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Natural Birth
KmfMjf1024
member
The Business of Being Born
KmfMjf1024
member
Hello everyone, I'm a first time mom, 28 years old, expecting our first baby in early March.
I am interested in a natural hospital birth - and just began taking Bradley classes to make it happen. I hadn't planned on using a midwife or doula, just starting the classes and methods at 21 weeks (plus prenatal pilates and yoga) I was planning would get me through.
My Bradley instructor let me borrow "The Business of Being Born" - I'm sure many have seen it, but in case you haven't, Ricki Lake did a very pro midwifery documentary - and I came away from the movie with the impression that a natural birth wasn't really compatible with a hospital setting without a midwife present.
Anyone with thoughts or experiences to share here? Is it worth taking my hospital tour early to ask them a ton of questions so if I need to switch, I can do it fairly early in the process? Thank you 
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Re: The Business of Being Born
I would suggest getting a doula if you go ahead with your hospital birth. They will be able to advocate for you and inform you along the way, while you are unable to do so for yourself during the intensity of labor.
We are doing a home birth because we feel there is no way we (us, not everyone. I know some people do!
) would be able to have a natural birth in the hospital. When I spoke to the head of the childbirth center at the hospital earlier on in my pregnancy, she said I'd have to fight pretty hard just to go without an IV. Let alone constant monitoring and freedom to move around as I please.
Good luck with your decision.
Keep in mind that the BoBB is a documentary, meant to scare you away from hospitals and OBs. I enjoyed watching it, and it makes a lot of valid points, but I think it is big into scare tactic territory.
I had a natural hospital birth with an OB. I didn't even have a doula. It is possible.
That said, I think it is a LOT easier when you have a pro-NB hospital and healthcare provider, be that a midwife or OB. There are pro-NB OBs.
Definitely take the hospital tour early. Ask lots of questions. Do the same with your OB, and switch if you don't get answers you like. If you are in doubt about it, consider a doula, birth center, or home birth. Just find what makes you comfortable. It's never too early (or late).
My perspective is that is all about the mindset of your healthcare provider. So if you have an OB that is pro-NB, then you should be okay. However, I would say that it is very tricky to find an OB that is ACTUALLY pro-NB. Many say that they are, but then their actions don't match up.
I had a NB in a hospital via a midwife practice with DD and will be doing it again in the next few weeks!
It totally depends on your hospital. I delivered twice in a hospital, but they are known in my area for being very supportive of natural birth. I delivered with a CNM employed by the hospital, I did not hire my own midwife or doula. My husband and I took Bradley classes as well. I drove nearly an hour to be at this hospital. When I toured the hospital five minutes from my home, I could tell by the way my questions were answered that I was not confident that I would be supported there. So, I would tour all of the hospitals available to you in your area and see what you find out. Also, what does your Bradley instructor say about your hospital? Often Bradley instructors know a lot about the reputations of the docs and hospitals in your area. Also, don't ever feel like it's two late to make a switch. I have a friend who switched hospitals at 35 weeks.
Good Luck!
The hospital I'm currently slated to deliver at has something like a 25% c section rate. When I talked to one of the OB's at 16 weeks, he was pretty skeptical of my intentions to take Bradley, was extolling the benefits of elective c section - but said the hospital and doctors were willing to work with me and my plan. He also said, and I agree, that it really depends on the doctor more than the hospital. However, generally speaking, he didn't exactly inspire confidence.
However...my prenatal yoga instructor is actually an OB nurse at this hospital, and she said she's seen all kinds of births, including natural births with ladies walking in the door with birthing balls
So, in summary, I was confident I could work with this hospital until I saw the movie. You ladies have provided some great advice on how to move forward and I really appreciate it!
I had a natural birth in the hospital setting with a midwife. It was VERY important for me to be at a hospital because of my family's medical history and it was also VERY important for me to have a natural birth. My midwife is the only midwife on staff for the entire hospital and know my plans were for a natural delivery. Since she has been at the hospital for so long, she was my main advocate outside myself and my DH. There was never a mention of an epi or pitocin during my labor. I think its more important that your birth team knows and understands your needs more than the setting in which you give birth when it comes to interventions.
DS #1 born 05/25/2012
BFP#2: 06/12/2013 ---- loss
DS #2 born 4/08/2014
BPF#4: 2/1/2016 --- 2/23/2016 suspected molar pregnancy--- 3/15/2016 D&E - diagnosis MM
BFP#5 - 9/22/2016
* formally bornmommy
I wanted to add, although I think it is a good idea to tour your hospital before for registration and comfortability reasons, know that hospitals can lie...
PS - I'm a big Bradley fan!
