I almost hate to share my thoughts on childbirth as I'm pregnant. Mainly because I don't want to have to be held to my word and what I say now. The second reason is I would rather not feel like a failure if my birth plan does not go as I plan.
With that said, I do think natural childbirth is best for the baby and for mom. Women have been having babies naturally for thousands of years. God designed our bodies to do what they need to do. Each part of labor has a specific purpose and when we intervene, sometimes it just throws our bodies out of whack and we require more medical attention.
I did not have a natural birth with my first.
My water broke at 38 weeks. This was only after the doctor had just told me 15 hours earlier that I was at least 2 weeks from giving birth, possibly more. Well, I guess we showed him wrong! My water ended up breaking around midnight on a Friday and by 6am, the contractions were close enough where I was directed to go to the hospital. Once I was there they decided I was only 2 cm along, but since my water had broken and I was positive for group B strep, they were keeping me.
I was hooked up to IVs right away and told I couldn't eat anything, which was fabulous since I didn't eat breakfast before we went. (btw, I did sneak in my own trail mix and munched on that throughout the day - rebellious, I know!) They also hooked me up to fetal monitors and basically had me stay in bed. When I wanted to get up, I had to page the nurses and ask them to unhook me, which took about a half hour to get them to come in. I was also constantly asked when I wanted the epidural. My doctor stopped in to check on me once (he was already there for another delivery) and asked when I was getting the epidural. I explained my hesitation due to the fact that it can slow labor to which he replied "Would you get a tooth filled without novacaine? So it lasts an extra hour, you won't be feeling it."
Fabulous, thanks for the support.
Fifteen hours after my water broke, having regular contractions the whole time, I was still only dilated to 3. The doc said I had to be put on pitocin and with that the nurse told me I would definitely want an epidural. S0 I went for it, never being told ANY of the side effects or risks. And when we were about 17 hours into the whole thing, my legs were numb, I was super uncomfortable and hated knowing I was now stuck in bed. Fast forward a couple hours and the epidural wore off on one side. No matter the amount of moving my legs they tried to do, it just wouldn't stick on my left side. So there I laid, not being able to move, or even twitch my toes, feeling the contractions anyways.
And of course the epidural sure didn't help speed the labor at all. Since my water broke, basically I had to deliver within 24 hours or they were doing a c-section. When they mentioned this, we prayed. And prayed and prayed. A c-section was the last thing I wanted. The Lord answered our prayers and I finally started to progress. Twenty-six hours after my water breaking they had me start pushing. Where was the doc? At home. Yup, not even there yet. Seriously I wonder what they get paid for sometimes. They ended up having to use a vacuum to get the poor kid out since he was coming out with his chin down and couldn't quite make it. We did have a happy healthy baby and above all else, that's all that really matters.
But I've always wondered, what if I hadn't followed the advice of the nurses and doctors so much? What if I would have told them to take a hike when they told me to go lay down? So many of the things that happened could have been directly associated with both pitocin and the epidural, but since I was never informed of any risks, I didn't know.
This time I hope it to be different. I'll be discussing with my doctor much earlier about how she normally allows labor to progress, so I have time to find a different one if need be. I have a great respect for doctors and feel that they do save a lot of lives when labor goes wrong. But when everything is going right, do we really need to intervene so much? This time I truly hope that unless absolutely medically necessary, I'll be able to give birth naturally.
October 6, 2008
My Thoughts on Birthing
What about you, have you had a natural childbirth? Why or why not?
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15 comments:
Hi, I was blog-hopping and found yours. Sorry for putting in my unsolicited 2 cents, but maybe I can be helpful! I highly recommend reading about the Mongan method of hypnobirthing. Here's a link to the book on amazon: http://www.amazon.com/HypnoBirthing-natural-approach-comfortable-birthing/dp/0757302661/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1223345195&sr=8-1
I am a med student, and your birthing experience sounded very much like mine - after 34 hours of labor they insisted on pitocin and an epidural, and against my better judgement, I consented. I was just too tired to argue with the evil nurse (really, she was downright mean!). Anyway, my plan is to get on the Hypnobirthing band wagon next time around. I had a friend who had a similar experience to mine insofar as she also progressed very slowly, but she made it through the entire experience with "no pain, just pressure". I dream of such an experience! Even if you're not into the entire hypnobirthing experience, there is some really valuable information contained within the book. I highly recommend it!
