Natural Birth?

jessicalynnmontes · December 2013

This is my third pregnancy but no babies yet. I had two triploid pregnancies that ended in D&C's after the second trimester.

Before we found out about the first triploid pregnancy, my doctor said that he would schedule us for a c-section (mind you I was only 12 weeks at the time, and my first time seeing him) because it would be "easiest" for him and less stress on the baby.

The second pregnancy, we switched hospitals all together, and they suggested that they would induce me at exactly 40 weeks (again, first visit with this pregnancy) and perform a c-section if needed.

Now, onto the third, and we have a healthy baby this time around, but I am extremely skeptical of almost all OBs and their "schedules." Has anyone else read up on the effects of inducing labor, the effects of pitocin causing intolerable contractions, which leads to epidurals...often slowing the progression of labor and the ultimate path to a c-section?

Don't get me wrong... I take Tylenol when I have a headache, and see the doctor when I feel icky, but this all just seems so strange to me. I have been reading a few books and was just curious on opinions of other moms-to-be!!!

jnnfrrose6 · December 2013

I certainly don't have a medical perspective on this, but it seems crazy to schedule a c-section this far out for your first birth just for "convenience," and the doctor's convenience at that. There's nothing convenient about healing from major abdominal surgery. I think most would say their OB won't induce until the 42nd week, unless there's a medical necessity to do so sooner. Same with planning a c-section for your first birth.

kk3i · December 2013

I have three kids had epidurals with first two and had a natural water birth with my third. If I could have another natural birth without bleeding out I would! I regret the epidurals. They gave me permanent nerve damage and there's no way you can hold them responsible when you sign a consent form. I say;if you're healthy and aren't high risk I would at least try it natural. This book- Ina Mays Guide to Childbirth gave me tha strength! Very good book!

*LrCg* · December 2013

I recommend "A Thinking Women's Guide to a Better Birth" by Henci Goer. Its a great book for giving you non-biased opinions on all procedures. If you are interested in a natural birth anything by Ina May is a great to read. #1 & #3 were homebirths with a Certified Nurse Midwife (#2 was a c-section due to a placenta abruption that happened during my pregnancy- not in labor). Obviously I have a very biased opinion on medicated births. Prior to ever being pregnant I was at the birth of my niece in a hospital for an induced birth and I just knew there had to be a better way. It just seemed very cold and scheduled to me. Obviously you can have an unmedicated birth at a hospital but they are schedules and, to me, unnecessary procedures there. For instance with my first, my water broke and I had no contractions for 13 hours. At a hospital he would have been a c-section; however since I was home and I never had internals there was no risk for infection so as long as the baby was no in distress there was no issues. I'm always super glad I wasn't in a hospital for that birth!

PrimRoseMama · December 2013

Joy2611 said:
I would pretty much never go to a doctor who told me I was having a C-section for any reason other than medically necessary or that I would be induced at exactly 40 weeks for absolutely no reason other than a "schedule."

Nope. No. NO WAY.

Same.

Blackvelvet · December 2013

I used a CNM for my first. It was in a hospital but I didn't have an IV or anything else. My insurance wouldn't cover home births and we lived a long way from the hospital so it was better to be there just in case I needed something.

With the second I had moved and the OB was already talking about csections and inductions and it was very very early.

I'm doing to a general DO doctor today so we shall see what she is like and what her plan will be she is in a small hospital they do not deliver many babies about 50 a year.

*LrCg* · December 2013

theteno said:

OP, I agree with PPs based on the limited things I know on this.

@*LrCg*, How did you get in touch with a certified nurse midwife? I just started going to a new OB and I like the office, but I haven't visited any hospitals in the area yet and I don't know a whole lot about birthing options. I always considered a water birth... Just wondering how you found her.
Thanks.

I got VERY lucky! Hahaha- my insurance covers homebirths but only with a CNM. It just so happened that there was a free standing birth center an hour from my house ran by a CNM who also offered homebirths. I opted for a homebirth vs. a birth center (she brought the same equipment to a homebirth that was at a birth center) and it took the travel out. Google birth centers in your area or you could ask for a list from your insurance company. My CNM was out of network but we filed a waiver for her to be paid in-network because they had no in-network CNM that did homebirths. Its actually rare for a CNM to do homebirths- its mostly CPM. My homebirths were both water births. Some hospitals will allow waterbirths (some only allow it during labor and not birth but some do allow it for births- you really just have to check around).

kboydbowman · December 2013

As they note in TBoBB, obs are great, but at the end of the day they are *surgeons* - they're interested in medicalizing things and seeing problems, not seeing natural processes. If you're not high risk, why use an ob at all? Midwives all the way!

allardr · December 2013

Do you have other health issues though, like reasons for the other pregnancy issues? I have a medical condition and it was determined early on I'd be induced at 39 weeks if I hadn't went by then. I had no problem with that considering it wasn't "just because" there was a reason.

mlebates · December 2013

Having a c-section is MAJOR SURGERY. No way on gods green earth would I allow someone to cut me open unless absolutely necessary. It's easiest for him?! Piss off doc because unless I need to have one you aren't cutting me open. And an induction can put a lot of unneeded stress on the baby. I waited until 41 weeks with no progress, and my OB telling me I wasn't going to go into labor on my own, before I was induced.

Sorry that got a little rantish. My advice would be to have a birth plan in place, and make sure your OB is on board, or move on to the next one. They are working for YOU. Not the other way around.

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