Hey yes these are the two i am looking into. Funny, I lived very close to the franco-brittanique hospital. Im currently inquiring now. Were you there in the maternity section? If so How was your experience @jillkerouac ?
Hi OP, feel for you birthing in an unknown system with the medical language barrier. Do you have a partner who's fluent in French who will be there to assist? I'm in Australia and a second time mum. Did home birth with midwives with ds. Getting into the pool at 9cm was the best feeling in the world!! Ending up delivering on the bed though because I was too relaxed and not pushing hard enough and my son kept going back up instead of down. Loved the entire experience and was literally readying to 'go again' right away. Took us 16 months to conceive again though. I am really looking forward to (hopefully) birthing baby number two the same way but feel confident that if I need to be transferred to hospital that I would have exhausted all other avenues before then and that's just what's got to happen. Am also certain that next time around I want to minimise the midwives handling my baby and I don't want them to be involved with initiating breastfeeding that I want my baby and me to be responsible for that. Honestly can't recommend water enough for pain management, it really felt like a miracle. Good luck!
I had an epidural with my son. I was going to be in labor all night and wanted the rest and sleep. He was born at 5:35 am. Plus I am a little scared of the pain going meds free.
Hey yes these are the two i am looking into. Funny, I lived very close to the franco-brittanique hospital. Im currently inquiring now. Were you there in the maternity section? If so How was your experience @jillkerouac ?
No I didn't give birth there, I went because I was having tests to check for infertility so I met with ObGyns. I saw a doctor called Dr Marina Bechard at Franco-Brittanique and although I only consulted with her, I felt comfortable with her and she spoke English. On the downside, it could be hard to get an appointment with her but I think once you are one of her regular patients it gets much quicker. If I remember correctly, she was covered by my insurance. Not everyone in the hospital seems to speak English however so you may need to use a little French when checking in for appointments.
I went to the American Hospital for a Hysterosalpingogram and the doctor who did it was lovely, it is possibly a nicer-looking hospital than Franco-Brittanique but it was more expensive, 400/500 euros for a Hysterosalpingogram.
If I were still in Paris I would probably choose Franco-Brittaique for the quality to cost ratio. Good luck with whatever you choose, you can probably find English speaking ObGyns at the regular French Hospitals too.
@Amstreagle, hi, thats an interesting opinion but no, I meant natural vs. epidural but thank you.
You know actually all births are not natural, for example you have c-sections. Of course other methods as well before the birth process - IVF, surrogacy... Reasons why we are lucky to have such modern day science- so every person has the right to experience parenthood.
In my own opinion I dont consider the use of an épidural a natural birth. As you are taking something to get rid of a natural pain, and can have various side effects from this as well.
Of course there is nothing wrong with either choice, It is just one I am currently waying my options in.
Im currently looking into my best options here as it gets a little complicated being an expat. I know there are a small amount of birthing centers but going natural isnt really well known in France as it is in the states- so these center tend to be a bit pricy. So Sorry to hear about your complications. This was with your first pregnancy? Im understand why you are hésitant this time around. @LeCountess01
I literally really concerns me to be in a hospital type environnent where everyone is running around like crazy and I have opted for no meds- and end up getting lost in translation. I am pretty good at French but have no idea what state I will be in with this. @Lucyboo22 this is my fear as of now I think. Yes, my husband is French but the idea of not being able to ask the questions myself make me a bit weary. I think we will just have to go over medical vocab or something. Really figure this out because the last thing I want is a disconnect between him, the OB, and myself lol
I've delivered my two girls both ways. My oldest was with an epi. I decided on the epidural out of fear of potential pain, not because the pain I was feeling was bad. I regret that decision because I HATED my experience. I was bed bound for 11 hours! I'm a very anstsy person so sitting still that long drove me nuts! I got a fever, the fever distressed my DD so I had meconium and she had to stay in NICU for two weeks.