Hey thanks for the book advice. I've only heard a bit about hypnobirthing, so I'll have to see if I can't get my hands on it.
Thanks again!
I've been reading for a while, but haven't posted. Thank you for being so brave as to post on this.
My best friend is a labor and delivery nurse and since she had given birth naturally before I had my son, I took her advice and went natural. She says that about 70% of the women who come in say they want to have a natural birth and either change their mind or ask for an epideral when it is already too late (she says probably only 10% actually do, if that). So you can't blame the nurses and doctors for always pushing it with those results. In my very humble opinion most of the women who want to go natural are completely unprepared to do so once labor starts. Birth classes rarely if at all cover any kind of practical natural birth. I would strongly recommend that you try the Bradley method. There were no classes where we were so I just rented a book from the library about 2 months before I was due and read it. The book is called Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way. It was a great book that really gets your husband into the birth process--giving him jobs and such which I really liked. I wanted my husband to feel bonded to our son through the birth process. It also gives you exercises to practice everynight for about 10 minutes preparing you for birth. I think the best advice the book gave was that just when the pain seems like you cannot bear it any longer and you want to ask for an epideral, don't, your body is nearly done. Anyways, I wish you the best of luck and thank you for all of the information you provide on your blogs. By the way I delivered my son after 7 hours of labor completely natural. And, even though it was hard, it was totally worth it!
It always bugs me to hear about doctors and nurses telling laboring mommies that they need to get back in bed. And then hours later, when they're not progressing, they give pitocin, which leads to the epidural, which makes labor last longer, which leads to c-sections (if the pitocin doesn't raise the baby's heart rate enough to warrant c-section by itself).
The truth of the matter is, unless you have a genuine health reason why they should be fearing for the health of you or your baby, you need to be up and moving around. You need to be out of the hospital as long as possible. The second you walk into the hospital, your stress levels rise and your labor stalls. Simple fact of nature. When you lay down, gravity is no longer on your side. And you also have nothing else to do or think about other than your labor. And the pain of your contractions. And that just brings on more stress.
Sorry if it seems like I'm ranting, but I really do agree with you when you say that if a labor is progressing safely, doctors really should just let the mother labor by herself in whatever position and location she deems necessary.
And the whole "no food" thing is archaic, based on when they used to have to put you completely under for a c-section. It's for fear you'll vomit while unconscious. It's insane that they expect you to have the energy to give birth after laboring for 26 hours with NO FOOD.
Sorry, I really am sounding mad in this comment, aren't I? As much as I respect doctors for their ability to saves lives that are in danger, all their unnecessary interventions in labor just lead to complications. I really am glad that there are people who spend so many years in school to learn how to save lives. I really am. I love doctors. Really.
When they're necessary...
I should stop now.
austen- I didn't mean to bash ALL nurses, just the ones I had. Because they literally thought I was crazy to not get an epidural. Seriously, they asked me every hour when they came to check on me. Got the same reaction from my doc. I'm really just praying that the nurse I get this next time around will be supportive of my decisions. And you're right about moms not being prepared. I had gone on the advice of someone who had recently given birth at the same hospital and she said the nurses were soooo helpful and able to help her through contractions. I did not get that nurse. :-)I have noticed too that in certain areas of the country, it's more hip to go natural.
beth - Couldn't agree more. :-) In fact I KNEW I wasn't supposed to be in bed. I asked constantly to get out and then had to wait half an hour to get them to actually come into the room and unhook me so I could go walk the halls. When my labor stalled I asked the resident physician what I could do to speed things up and his reply? "um, nothing really" Should I get up and move around? "um, that might help a little" Awesome! Next time, I'm staying at home until absolutely necessary! Yea, and the no food thing was hospital policy. so stupid! Glad I was prepared with my own munchies :-) And hopefully this new hospital doesn't have the same policies.
Just thinking about this is actually a good thing right now, I'm compiling a list of questions to ask the doc when I go in for my next appoint.
First,let me say that I love your blog.
