NB at the hospital

bumpuser10583032 · October 2014

Hello Mamas! I am considering a natural birth, and am pretty much sold on it. I know I will have peace of mind if I deliver in a hospital. I was just hoping to hear some of your stories about natural birth at a hospital. Most of the info I find about natural births are at home, and I'd just like some insight into your experiences with it at hospitals.

Stephij1 · October 2014

I was just about to post a very similar question. I don't have any stories, but I'm excited to see what others have.

MitoRachel · October 2014

I've had two lovely natural hospital births. With the first I went to the hospital after 90 min. of labor because the contractions started at 3 min. a part and 90 sec. long. Once there I was checked and found to be 7cm. Things slowed down once I got to 9cm because they needed an IV for my adrenal medication and couldn't get it started. My nurse was awesome. She had had 3 natural births and really talked me down from the ledge when I got scared of the pain while stuck at 9cm. My only run-in with hospital staff was that my high-risk OB really wanted me to push on my back and I really didn't. The nurse calmed the waters by making my bed as upright as possible and putting pillows behind it so I was almost sitting. After 7 1/2 hrs. of labor and pushing, my 9lb baby boy was born.

My next birth I was lower risk so I could give birth at my local hospital with a regular OB. Probably because I had had so much false labor, I didn't realize I was in labor until 90 min. into my 2 1/2 hr. labor. At that point things got intense! By the time DH called the babysitter and then the OB office, we only had 15 min. to spare between showing up at the ER and baby being born. Everyone was awesome. The ER guy just got me a wheelchair straight away and the nurses had me skip triage because they could tell I was close. The nurses didn't ask me any check in questions or try to get an IV started. The just checked me, told me I was fully dilated, and then calmed me down when I freaked out that I was going to have a baby RIGHT NOW. The main nurse caught the baby and stayed with me until my OB showed up.

jennypolkadots · October 2014

Just dropping in to recommend a book I really liked. "Natural Hospital Birth: the Best of Both Worlds" by Cynthia Gabriel. It talks about your choices and what to expect in a hospital environment, and what to consider when choosing between hospitals or doctors. I would also recommend taking Bradley Method classes or at least reading "Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way" by Susan McCutcheon-Rosegg.

We ultimately decided on an out of hospital birth, but I am still glad I read those books. I'll also have a Bradley instructor and constant midwife care at my birth so that really helps me feel confident. If we are part of the small percent that end up transferring, I will feel prepared for that.

vvvvvfee · October 2014

i had a natural hospital birth with DS (my first). hoping to do it again with any future children. i would recommend getting informed about what common procedures will be offered and what the general hospital "protocol" is in your area, and then decide in advance what you are okay with and what you'd like to avoid. i'd also recommend writing up a birth plan and discussing your preferences in detail with your SO (as well as in brief with your doctor). another book recommendation is the complete illustrated birthing companion- it discusses different types of births and pros/cons for each. it is written by a doctor, nurse, and a midwife, and i feel like it gives a pretty unbiased overview.

other advice:
-wait as long as you can before you go to the hospital. wait until contractions are so intense that can't talk while one is happening. you can potentially avoid having many interventions pushed on you because you'll be at home during most of your labor, and not in the hospital on their clock.

-you can ask that they not give you an IV-- or that they use a hep lock so that the IV port can be closed off to allow you to walk around in between infusions (say, if you were GBS+-- which i was-- and getting antibiotics- i was GBS+-- although my labor was so short they only got 1 dose in).

