tips for achieving a natural birth this time around

[kjenkins55]

Hi everyone! Well, today I got quite the surprise- a positive pregnancy test! My husband and I have a wonderful 15 mo daughter. I exclusively pumped for her ( bad badddddd inverted nipples that I gave up on) until 14 months, cut down and APPARENTLY became fertile right away.   Last time around I developed pregnancy induced hypertension ( that has hung on post pregnancy, lovely) and wound up on Procardia and was in the Midwife's office a lot. She was born perfectly healthy, on her ' due date' according to MY dates. My water started breaking on its own, I started contracting ( mildly) and was admitted.However, because of the high BP I wound up with pitocin and I'm a sissy- I decided if Pit was in the game I was getting an epidural.I waited until 7 centimeters to get it though, so I hung on for quite a while even with the Pit. It was all very disappointing though, I had aspirations of a water birth and the whole nine yards.

A few questions:

If you are GBS positive for one pregnancy, does that automatically rule out water births for subsequent pregnancies? Have any of you had water births even with having iv antibiotics for the GBS? ( hospital water births, I see a CNM who only delivers in the hospital and I'm not willing to make the home birth jump yet, though I like the idea very much)

Secondly, what books and/or classes would you recommend to help me prepare myself? I kind of gave up on preparing last time since I knew ahead of time that I'd be on Pit. To be totally truthful though, even with the Pit I think I could have handled the contractions if I'd been able to get up and move around- I was on an internal monitor and couldn't go anywhere. Being stuck to the bed really made the contractions unbearable.

Finally, even though I'm an exclusive pumping 'expert' by now, I would like to give latching on another try. Even with pumping for 15 months, my nipples don't seem that much different. Have any of you successfully bf'd with inverted nipples- what did you do?

Thanks so much in advance! Its crazy, I feel like I'm starting all over again!

[XanaduMama]

Congratulations on your BFP! What happy news. And good for you starting early on your preparation for a natural birth! I had a pit-augmented (but otherwise med-free) birth with #1, and a wonderful healing homebirth with #2, so I wish you the same!

Some thoughts about your questions:

1. GBS can come and go, so you'll likely be tested again this time around. I was GBS + with #1, and labored in the water (though didn't birth in water) even in the hospital, and even after ROM. I had a heplock for the IV abx, and an IV once I ended up on pit, and being in the water wasn't a problem (though the portable monitor was a huge PITA). So I don't think it would automatically mean no water birth, though I'd really encourage you to look into home birth!! You should also investigate ways to make sure you're negative: take mega-doses of vitamin C, probiotics and other antifungals, and consider using a hibiclens wash to kill the GBS and test negative. It worked for me--I was negative the second time around.

The protocol for hibiclens is here: www.birthcottage.com/images/GBS%20Protocol.PDF.

2. I really really recommend that you consider home birth! Watch The Business of Being Born, interview some midwives, read around here on MDC about others who have had homebirths. It's really the best guarantee that you'll have things go the way you want to, be "allowed" to labor in the most comfortable and productive positions, etc. Ina May Gaskin's books are great, so maybe start there. Reading birth stories and advice here on MDC was among the best prep I had for a successful home birth, so you've come to the right place.

3. As for the inverted nipple issue, I would suggest calling in a skilled lactation consultant now, and working on solutions before baby arrives. Go to some LLL meetings, read around on kellymom.com.

Good luck! Hope that helps

[mitintraining]

Congrats on your new little bean!  I think it is extremely important to get with a care provider who believes the same as you do.  Also look into things you can do to keep your BP under control.  Check out herbal books, homeopathics, meditation, nutritional info, etc.  Also I recommend taking the Bradley Method, as they have so much info on keeping yourself low risk, which in turn helps you avoid interventions.  I totally agree with PP about the GBS.  I was positive with #1 negative with the rest.  Also sex in the weeks and days leading up to the test helps also.  The important thing is knowledge and confidence. Read anything by Ina May Gaskin, Penny Simkin, and Susan Arms.  Also check out Birthing from Within.  Good luck momma

[XanaduMama]

Oh yeah--investigate the Brewer Diet as one possible approach to keeping your BP in a healthy range this time around.

[MegBoz]

Originally Posted by XanaduMama 

Congratulations on your BFP! What happy news. And good for you starting early on your preparation for a natural birth! I had a pit-augmented (but otherwise med-free) birth with #1, and a wonderful healing homebirth with #2, so I wish you the same!

Some thoughts about your questions:

1. GBS can come and go, so you'll likely be tested again this time around. I

Congrats!

Yup, in agreement with that whole post. Just a few things to add - the only time you'll be AUTOMATICALLY considered positive without a test is if you had a baby who actually became infected with GBS. Otherwise, you really ought to be retested. I would be seriously concerned with any HCP who said, "Oh you were + last PG, so we consider you + now." That's WAY wrong. Totally not the protocol.

Also my MW recommends fermented foods to help be GBS negative.

Protocols for laboring in water really vary at every hospital. I read once there was a hospital around here that would only let you labor in the water until they'd BROKEN your water for you to make sure there was no meconium - but then some hospitals won't let you labor in the tub if your membranes are broken. Craziness! So you'd have to check with the hospital to be sure. I signed a paper at my hospital about a page & a quarter long of reasons I wouldn't be allowed to labor in the tub. Being GBS+ was not one of them. (this hospital only allows laboring in a tub - not birthing.)

Of course, that's YET another advantage to HB. :D YOU make the rules - it's whatever YOU, with your MWs input, feel comfortable with. No rigid protocols.

3. Make sure you meet with a lactation consultant with the IBCLC credential. They are not all created equal! Check for recs in your tribal area. The LCs at the hospital where I had DS were dreadful! (Awesome midwives & nurses though - fantastic hospital otherwise.) They were DREADFUL! So chose an LC carefully. Very carefully!
 

[kawa kamuri]

check out hypnobabies