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Natural Birth
Mrs.A&J
member
Creating a birth center "feel" in hospital...
Mrs.A&J
member
I'm delivering at a local hospital after cutting ties with the birth center we initially saw (concerns over safety and their ratings online). I'm hoping I can recreate some of the "feel" of the birth center in my hospital experience. We are working with a midwife and the hospital does have tubs for laboring (though they won't allow you to actually deliver in them). I'm think they should be ok with the use of battery powered candles, right? And I'll create a couple playlists of different types of music, so if I want music I'll have some options depending on how I feel. I plan to take a birthing ball to labor on. Other ideas to make the hospital feel more comfortable?
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Re: Creating a birth center "feel" in hospital...
your own clothes to labour in.
snacks/drink for you and dh.
massage oil, either for massage or to cut through the hospital smell.
Elizabeth 5yrs old Jane 3yrs old
That will depend on the hospital I guess.
Where I am, it's not an issue.
Elizabeth 5yrs old Jane 3yrs old
Ask if they have balls at the hospital, mine does! It may be easier than hauling one in if you can avoid it
We are taking some little tools like tennis balls and a scarf my husband and I use to positioning with squatting and all fours. Your own clothes for sure-dont forget lots of extra stuff if you plan on getting in and out of the tub so you don't have to sit around wet.
As far as snacks go, my midwives advocate for bringing snacks of your own. They certainly do not advocate a cheeseburger and fries during labor but small things to get a few carbs and calories here and there to keep your energy up. I am bringing a small bag of non-perishable things my husband and I both really like. I know he will need snacks for sure and weather or not you chose to eat during labor-you will want something after for sure!
I agree with smsalat that there is certainly a valid reason for the no eating/drinking rule during labor, but I also understand how important a little bit of energy can really help. Discuss it with your team though, ultimately its yours/their decision.
I read a great new book that helped me think through some of these issues- "Natural Birth in the Hospital, the best of both worlds". Good luck!!!!
Labour at home. As long as is possible.
I didn't give a sh*t that my hospital room was ugly and I was naked pretty quickly after getting a room. I was fully into "having a baby NOW" mode.
My hospital allowed me to drink water, which let me dodge the IV fluids. I don't think they would "let me" eat, but I didn't want to eat by the time I got there. I ate through my early labour - that was the difference between not eating for 5 hours and not eating for 14 hours. I would have been very unhappy if I'd quit eating at the first tummy twinge.
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Exactly this!
Do most hospitals let you wear your own clothing during labor? I've been thinking about this myself and not wanting to feel like a "hospital patient" during labor, but I don't get to tour my hospital and ask them for about another month or so.
bfp#4 3/19/2014 edd 12/1/2014 please let this be the one!
beta @ 5w0d = 12,026! u/s 4/22/14 @ 8w1d it's twins!
If you would like to wear your own clothes, wear them. No one is going to wrestle you to the ground and put a gown on you. Obviously, wear clothes you're happy to destroy.
Hospitals have policies, but you have the right to do what you think you need to to feel most comfortable. You can try to approach things in a cooperative way to avoid conflict with staff. And again, the longer you can stay out of the hospital, the less time you're subject to their rules.
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Mine does, though the nurse I asked on the tour thought it was kind of weird given that birth is messy and she figured everyone liked the convenience of the hospital-provided gown. I may or may not wear my own clothes depending on how I feel at the time but will at least have my own bathrobe and fuzzy socks
Fair enough--which is why "labor at home as long as possible" is encouraged. By the time you're in full-on labor you probably won't want to eat anyway, but imagine if you were at the hospital--not eating--from early labor on. Possibly not having anything for over 24 hours. There are dangers there, too--in getting exhausted more easily from putting your body through a truly tiring physical process without nourishing it. And then ending up with a c-section because you were too exhausted to continue. So avoid potentially dangerous policies and stay at home as long as you can, IMO.
The risk of aspiration is so small it's practically negligible, which is why this policy truly infuriates me--it is more about covering their butts than true patient welfare from what I've found researching the issue.
I'd say along with the birthing ball, bring a yoga mat in case floor positions are more comfortable. Also, as far as what is "allowed", most hospitals are flexible as long as your md/np is willing to order those things that you desire (I.e. meals, no ivf, ambulatory as desired, intermittent monitoring).
Good luck and enjoy the rest of your pregnancy!
Honestly, I'd labor at home as long as possible. You can do anything you want in your own home - no one will mess with you :-) No matter how natural birth friendly a hospital might be, you're still on a clock with them. At home, you can do your own thing. No pressure! No need to ask permission for things!
With my first we delivered at the most natural-birth friendly hospital in town. However I labored at home until I felt the urge to push, then headed to the hospital (15 min drive) and was ready to deliver baby upon arrival. It was a great experience, because my biggest fear was having them "mess" with me. Of course this won't work for people who are fearful of something going wrong w/ birth and who feel comforted by being in the "safe" zone of a hospital. I felt safer at home.
I'm big on "ask forgiveness, not permission". I was fearful that the hospital wouldn't let me eat if I wanted, so I brought wheat thins with me. My plan was to eat them on the sly (not tell them) and only come clean if I ended up w/ a c-section just so they'd be aware. I'm aware of why they don't want you to eat and I believe it's based on outdated information. The whole eating thing is another reason I'd recommend laboring at home as long as possible.
As it ends up I arrived ready to push so I didn't end up needing those snacks :-) I would recommend making sure that if you think you're in early labor, eat something substantial (but not heavy). I think I had a sandwich and that was perfect for me. You won't want to eat when you're in late active labor, but you'll appreciate having a full belly to help you through the process!