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Is it possible to have an unmedicated hospital birth w/ no tub? - Page 2

post #21 of 49
11/14/09 at 1:09am
I had my first in the hospital, unmedicated, no tub, no shower, and I didn't even move around that much. My hospital didn't do epidurals at all though (many hospitals here are opposed to any sort of pain meds during labor), so I just didn't have the option, which sort of made it easier. I took a short bath in the tub before I went to the hospital, but I actually wasn't even in there as long as I thought I'd be, as I was uncomfortable in the water at that point.

But it is totally possible. Go for it and don't worry about the lack of a tub, tubs are great but loads of people don't have access to them and still give birth unmedicated.

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post #22 of 49
11/15/09 at 12:19am
Definitely possible. I asked for an epidural when I was in transition with DS and then was like, "Nooo, don't bring me one! Check me!" *laughs* I did have access to a tub if I wanted it but it sounded like the worst thing ever at that point.
post #23 of 49
11/15/09 at 1:15pm
My first was an unmedicated hospital birth with no tub, but I showed up almost ready to push.

My others have been homebirths, and for me, the shower helps much more than the tub. I like having the heat & water, but also being able to stand up and move during the contractions.
post #24 of 49
11/15/09 at 1:21pm
I had DS in a hospital with no meds :-) There actually was a jucuzzi but being wet and in labor and just... it isn't for me.
I did walk the halls (and stop at the kitchenette LMAO) a lot. I got there 12 hours before he was born and I was only like 3 centimeters or something.
It can certainly be done. Good luck
(I'm from the April DDC but you were in new posts and I figured the more BTDT, the better)
post #25 of 49
11/15/09 at 1:47pm
Add three more hospital births with no pain meds and no birthing tub. I did use the hot shower though.

One nice thing about the hospital shower is - you don't run out of hot water!

Good luck!
post #26 of 49
11/15/09 at 3:00pm
Another no-meds no-tub hospital birth here (with my second baby) and planning the same with this one! Our hospital does have tubs, but my water had broken and I couldn't quite get past wondering how clean the tub was. I did shower, but I think it's what threw me into transition, so my memory of the shower is more...intense...than soothing.
post #27 of 49
11/15/09 at 4:36pm
Can I join in as unmedicated even though I had some gas and air. Not sure it did anything other than help me breathe deeply, I didn't even laugh at all (yes I'm sure my bottle had the laughing part removed leaving me with just gas).

I was on pitocin and just sat on a birth ball until I got quite close and felt the need to lie down, then I lay on my side until Isabel came out. I only had a shower once because it was a hassle to be unconnected from the drip and the monitors. Although I like the idea of a home birth, to be honest I like the fact that somone else cleans up in hospital, they bring me clean clothes for me and the baby each day, provide nappys, bring me food, provide maternity pads... I'd love to have a waterbirth next and am hoping I can keep my membranes intact (or naturally get everything going quick enough) this time so that I don't necessarily need pitocin and EFM next time.

A hospital birth doesn't necessarily mean interventions and medication, it all depends on the hospital and the staff. Trust in yourself and your body and you'll be fine.
post #28 of 49
11/15/09 at 4:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Truckerdoo View Post
I'm giving birth in the hospital where there is no tub. It is a great hospital and I'll have a private room and bath, lots of room to walk around, and the bottom of the bed turns into a birthing stool thing should I want to squat.

But I'm just wondering - are there any moms out there who had a successful unmedicated birth in the hospital with no tub? I read stories all the time about ppl who do it w/o meds but have the advantage of a tub, and I'm just wondering if I stand a chance w/o access to one!

Any stories like this to share?

DDC crashing...

just had my baby in oct. it was a hosp/birth center birth. they had a tub but i didnt use it. i walked the halls, sat on a birth ball but didnt like it.
i had no meds at all. i did however have a doula. she knew where to apply the pressure to get me through the ctxs. i wouldnt have liked the tub, bc it was uncomfortable for me to do anything but walk or bend over the counter. i birthed on my knees. i had the back of the hosp bed all the way up. i was on my knees facing the back of the bed with my chest leaning against the back of the bed.

your body will tell you what position to be in. just keep moving to find the least uncomfortable thing

i did take a hot shower before going to the hosp.
post #29 of 49
11/15/09 at 5:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by fazer6 View Post
Although I like the idea of a home birth, to be honest I like the fact that somone else cleans up in hospital, they bring me clean clothes for me and the baby each day, provide nappys, bring me food, provide maternity pads... I'd love to have a waterbirth next and am hoping I can keep my membranes intact (or naturally get everything going quick enough) this time so that I don't necessarily need pitocin and EFM next time.

A hospital birth doesn't necessarily mean interventions and medication, it all depends on the hospital and the staff. Trust in yourself and your body and you'll be fine.


this is so me, too. I like being able to leave the mess behind...

