Birthing questions

[BumbleBena]

Hi everyone!

I'm not yet a mama, the earliest DP and I have talked about TTC is next summer : , but I had some questions about birthing and I need Mama Wisdom! Please help me if you can, I'm trying hard to educate myself before we even start TTC.

First of all, I'm terrified of having blood drawn. I have small, deeply-buried veins and the thought of them poking me is frightening. DP and I have already agreed that I should see a midwife (we've talked briefly about me switching to a MW from my regular GYN), and I wondered if she will make me have bloodwork done? The same holds true with IVs. I would like to avoid needles if at all possible. Can I do that with a MW?

We've also talked about birthing in a nearby hospital with midwives on staff. I'm not crazy about birthing in a hospital, mostly because of the poking and prodding of our baby and myself, and the germs, but I agreed that we won't know what to expect with the first delivery. However, he might agree to a birthing center, if I could present more information. How would I be treated differently in a birthing center? If anyone here has used a birthing center, what was it like? Can you compare it to a hospital or home birth?

Also, I would LOVE to do HypnoBirthing. Does anyone have experience with that? Pros, cons, comments? If you used another method (we looked at Bradley), can you tell me how it worked for you? Maybe recommend a book for me to read?

Sorry, but I have NO idea what to expect, and I'm trying to do my research now, so I'll (hopefully) have fewer worries and be able to fully enjoy my pregnancy when the time comes.

Thank you in advance!

[Threefold]

I'll chime in with my .02 when my brain is functioning a bit more optimally!

[alegna]

Good for you for doing your research ahead of time! A woman after my heart

I had a homebirth with a midwife. I chose not to have any testing and such done (other than urine test strips) and did not get poked with anything sharp I feel the same way you do about people coming at me with pointy things. I would have dealt if I'd felt it was needed, but it wasn't. The only thing you do need to know is your blood type (to know if you're + or -)

-Angela

[BumbleBena]

Ok, cool, I know my blood type. What are these urine test strips of which you speak? I have a lot to learn.

Can they tell how much mercury I have without taking blood? DP and I have been eating an abundance of tuna lately. Cheap college food, you know? : I figured I'd give up tuna before we start TTC, but what can I do for detox?

Sorry, I'm full of questions.

Thank you for your responses!

[alegna]

Urine is tested for protein, sugar and assorted other stuff (depending on how many things the midwife/dr. tests for) My first midwife had strips with like 15 things. My second (cool) midwife's strips just tested for three I think. I don't know how they test for mercury- hair maybe? I just don't know. I would start cutting out the tuna now to let your body deal with it. Drink lots of water and take lots of vitamin C (sodium ascorbate not ascorbic acid) I don't really know a lot about how to get rid of it, but water and vitamin c are good at helping your body get rid of pretty much any kind of nasties.

-Angela

[JanetF]

I never had any urine tests and only chose to have a bloodtest once when I was pg - next time, none at all thanks! Give birth at home with great MWs and start your childbearing years with the best care in a really empowered way! You don't have to have tests of any kind at all unless in your research you find something you think will actually benefit you Good on you for researching now!

[BumbleBena]

:

Ok, no more tuna. :LOL Should I start taking folic acid? I was taking it for a while, but I got out of the habit... :

[Patchfire]

First off, read, read, & read some more! Now is great time to learn about birth - personally I think it's better than during pregnancy, because it's possible to read about bad things with a bit less anxiety (at least, IMO).

I don't think you'll find a midwife in an institutional setting (hospital or birth center) that will 'let' you not have your bloodwork done. I've had a hospital birth and a homebirth both, and I had bloodwork done in both cases. However, I'm not really sure what the point of it was. Yes, it was nice to see, I suppose, that I had high rubella titers (but I put off the bloodwork until 22w, so it's not like it would have been known at the time it would have been a potential problem), and it's good that I'm not anemic, but I'm not, personally, sure that there's a real point, and I don't intend to have bloodwork done for any future pregnancies. That's just my feelings on the matter, though.

