S/O: Anyone have a drug-free birth in an OR?

[noralou]

If so, can you please share your story?

I am just now realizing that if we decide a home birth for twins is not for us, the hospital will probably put me in an OR for labor and delivery. It is hard to imagine dodging the "standard procedures" in a room that screams c-section.

I thought I was carrying a singleton until last week (ultrasound at 24 weeks), and had my heart set on a home birth. My midwives are willing to continue to see me through delivery, but I am on the fence. I am in the middle of madly researching my options at this point. The idea of delivering in an OR is a shocking contrast to my home birth plans! Thanks.

[no5no5]

I did! Well, it wasn't really drug-free, because I was on antibiotics, and they did stick me with pit after DD was born to stop the (very excessive) bleeding. But I had no pain meds and no induction. My water only broke a push or two before DD was out. It was really pretty great, in fact.

We were in an OR because the L&D rooms at the hospital were full and our insurance wouldn't cover a homebirth. We were all wearing silly hats, but otherwise it was a normal birth.

[dknees]

I have two friends who did!

I was on my way to one, until there were complications during labor (baby A's cord prolapsed, and when they did the c-sec, they found that baby B's placenta had partially abrupted). My docs never even asked if I wanted meds! I did have to be induced (long story, but it boils down to my dd having some serious health issues) but even that wasn't the huge production that it had been with my ds1. I think it can be done, if everyone is on the same page before you actually go into labor.

[yogafeet]

I didn't... but I was also one who wasn't going to have an unmedicated birth b/c I was medicated heavily to slow my contractions. (Pre term labor) When I actually went into labor, all 40 hours was fighting the meds (dr. on the phone telling me i was not in lab or, keep medication in my leg) So when I got to the hospital at 10 cm I caved and said yes when they offered me the epidural. Looking back, I could have totally done it w/o, but I have no real regrets. I mean, I am sure my labor time would have been at least halved if I was not on that medication, so I still consider myself one bad-ass birthing warrior mama.

[DiannaK]

ME, ME!!
Link to birth story ..... feel free to ask me any questions.

[noralou]

Originally Posted by yogafeet

I didn't... but I was also one who wasn't going to have an unmedicated birth b/c I was medicated heavily to slow my contractions. (Pre term labor) When I actually went into labor, all 40 hours was fighting the meds (dr. on the phone telling me i was not in lab or, keep medication in my leg) So when I got to the hospital at 10 cm I caved and said yes when they offered me the epidural. Looking back, I could have totally done it w/o, but I have no real regrets. I mean, I am sure my labor time would have been at least halved if I was not on that medication, so I still consider myself one bad-ass birthing warrior mama.

Of course you are still a bad-ass birthing mama! No disrespect at all for mothers who do or did have epidurals. I'm asking this question because I am anticipating that I might end up delivering in an OR, and I wonder if it will be harder than in a regular delivery room to get the medical staff to respect my wishes to avoid an epidural (unless I need an emergency c-section!).

[yogafeet]

I know what you meant. Going on tangents are my specialty. I think the staff may pressure you more b/c of their perceived risk b/c of c-section... and the atmosphere of an or is just not great with the really bright lights. They also try to get you to actually give birth on a cold metal table with no sides. Just refuse. None of these conditions add up to a wonderfully comfortable birthing experience, but it's not awful.

[kjoy2]

The issue w/epidural and twins is less a matter of birthing place (L&D room vs OR), than it is with health care staff insistence that you will need it.
Usually you labor in an L&D room and then are carted to the OR when ready to push, which is beyond typically administered epi time, KWIM?

Anyway, I labored at home with a bunch of MWs for about 20+ hours and then transferred when I just couldn't push the babies out! I had back-up care from a supportive OB the entire pregnancy (he knew of HB plans), so he met us at the hospital. I ended up birthing in the OR, unmedicated aside from some pitocin. I think the key to an unmedicated birth is being able to MOVE around during labor, prior to pushing.

I hope you can make an informed and comfortable choice.

[cjcolorado]

Originally Posted by kjoy2

The issue w/epidural and twins is less a matter of birthing place (L&D room vs OR), than it is with health care staff insistence that you will need it.
Usually you labor in an L&D room and then are carted to the OR when ready to push, which is beyond typically administered epi time, KWIM?

This, exactly. I had a natural birth in the hospital, laboring in a regular L&D room (well, all over the hospital, actually ) with my husband and doula. When I was ready to push, they wheeled my L&D bed into the OR, had the lights somewhat dimmed and most of the extra staff was in the hall. It was the best it could be for those circumstances. This was the only thing that my OB couldn't/wouldn't change policy on (hospital policy?). But, beforehand, I'd talked over with him what my preferences were and what he would do in certain situations. We were very fortunate to have the hospital's most ncb friendly nurse on duty that day, who we immediately asked to have assigned to us, and my OB only came in upon our request a couple of times (after initially triaging me). I moved, ate and drank as I liked, and was monitored intermittently. The only thing that was a bummer is that hot water was out in the shower/tub area, so I couldn't use that as a relief. Oh, and the anesthesiologist came into the OR and tried to keep this insanely tight pressure cuff on my arm, which I flung off (and my dh asked him to leave--he would be called upon, if needed--after which he huffed out of the room).
So, if it ends up being your birthing location, know that you can discuss everything with your care provider. I also strongly urge you to have a doula on hand to assist you or your partner in being an advocate for your birth.
Best wishes!
But, if it ends up being

[1stTimeMummytoLore]

another twin mom wrote a great thread awhile ago about this and shared her experience for the benefit of other moms looking for natural twin births in a hospital:

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...178&highlight=

[Novella]

Originally Posted by noralou

It is hard to imagine dodging the "standard procedures" in a room that screams c-section.

