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Natural Birth
stepper1725
member
A no intervention hospital birth story
stepper1725
member
While I never posted, I loved reading the posts on the NB board while pregnant. Your positive comments about birth were very helpful in my preparations for an intervention-free birth.
My husband and I were sold on an intervention-free birth after watching 'the Business of Being Born' at 15 weeks pregnant. I received my prenatal care from a MW practice and planned all along to birth in the hospital with a MW. I was a little nervous, thinking that even though they said they were pro-NB, it was still going to be in a hospital setting with rules & regs. My care was wonderful throughout, with no unnecessary interventions, just one ultrasound at 18 weeks (no "weight estimate" ultrasounds), and one non-stress test at 39 weeks due to the MW not being able to hear the HB on the doppler.
My edd came and went, with no signs of labor. My MW talked to me about natural methods of induction, and we made a plan that at my next appointment at 41 weeks we would consider stripping my membranes. I never felt that there was a pressure to do anything re: induction. She just laid out the possible options and let me decide what course I wanted to take.
At 40 1/2 weeks, I started feeling mild contractions at about 12:00am. They were consistantly 4 minutes apart. As wel live an hour from the hospital, DH and I had decided to get a hotel room close by. We called our doula and said we were headed to the hotel. We got to the hotel at 2am. Contractions were still coming 4 mintues apart, but not very strong. I told DH to get some sleep. I spent the next 3 hours or so alternatiing between the bath, the shower, and the bed. It was really nice and peaceful in those early morning hours. At 5am, I woke up DH because the contractions were getting stronger and I needed his help to get through some of them. At 5:30am my water broke. Then things started getting serious quickly! We called our doula and the MW. The MW said we could go to the hospital if we wanted to at 7, but to try not to come too early. Our doula arrived at 6am and by this point the contractions were right on top of each other, very intense. I kept saying "I need help!" We decided to go to the hospital.
We got the hospital at 7am, and actually met the MW at the door, as she was starting her shift. She wheeled me up to triage. At this point, I really wanted the epidural. It was more of a question, "I can have an epidural?". Our MW knew we didn't want any intervention or pain meds so she just said "Let's get to the room, you're at 7 cm. Nothing's off the table, but let's get you to the room first." I was not in a good place at this point. They didn't even attempt a heplock because I wouldn't be still. I'm glad my MW knew to hold off on the epidural. If I wouldn't sit still for a needle in my hand there's no way I would've been still enough for a needle in my spine!
I got into the room and they started filling up the labor tub. Though I was prepared to labor in a bikini top and swim skirt, I immediately took off all my clothes. I now know what people mean when they say all modesty goes out the window during labor! The tub was amazing! I was able to just float and although the contractions were still very intense, it definitely took the edge off. Through each one I just kept yelling "It will pass! It will pass!" I kept trying to remember to keep my mouth open and relaxed. DH and my doula sat by my side, holding my hand and putting cool washcloths on my head. Around 8:30 am, I felt the need to push. My MW came over and said that although she wanted to let me birth in the tub, I would need to get out because it was a labor tub, not an approved birthing tub. At 9am, I got out of the tub and laid down on the bed on my side. The nurse and MW were absolutely wonderful. They let me push as my body was telling me to, no coaching. At one point, the MW told me to reach down and I could feel my daughter's head starting to crown. It was amazing. My MW put a warm washcloth on my perineum to help it stretch. She said on the next push, my daughter woud probably be out. I waited for the next contraction and bared down with all my strength and my daughter was born at 9:43 am! She was placed on my chest and after the cord stopped pulsing, the MW cut the cord. The MW delivered my placenta and checked me. No tears, just a "skidmark".
It was a wonderful experience and I'm so thankful to my MW, nurse, doula, and husband who helped me during labor and delivery.
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Re: A no intervention hospital birth story
Awesome birth story! Thank you for sharing! I love reading positive med/intervention free stories. I am trying to stay in the right mind set and these help me immensely.
Congratulations on your baby girl!
Congratulations! Thanks for the positive story! It actually sounds VERY similar to mine!! Minus the request for the epi, and the entry to the tub (they filled but by the time it was ready, I started pushing). I'm glad you had a wonderful birth, enjoy your beautiful baby!
Awesome story!
I live in a small Midwestern town where birth centers are unheard of and doulas and midwives may be urban legends. Our only real option is home and the hospital (where I work, ugh!). My doctor is amazing but I the nurses in L&D here are...a special breed. Needless, to say I am nervous about my ability to have a natural birth. I am currently still TTC but this is something I have been worrying about lately so thank you so much for the story.
It's fantastic that your MW knew better with the epidural I am sure most places would have had an anesthesiologist in your room ASAP.