My second was natural. I got to walk around, the pain sucked but it never got so bad I came close to crying or anything. Diarrhea cramps are worse to me
Hello! I'm 31 and this will be our 2nd baby! I was open minded with the first, but after the first 8 hours of labor, I opted for the epideral. The labor lasted over 15 hours and I was glad to have some relief. No problem when it came to pushing, baby was out in 25 mins. Def don't take the epideral too close to pushing, if you can at all help it. ( a lot of this is beyond your control) No problems lying in bed pushing. I think if it's physically possible for the baby to come out, he/ she comes out as soon as they are ready regardless of your position
I've done both! Absolutely loved my natural child birth. I highly recommend it. I had my first 2 in the hospital with an epidural and my last at a birthing center med free. I won't lie it hurt like hell but there is a happy ending to look forward to so it was totally worth it. What I loved about a birthing center was I was free to move around and birth wherever I felt the need to. I ended up giving birth on my back on the floor. It was such a wonderful experience. Loved it!
Although I am unfamiliar with birthing in a hospital I can say that I gave birth to my 7 lb 10 ounce firstborn at a friends home with a midwife present. So, no meds. But we also didn't have access to machines other than a portable fetal Doppler. They say every intervention you agree too - even the simple intervention of having an IV or a fetal monitor (rather than just measuring it with a Doppler every now and then to reassure mom) - will statistically make a c-section more likely. I didn't even want the option because I was scared of being pressured into something I didn't really want. We had hoped to do a water birth but the warm water slowed my contractions down too much so I had to get out and use a birthing stool with my husband behind me for support (he didn't want to catch or even see what was going on down there... But he was very supportive in any other way he could). I was in the water for 4 hours and we used a lot of olive oil. My labor was 13 hours long, 45 minutes pushing and I didn't tear or need any interventions. Mom and baby were in perfect health. But there is always going to be a point where you want to quit and don't think you can go on. You will cry out and kick yourself for getting into this mess... But that generally doesn't happen until you are really close --- around 9 cm dilated. Too late for an epidural.
I think the most important things about having a natural birth are your attitude going into it, your support system, and of course your health. Don't let people pressure you into having a natural birth if you don't believe you can do it. You have to believe in yourself. If you are unsure but interested, take some classes, talk to moms who have done it, learn about the statistics behind it or science behind it - the chemical changes that happen, etc. However you would usually go about learning how to do things and feel more confident about it. You body was designed to give birth. But a natural birth is not for everyone. Don't psych yourself out or let other people tell you horror stories. They can save those for after you have given birth. It's not rude for you to ask them to only share positive stories until then. Their stories are beautiful if their own right but you don't need them to make you worry about things that probably won't happen. Your support system needs to believe in you and be on board with your plan. This is not just your partner, but anyone who is going to be in the room. Nurses, doctors, midwives, doulas, family members, friends, etc. write a birth plan and make sure they all understand it. It's your body, your baby, your choice. You do need to keep up on your pelvic floor exercises, safe abdominal workouts, eating healthily, staying hydrated, keeping positive... walking and sex help too. Your body and mind need to be on the same page.
If you want to be able to walk around, eat when you want to, go to the bathroom, etc. without dragging an iv behind you... Natural might be your best bet. You options for movement and positions are pretty limited when you have an epidural. Moving around is much better for you and baby if you want things to progress naturally. Also, a lot of woman who get epidurals day it wears off by the time they need to push - which might be better because otherwise you can only feel when to push by feeling the contractions via your hand on your stomach.
Whatever you decide, don't let people bully you into changing your mind unless there are sound medical reasons that are pertinent to your case.
I went in to the birth of my first with no definite birth plan. I wasn't for or against the epidural. I workerd with the midwives at my practice and they didn't pressure you one way or the other. I decided to get one and experienced a pretty much pain free birth. For me it was a really calm and beautiful experience. I pushed for 45 minutes and was up on my feet shortly after my son was born. I don't recall experincing any side effects. I am going in to this pregnancy with the same plan, no real plan
@Parisienne I am also trying to make this decision right now. I'm 26, an expat (from the US) living in Milan, Italy, and I'm 11w5d with our first right now. I have a health insurance plan with geo-blue which is specifically for US citizens traveling or living abroad, which I am grateful for but it also limits my options in some ways. There are 2 OBGYNs in Milan that I am able to go to and have the insurance company be directly billed, but neither deliver to hospitals with the same option which means we may have to pay for L/D out of pocket and wait to be reimbursed. We'll see. Anyways.
