Positive unmedicated hospital labor experiences (despite iv)?

[Helen White]

Due to circumstances beyond my control, I will be having a hospital labor and birth (although hopefully not an induction). I'll also likely need to get there much earlier than I did last time and have an iv for much of my labor.

My first birth was very difficult and traumatic for me, and some of my worst memories of it are of all the THINGS that were hooked up to me. I managed to avoid that last time, by showing up at the very last minute and having baby on the floor by the elevator! But that's not an option this time.

I was very ill-prepared to cope with my first labor, and I know that I'm not doomed to repeat the same experience this time. But I am still feeling a lot of anxiety and sadness regarding the birth environment I'm going to have.

I would greatly appreciate others sharing positive, unmedicated birth experiences that took place despite the hospital setting. I'd also really appreciate people sharing how they managed to have that positive experience despite monitors, blood pressure cuffs (the "intermitent monitoring" this hospital allows involves everything staying strapped on to me, but sometimes being allowed to unhook from the machines), and particularly ivs.

[DecemberSun]

I had a wonderful birth experience with my son. I had been having preterm labor from 29 weeks until he was born at 36 weeks, so I felt like I "needed" a hospital birth in case anything "happened". I had an IV to give me extra fluids, and I also got antibiotics because I was never tested for Beta Strep. I lost my mucous plug on Sunday night and started having painful contractions, was only 1cm dilated on Monday, went to the hospital on Tuesday at about 2pm and DS was born at 10:30pm. The nurses were very supportive and pretty much just left us alone except to do their usual checks- "Do you need anything? No? I'll come back later." We had my DH, mom, sister and two SILs in the room with us, so it was quite crowded and may have been why the nurses stayed away for much of my labor . My nurse was awesome during the delivery also- she let my mom and DH do everything and she pretty much just stood beside the doctor and helped him. It doesn't HAVE to be a negative experience just because it happens at a hospital!!! Good luck, I hope your delivery is wonderful for you.

[ktmelody]

All of my children (4) were born in a hospital.

My first DD was natural. No pain meds. I did recieve pitocin to move things along ( i got stuck at 4cm) they stopped the pit as soon as i started to progress. I had the iv while getting the pitocin and then they unhooked it.
It was a beautiful experience. To me it did not matter how or where she was born, she was there with me and I was overwhelmed with love.
My second was completely natural. No meds of any kind. Just a few check of the heart beat with the doppler. Again, a wonderful experience.
My 3rd i had some pain meds and an epidural. So i had the whole iv thing and catheter. My ds came really fast and it was especially painful. I also felt that i had already gone the natural route and i could not do it again! I felt no reason not to have the epidural. I felt great after wards.
My fourth was induced, so again i had the works! I also got the epidural, because the pitocin made the contractions really bad.
All of my birth exeriences were great. I had all the people i wanted with me and i had 4 healthy vaginal born babies. I could not have asked for more.
My fifth will be born in hospital again and i will get the epidural. I am asking to leave early after the baby is born so i can be at home with my other children. That was the only downfall. Seeing my kids and hubby leave after the baby was born and being left alone was not to much fun.
I do not regret any of my choices for my births. In the end i had happy healthy babies and that is all i coud ask for.

[nadia105]

I have had two very positive natural hospital births. I didn't need an iv for either, so I can't say anything for that, but is it possible that they would do a hep lock and only have the iv hooked up when necessary?

At the hospital I delivered in, the strap monitors were only required for 20 minutes when I got there, then I was free to do whatever I wanted (my m/w checked the heartbeat every once and a while with the doppler). My m/w knew that I wanted a birth with as few interventions as possible, and she helped that to happen. I labored in the bathtub for quite awhile b/c it eased the pain (back labor with #1). I felt very supported and had a great experience.

With my second, I was only there for about 2 hours before I delivered, so I got in the tub pretty quickly and had a great waterbirth. I did want to leave sooner than they generally release people and it seemed like a hassle to get all the paperwork and such done, but I left 18 hours after ds was born and got home to my dd.

