Brandon was born last Friday, May 8th. I had a midwife in a hospital. See my birth story here: http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=1085974
I'm normally suspicious and not trusting when in a hospital, so I was not sure how this would turn out during labor. However, there were so many natural things done or suggested - I was so surprised! They were the one suggesting all these different positions - very few involved the bed. They had a mat on the floor, birth ball, birthing stool, squat bar. I used the Jacuzzi tub for some of the labor - no problems even though my water had broken. I was mildly pushy for an hour - the midwife just had me stay in the tub, no exams or telling me not to push. When I finally commented that I was getting tired of "all this" she suggested I might be in transition, and would I like an exam? She suggested I lie on my side on the mat on the floor for the exam. Cool! Stay off that bed!
After two hours of pushing they suggested I try eating an energy bar. I had been drinking a lot of Recharge (natural gatorade) already. I was surprised that they OK'ed it. If I had thought of it, I would have eaten already whether or not it was allowed.
When the baby was born she had me guide it up to my chest. Someone wiped off the baby briefly while on my chest. Otherwise the baby stayed skin to skin for the next hour. Cord clamping was delayed. I delivered the placenta and was stitched up. Baby latched on within 10 minutes and nursed like a champ. After an hour I needed to pee. The nurse offered to weigh and measure on the warming table in the room while I was in the bathroom. DH carried Baby over while my doula helped me in the bathroom. She asked if we wanted to do the shots now or later. She didn't bat an eye when I told her Vitamin K was OK, but no ointment or Hepatitis B. Baby was never out of our sight, and he roomed in with us. We went home the next day.
This is one of the only hospitals in the area that allow VBACs. It is 45 minutes away, and we drove right by another hospital (it does a lot of interventions and has a VBAC ban). The longer drive was definitely worth it. It's clearly a hospital, and I ended up with fetal monitoring and a low dose of Pitocin at the end of pushing. However, from someone who is normally negative about hospitals, I will say that I'm pretty pleased by how natural the birth was for that setting. It can be done!
We're not planning on any more children, but if we do get pregnant I hope we can have an HBAC next time. It will be easier now with a "proven pelvis".
For the rest of you looking to get a VBAC - it can be done! Good luck!
I'm normally suspicious and not trusting when in a hospital, so I was not sure how this would turn out during labor. However, there were so many natural things done or suggested - I was so surprised! They were the one suggesting all these different positions - very few involved the bed. They had a mat on the floor, birth ball, birthing stool, squat bar. I used the Jacuzzi tub for some of the labor - no problems even though my water had broken. I was mildly pushy for an hour - the midwife just had me stay in the tub, no exams or telling me not to push. When I finally commented that I was getting tired of "all this" she suggested I might be in transition, and would I like an exam? She suggested I lie on my side on the mat on the floor for the exam. Cool! Stay off that bed!
After two hours of pushing they suggested I try eating an energy bar. I had been drinking a lot of Recharge (natural gatorade) already. I was surprised that they OK'ed it. If I had thought of it, I would have eaten already whether or not it was allowed.
When the baby was born she had me guide it up to my chest. Someone wiped off the baby briefly while on my chest. Otherwise the baby stayed skin to skin for the next hour. Cord clamping was delayed. I delivered the placenta and was stitched up. Baby latched on within 10 minutes and nursed like a champ. After an hour I needed to pee. The nurse offered to weigh and measure on the warming table in the room while I was in the bathroom. DH carried Baby over while my doula helped me in the bathroom. She asked if we wanted to do the shots now or later. She didn't bat an eye when I told her Vitamin K was OK, but no ointment or Hepatitis B. Baby was never out of our sight, and he roomed in with us. We went home the next day.
This is one of the only hospitals in the area that allow VBACs. It is 45 minutes away, and we drove right by another hospital (it does a lot of interventions and has a VBAC ban). The longer drive was definitely worth it. It's clearly a hospital, and I ended up with fetal monitoring and a low dose of Pitocin at the end of pushing. However, from someone who is normally negative about hospitals, I will say that I'm pretty pleased by how natural the birth was for that setting. It can be done!
We're not planning on any more children, but if we do get pregnant I hope we can have an HBAC next time. It will be easier now with a "proven pelvis".
For the rest of you looking to get a VBAC - it can be done! Good luck!
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