Second, I had natural childbirth with both of my DDs and would not change it for the world. With my first, I was sent to the hospital for induction, as we lived in Denver, and the baby was measuring really large, ( Which for some reason scares doctors in a high altitude setting). This was at 38 weeks. When we arrived at the hospital I was 6 cm dialated, although I did not realize that I was in labor. Isn't God good. Well the staff still wanted to proceed with the pitocin and breaking my water, but I said what was the point, I am in labor. My nurse respected my wishes for no epidural or medication, but I did relent to monitoring. I was allowed to walk and sit on a birthing ball. It was a great story that ended 6 hours later wiht a healthy baby. Move forward 28 months for the birth of my second daughter. We now lived in Michigan and the health care there is very different than our Colorado experience. All my prenatal checkups, I was required to bring my urine sample with me, not provide it in the office, I waited hours for my appointment, and then would be pushed to a midwife who assisted the doctors but did not actually do deliveries. They did not even see patients until they were 12 weeks pregnant. I even switched doctors because of this and found them all to operate the same. Any way, Determined to have natural childbirth again, I set out to be sure that I would be in control in the delivery room. I had strong support from my husband. I was sent to the hospital on my due date, after having a regular ob appointment and the midwife said I was 5 cm. I was monitored at the hospital but allowed to walk around. The doctor arrived 5 hours later to break my water. I had prayed and prayed that they would not insist on interferring with this labor. When he checked me, he could not FIND my cervix. He stated that the midwife made a mistake and said we will call this a stress test. Three days later, my labor started and I spent a long time at home with my family, walking and relaxing. took a shower. Basically wasting 3 hours and finally went to the hospital. My water broke as I was walking in to register and 45 minunte later we had a healthy baby girl with no intervention, as there was no time for them to intervene. And now here is the really great God part. When my placenta was delivered.. there was an anomaly with the placement of the umbilical cord. Had the doctor three days prior broken my water, He would have nicked the cord, and to quote the resident that delivered me, " This would have been catastrophic for you and your daughter!". Good luck, stick to your guns and be ever thankful that medical technology exists, but use it when necessary/
Hi- I'm new here and also pregnant. But this is my first pregnancy. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
As the date quickly approaches (I am due January 1st, 2009!) I get more nervous about the whole process. In my heart I desire to have no epidural, definitely no pitocin, and above all no c-section (for lots of reasons). That would be my ideal labor, the one I am praying towards.
The Lord has beautifully designed our bodies. Until last year I probably would have mocked anyone who wouldn't take an epidural, but now... my heart simply desires more and more to go natural.
I think our intentions are difficult in a culture where the natural way is viewed as the crazy way. We really can't be sure that our doctors (whoever is on call) and nurses (whoever is scheduled for that day) will be supportive of our wishes. But we CAN be sure that our God is sovereign, and we can trust in His care.
I will be praying for you as you head towards labor. Pray for us too! Pray that we will have supportive doctors and nurses, that my water won't break early (the pressure of getting the kid out in 24 hours scares me), and that regardless of what happens, I won't have to have a c-section. I will pray these things for you as well.
Many blessings on you and your family!
I just found your blog but i would like to share my thoughts. I am currently pregnant with blessing #7. Yes seven. My first 5 were born in the hospital. The fact about delievering in a hospital is that they can NOT make you do anything you do not want to do. So I argued with the doctors and nurses and got my way. My first baby I let them give me half a dose of painkiller which I regretted so much I vowed never again. I refused all IV's pain meds and internal monitoring. It was pretty good.
However my last birth was done at home with a midwife in the water and it was awesome! We are planning another home waterbirth. To be at home at be able to eat and drink when I wanted was great. So much less stress. Even the baby was less stressed. While the jmdwife was there my hubby actually delievered our son. I really don't see how it could have been any better.
For those delivering in a hospital: do not let anyone push you around. You can still have a great birth!
Natural birth is the way to go if it can happen. I've birthed three babies naturally, and can I just say I'm blessed to have a doctor and birthing center who pretty much leave me alone! My water broke with my first, no contractions until 10 hours later, went to the hospital about 12 hours after water broke, delivered after 4 hours of pushing, 22 hours after my water broke. When the nurse looked at my doctor 20 hours into it and said "we better start antibiotics" he looked at her from the couch and said "don't worry about it. the baby will be here." LOVE HIM!
My second... water broke at 3 AM, no contractions until 1 PM. Went in at 3 PM. They couldn't even find my cervix it was so high and closed. But once again, we let nature take it's course (strep B positive this time, by the way) and NATURALLY I had a baby at 9 PM. A mere 6 hours after I was "closed."
I think the most important thing is to find a doctor who believes in natural labor and a birthing facility that follows your birth plan.
