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Originally Posted by
let it grow 
Does anyone have positive natural hospital birth stories/encouragement? I read 'Homebirth in the Hospital' and another similar book, but both seemed to make having a natural hospital birth seem like such a struggle. Should I be prepared to fight every step of the way?
I think it probably really depends on your physician and your hospital.
I was prepared for such a struggle and fight to get the natural birth that I wanted that I was really shocked by how easy it all was.
I prepared a birth plan and provided it to my doctor about a month before my EDD. She looked it over and said "Looks pretty standard to me" (note: this was a physician, NOT an OB. I went to a low-risk practise made up of MDs, no OBs). No issue with having a doula, no issue with not wanting the eye ointment, etc. etc.
I laboured at home and arrived at the hospital at 5.5cms. They did not have a room for me, so I had to stay in triage. I'd only gotten about 1 hour of sleep the night before, so I really just wanted to rest. The nurse asked me how my pain was and I told her the pain was fine but the nausea was awful. I layed on a stretcher and after taking a zofran for the nausea was able to sleep a bit. Two hours later, I was wheeled down to the maternity suite. It was a beautiful day and the room was bright with a beautiful view overlooking the river valley. My doula immedietly filled the tub, and I climbed in. I stayed there for a couple hours, the doctor came in to check on me but never made me get out of the tub to be "checked". The nurse occassionaly checked on baby with a doppler. The nurse and my doula were very encouraging. My DH stayed close, but I didn't want him to talk to me.
When I really started struggling and asked for an epi, the nurse and doula talked me down. We agreed that they'd check me, and if I wasn't past 7cm I could have an epidural (I'm sure they both knew this was transition and that I was well past 7cm). I was checked and was 9.5cm. The nurse and my doula helped me to move around in various positions to get the rest of the way to 10. 4.5hrs after getting to the hospital, I was ready to push. Again, the nurse and my doula were both great, really helpful with encouragement and helping me change positions. I did love love love the squat bar on the bed. I could rest between contractions but get up and giver' when one hit. The doctor came in and broke my bulging waters and DS was born a few pushes later. He was immedietly put on my chest where I was able to hold him for a long while before he was weighed, etc. The nurse then helped me to latch him and he nursed for a good 20 mins. Eventually, I was stitched up (well, this might have been going on during the nursing, holding, measuring but I don't remember exactly) and moved to our room. I had to stay 2 nights as I was swollen from the stitching (tore internally, but not externally) and couldn't pee. DS was in my room the whole time and only left to be bathed once, and DH and I went with him.
My birthplan was respected. The only intervention was having my water broke, which was not insisted on but I consented as the doctor didn't really want to get sprayed. lol. I had no IV, I was free to move as I wanted, I was naked from the time I climbed in the tub. I didn't want to eat but I was given apple juice mixed with water, no issue there.
Sorry, you probably didn't want a whole birth story, but I got started and couldn't stop! I did have a great experience. It was SO good that I want a homebirth this time for fear that the next one won't measure up.
If you do go the hospital route, I suggest that you tour the hospital and ask specifically about their policies, and try to get something in writing. I also suggest you try to have a doula. If you can't afford a certified doula, often doulas in training work for free or for an extremely reduced fee.
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