MW birth center birth to OB hospital birth

HerbanMom · October 2013

I'm mainly a lurker around here but I'd really just love to gather some opinions or hear of other experiences in a similar situation.

I have two DS who were both born on the cusp of term, 36w5d and 36w6d. DS1 I did have PTL issues so we did the whole steroid shot and progesterone injections starting at 32 weeks and delivered a healthy baby boy at 36w5d. DS2 was a rather uneventful pregnancy and OB expected him to come around the same time DS1 did, I went for a natural birth in hospital and it was OK. Not quite what I had hoped for. I had a really great nurse for the first half of my labor but when shift change came I got Miss Happy Epi Go Lucky. They were not very encouraging of my desire to have a natural delivery.

So here comes DS3, so far uneventful pregnancy that has sailed along beautifully and my MW has agreed as long as we make it to 36 weeks that I can deliver in the birth center. This is really, really something I've wanted for a long time and I've put so much into it and am honestly so excited to have a peaceful birth for this little guy. Thursday evening I started experiencing some contractions, but I didn't think much of it since I'm at that point and my MW has said it's normal. I put myself to bed early that night but Friday AM I was still having inconsistent contractions throughout the day which by evening were 5-6 min apart. Went to the hospital to get checked and all was well when they initially checked me, no cervical change just 2-4 min contractions and I was given 4 pills to help slow the contractions down, the on call OB didn't seem worried. An hour later I was still having contractions 2 min apart that were getting stronger and had bloody show, upon being checked I was 1 cm and completely thin and they could feel the head. 2 rounds of terb, steroids and hours more in the hospital it all calmed down. I am now beginning to accept the reality that maybe I'm not going to get my birth center birth, and I'm ok with that- my goal is to have a healthy baby so I may have to have a plan b.

For those that have experienced this, how did you cope? I'm nervous about delivering in a hospital, being strapped up and monitored constantly with no freedom of movement and not being able to deliver in a position that my body is telling me to. I would be grateful for any advice, words of encouragement or just your experience.

HerbanMom · October 2013

@BrittAnnie19 thanks for your response. Unfortunately, my risk factor has changed, I've been trying to reach my MW since the PTL hospital visit and she has failed to contact me back. I've lost confidence in how she's caring for me as a patient, especially in this situation. She works within her own birth center, so no hospital delivery will involve her. I've decided that because I'm not getting the care I feel I deserve right now that I will be switching to the OB who delivered my first two as he's familiar with my history and given I've got only weeks left I don't feel like I have time to establish a new Dr/Patient relationship.

I'm bummed but I want to ensure that my little guy and myself are in absolutely the best hands. Fortunately, the hospital I delivered at is NB friendly I just wish I had more freedom of pushing position rather than having to lay on my back because it didn't feel right when I had DS2 to be stuck on my back. I'm so sad to give up my birth center water birth, but I know at this point I don't want to have any questions for anxiety going into this.

HerbanMom · October 2013

Thank you, I'll definitely be inquiring about nurses and maybe if he can't help me out much with that maybe when I head into triage when I'm actually in labor it would be worth bringing up. Thanks for the encouragement!

LokiLahve · October 2013

I had a natural birth with my MW in a hospital. Granted the MW was there to advocate for me, but I was told by the nurses as well I could push in any position I wanted.
I would go in with a written (short and to the point) birth plan. Do you have a SO or support person who will be there? If so, make sure they know what you want and will stand up for you.
And I agree with a pp...just move into the position you want, the staff will figure it out.
Good luck!

pixieprincss · October 2013

Stressful! Part of our contract with our CPM was that she would be at the hospital with us, should it go that way, if we requested. In that setting, she would be there in a doula sort of capacity. As for monitoring, staying in bed, etc. This is where you get to exercise your rights! Unless you are receiving medication that reduces mobility, I'd stay up and about. You can decline monitoring, even intermittent. If your MW comes, you can have her do the things that make things more like what you were hoping for, while not violating the hospital's restrictions which she may be bound by, but you are not.

HerbanMom · October 2013

Thank you ladies! I've changed my existing birth plan a bit to make it simpler, so I'll be taking that into my appt this next week and talking it over with my OB. Fortunately, SO will be there and he is very ontop of making sure my needs are met and advocates for me which he really showed when we were in the hospital with PTL.

TillyAdams · October 2013

You should consider getting a doula who can also advocate for you in addition to your husband. That might get you closer the outcome you want!

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MW birth center birth to OB hospital birth

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