Birth center might kick me out due to heart issue - any advice on how to fight?

vszapp · February 2014

I was stupid enough to check the box on the form during my first prenatal checkup that says I have a heart murmur, which most people can't even hear. I am going to a birthing center within a university hospital, and they are a bit more conservative than most independent BCs, but DH really likes that we are in the hospital if we need to go to L&D. Well, someone found out about the heart murmur, and they had me do a follow-up echo, which I knew would be abnormal. About 10 years ago I got the major runaround from cardiologists about what may or may not be wrong with me (basically nothing, it turns out). Now they are sending me down this road again, and it look like I might not get cleared to do the birthing center unless I go to a ton of specialists and re-create the wheel (I don't have my old cardology records and it was so long ago that the offices don't either). I have a consult on Thursday wtih a cardiologist to review the echo results and see if he will clear me for NB. Any advice on how to convice him (run of the mill cardio guy) that I am OK to give birth without monitoring? I know it's specific to my situation, but wondering if there is any info on which conditions are truly considered high risk. Basically it looks like I might have a really mild case of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, but according to the last specialist, he thinks I don't and I'm just fine. I have already given birth once and run a marathon as well as about a dozen helf marathons and haven't dropped dead yet. Argh...

aylafsu88 · February 2014

No advice on how to deal with the cardiologist. Hopefully he will be able to evaluate you and give the clearance you need for the birth center. Since the birth center is in a hospital could you use that to push that with the MW as you have access to the hospital if something happens?
I just wanted to say it is possible to have a natural birth in a hospital so do not get defeated.

vszapp · February 2014

aylafsu88 said:

No advice on how to deal with the cardiologist. Hopefully he will be able to evaluate you and give the clearance you need for the birth center. Since the birth center is in a hospital could you use that to push that with the MW as you have access to the hospital if something happens?
I just wanted to say it is possible to have a natural birth in a hospital so do not get defeated.

Thanks. I ended up in L&D last time (tried the birthing center) because my waer broke and contractions didn't kick in. I hated being monitored, tied down with cords, no tub, etc. Really trying to avoid that if possible.

aylafsu88 · February 2014

vszapp said:

aylafsu88 said:

No advice on how to deal with the cardiologist. Hopefully he will be able to evaluate you and give the clearance you need for the birth center. Since the birth center is in a hospital could you use that to push that with the MW as you have access to the hospital if something happens?
I just wanted to say it is possible to have a natural birth in a hospital so do not get defeated.
Thanks. I ended up in L&D last time (tried the birthing center) because my waer broke and contractions didn't kick in. I hated being monitored, tied down with cords, no tub, etc. Really trying to avoid that if possible.

I had a natural birth in the hospital with none of those things. We only have one hospital and one very small birth center in my town so my options are very limited. I did not have continuous monitoring, no Hep Lock, no IV, labored in the tub, etc. You have the right to refuse things in the hospital and many women do have successful natural births there without all the chords/interventions. My point is if the birth center does not work out do not give up hope and get upset. There are natural birth friendly providers and you can have a natural birth in the hospital.

sschwege · February 2014

aylafsu88 said:

vszapp said:

aylafsu88 said:

No advice on how to deal with the cardiologist. Hopefully he will be able to evaluate you and give the clearance you need for the birth center. Since the birth center is in a hospital could you use that to push that with the MW as you have access to the hospital if something happens?
I just wanted to say it is possible to have a natural birth in a hospital so do not get defeated.
Thanks. I ended up in L&D last time (tried the birthing center) because my waer broke and contractions didn't kick in. I hated being monitored, tied down with cords, no tub, etc. Really trying to avoid that if possible.

I had a natural birth in the hospital with none of those things. We only have one hospital and one very small birth center in my town so my options are very limited. I did not have continuous monitoring, no Hep Lock, no IV, labored in the tub, etc. You have the right to refuse things in the hospital and many women do have successful natural births there without all the chords/interventions. My point is if the birth center does not work out do not give up hope and get upset. There are natural birth friendly providers and you can have a natural birth in the hospital.

I was going to say pretty much the same thing. I know your ideal is a birth center, but a hospital birth can be a wonderful experience as well. I had both of my babies in the hospital and the only intervention I had either time was that they broke my bag of water right before crowning, that was it. No IV, cords, I could eat/drink what I wanted, freedom of movement, they could even monitor me in the bath, they just put the doppler on my stomach every 15 minutes or so.

If you do end up in the hospital labor at home as long as possible and look into hiring a doula, it's not the end of the world!

iris427 · February 2014

I don't think there is really anyway to convince a cardiologist of something. If there is something there, they will find it and advise you accordingly. If the birth center doesn't feel comfortable with you delivering there under the circumstances, I don't think that is something to fight. You can still have a safe and positive birth in a hospital. I also agree that a doula might be a good idea. GL.