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Second time around

mrslafleur08mrslafleur08 member
in Natural Birth
Hi everyone! This is my second pregnancy and with my first I went natural with a midwife. This time around (because of insurance issues) I will have an OB. I still want a natural birth, but I am nervous about the whole "doctor not a midwife aspect". Does anyone have experience with an OB that was not pushy about medical interventions or experience with an OB and a doula?
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Re: Second time around

  • Arielle27Arielle27 member
    Yes to both. The first was with a doula, but that was a birth abroad, so it may not be applicable to you...

    The second was a totally medfree hospital birth. I was actually delivered by the nurse because she popped out when hey said I was only 7 cm dilated, but I kept warning that I was ready to push...

    In any case, I felt no pressure from the hospital staff to have meds to speed things along or for pain. What I was annoyed by and am hoping to get around this time was that they wouldn't let me labor in the shower at all, which was all I really wanted to do to be comfortable... So on the one hand, they didn't believe me for the last half hour I kept saying I was ready to push, and on the other hand, they didn't want me to 'give birth in the shower' so I wasn't allowed to go in...

    This time I'll be delivering at a hospital much closer to home, so I'll wait as long as I can before going to the hospital, whereas circumstances dictated last time that I had to run to the hospital when my water broke and was there throughout nearly my entire labor process.

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  • erb82erb82 member
    I didn't have a doula, but I had 2 natural hospital births with an OB. My advice would be to go on the hospital tour and find out their policies on things such as fetal monitoring, eating during labor, and IVs. If you're uncomfortable with any hospital policy talk about it with your OB. My OB quietly let me disregard some of the standard policies.
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  • iumegan716iumegan716

    My situation was opposite from yours.  With DS1, I had an OB and a doula and with DS2, I had a midwife (and a doula).  I think if you find an OB that is comfortable with you having a doula (if you decide to hire one), then you'll be fine.  My OB seemed to take a backseat because she knew my wishes and she had worked with my doula many, many times before.  

    One difference I noticed was that the Dr is more pushy about things like having the IV line started in case it is needed, whereas the midwife didn't push it/ask me to have it.   

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  • Amanda&EricBAmanda&EricB member
    When I delivered my son I had an ob and she was amazing, supportive, and encouraging of my wishes. She did not push for anything that wasn't a medical necessity. I can't wait to do it again this time with her.
    Wyatt 9/6/2011 
    Tessa 7/5/2013
    Baby #3- ????? (ttc soon)


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