I hear ya!!

We felt very much that way just by being in the hospital. For me, being in the OR was the line in the sand. The hopeless line in the sand. So we just refused to go into one (while still acknowledging in writing that if I felt there was a grave and immediate problem, I was not beyond consenting to a c-section).

So, had a drug-free hospital delivery that involved refusing to go into an OR.

[MamaChicken]

No pain meds here! I have pit to augment the labor (didn't work), but nothing else. There was some pressure, and I did have to acknowlege that without it, if an emergency c-section was necessary, I might end up under general anesthesia. Also, if I ended up with a breech extraction it would hurt like heck. I said, that's okay, I can live with that!

[MawrtyrB]

I was induced with pitocin but no pain drugs. It was surprisingly easy. Didn't hardly even hurt until the last couple hours. I had a doula. We played music and used the relaxation techniques from the Bradley classes. We spent the whole labor singing to the music. I had a whole relaxation playlist ready but we ended up having too much fun singing to our favorites.
I was real nervous about going to the OR to deliver but my midwife assured me they'd make it as comfortable as possible. However we didn't make it. I went from being 8 cm one minute to Baby A popping out on the bed the next. After that, all hell broke loose in the room. But everything was fine. Both babies were perfectly healthy.
A natural birth is doable if you have supportive staff.

[noralou]

Thank you so much for your stories and ideas! This has been so helpful. Keep it coming, if there are more out there.

[stateofdnile]

We have the same concern

We found out last week that it's hospital policy to use the OR as well. It was really disappointing! But we talked to our OB, who is not entirely gung-ho on the ncb idea, and he was amazingly supportive. He said he'd make sure I could just stay on the nifty L&D bed after being taken to the OR and only be transferred to the cold slab if surgery was necessary. We also got the okay to have a doula in with us (another hospital policy is only 1 guest in the OR) the whole time. So I would talk to your OB and even the nurses on the floor, we found that most things can be worked around without having to fight too much. Of course, we'll see how it all goes in the end.

[Beanjeepin]

You can refuse to go to the OR. It may not win you any friends, but you can refuse easily.

I traveled an extra 25 minutes drive time to get to a hospital where twin births in the OR wasn't "mandatory". Well, we were SLATED for homebirth (we found out at 20 week ultrasound it was two babies) and my midwives abandoned me at 38 weeks, 2 days (over baby B's breech presentation that they'd insisted was fine prior). The babies came less than 18 hours later, no labor induction, so we had to make some very fast decisions.

The extra 25 minute drive time was a hard decision for us - it was 55 minutes to the hospital and my first baby was less than an hour labor and second was 3.5 hours - no augmentation with either labor. We were fully aware we may not make it, but it was worth it to us to have a cooperative hospital and doctor. I walked in complete (and left our house about 15 minutes after labor began, we had to wait for someone to come care for the older kids). Baby A came a half hour after I walked into the hospital, B came a half hour after that - double footling breech extraction. Yes, it hurt, but it was over fast. I ought to post the birth story somewhere...

[Mamacitac]

Well considering the OR is only a precaution I don't see it being any different than any other birth in a regular birthing room. It's up to you what drugs they give you, so if you want natural, you'l get natural. I don't think the type of room you deliver in matters. Unless of course something arises and you NEED it.
But I'm sure you'll do just fine!!
Congrats on twins! I'M JEALOUS! TEEHEE

Good luck!

[Mamacitac]

Originally Posted by Beanjeepin

You can refuse to go to the OR. It may not win you any friends, but you can refuse easily.

They only put in the OR closer to pushing time, so she's not going to have to spend her labor process in there! I think it's smart move on her part to push and all that good stuff in there.

[noralou]

Originally Posted by Mamacitac

Well considering the OR is only a precaution I don't see it being any different than any other birth in a regular birthing room. It's up to you what drugs they give you, so if you want natural, you'l get natural. I don't think the type of room you deliver in matters. Unless of course something arises and you NEED it.
But I'm sure you'll do just fine!!
Congrats on twins! I'M JEALOUS! TEEHEE

Good luck!

Well, I hope you're right. I need to go on a tour of the hospital soon to get some frightening visions of the OR out of my head. (Picturing surgeons pacing the room, breathing down my neck, just waiting to jump in and do their thing... and it couldn't really be that bad, right?) Just trying to wrap my brain around the idea of a hospital birth after so many months of planning a home birth. I am ready to accept intervention if I really need it, but I don't want to have to ward off unnecessary intervention just because it's the usual routine at the hospital.

[Beanjeepin]

Originally Posted by Mamacitac

They only put in the OR closer to pushing time, so she's not going to have to spend her labor process in there! I think it's smart move on her part to push and all that good stuff in there.

The stress of being at the hospital for me when I'd planned a home birth made my labor at least a half hour longer than it probably would have/should have been. Had they been pushing me to deliver in a sterile operating room I know the fear/adrenaline would have slowed it even further. Granted, I had a two hour labor anyhow.

My thought is they let singleton laboring women deliver in LDRP rooms - why not twins? Isn't there the chance that something goes downhill just as quickly with a singleton? They seem to get those women to the OR in time, especially when it's right down the hall. I was willing to accept that tiny 30 second "risk" window in order to be calmer/feel more comfortable/less pressure during my birth.

I feel like I gave up a LOT of "normal" with twins - pregnancy, birth and newborn/infant care. Wherever I am able to find that normal again and reasonably go with it I do. Do you have twins/multiples? Sometimes actually being faced with a particular scenario is different than simply considering it as an abstract thought.

I'm pretty sleep deprived so this isn't coming out as I intended exactly, but the thoughts are there.