I'm not sure what I'm going to decide. My whole life I've leaned towards natural (because that's what my mom did), and I still lean in that direction, but recently a few close friends of mine have told me that they worry I won't be able to handle it without an epi because my body tends to be very sensitive. I get sick easily, I get nauseous and faint easily (when I don't eat enough, drink enough, sleep enough, or whenever I get shots or blood drawn). I know that they're right that my body is sensitive, but I also feel like I can be strong. I have had terrible nausea and some vomiting for 6 weeks and have not taken any medicine (they won't really give me medicine here) and both of these friends were on Zofran their first trimesters - it's not that I feel like they aren't strong women (they totally are), but I feel like they may be underestimating me and projecting their own concerns/decisions onto me (they both had epidurals as well). I also feel like an epi could be dangerous for me since I faint so easily with needles (I know it has to be a mental thing, but I have tried so many times to just 'mind over matter' and it doesn't work. - I'll post a separate board about that). I have another friend (who is not planning to have children any time soon) who is afraid of the pain of childbirth but thinks that she won't be able to get an epi because of her scholiosis and part of me wants to go natural to encourage her and show her it's possible. Obviously making my decisions based on any of these other people is not wise.
This may sound lame, and may not help you, but I've decided to make a pro/con list for both epi and natural including the medical facts I can find, "typical experiences" with both, as well as factoring in my own fears/feelings. Maybe I'll make a separate list with my concerns for other people, but I don't want to feel pressured into a decision by my friends, or by the health care here (they tend to be 'old school' in Italy and in the public health care system often refuse to give epidurals). I will ask my doctor to find out what I can reasonably expect from L/D and will make sure my husband and I talk through the aspects of our birth plan that I'm more likely to have to fight for.
I would love to hire a doula but have no idea how to do that... I know you aren't in Italy but if you have any thoughts or tips on it please let me know. Are you in public health care or private?
It's hard for me to have the courage to go without an epidural when it seems like it's more and more common to have one, but I know that there are positives and negatives to both. If you have found any good resources for research let me know!!
@rmbuchholz, nice to meet you. Question are you fluent in italien? Is it a concern of yours to give birth in a foreign hospital?
I know what you mean, im not one for meds during pregnancy but sometimes it is necessary or just a préférence. Ill try your pros and cons idea could def help.
Yes, ill def let you know If I find any good research pages. Let me know as well!
I think it's a personal decision. This is my first so I can't speak from my own experience but I am a neonatologist and attend deliveries every day. I have seen epidurals slow down labor but I've also seen unmedicated mothers too exhausted or fearful to push. The one thing I will recommend against is asking for IV pain medication once it becomes too late for an epidural because that's when you end up with someone like me at your delivery and the possibility of respiratory depression for your babe.
Hi!! I had an epidural with my first son and felt terrible after. It took me forever to recover, and I still felt most of my contractions. With my 2nd son I was only in labor for 55 minutes, so there was no time for an epidural. I was up and at them within two hrs. If I was guaranteed another fast delivery, I would definitely shoot for natural. I give major props to mamas who go natural through hours of labor!!
@rmbuchholz, nice to meet you. Question are you fluent in italien? Is it a concern of yours to give birth in a foreign hospital?
I know what you mean, im not one for meds during pregnancy but sometimes it is necessary or just a préférence. Ill try your pros and cons idea could def help.
Yes, ill def let you know If I find any good research pages. Let me know as well!
Nice to meet you too!! I moved here June 1 of last year so Id say I'm far from fluent, but I've worked really hard on the language and have made it up to B2 level classes, but have had to stop going this past month because the MS has been so bad.