-try to move around as much as you can. make sure your SO is familiar with different birthing/laboring positions so that they can suggest different ones to try. talk in advance about what they can say/do/offer to help encourage you. (of course, getting a doula is another option)

- i like the BRAIN acronym for medical interventions-
what are the Benefits?
what are the Risks?
what are the Alternatives?
what does your Intuition say?
what happens if we do Nothing?

my experience was maybe not the norm, since i had an extremely short labor. i woke up to my water breaking at 1:30 AM, we got to the hospital at about 2:45 AM, and DS was born at 5:17 AM.

i had a pretty good experience overall. my regrets are:
1. i wish i'd listened to the self-hypnosis/relaxation scripts during labor. DS offered to set it up for me on the iPod when we were at the hospital, but i think i was already in transition by that point and too out of it to say yes.
2. i had a 2nd-degree tear and i wonder if the position (not flat on my back, but reclined at a 45 degree angle) and/or coached pushing contributed to it.
3. they did put DS on my chest after birth, but i was so overwhelmed-- by the speed of the birth, the post-birth shakes, and the lack of sleep, that i didn't try to initiate BFing right away. DS had difficulty latching, leading to us needing to use a nipple shieand i wonder if i'd done that initial skin-to-skin if it would've helped.

GL!

margaritachikita · October 2014

I would recommend hiring a doula. She can help you write your birth preferences and discover what your choices are with regards to hospital procedures. When you are in labor she will help you decide when to go to the hospital. She can also be an objective participant in any decision making that needs to be done (the decisions are always yours but its nice to have a knowledgable advocate with you). On a practical level she can help you remain calm and comfortable throughout your birth. I am a birth doula and I believe doulas are much more valuable at hospital births than OOH.

JCWhitey · October 2014

I had one and will have another with this baby. I loved my NB hospital birth! I had three hospitals to select from- 2 were larger hospitals that had a higher c-section rate. One had a NICU and treated the high risk pregnancies in the area so their rate was justified, the other was just not recommended for NB. The third was a small community hospital that had the lowest c-section rate and new birthing suites designed for NB (jacuzzi tubs, squat bars, birth stools, birth balls, etc.). The doctors that worked there were also very NB friendly as a practice. With larger hospitals you have to worry not only about your doctor, but the doctor who is on call when you go into labor. If they aren't NB friendly it really doesn't matter about your chosen doctor, sadly. I decided to go with the hospital where only one practice had privileges and they were all NB.

This time around I am going to a hospital that has a 0% c-section rate and has had 0 epidurals since it opened. Mostly because neither are offered there.

Not all hospitals are created equal. You definitely want to do your research, find out about policies and procedures, and know your right as a patient. I knew that I had a lot of say so I did everything was turning down fetal monitoring to not having an IV. Then check out the Birth Without Fear blog to read some great NB hospital stories!

marriedinaugust · October 2014

My first was a natural hospital birth (this one will be at a birth center). Definitely take a class and read some books. We did Bradley and after that didn't feel the need for a doula. Even after we feel we made the best decisions. My OB and CNM were completely on board and they said the nurses/hospital would go with anything we wanted. We had a detailed birth plan and stayed at home as long as we felt we could which ended up being 3-1-1. Showed up at the hospital at 9pm and only 2cm after laboring at home for 5 hours. Was frustrated but was definitely in labor. Labored for 4 more hours walking around my room because no other position felt good, baby was OP so I had major back labor. At 1am I was 10cm and pushed for 2 hours squatting while the nurse helped turn DS into a more optimal positioning. Once he was ready the CNM popped my water and he came right out.

I think the important things were intermittent monitoring and being allowed to labor and push in whatever positions work for you.

JennaRaek · October 2014

Here's a link to my birth story. I had an awesome hospital experience and hope it goes just as well this time around! Good luck!! You CAN do it!

https://forums.thebump.com/discussion/12291005/our-story#latest

sschwege · October 2014

@vvvvvfee said it all so perfectly! Just wanted to add that I had two beautiful, med-free hospital births! My hospital was very hands-off which helped a lot. I had two support people with me, DH and his mom the first time and DH and my mom the second time. I also labored at home and arrived at 6cm with my first and with my second well, they didn't even have to check me because the head was visible...whops! Totally doable, you just have to do more preparation.