DS #1 born 05/25/2012
BFP#2: 06/12/2013 ---- loss
DS #2 born 4/08/2014
BPF#4: 2/1/2016 --- 2/23/2016 suspected molar pregnancy--- 3/15/2016 D&E - diagnosis MM
BFP#5 - 9/22/2016
* formally bornmommy
This is my opinion as well. I think your provider's philosophy is of the utmost importance.
Also, I went into my last labor/delivery very educated about the process, but with an unsupportive provider that I thought I'd be able to overcome and no, it did not go well. What I didn't plan on is just how vulnerable you are while laboring. I cannot stress enough the importance of finding a provider whom you can trust and rely on 100% and whose philosophies align with your own.
And while I wouldn't at all go as far as saying a hospital is totally incompatible with natural birth, it can pose some hurdles you wouldn't have in a homebirth setting. I think a supportive provider can make all the difference though.
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Unfortunately you're the only person that will really be able to tell if your OB and hospital are going to support your natural birth goals.
I definitely would talk to your OB specifically about your desire for a natural birth and then try to feel out if he/she is being genuine. Take the hospital tour early and really spend a lot of time talking to the nurses and asking about ways they support/encourage natural birth.
You can absolutely have a natural birth (however you define that) at a hospital with an OB, I ended up being attended by 2 OB's for my sons birth because my midwife left the practice to exclusively do homebirth a month before he was born. Both of my doctors were extremely supportive and knew my wishes ahead of time. They wanted me to have my goal birth as much as I wanted to and they were there to safeguard me in the event that something unexpected happened.
I'm also a big advocate for getting a doula, partly to act as an advocate and partly to have extra support that will stay with you the whole time you labor/birth. The midwife/doctor is only going to check in with you and then be there for pushing, the doula will be there as long as you want her and will be someone that is informed about your desires and that you've had time to build a relationship with.
This. I agree with pp's that you need to talk to your doctor and hospital and feel them out to make your decision, but take everything with a grain of salt. When I toured my hospital before I had dd, they were very accommodating and "yes! you can do that!" But when I got there, suddenly it was mandatory that I be monitored, I couldn't get in the shower, and it was a fight for them to settle on a heplock. They also bragged that the baby stayed in the room, but dh and I had to fight tooth and nail when a nurse randomly came in to take dd away to the nursery to have all her shots that I told them I didn't want her to have. I know not all hospitals are like that, but talk with other women who have given birth there to get a true feel for the place.
A lot depends, IMO, on your hospital and your OB. Our hospital was very pro-natural birth--but not every hospital is. Same with our OB. I would take your hospital tour now. Honestly, if they're very rigid and anti-natural birth, it might not matter much if you have a great doula--they can only do so much against the "system."
BoBB does have a very specific point to make, and keep in mind it's a few years old. I like to think that the conversation that BoBB is a part of has started to shift some hospitals away from their older modes and into a more patient-centered, natural-birth friendly place. (I also still clap when Peter Pan asks if you believe in fairies.) So much depends on the location and the medical staff involved.
In most states, (I'm in Oregon, it is legal here) you are able to have a home birth. In most states there are Certified Practicing Midwives too. If you can find a CPM that practices outside of a hospital, but has hospital privileges, you would truly have the best of both worlds.
Hospital + Natural Birth = Fighting for more time / fighting for no drugs / your mind and body being disconnected from each other with every stranger that comes into your room to check your cervix / fetal monitor.
If you are having a low risk pregnacy, you should be able to deliver at home or in a free standing birth center if your hospital does not truly follow close enough to a midwifery model for your comfort. If there are signs of complications your midwife can transfer to the hospital with you and facilitate the best and most natural birth that is possible / safe for you and baby. Every state is different though, hopefully you can be respected and your birth be as natural as truly possible.
Check out the 4 part series of More Business of Being Born and Orgasmic Birth!!! You'll love them.
If you ladies would indulge me one more follow up post on this...
Here's where I'm currently slated to deliver:
https://www.sibley.org/labor_and_delivery/maternity_tour.aspx
And here's where I'm thinking about switching:
https://www.inova.org/upload/docs/Healthcare%20Services/Women%20Services/IAH/iah-maternity-tour.pdf
While a powerpoint presentation isn't the same thing as an actual birth experience...you can see why my gut feeling is to move!
I would DEFINITELY switch. The second place seems much more NB friendly.
This is exactly what I would say if I wrote my own post...I had a midwife instead of an OB...but just do your research, ask lots of questions, and keep your mindset of what you want.
)
I would say switch as well. The first one gave me a creepy baby factory vibe, and didn't seem nearly as supportive or accommodating.