We took Bradley classes before dd's birth, and I felt that they were great, especially because they got dh really involved. The amount of 'technical' knowledge that we learned was great, and it's good to know... but yet, at the time of birthing, what I, at least, need is to get out of my head, out of my 'thinking brain' and just listen to my body. And in some ways, Bradley kept me from doing that. That said, I think the book Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way is a great source of information - I'd just read it before your pregnancy or early in it. JMO.

[BumbleBena]

Thank you! I'll read anything I can get my bony little hands on! :LOL

Seriously, though... I'm with you on the bloodwork thing. It scares me, and I have no intention of giving it up without a fight. Same thing with drawing blood from babies. I remember my brother being 3 days old and having a vial of blood taken from the bottom of his foot. I cried for him.

Thanks so much for the recommendation of the book. We like what we've seen from Bradley so far, and the more involved DP can be, the better! I'll see if we can get to the bookstore tonight.

Thanks again!

[EmmalinesMom]

The Husband Coached Childbirth is another Bradley Book that is good. I also read Active Birth also had good information. Read as much as you can, watch videos of natural births, etc.

ok, now nak so the rest will be short

i had a hospital birth with no needles, no iv, no interventions, etc. it can be done, and mine was wonderful!

[hottmama]

I'm having an unassisted birth this time, so obviously no needles, but I now know that you can refuse any test. I only had blood taken once with my first pregnancy, and that was at my first appt. and I'm glad I did it because I'd never been tested for STDs, which they test for. I never had an IV or anything during labor, which was at a hospital (I seriously regret birthing in a hospital now, but I wasn't as informed as I am now).

[jlpetitte]

The most important choice you can make regarding how your birth will turn out is the caregiver you choose. Interview them and don't feel like you have to choose someone, find the right person for you. In The Thinking Womens Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer there is a great section on questions to ask a possible caregiver whether midwife, Dr, or OB. Things like what is your c-section rate, episotomy rate, etc. Also, as an midwifery apprentice and student to birth I would have to say the most important thing you can do to have a "normal" pregnancy and birth would be your diet. Start the Blue Ribbon Baby diet before you even get pregnant. The only thing I would change about it is there is a little too much dairy- substitute with a little more protein. Regardless of what childbirth class you choose read books on the others because they all have great advice and maybe something will work better in labor for you. Read The Bradley Method, Birthing From Within, and Hypnobirthing books- that way you have covered all your bases. I could tell you a million other things , but theres a start!

[jlpetitte]

Whoops, heres a link to that site:

http://www.blueribbonbaby.org/

If there is anything else I can do please PM me.

[Persephone]

The best thing to do is just read like crazy. You'll get all sorts of varying opinions on everything.

I think my favorite birthy type books have been Birthing from Within, and the Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing year. For a good overview, read Sheila Kitzinger's book , Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth. Oh, and to get an idea of all your options, I'd read Henci Goer's book, The Thinking Woman's Guide to (oh, what is it? A Better Birth?)

Personally, I think a homebirth is best, if you're healthy. A birth center is fine, if you're feeling iffy though. But definitely avoid the hospital if you can. I think there are good ones out there, but it's a mixed bag.

As for blood drawn, no way. Not here. I've actually never had more than a pin prick. It squicks me out too. When I got tested for my blood type, the nurse said, "Well, you'll have to have an IV when you have a baby". And my first thought was, "Not on your life!" But that actually kicked me off to do research (in high school!) about my birthing options. Remember, you can refuse any medical procedure. It's your right.

have fun learning!

[massagemom]

i just skimmed the responses, but if nobody has answered your folic acid question: definitely start taking it again. it has been shown to safeguard against birth defects when women of childbearing age take it before conceiving.

i also LOVED birthing from within, which someone else mentioned. excellent book. i also read dr. sears' book on childbirth.

for essays related to babies/childbirth, i love "breeders", a book by the hip mama editors. they also have an anthology of "best" writing from that magazine you can buy on amazon.com.

and i know that peggy o'mara has written a book on childbirth as well, though the name of it escapes me at the moment. i haven't read it b/c i didn't know about it until after my son was born, but i'd bet it's good too.