2junebabies · October 2014

I had a med-free birth in the hospital for my daughter. It is definitely possible. I wanted to stay at home as long as possible, which was easy because I didn't even realize I was in early labor for most of the day. My contractions got more regular in the evening and then my water broke at 10:50 pm. We got to the hospital right before midnight, I was 7 cm, and DD was born at 2:22 am. My wishes were in my birth plan and the nurses were very supportive. I thought I was going to have to fight off interventions and continually say no to an epidural, but an epidural was only brought up once, I said no, and they did not mention it again. We did not have a doula and it worked out fine for us, but if I were going to deliver in a hospital again I would have one just for the extra support. My one regret was pushing on my back, which happened because they had me lie down to check dilation and I just ended up staying in that position. I also wouldn't do that again, but that was my only complaint. Basically, the more educated and prepared you are the better you will fare. It is totally doable, just prepare.

mindaa · October 2014

Might do some research. There are a couple hospitals in my metro area that have a MW program. I'm going to a MW at a private practice that has a team of both OBs and MWs that deliver at the local hospital.

bumpuser10572325 · October 2014

Thanks for all the input ladies! This is exactly the post I was looking for! I have a high risk pregnancy and lo will probably need surgery right away so I knew I needed to be at a hospital. I wanted to go natural to reduce the amount of intervention that will take place in her first few days of life but didnt know how this would go in a hospital. I am much more confident now. Thanks again!

mrsblueeyes · October 2014

I had a med-free birth at the hospital with my third and it worked out well, especially since my husband felt more relaxed knowing that I was in the hospital setting in case of an emergency. Had a pretty regular contraction pattern and got to the hospital when I was 5cm. I would have prefered to stay at a home a little later but DH is a worrier. We did have a doula. I told the nurse when I arrived I would be going med-free, she offered an epidural once and never asked again.

She seemed a little confused about going med-free and what her role was (maybe they don't have a lot of med-free births?) I ended up telling her what I wanted to happen. I was happy for her to place a heplock, after my 20 minutes of required monitoring I wanted to go to the tub to labor there. She was happy to oblige and got the water started in the tub for me and got towels. Then she left me alone with DH and my doula for 90 minutes. I started pushing spontaneously in the tub and DH went to grab her. The hospital has a no water birth policy, so she and DH helped me out of the tub. She tried to tell me not to push, the doula and I told her that wasn't possible and she called a nurse code for back up. With the next contraction, baby was born on the bed unassisted. DH scooped the baby up and placed him on my chest, the nurse got a clean blanket to cover baby boy up and then DH, myself, the doula and 2 nurses just kind of hung out chatting. My OB arrived about 10 minutes later. It was a cool experience.

postcards · October 2014

I had a natural birth at a hospital & would do it again. I chose a hospital that had a midwife practice on site so not only was my provider natural-friendly the hospital staff was familiar with it as well. The biggest thing that helped me avoid any interventions was staying at home as long as possible. We left the house when contractions were very intense & I could no longer talk through them. By the time I got through triage & into a room I was complete & ready to push! It is very doable if you have the right birth team!

inmabelly · November 2014

I have had two natural births (water births) in an Australian public hospital.

I'm the same in respect to feeling safer in the hospital. They gave us plenty of space and only came in when needed.

I suggest you have a good birth plan written, and when you call the hospital during labour reitterate you hope for birth do they have time to team you up with a fitting midwife when you arrive.

Wishing you a beautiful birth, I enjoyed integrating Calm Birth with some of my own ideas.

stever · November 2014

Both of my babies were med-free hospital births.

cschissell · November 2014

I had a great experience with a hospital natural birth. I chose my MWs before I knew, but during natural childbirth classes my instructor who is also a doula told me that the practice I went with were the best in the area for a hospital natural birth. Asking a natural birth friendly doula or instructor may be a great place to start looking for a practice to support your wishes

Kaelynn91 · December 2014

Honestly, I had a wonderful natural hospital birth! I was very upfront with my desire to go all natural and everyone respected that. I was left alone with my husband and allowed to labor in the jacuzzi. I was never pressured to do anything. I pushed the baby out in three pushes and that was that! It was a wonderful experience. You just have to make everyone aware of what you are hoping for.

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