A Natural Hospital Birth? Please share ideas! - Page 3

[erigeron]

In my case, I declined all early ultrasounds because I was sure of my dates, and declined the quad screen because I wasn't too fussed about the 1/1000 chance of down syndrome, but I did get the 20 week ultrasound. While I declined the GD test in favor of a random blood glucose and A1c, I now think that wasn't the best course of action and next pregnancy will probably test my sugars for a few days (I don't like the idea of drinking glucola or eating something and then not being able to eat for an hour, pretty much solely because I was hungry so much in pregnancy). I didn't do any cervical checks late in pregnancy because they're pretty pointless. I did the saline lock and intermittent monitoring in the hospital. But if the situation had changed I was open to the idea that the need for testing/intervention might change. At 28 weeks I had a lot of abdominal pain and went to the hospital to rule out complications, and there was a lot of testing and monitoring that I was okay with because of the circumstance. My overall point being--evaluate each test/procedure/intervention on its merits. 

[LaotianMama]

IMHO, I don't count testing as interventions. Testing can lead to a cause or need for intervention though. When I mentioned intervention in my post, I simply mentioned how I declined to have my membranes sweeped at just 40 weeks, which was offered just because I was FORTY WEEKS. Things like that-- induction before "full term," multiple ultrasounds for no medical reason, etc. I had a hep lock at my birth, after discussing it with the nurse and my doula and it was okayed by me. I also got 4 ultrasounds, did glucose testing, got repeated cervical checks at my first pregnancy. My second pregnancy was a complete opposite story though (you live and learn, I guess)! :-D Still, I didn't "blindly" decline them, and that was my situation. Every pregnancy is so different.

Testing has its place, of course, and even an uneventful otherwise healthy pregnancy requires peace of mind or to treat it under care of professional advice.

[mum4vr]

Mamas, I hope this thread isn't getting to be a less-friendly place to share our ideas-- it is a thread *requesting* our ideas... any and all of them.

Our ideas can differ-- that's ok-- let's get all the ideas listed that we can-- who knows which idea will help another mama?!

If one mama says her idea of a natural hospital birth incudes declining *all* interventions, she shouldn't have to qualify that or justify it, even if she -did- decline all of them blindly (turns out she didn't). By definition, fewer interventions would be more "natural," although not necessarily the best choice for everyone, nor even the safest choice for every birth.

Let's show some love here, please 

[LaotianMama]

Originally Posted by mum4vr 

Our ideas can differ-- that's ok-- let's get all the ideas listed that we can-- who knows which idea will help another mama?!

I agree with this so much. My list is what helped *me* achieve what the thread is about and all I can do is share that for other mamas seeking guidance and a starting point or even what not to do!

[erigeron]

Originally Posted by mum4vr 

Mamas, I hope this thread isn't getting to be a less-friendly place to share our ideas-- it is a thread *requesting* our ideas... any and all of them.

Our ideas can differ-- that's ok-- let's get all the ideas listed that we can-- who knows which idea will help another mama?!

If one mama says her idea of a natural hospital birth incudes declining *all* interventions, she shouldn't have to qualify that or justify it, even if she -did- decline all of them blindly (turns out she didn't). By definition, fewer interventions would be more "natural," although not necessarily the best choice for everyone, nor even the safest choice for every birth.

Let's show some love here, please 

Well, I definitely feel like this thread is a less friendly place for me now, since I'm the only person you could have realistically been talking to with this post, and you just basically told me I shouldn't say what I think if I disagree with another poster. I thought this thread was about achieving a natural hospital birth. In my opinion, it's important to be informed and thoughtful. rather than reactionary, about testing and interventions to achieve that. *shrug* I'm also really confused as to what I said that prompted you to say 'let's show some love'--where was I unkind? I don't see it. If you have a problem with something I said, I'd appreciate you coming out and saying so. If you just have a problem with the fact that I disagreed with someone, well, I don't know what to tell you. 

[myra1]

I enjoy reading the differing opinions, experiences and decisions since it makes me think about options and alternatives!
Of course we are all free to make our own choices. I don't find anyone else expressing theirs to be offensive! I hope my sharing my choices is helpful and no one feels it is a judgement on theirs! Hope we continue to share freely because it is tough to get this kind of a cross section of options from a single care provider.

[LaotianMama]

Originally Posted by erigeron 

I thought this thread was about achieving a natural hospital birth. In my opinion, it's important to be informed and thoughtful. rather than reactionary, about testing and interventions to achieve that.

Your thoughts are right. This thread is about ideas/experience on a natural hospital birth; we all provided our input so that's all that matters. I'm not here for anything else.

[LaotianMama]

Originally Posted by myra1 

Hope we continue to share freely because it is tough to get this kind of a cross section of options from a single care provider.

I wonder what other ideas I seemed to have overlooked since I shared what worked for me so, yes I'm hoping more share their thoughts.

[mum4vr]

Just to clarify, I wasn't intending to call anyone out in particular-- just to share my hope that we are all friendly, loving, and supportive of each other sharing ideas on so personal and precious a subject.

I hope no one would feel that their ideas or birth experience are considered wrong by others after being asked to share, publicly. I do enjoy the many differing opinions on what contributes to a natural hospital birth. That's all; nothing more intended.

Thanks much!

[Oread]

I tried to have an unmedicated hospital birth, and did end up with an (unwanted) epidural. My number 1 suggestion for other women would be to have a doula. Also, my care providers had told me that they were supportive of unmedicated births and I made the mistake of believing them. Maybe they support it theoretically, but hospital policy sure is not conducive to natural childbirth. It should have been a red flag for me that my care providers (CNMs) really hedged around the question when I asked them about it at my prenatal appointments, with a patronizing "oh that's a nice idea, I guess we'll see" attitude. 

So having a trained and experienced advocate who is with you all the time and knows all sorts of comfort and pain relief techniques - a doula, would absolutely be the most helpful thing. Also being prepared to be assertive with the care providers might be helpful. I felt very pressured and bullied by them to be a "good patient", even though they were very nice to me, and I should have just told everyone to screw off and leave me alone (or better yet, just ignored them) instead of trying to argue with them while in labor. Dealing with them all the time and trying to avoid constant monitoring that would leave me confined to bed really ruined my focus, and ultimately I got freaked out and just took the painkillers at 7cm. I am a little bit disappointed in myself, but at the same time it was not a supportive or comforting environment, and I was not prepared for that. 

[EchoSoul]

Agree whole-heartedly with the above. It sounds exactly like my experience. I think having a doula is crucial. I only have one child, and he was born, as naturally as I could manage(I did wind up getting a Tylenol for "pain relief" during transition because the staff were stressing me out to the point I lost my focus), in a hospital. I was told a doula would be useful.. but I had hoped my fiance would be enough. But the L&D staff pushed and shoved him around until he was clueless. So yeah, agreed with above, have a doula, who is aware, and ready to defend how you want to do things. Trying to defend my methods myself during labor was exhausting, and stressful. Hearing my fiance argue quietly with the L&D staff was exhausting, and stressful.

[Cynthia Mosher]

Just popping in to make sure you all saw our Mothers Day Contest. In addition to three Boba baby carriers we're giving a $300 dinner/spa package for one lucky mom. Contest ends in three days! Get the entry info here: http://www.mothering.com/community/t/1382508/let-mothering-and-boba-pamper-you-this-mothers-day/0_100 

[cynthiamoon]

Very interesting insights! I will be looking into these suggestions.