And I've been lucky to live in parts of the country with pretty progressive hospitals that support natural birth and breastfeeding, are fine with no vaccinations and no circ.
post #30 of 49
11/15/09 at 5:27pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by fazer6 View Post
I like the fact that somone else cleans up in hospital, they bring me clean clothes for me and the baby each day, provide nappys, bring me food, provide maternity pads...
post #31 of 49
11/15/09 at 5:33pm
I didn't have a tub or a shower at the hospital & we did fine. We waited til the contractions were about 4 minutes apart to go. I would've waited longer, but we were in Seoul & it was near rush hour - that would've been a disaster. I would recommend to keep moving: I let them put a monitor on for a little bit in the beginning & not only was the belt thing uncomfortable, it limited my motion and really sent me to bed earlier than I would've gone otherwise. I believe that made the labor longer than it needed to be. But, yeah, to answer your question, it's totally do-able! I didn't even really think of the contractions as painful but just as a ton of physical work. You can do it, Mama!
post #32 of 49
11/17/09 at 4:12pm
I don't see why not, I didn't use a birth tub for my birth center birth. I did enjoy a shower or two in labor but it wasn't something that I absolutely had to have done or I would need pain meds. IME as long aas you don't allow them to strap you down with monitors and have IVs and who knows what else connected to your body you should be OK.
post #33 of 49
11/19/09 at 3:17am
Yes. With my first son, I was induced because of complications. I had a good bishop score though (100% effaced and 2cm dialated). He came within 4 hours of hard labor. To be perfectly honest I labored mostly on the toilet. They allowed me to remove the monitors while I went to the bathroom. I only pushed 3 times and he was out. No tearing or anything. It was pretty ideal for a pitocin induced labor in which I couldn't really move around much or have access to the shower etc.
My advice is to spend as much time as you can at home before you arrive at the hospital (if possible). That way you can labor in the tub etc. at home and then head out to the hospital when your contractions are very close together.
post #34 of 49
11/19/09 at 3:29am
Another party-crasher

Yes, my second was an unmedicated hospital birth (not even an IV). It helped that I labored at home and walked in dilated to six. I spent a lot of time in the shower at the hospital and walking around the hospital room.

It also helped me, from a pain-management perspective, that my water didn't break until 20 minutes before she was born. Once that 'cushion' was gone, it got really intense. So keep that in mind if you have anyone pushing you to artificially break your water.

Good luck mama!
post #35 of 49
11/19/09 at 3:41am
Crashing too!
I had an intense 4 hr hospital birth where they put in an IV for fluids, kept me on the monitor (which moved everytime I changed positions and drove me crazy) and I did it without pain meds.
I used hypnobirthing and read the McCutcheon Bradley book to understand the emotional signposts in labor. So when I threw up and doubted whether I could do it without drugs, I knew that I was entering transition and it wasn't going to be long.
You can do it!
post #36 of 49
11/19/09 at 12:09pm
DDC crashing! Yes, you can do it. My first with ds1 was a hospital birth without a tub. I didn't even use the shower, which I thought I would, because it was so small and uncomfortable looking. No drugs. I would spend some time thinking about what other things you think might help you. Like for my pressure on my back and sitting or crouched forward letting my belly hang was what helped me.

Although I am going for a homebirth this time and very much wanted a tub to labor in.
post #37 of 49
11/20/09 at 1:52am
yeppers! had an 8 hour labor. I used the hospital shower....endless supply of hot water beating on my back. before I knew it I was at 8 cm.

At this time I broke down and wanted the epidurnal, but I had told my awesome nurse I wanted to do this naturally and she coached me through and I did it!!!

So, if you have an opportunity use the shower, talk to the nurse before hand of your plans.
post #38 of 49
11/21/09 at 2:01am
Moved to Birth and Beyond.
post #39 of 49
11/21/09 at 2:26am
I did with my son. I actually had a wonderful birth experience with him in the hospital without a tub. I waited until I was nearing transition to go to the hospital. I used the contraction rules and emotional sign posts to know when to go. I had such a good experience I wouldn't mind another hospital birth since I really like my care provider and how he respected me. I do reccomend a doula because they can be a good go between if you end up with a less than stallar nurse. Everyone respected my birth plan and me and they put him right to my belly and let me nurse him for 45 minutes before they weighed him.
post #40 of 49
11/21/09 at 2:35am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Truckerdoo View Post
I'm giving birth in the hospital where there is no tub. It is a great hospital and I'll have a private room and bath, lots of room to walk around, and the bottom of the bed turns into a birthing stool thing should I want to squat.

But I'm just wondering - are there any moms out there who had a successful unmedicated birth in the hospital with no tub? I read stories all the time about ppl who do it w/o meds but have the advantage of a tub, and I'm just wondering if I stand a chance w/o access to one!

Any stories like this to share?
My first baby (32 hours 9lbs4oz), was born unmedicated in a hospital without a tub (neither birth nor bath). Shower was my only water comfort.
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You may also like:

You Can't Spoil Them with Love
Raising a Sensitive Son
Pink for Girls, Blue for Boys - What do you think?
Mothering › Mothering Discussion Forums › Pregnancy and Birth › Birth and Beyond › Is it possible to have an unmedicated hospital birth w/ no tub?