[hopefulfaith]

Re: the above post -- Peggy O'Mara's book is wonderful. It's called "Having A Baby...Naturally", and it's one of the most valuable resources in my prenatal library!

When I learned I was pregnant last fall, I went right out and bought WTEWYE - hey, it's just what mainstream parents do, right? Well, I went to a used bookstore to find one (they always have tons), and read the first few dozen pages. It was so ridiculous that I threw it away. Didn't want to return it to the used bookstore b/c I didn't think anyone else should be reading it...! However, when I was at the bookstore, an older edition of "Spiritual Midwifery" was on the bookshelf -- I noticed it b/c I liked the title and artwork, and out of curiosity, went on Amazon to find the newer edition. I had never heard of it...never explored outside my mainstream beliefs...

Well, after ditching WTE, I've read SM three times so far during my pregnancy, and it is so full of stories of amazing women and their births - it has helped me to become stronger and more confident in my innate abilities to do what my body was designed to do! And, it led me to MDC....thanks to which I'm becoming crunchier by the day, I think.

Also:
--"Ina May's Guide to Childbirth"
--"Birthing from Within"
--"The Breastfeeding Cafe"
--Henci Goer's book, like a pp mentioned

...all wonderful!

Blessings!

[BumbleBena]

Thanks so much for all the help! I printed out a copy of the Blue Ribbon Baby Diet, and we plan to hit the health food store and used bookstore for copies of the books (lots to read! :LOL ), and also, I was advised to start prenatal vitamins soon, so we'll look into those as well. I hear Rainbow Light is a good brand. Does anyone have any experience with it?

In other news, I introduced my SIL to the concept of a waterbirth (she had never heard about it before!) and she seems very open to the idea of NFL and AP. Hopefully I can educate her, and share the books!

Thank you so much mamas, for everything!

[nancy926]

My $0.02....

Fave books: Spiritual Midwifery, Husband-coached Childbirth, Mind Over Labor, Birthing from Within, Babycatcher (written by a midwife - very funny!).

We took a Bradley class, which was taught by a husband-wife team - it was great.

I had DD in a freestanding birth center (that is, one not attached to a hospital). It was kind of like giving birth at someone else's house. This time, we're just using our house We had originally planned on a hospital-affiliated birth center but I didn't want to go through all the fights about how long to stay, where baby would sleep, etc.

Prenatals....you can actually take regular vitamins rather than prenatals- it's just important that you get the folic acid, and some iron. I am taking Flintstones (mostly b/c I have a 2-year-old and they're already in the house!) supplemented w/Floradix (liquid iron supplement).

I agree you can refuse all blood tests but you should know your blood type. I only had blood drawn 2x - once to confirm the pregnancy (and my blood type, since I guess the hospital thought I was too dumb to know...we eventually left them for a hb midwife!) and once to check iron levels. You can avoid an IV, but sometimes even w/a homebirth they need to do one (ie for group b strep, or dehydration). But you know, once you are in labor and/or have given birth, a needle is not that big a deal...at least it wasn't to me (I had a tear w/DD that had to be sewn and they could have done it w/o anesthesia for all I cared).

Definitely read as much as possible about how NORMAL birth is, and how we are DESIGNED to give birth. And find a midwife you are comfortable with - it matters a lot!

Good luck!

[ZeldasMom]

nak and i only have a sec, but if you are trying to avoid medical interventions you want a homebirth. Most of the moms in my homebirth support group are first time moms. you can do it! a freestanding birth center (not connected to a hospital) would be my second choice. In a hospital with a midwife would be my third choice. this last option is what i did 4 my first baby. i had a good birth and i didn't have an iv, but you have to work hard for a low-intervention birth because hospital cnms have OBs supervising them/breathing down their necks. if you go with the hospital have a doula, labor at home as long as possible, and don't get stuck in the bed. Sitting in a bed makes everything much harder. Also, I highly recommend Ina May's Guide to Childbirth. If you decide to go the hospital route you might want to read Henci Goer's Thinking Woman's Guide.

[massagemom]

i still take the rainbow light prenatals, and i haven't had any problems with constipation or nausea from them.