OH -- Something I was MOST impressed with. The resident was going to "check me" (which I hate. my doctor thankfully NEVER does that until I'm at the hospital giving birth. what's the point?) and she looked at my birth plan and said "You know, I'm not going to do this because I'd have to have someone follow my check. We'll just let the doctor do it." Saved me two uncomfortable checks. Love it!
I've had three all-natural births. This last one seemed more painful than the first two, but I was up and feeling good within an hour after birth each time.
I am an RN and have seen alot of problems with epidurals, so I avoid them at all costs.
Plus, I feel the Lord wants us to feel the pain as He said in Genesis.
People think I'm nuts for thinking that way, but I don't care!
Hope you have a better epxerience next time. Maybe you should consider a midwife. There are some certified nurse wives that insurance companies will pay for, as they work under a doctor. Mine is always very hands off, less intervention is better, and she also focuses on nutrition.
Amy, I definitely think it's important to have a doc who is on board with your birth plan, thats why this time I'll be going over it with my doc much sooner!
Candace, I really wish I could do a midwife and there are a couple in the area that my insur. would cover, but the hospital they work with is much farther away. So for now I have a doc, although I'm none to pleased with her or the office, so we'll see what happens as I progress. :-)
Well Donielle, You've got me ready to blog again (after a too long hiatus!). I'm so Glad!
One of the (many) perks of becoming a mom the second time around is that (I think!)we feel more confident in our decisions--whether its about delivery, or raising our children. And I think we'll be able to convey that to the docs and nurses.
I Was able to have a completely natural childbirth the first go-round (unless you consider the doctor breaking my water as 'inducing'). But I remember walking laps around the maternity ward and one of the nurses saying to me, "this isn't a race, dear". I kept walking. Because, yes, actually, it is a 'race'. :) I want to have this baby as quickly as possible! Less than 4 hours after my water broke, Halen was born. I KNOW I was lucky, but I just wanted to say I agree with you, on listening to yourself and your body. It's good to talk with your doc ahead of time about what you expect/want.
Okay, I'm going to get to blogging myself now! :)
Okay, I'm coming in way late on this (as I read back over your old posts) but here's my history in a nutshell. #1 hospital birth w/OB that thought I was taking too long (after 5 hours at the hospital) so pit and epidural but thankfully vaginal delivery. #2 hospital birth that should have had a midwife there but she took too long so L&D nurse caught the baby, great time laboring in tub. #3 we tried for birth center but ended up on bedrest and living at hospital and stat c-section at 23 weeks. #4 and #5 - amazing, wonderful, beautiful, perfect out of hospital births with our midwife. (Not same as hospital midwife, we found a new one that runs a birth center.)
The recovery between epidural and non-epidural births was like night and day. I was up and walking and showering within an hour of my three non-medicated births. I felt like I could fly, it was incredible!! And hard and scary and intimidating and I really wondered if I could do it but was absolutely without a doubt worth it. The full support of my husband, midwife and with this last birth a doula - they were crucial to helping me get through the labor.
I'll stop now but YOU CAN DO IT and I hope your birth experience is everything you hope for... for me the biggest struggle was believing that I was strong enough to get through it. Two books I love are "The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth" and "Birthing from Within" though you've probably already discovered both of those. :)
Hi! I've given birth three times now--all at home and natural. Labor #1 was crazy-long. We're talking days. Luckily my water had not broken so it was ok. Labor #2 was 5 hours start to finish. Baby beat the midwife out. Yup. Labor #3 was hard in many ways as we knew he was already gone. I was 4 1/2 months along and it was physically harder than #2--except the pushing. I have no idea why.
All this to say--it can be done, but I think easier at home b/c there is no one there pushing you along. The midwives just encourage and make suggestions as to different positions and such.
I didn't "do" a certain method or style. I spent as much time as possible in the bathtub and birth each boy in a totally different position.
#1 was in a squatting position using a birth stool/torture device.
Super Speedy #2 was delivered on our bed on my hands and knees--back end down. (I knew he was coming and we were alone and I didn't want him to land on the floor.) This worked well, but I'd certainly recommend calling for help sooner! #3 was born in the tub.
All that to say, AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, trust your body, pray a lot and try to be in the position that feels best for YOU. Let everyone else work around that.
Thanks everyone for your thoughts! It's helping me keep my head on straight. :-) I might just have to live blog this birth for a cheerleading section!
Share your thoughts!