Natural Birth Discussion with my OB

Alliebooberz · January 2012

https://projectopenhearts.blogspot.com/2012/01/naturalinterventionmed-free-birth.html

(My long blog post about it)

Just wondering if anyone has any other ideas or things that I might have missed when I was discussing this with my OB! Any help or feedback would be great! Smile

NewzieMom · January 2012

Sounds like you have a pretty supportive OB.

Two things. (Not that it changes anything at all)

1. 24 hours at the hospital after baby is born goes really fast (at least for me it did) and I didn't get any more sleep at home then I did at the hospital. At home I actually felt like there was stuff I needed to be doing while baby slept while at the hospital I felt like I could just sleep whenever.

2. I don't know how everyone else feels while in labor. But I never had any desire to eat while in labor.

I know everyone is different.

ateal2490 · January 2012

I think those questions are great! I was just roaming around for some inspiration for my visit tomorrow and I found it! Thanks! And congrats on the great appt!

Alliebooberz · January 2012

NewzieMom:
Sounds like you have a pretty supportive OB.
Two things. (Not that it changes anything at all)
1. 24 hours at the hospital after baby is born goes really fast (at least for me it did) and I didn't get any more sleep at home then I did at the hospital. At home I actually felt like there was stuff I needed to be doing while baby slept while at the hospital I felt like I could just sleep whenever.
2. I don't know how everyone else feels while in labor. But I never had any desire to eat while in labor.
I know everyone is different.

1. For sure, I am sure you're right. I guess I was just hoping that it wouldn't drag out and out and out.

2. I know :P I probably won't either, but I guess I didn't like being told NO you CAN'T. I kinda just planned to see how it goes and assumed I wouldn't want to be eating.

Mrs.MauiBride24 · January 2012

(I seem to focus on the points PP already mentioned, but...)

6. eating - if you plan to labor at home as long as possible, eat/drink then. From what I've read, by the time you get to the hospital, you're not going to want to be eating. BUT... take snacks in your bag "for DH." Wink and take a bite or two when no one's in the room.

15. discharge from hospital ASAP - on the other hand to a fast discharge, is the support you may receive from the nurses and lactation consultants on breastfeeding. Of course this all depends on your hospital and your insurance, but if covered, you would have "free" access to this kind of help and support while in the hospital. Once you're home, if you have trouble, it'll be harder to get help (over the phone), you may have to go into an office with your newborn and also could have to pay for the visit.

Staying the (short) 2-3 nights isn't all bad. I know my sister was only allowed to stay 2 nights, but the timing of her birth (11:00 pm) counted as the first night and so the time went by so fast, their heads were spinning by the time they made it home.

That L&D bathroom looks amazing!

AmyRI · January 2012

Mostly I just agree with PPs.

6. I didn't feel like eating at all, but I was very thirsty. I was drinking water and chewing ice chips, but at one point I threw up when the pain increased quickly. The nurse threatened to take away the water if I kept throwing up... I'm guessing she wanted to give me IV fluids instead? Made no sense to me. But as soon as she left the room, I made DH hand me the cup of water and made it clear that she was not allowed to keep me from drinking it, even if I did immediately throw it up again.

10./22. I felt the urge to push before I was fully dilated (I had just a lip left). It was hard to listen to them tell me to wait a little bit, but I'm glad I did. They were right. They helped me reposition to dilate the spot that was left, and a few minutes later DS had moved down and I was ready to go. It was a much stronger urge to push after that, and I'm glad they told me to wait. They coached me through the first few pushes, but once they could tell that I had gotten the hang of it, they let me do my thing.

13. Listen to your body. My hospital also has the 5/1/1 rule. My contractions were 6 minutes apart, a minute long, for half an hour when I woke DH up. 30 minutes later, we were leaving for the hospital and they were already 3 minutes apart. I arrived 4cm dilated at 100% effaced at 4:30 am. I gave birth at 8:15am. Everything happened very quickly, and I was thankful we left for the hospital when we did and I didn't wait for the 5/1/1 thing. If things are going slowly, it is a good rule, but I had gone from intermittent contractions when I woke up at 12:15am to steady, 3 minutes apart only 4 hours later... just know that things can go quickly or slowly. Do what feels right.

15. Keep an open mind to staying the 48 hours. I needed the help with breastfeeding. The nursing staff was not that intrusive, I slept fairly well, and it was nice having the support of the LC.

21. I was begging for the OB to break my waters. I was 8.5 cm dilated, the sac was bulging, and it was so full of pressure that I would have popped it myself if I could have. It was a welcome relief at that point. This was the only intervention, and I don't regret it one bit. Just an idea to keep in the back of your mind.

annabelle.27 · January 2012

Definitely bring snacks. Not everyone feels like eating, but I did, even well into labour. Just before pushing I remember my husband breaking out a bag of orange slices and taking a moment to eat those between contractions was heaven. I still remember those being the best food I have ever eaten, either before or since. My body needed that little treat and I do think it helped energize me. I also had yogurt and granola bars.

curlywhirly · January 2012

A lurker here (but had a completely natural birth with my first):

6. By the time I was in the hospital (I was 6 cm when we arrived) there was no way I wanted to eat or drink anything. Ugh. My MW made me continue to drink some water/juice throughout to stay hydrated, but I wouldn't have chosen to even do that.

16. You may want to request a saline or heparin lock just in case something comes up they can help you/and or the baby a bit faster. This was not in my way at all, and they look it out as soon as I requested after delivery. At no point was it hooked up to an IV.

21. I think someone else mentioned it, but I am so glad I eventually allowed my MW to break my water. I was getting so tired, and had dilated to 10 cm, and then went back down to 9 cm because the baby changed position within the bag of waters. The baby was out pretty quickly after they broke my water, and I'd choose to have that happen again in a heartbeat (specifically because I was so close to delivering--I wouldn't want it done too early).

22. Depending on who is telling you to stop pushing, it may be an effort to slow you down a little bit so that you don't tear, or don't tear as badly.

Good luck! You can TOTALLY do a natural birth

Alliebooberz · January 2012

Thanks ladies for all your tips and pointers!! And encouragement!

MJCarp09 · January 2012

I loved reading this, and with your permission would love to copy some of these questions for a discussion I want to have with my OB.

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