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Natural Birth
SB31
member
Would this concern you?
SB31
member
I'm a FTM and I mentioned to my OB at my last appt that I'm considering an unmedicated birth. I wanted to know the hospital's policies regarding moving around while laboring, intermittent/wireless fetal monitoring, no IV's, laboring in the shower (no tubs at this hospital), etc. Her answers were friendly and in line with what I would want (all of this is allowed as long as the mom/baby are healthy).
Then I asked if I could push in positions other than on my back. She asked with genuine curiosity, "Like what?" I replied, "Like hands and knees or squatting." She said, "You can tryyyyy." The way she said it made it sound as if she didn't think I could physically do it. Or like it was amusing to her. I'm in the first half of my 30's, not overweight and in fine physical shape. What would you make of this?
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Would this concern you?
I think it's funny that she is surprised by that. Many studies show that there are other positions that are more conducive to birthing than the standard position most hospitals expect you to push in. FWIW, I pushed while on my knees, leaning forward into my husband (sort of a modified hands-and-knees position), but I had a homebirth.
Really, as long as she's willing to let you try what you want, she can be as skeptical as she wants to be. I'd just worry that she won't really let you try, or that she'll decide that the baby isn't descending as fast as she thinks it should be and push you to get back into an on-your-back position.
Next time, ask her why she seemed unsure of your request, and have some studies to back you up in case she suggests that other positions aren't helpful in labour. As long as you can get a firm commitment out of her (and you trust that she won't "forget" she made that commitment), I wouldn't worry about it. She doesn't have to like it, she just has to do it.
For some reason, some OBs are convinced you can only push reclined. I pushed flat on my back with my knees pulled to my chest. I wasn't reclined at all. This was what felt natural to me, and she was out in 3 pushes. The OB on staff just went with it. You'll know what's right for you when it happens, and even if she's skeptical, it spuds like she's willing to give it a go.
She may not have had any patients push in any other positions. When I delivered DS I asked for the squatting bar to be set up. The nurse didn't know which way it went, I had to tell her how to set it up. Obviously her patients weren't using it very often if she didn't know how to set it up.
Most of the time I was pushing my doctor wasn't even in the room and has no idea how I was doing it. I ended up squatting till he crowned, when the nurse called the doctor to get in the room and then because it was uncomfortable to sit back down after the contractions I finished up on my back, reclined I think.
I think this is probably the case for a lot of obs and nurses- they've never really had anybody try anything different- especially if they haven't been in practice very long. The childbirth coordinator at my hospital was so excited because someone was "finally going to use the birthing ball!" As long as your ob and the other people who will be working with you seem otherwise prepared for you to have a NB, I wouldn't worry too much about it. That's one reason I'm glad I'll have my doula to suggest positions and movements that others might not think of.
If she says you can try, then take her at her word.
You never know what will feel right until you are actually pushing. Lying on my side was the only position I could tolerate. My OB encouraged me to deliver that way. She commented that she was going to do the delivery "midwife-style." The practice I go to is both midwives and OBs, so they have a very collaborative relationship, but some OBs don't have much exposure to midwifery.