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Natural Birth
Vegasbb
member
Considering making the switch..
Vegasbb
member
When is it too late? A little background..
I've now seen my doctor twice. I like her disposition and the office is VERY convenient. She delivers at a hospital 5 minutes from my house (which is great because I can labor at home as long as possible!), and the hospital is state of the art with a level III NICU (also something important to me).
My issue is this, she isn't super natural birth friendly. She doesn't allow doulas (not a deal breaker, but bothers me that she doesn't allow them??), and the paperwork says they don't allow birth plans and patients should consent to fetal monitoring, IVs, pitocin, and antibiotics "as necessary". BIG PROBLEM.
I talked to her about this at the first visit, and she said the IV could be just a heplock, and this was hospital policy. She also said the fetal monitoring didn't have to be continuous, but hospital policy required 15 minutes out of every hour. I will also add the hospital doesn't have water birth available (and doesn't allow midwives). She promised pitocin and antibiotics would only be used "if necessary".
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I'm so torn ! I really really wish there was a midwife/birthing center here. In Vegas, if you want a midwife it pretty much means birthing at home (there are a few exceptions, but for various reasons they aren't viable alternatives). I'm taking Bradley method classes (starting tomorrow!), and I've scheduled a hospital visit on Monday to get more information about what is and isn't required from the hospital's point of view.
Do you think a natural birth is possible given my circumstances? Would you switch ob-gyns? I'm scared to do so at this point and just end up with another ob-gyn that isn't natural birth friendly (seems to be very common here!). Would you birth at home? Terrified of this, but at this point the hospital and ob-gyn are making me upset as well..
DS1 : 10/2012
Due with B/G Twins July 2015
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Considering making the switch..
I definitely don't think it's too late to switch, but I don't know what to advise you-just to follow your instincts.
I do think it's pretty crazy that she doesn't allow doulas and birth plans- what on earth is her reasoning? That might be a dealbreaker for me- even though my obs have never worked with a doula before and have only had a handful of patients with birth plans, they are at least willing to work with me.
I would try to find the "natural birth community" in your area (maybe through doula groups, birth circles, or NB classes)- since you are in a big city, there should be plenty of people in your circumstance that you can ask about their experiences and which obs or midwives they worked with.
I am of course biased because I have given birth at home twice and don't find homebirth scary, but I would never give birth at a place that does not even "allow" MW. Also, your OB does not sound supportive AT all and IMO that is one of the most important factors in a natural birth- a supportive care provider.
I agree with the PP about looking for another option. If you check out mothering.com discussion boards and go to the finding your tribe section I am sure you could find suggestions for better options in your area.
GL You have PLENTY of time to figure this out. I didn't switch to a homebirth with my first until 25 weeks and was so happy I made the change.
I definitely don't think it's too late to switch. I went from an OB to a MW when I was 20w. It doesn't sound like your OB is supportive of natural birth at all and that's going to be a big problem. There certainly are NB-friendly OBs out there--maybe post on your local board and see if anyone has some recommendations for you.
Saying no to doulas and birth plans is a big red flag in my opinion. It's like the OB is already setting you up to birth how she wants and not how you want.
The fact that they do not allow doulas is a huge red flag to me. I would definitely be switching.
You have lots of time to find someone new, so start researching! Ask around. Ask anybody. You might be surprised who you know that might have had a natural birth or know of someone who did.
Would you be interested in hiring a doula? If you did, your doula should be able to recommend a provider that was more natural birth friendly. Or go to a local LLL meeting.
GL!
I know someone who switced at 35 weeks pregnant and was so very happy they did.
Switch now - you have nothing to lose by finding a careprovider who you like and only fighting ahead of you and stress if you stay. (I think I should take my own advice).
...baby #3 is here...
I have never given birth before, so bear that in mind when reading my opinion...but I don't think I would be able to labor and birth drug-free and naturally without a doula or midwife to help me. My husband is very supportive of my choice, but unless he would be willing and able to seriously study up on some things, I would have absolutely no faith in my conviction to not take drugs the second they were offered to me. And it sounds like your hospital is pro-intervention and someone would probably offer them to you at some point before giving you other suggestions for managing pain.
I was considering a home birth until I looked into my hospital and realized they were pretty open and accommodating of birth plans, natural births (they even have a tub for laboring, but not birth), doulas/midwives, and things of that nature...Without these concessions on the hospital's part, I would not give birth there. I just don't think I could do it.
You know your tolerance to pain, your conviction to go natural, and your husband's abilities to coach you better than any of us...but even if your husband takes all the classes, is great under stress, and learns everything, I feel like it's hard for them to be impartial and coach you through what is a very emotional experience for them as well. In short, I would switch doctors or consider a home birth. PPs are right that having a hospital so close is convenient for home births in case something goes wrong (mine is almost just as close too).
Thank you so much ladies for all the opinions and suggestions! For one, I will definitely check out mothering.com, I had never heard of that site. I start Bradley method tonight, so I will ask the instructor and the other couple in my class if they have any suggestions for me. I'm hoping when I go on my hospital tour on Monday I will have a better idea of whether it's just my OB that's the problem, or if this is a hospital issue as well.
I'm so glad this board is here! No one in my real life is super understanding or supportive of my crazy wish for a natural birth (DH is just happy to go along with what I want, but did think I was a little nutty for crying hysterically while reading my OBs policies on doulas!).