is allowed to do. They can try and bully you and not all hospitals are like that but if they try just stand your ground if you don't feel it's in you or the baby's best interest. The hospital I will give birth at this time is very pro-natural and they are all about family bonding and mom being in control of the birth.
Thanks everyone. Is it sad that I am even more determined to go med free just so I can rub it in their smug faces?
I have faith I can do it and MH is uber supportive so fingers crossed for no complications.
I couldn't have sat through 12 weeks of classes w/ everyone bashing on drs and hospitals. I would have been loudly voicing my opinion and probablly pissing everyone off.
My Bradley instructor is also a doula. She's worked with couples in both the community hosptial and the Naval hosptial in our area and is familiar with a number of natural and not so natural friendly drs in the area. In our class of 7 couples I know one mom was definately giving birth at home, one was looking into a birthing center and the rest of us were all going to the hosptial.
Our classes focused on relaxation techniques, breathing, possible interventions and ways to avoid them, nutrition, and the like. I don't think any of us are planning on getting a doula, however, our instructor is available by phone should a situation arrise during labor where we would need some advice from her.
I just had my pre-admit appt at the hosptial last week and asked how natural birth friendly the staff was. I was told that several of the nurses have had a NB and that they would note in my chart that I'm planning for a NB. I was also told that if I'm having a problem with a dr or nurse not respecting my wishes I can speak to the charge nurse about getting a new nurse or dr assigned to me.
Bottom line: Know your rights before hand. Have a plan in place and let everyone on your team (coach, support people, drs, nurses, etc) know your plan and don't be afraid to speak up, or have your coach/support person speak up, if something isn't happening the way you'd like it to. Also, remember that the best laid plans often go astray and that unforseen circumstaces arrise, so don't beat yourself up too much if things don't go exactly according to plan. Babies have a plan of their own and they don't often share that plan with us.
Good luck to you on your NB. You can do it!
Oh the snark that has come out of my mouth in that class!
Next week is birthing plans, after that I may just drop out.
ETA
Thanks for all of the encouragement.
I was successful in a pain med free delivery in the hospital. I was very well supported in this by the nurses & my OB. I did have to be induced with pitocin, but was still able to go without an epi or other drugs. The best thing I did was the wonderful, wonderful tub when I was at about 7cm. It felt so great and helped me to progress the rest of the way in less than 30 minutes!
Good luck!
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Fire - I would also be happy to forward my plan to you. I'm planning a birth center birth, but the plan is written primarily to deal with the contingencies that might arise if I get risked out and transferred to the hospital.
Jess - what kind of provisions did you put in about c/s?
I frickin love this. I'm sorry that they have all been so smug. To have to deal with that for 12 weeks would be so frustrating.