I'm rather terrified of giving birth in a place where I don't understand all the words flying around, but my OBGYN is fluent in English which alleviates a lot of my anxiety. I still need to find out from her who will be present if she can't be, and if that person will speak English, but she has assured me that she will be there (which I'm confused by - don't doctors need a break too??) My husband also isn't fluent in italian, but has been in the same classes so we are going to get books and study terms and basically we will both just have to choose to be calm, do our best, not give in to anxiety, etc.
I have 3 friends here who are moms of older kids and they are all 100% fluent in English and Italian and all 3 had their kids in hospitals in Milan. I've only known them for about a year so I wasn't thinking I would ask them to be in L/D with me, but if as we get closer to the due date it seems like we may need that then I'll ask one of them. They have all told me that they will help me in whatever way they can, that they can come to appointments or be there in L/D if I need it.
So that's my expat part of the story - I'm lucky in many ways. But it's still really scary
And yes, I'll also let you know if I find good resources regarding natural v epidurals. I hadn't thought about the possibility of just IV pain meds as the above poster mentioned so I'll add that to my list of things to research. I also have no idea if gas is an option here. Lots of things to ask about and research I guess! But at least it gives me something to do between trips to the bathroom
Re: Natural birth vs epidural... Thoughts?
I'm in Australia and a second time mum.
Did home birth with midwives with ds. Getting into the pool at 9cm was the best feeling in the world!! Ending up delivering on the bed though because I was too relaxed and not pushing hard enough and my son kept going back up instead of down.
Loved the entire experience and was literally readying to 'go again' right away. Took us 16 months to conceive again though. I am really looking forward to (hopefully) birthing baby number two the same way but feel confident that if I need to be transferred to hospital that I would have exhausted all other avenues before then and that's just what's got to happen.
Am also certain that next time around I want to minimise the midwives handling my baby and I don't want them to be involved with initiating breastfeeding that I want my baby and me to be responsible for that.
Honestly can't recommend water enough for pain management, it really felt like a miracle.
Good luck!
You know actually all births are not natural, for example you have c-sections. Of course other methods as well before the birth process - IVF, surrogacy... Reasons why we are lucky to have such modern day science- so every person has the right to experience parenthood.
In my own opinion I dont consider the use of an épidural a natural birth. As you are taking something to get rid of a natural pain, and can have various side effects from this as well.
Of course there is nothing wrong with either choice, It is just one I am currently waying my options in.
I literally really concerns me to be in a hospital type environnent where everyone is running around like crazy and I have opted for no meds- and end up getting lost in translation. I am pretty good at French but have no idea what state I will be in with this. @Lucyboo22 this is my fear as of now I think. Yes, my husband is French but the idea of not being able to ask the questions myself make me a bit weary. I think we will just have to go over medical vocab or something. Really figure this out because the last thing I want is a disconnect between him, the OB, and myself lol
My second was natural. I got to walk around, the pain sucked but it never got so bad I came close to crying or anything. Diarrhea cramps are worse to me
I think the most important things about having a natural birth are your attitude going into it, your support system, and of course your health. Don't let people pressure you into having a natural birth if you don't believe you can do it. You have to believe in yourself. If you are unsure but interested, take some classes, talk to moms who have done it, learn about the statistics behind it or science behind it - the chemical changes that happen, etc. However you would usually go about learning how to do things and feel more confident about it. You body was designed to give birth. But a natural birth is not for everyone. Don't psych yourself out or let other people tell you horror stories. They can save those for after you have given birth. It's not rude for you to ask them to only share positive stories until then. Their stories are beautiful if their own right but you don't need them to make you worry about things that probably won't happen. Your support system needs to believe in you and be on board with your plan. This is not just your partner, but anyone who is going to be in the room. Nurses, doctors, midwives, doulas, family members, friends, etc. write a birth plan and make sure they all understand it. It's your body, your baby, your choice. You do need to keep up on your pelvic floor exercises, safe abdominal workouts, eating healthily, staying hydrated, keeping positive... walking and sex help too. Your body and mind need to be on the same page.
