Q for vaginal birth MoMs

DoublePortion · February 2014

Were you allowed to labor in water or various positions outside of the bed, or were you hooked up to so many monitors that you were stuck in bed? My OB has discussed with me that I'm most likely facing a c/s and that either way I'll deliver in an OR, but I'm not sure what to expect up to delivery if I (FX!) am able to deliver vaginally. I'm sure hospital policies and OB preferences play into it, but I'm curios what others have experienced. Thanks!

TheDairyQueenx3 · February 2014

I was allowed to labor in any way I wanted. However I had a midwife (my MFMs wife runs a midwifery clinic along side his practice so he was there as a safety net should I of needed a section) she delivered my twins and they had wireless monitors so I could move freely. I don't feel contractions just sort of a pressure sensation so I didn't do a ton of moving just sitting on the birthing ball and in the begin sat in the tub. Other than that I was in bed because the bed I delivered in was insanely comfortable. I basically watch tv and ate lunch while I was in labor. my midwife was rubbing my legs because I kept getting a stupid cramp in my left leg. I got my IV and epi line very last second because I hate dragging that stupid pole everywhere.

MommyToThree+2 · February 2014

I've delivered two sets of twins vaginally and I was hooked up to monitors and unable to move around much. My labors were quick also about wasn't a huge deal. I did deliver in the OR both times.

SamanthaJoD · February 2014

For my labor (at a hospital), I had to stay on all the monitors for 20 minutes each hour, then I had 40 minutes to do whatever I want (take a walk, try other positions, etc). I didn't ask about laboring in the Japanese soaking tub at my hospital, but I imagine they would have let me for 30 minutes at a time. Being hooked to the monitors was torture. Lots of painful contractions and I couldn't really change positions without loosing the babies heart beats!

jocie2581 · February 2014

The monitors made it impossible for me to move around. Though I didn't request to leave the bed. I kind of just went with the flow. Which resulted in a vaginal delivery in the OR.

ppants · February 2014

My water broke @ 32w3d. I wasn't able to get up and move around really due to the monitors. My vaginal birth was also in the OR and my twins were born 17 min apart. I was originally very nervous about having a vaginal birth, but thankful that I was able to have one.

caden · February 2014

I'm not sure about water because I never asked for that but I moved around (on a ball, walked etc) until I got my epi.

pillowass · February 2014

I had intermittent monitoring and technically I suppose I had lots of freedom to move around but at 36 weeks/6 days there was not much moving around happening

That said, it was nice to be able to move between sitting, standing and leaning during contractions.

I got the epidural when I was 7cm, then rested in complete bliss and comfort until I was ready to push. (Seriously I had not been that comfortable in 7 months!) They wheeled me into the OR and babies were out within a half hour. Hope yours goes smoothly as well

DoublePortion · February 2014

Thanks for sharing, everyone!! It makes me feel better that I may have options for laboring.

DoublePortion · February 2014

Thanks for sharing, everyone!! It makes me feel better that I may have options for laboring.

hootie123 · February 2014

I was hooked up to too many monitors to walk around - my movement was when they nurses came in to roll me over to each side - lol.

meldoo2002 · February 2014

I was monitored a lot, but my labor went very very quickly and early. I did deliver in the OR vaginally, but was moved there right before delivery… I had a laboring room prior to that.

yinyang124 · February 2014

I was allowed to labor in any position I wanted, but I had to be on all the monitors for 10 minutes every 30 minutes. I labored in a regular room until Baby A started crowning, then I was moved to the OR. I think that it is widespread policy that MoMs will deliver in an OR though, in case of emergency. I also had no epi, due to a previous spinal injury. I delivered at 34w0d.

Shel79 · February 2014

I was hooked up to too many monitors to leave the bed, but they may have been monitoring me more closely because I had an induction. I actually ended up delivering in my room rather than the OR, I think because they shocked everyone and came crazily fast after I got the epi (I went from 3cm to 10cm in less than 30 minutes! )

macchiatto · February 2014

My dr was fine with me doing intermittent fetal monitoring so I was able to walk around/labor in different positions. It did take one of the nurses a looong time to get a good strip on Baby B so there was one stretch where I was stuck in bed for a good while but otherwise I had the freedom. My OB was also OK with me delivering in an L/D/R room but he had an OR team prepped and ready to go, waiting out in the hallway, from the time I started pushing so we'd be ready just in case things took a turn. Fortunately we didn't end up needing them.

Rachiemoo · February 2014

I was free to labor however I wanted, but I got an epidural pretty soon, and also at 35 weeks it was pretty hard to be on my feet, so I was very content to be in bed.

kbeach82 · February 2014

My doc was most comfortable with pretty consistent monitoring, so I labored in bed the majority of the time. I was required to have an epi anyway, and moving around wasn't an option after that. I labored in a standard L&D room and was moved to the OR for delivery.

angie637 · February 2014

My water broke so you risk infection if you get in water . They were also worried about cords wrapping around their necks since they were so small and could move around alot so I was stuck in bed.

katiebenes · February 2014

My hospital had rules for checking the boys for a few minutes every hour. so my nurses at one point had wheeled the monitors into the shower and sat there with me in the shower to get the numbers.

katiebenes · February 2014

I was able to labor until 9 CM in my L&D room, then switched to the OR. I had no desire to go in a tub. not my style AT ALL. so I have no clue if they would have let me

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