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thinking about med-free birth. doctor or MW practice?

emg2010emg2010 member
in Natural Birth

Hi, I'm a FTM and about 22 weeks along. I'm considering a med-free birth however I'm not set on it. As of now my plan is to deliver at a hospital. I would prefer not to be induced or given pitocin unless it is absolutely medically necessary. As for an epidural, I'd like to see how my labor goes. If it's something that I feel I can handle I would like to go med-free but if it becomes too much I'd like the option of an epidural. I'm trying to keep an open mind about it since I am a FTM and have no idea what labor will be like.

 Now currently I go to a large OB office with 6 doctors. I have one main doctor I have been seeing for years. She's very nice but we haven't had a discussion yet on a birth plan. Right now the office has me rotating with all the doctors. This way if my doctor cannot be there for the delivery I will know one of the other doctors. My visits have been short with the other doctors so I haven't really had the chance to speak to them. My concern is how they all will feel about my plan. My doctor might be on board but I won't know who I have that day. I've been thinking of scheduling a visit with a MW practice that participates at the hospital I plan on delivering. I'd like to discuss my options with them but I'm not sure if I should meet with my own doctor first and discuss my concerns. I guess I'm having a hard time with this because I haven't had a bad experience with my current OB office but I'm not sure if they will be right for me when it's time.

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Re: thinking about med-free birth. doctor or MW practice?

  • nyki06nyki06 member
    With my last pregnancy I switched from an OB practice to a midwife after deciding to have a med free birth. I was very happy with the switch. This time around I'm seeing a midwifery practice with many midwives and I have also been really happy about their support in every area of natural birth so far. 
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  • aylafsu88aylafsu88 member
    Your situation sounds exactly like mine.  I went to a large practice with 8 OBs but saw 1 main OB for my visits.  They did have me rotate through some of the other OB at my appointments but I never meet all of them in the practice. I had a successful, med free birth with this practice and the OB who ended up on call was fabulous! My birth was amazing and I will use the same practice again with my next.  The big thing is to ask the OB how the practice as a whole feels about epis, episiotomies, tearing, induction, etc. At a large practice like this they usually have a general guideline/policies for their patients to avoid confusion between OBs. This will give you an idea about how the practice operates and how natural birth friendly they are.  I also asked all the OBs I meet with from the practice similar questions.  This allowed me to gauge their answered as a practice and to determine if one OB was telling me what I wanted to hear.  From their answers I felt that they were very natural birth friendly and when it came down to delivery, they were.  I think many women assume that OBs are not natural birth friendly and that they must use a MW to have a natural birth.  However, this is not always the case.  More OBS are becoming natural birth friendly and many hopsitals are supporting natural births.  Talk with your OB and ask her/him lots of questions. Then make your decision.
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  • emg2010emg2010 member

    imageaylafsu88:
    Your situation sounds exactly like mine.

     

    Thanks! I'm so happy to hear someone who had a good experience at an OB office like mine. I will definitely talk to my doctor and bring up the questions with the other doctors. I kept hearing how people have a negative experience with an OB office so it made me think I should switch to a MW practice.

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  • RJM050705RJM050705 member

    I chose a midwife group from the very beginning because I'm planning to go as med/intervention free as I can.  I think there are 7-8 of them and at 39w I think there are still two I haven't met yet.  Overall I've liked all that I've met.  I have a couple of "favs" but really, any of them will be fine in the delivery room. :)  

    I think in your case, since you do like your OB, I would schedule the next appointment with them and share your concerns like you have here.  If they indicate that other drs in the practice are not open to a med free birth, then I would strongly consider switching.  Another option might be to hire a doula for support/someone to talk through the options with.

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  • nosoup4unosoup4u member

    Definitely talk to your doctor at your next appointment. It's good to ask how many women who go to your practice get an epidural, how many are induced, things like that. If it's easy to interview a MW in the group, I would do that, too, even if you haven't talk to your OB yet.


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  • danuli8danuli8 member
    I started off with an OB, but after she started giving answers I did not like regarding what she would do during delivery, I switched to a CNM that my doula recommended. I think I will have a much nicer birth this way.
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  • memo9memo9 member
    I think I would enjoy it, but only because I am completely deprived of like-minded mamas in my area.
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  • breathlifebreathlife member

    Im going to a MW group and I love it !!  They dont do home births and we dont have a birthing center in our area but they are very open to natural birth.  I have been conflicted as well about a birth plan.  

    I watched "The Business of Being Born" on netflix last night and it opened my eyes to a lot.  I would def recommend for anyone considering natural birth.  It really pushes home the concept that our bodies were made to give birth and instinctively know what to do.  Of course there are circumstance that warrant induction or c-section but for the most part women are made to feel like they cant give birth naturally and its just not true. I feel very encouraged after watching that I can do this med free !!! 

               5 years IF & 2 losses

            ~~ DS Born 2/28/2013 ~~
                8lb 13 oz 22 inches 
    Happily expecting another miracle !
     EDD 11/20



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  • steverstever member

    My OB practice has 3 OB's, I saw a different OB for both deliveries and both were med-free.

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  • TNgoldengirlTNgoldengirl member

    I'm in the same position as well. I'm only 5w2d with my second. I have decided to change providers. So now I can either go to a new OB office, or go the the MW clinic, and I'm unsure! I want to make the right decision and not waste time/co-pays going to both places until I decide.

    I had a great birthing experience last time, so is it worth the change for the more personalized care? I did have an epidural and pitocin. I hear MW specialize in natural birth, and I'm open to it, but unsure and don't want to be pressured into it or feel like a failure if I don't. Reading all the boards and talking to different people, I'm more confused than ever! 

    You should definitely talk to your OB, since you've already been seeing her. That's the thing, I don't want to switch in the middle and then not be able to go back if it's not a good fit. Sorry, I didn't want to make another post for the same answers! I know this is the Natural Birth board, so looking to get this POV. Good Luck! Definitely comforting to know others are experiencing the same thing. I'm excited either way! 


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