If you want to be able to walk around, eat when you want to, go to the bathroom, etc. without dragging an iv behind you... Natural might be your best bet. You options for movement and positions are pretty limited when you have an epidural. Moving around is much better for you and baby if you want things to progress naturally. Also, a lot of woman who get epidurals day it wears off by the time they need to push - which might be better because otherwise you can only feel when to push by feeling the contractions via your hand on your stomach.
Whatever you decide, don't let people bully you into changing your mind unless there are sound medical reasons that are pertinent to your case.
I'm not sure what I'm going to decide. My whole life I've leaned towards natural (because that's what my mom did), and I still lean in that direction, but recently a few close friends of mine have told me that they worry I won't be able to handle it without an epi because my body tends to be very sensitive. I get sick easily, I get nauseous and faint easily (when I don't eat enough, drink enough, sleep enough, or whenever I get shots or blood drawn). I know that they're right that my body is sensitive, but I also feel like I can be strong. I have had terrible nausea and some vomiting for 6 weeks and have not taken any medicine (they won't really give me medicine here) and both of these friends were on Zofran their first trimesters - it's not that I feel like they aren't strong women (they totally are), but I feel like they may be underestimating me and projecting their own concerns/decisions onto me (they both had epidurals as well). I also feel like an epi could be dangerous for me since I faint so easily with needles (I know it has to be a mental thing, but I have tried so many times to just 'mind over matter' and it doesn't work. - I'll post a separate board about that). I have another friend (who is not planning to have children any time soon) who is afraid of the pain of childbirth but thinks that she won't be able to get an epi because of her scholiosis and part of me wants to go natural to encourage her and show her it's possible. Obviously making my decisions based on any of these other people is not wise.
This may sound lame, and may not help you, but I've decided to make a pro/con list for both epi and natural including the medical facts I can find, "typical experiences" with both, as well as factoring in my own fears/feelings. Maybe I'll make a separate list with my concerns for other people, but I don't want to feel pressured into a decision by my friends, or by the health care here (they tend to be 'old school' in Italy and in the public health care system often refuse to give epidurals). I will ask my doctor to find out what I can reasonably expect from L/D and will make sure my husband and I talk through the aspects of our birth plan that I'm more likely to have to fight for.
I would love to hire a doula but have no idea how to do that... I know you aren't in Italy but if you have any thoughts or tips on it please let me know. Are you in public health care or private?
It's hard for me to have the courage to go without an epidural when it seems like it's more and more common to have one, but I know that there are positives and negatives to both. If you have found any good resources for research let me know!!
I know what you mean, im not one for meds during pregnancy but sometimes it is necessary or just a préférence. Ill try your pros and cons idea could def help.
Yes, ill def let you know If I find any good research pages. Let me know as well!
Nice to meet you too!! I moved here June 1 of last year so Id say I'm far from fluent, but I've worked really hard on the language and have made it up to B2 level classes, but have had to stop going this past month because the MS has been so bad.
I'm rather terrified of giving birth in a place where I don't understand all the words flying around, but my OBGYN is fluent in English which alleviates a lot of my anxiety. I still need to find out from her who will be present if she can't be, and if that person will speak English, but she has assured me that she will be there (which I'm confused by - don't doctors need a break too??)
My husband also isn't fluent in italian, but has been in the same classes so we are going to get books and study terms and basically we will both just have to choose to be calm, do our best, not give in to anxiety, etc.
I have 3 friends here who are moms of older kids and they are all 100% fluent in English and Italian and all 3 had their kids in hospitals in Milan. I've only known them for about a year so I wasn't thinking I would ask them to be in L/D with me, but if as we get closer to the due date it seems like we may need that then I'll ask one of them. They have all told me that they will help me in whatever way they can, that they can come to appointments or be there in L/D if I need it.
So that's my expat part of the story - I'm lucky in many ways. But it's still really scary
And yes, I'll also let you know if I find good resources regarding natural v epidurals.
I hadn't thought about the possibility of just IV pain meds as the above poster mentioned so I'll add that to my list of things to research. I also have no idea if gas is an option here. Lots of things to ask about and research I guess! But at least it gives me something to do between trips to the bathroom