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Natural Birth
When do you talk about what you want to the doc/midwife?
Hi Natural Mamas!
I'm just 9 weeks pregnant, but I really want a natural birth experience. I live in Massachusetts, and not close to the 2 birth centers in the state. I originally wanted a home or birth center birth, but with money and insurance restrictions, right now it is looking like I will deliver at Emerson Hospital with a midwife group.
I had my first appointment yesterday, which was just an ultrasound and meeting with the NP. I expressed my desire for a natural, low intervention birth, and she told me I came to the right place. I think the way this practice works is that I see all the midwives and the OB at least once each.
My question is: which appointment do I talk about my preferences? Do I need to tell each provider so everyone knows what I want? What have your experiences been like?
Thank you for your help! Looking forward to getting to know you!
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Re: When do you talk about what you want to the doc/midwife?
Short story: I'd talk about it to them at every appointment.
I brought it up right at the beginning, around 8w. I'm glad that I did because I found out that my doc and I didn't see eye to eye. I switched to a MW practice and spoke to each of them about it and gave them a copy of my birth plan.
This time I've mentioned to them that I'm planning on delivering naturally again and that's been about it. I have my 36w appointment soon and will bring in my birth plan again. I feel more relaxed about it this time around since my birth went 100% according to plan the first time around with the same group of MWs.
NorCalMOMS bio* NorCalBOTB* babywearingBIO
Harmony Doula
I would bring it up at your next appointment - you want to make sure that your provider is natural birth friendly (b/c if they aren't, you want to switch practices or providers). If you're with an OB, I'd ask about their natural birth % rate, vaginal delivery vs c-section rate, etc. Your best bet is with a midwife. However it sounds like at your practice they rotate and it might be whoever is on-call for delivery. If that's the case, you'll want to ask about how supportive the OBs are w/ following a birth plan. In addition, do some research on the hospital where you will deliver. Sometimes certain hospitals have reputations for being more natural birth friendly, perhaps in part due to support you receive (or don't receive) from nurses.
I'd be politely upfront about your birth wishes right away - you can tell from their reaction how supportive they will be. For example, I had to meet w/ an OB one week at my practice rather than the midwife due to some scheduling issues. When I asked the OB what position my baby was in, he said it was impossible to tell nor would it make one bit of difference. However my midwife the week before had felt the baby, could tell his/ her position and thought it was important so that I could make sure I was doing exercises and yoga to encourage baby to be in the proper position. Just a total different mindset, you know?
Yes, you'll need to tell each provider. If you have any local mommy-groups or online discussion forums for your area, I'd try to chat online there and see what the reputation is for each provider in your practice.
I agree with everyone, bring it up soon.
I made a list of all the things that I wanted to talk to my MW about and brought up a couple of things at each appt, starting with the most important. That way I wasn't bombarding her with "demands" and she had time to address each of my questions/concerns adequately. It worked out fairly well for us.
I brought it up at our very first appointment. Some Drs might give you the "well, you can try to do a NB" speech and may not be very supportive in reality.
My Dr was really supportive to the point that when I asked about pain relief "just in case" he simply replied: "You won't need any pain relief."
He was also VERY ok with having a doula in the room and even brought up pain management techniques with me as well.
Bring it up soon, just in case they don't seem as supportive as they say they are.
When I talked to the NP at my first appointment I told her I wanted to go natural. She smiled and said "You came to the right place! Other places do it too, but I think we do it best." That made me feel a little better.