The best advice I can give is to find a dr or m/w (my personal preference) that is on the same page and understands what you want. That person can help to make everything easier for you b/c you won't have to fight to do things your way while you are in labor. For instancve, my m/w knew I didn't want any drugs, and they were never offered at any time during labor.

Hope that Helps.

[earthmama369]

With my first, I was GBS+ and chose to get antibiotics, so since my water broke before contractions started, I was at the hospital for almost the entire labor. Despite having the heplock in and doing the intermittent monitoring, I still had a lot of freedome of movement. I was in labor for 18 hours and I remember taking several showers, being on the birthing ball, in a rocking chair, and walking all around the birth wing (over and over and over again). They were also fine with monitoring and running the 15-minute antibiotics with me sitting up on either the bed or the birthing ball when laboring in a reclining position wasn't working for me.

With my second, I had as close to a homebirth as possible while in a hospital. We rented a tub and set it up in the bathroom. The lights were low, music was on, and dh was in the tub with me. I had gone in for an NST that morning, let them know I was in labor (5 cm, contrax 3 minutes apart), then went home for a couple hours. When I came back, by previous arrangement with my own doctor, I skipped the 20-minute initial monitor for a 2-minute handheld Doppler check and got right in the water. No heplock, no wires. The doc peeked his head around the door once an hour to see how things were going. Twice someone came in and checked ds's heart tones with a handheld, and they maneuvered around me rather than the other way around. The last time the doc peeked in, I said I was pushing and he asked if he could come in to stay. So that was all lovely. And when we needed the crash team, which my instincts had told me might happen (hence us being in the hospital), they were right there. Even after ds's crash landing, they still respected our birth plan -- no eye ointment, no bottles, no circumcision or retraction, no Hep B vax. They double-checked on the vitamin K, which we did reconsider because of his bruising, but they didn't pressure us at all. Lots of skin-to-skin time, etc., while he was in NICU.

[Helen White]

I really appreciate the responses. It does sound like some of you live in areas with more birthing options than I have here. There are no available midwives, and I've already switched care providers mid-pregnancy to the most supportive, natural-minded OB I could find, but he's still pretty conventional in most ways. I've also never had my care provider actually show up for one of my labors (can't really blame him on the last one, although I was in the hospital for 23 hours the first time). So I'm not counting on getting any support from that direction. It's the hospital staff I'm almost certainly going to be dealing with.

As far as the hospital, of my available choices, the one I'm registered at is the best. There are definitely none with tubs around here, but this one at least has showers they actually let the moms use from time to time (the other hospital with showers pretty much never does--makes you wonder why they even put them in). And at this hospital, they are more open to letting mom get up during labor. But they do insist on monitors being hooked up to the machines most of the time and to the mom all of the time (except possibly for an approved shower). When I asked about hep lock, I was told unhooking the iv after the antibiotics "would depend on what the monitors say." I get the impression they like to keep pumping you full of fluids the whole time and don't usually unhook the iv.

I really would be at least considering unassisted, but there are other factors that, for me at least, rule that out. Aside my group b strep, this baby has SUA and is at higher risk for heart/kidney/genetic problems. And we live over 30 minutes from the nearest hospital, and that's just too far for my comfort.

[chinaKat]

I had an AWESOME midwife assisted non-medical birth at a hospital. No IV, but I like the hep lock idea. Perhaps if you focused really hard on being VERY hydrated in the weeks leading up to your delivery date, it would help?

My hospital only had a few rooms with tubs and I couldn't get one, but I did have a shower. I sat on a birthing ball in the shower, which was great. Definitely see if your hospital has balls or if you should bring your own.

I was really adamant about not medicating and made it clear to every person I met. If you can have a partner and/or doula there advocating on your behalf it would be great. In fact, if you can afford a doula, that's definitely the route I would go -- that way you can guarantee a supportive person that won't be afraid to tell the hospital staff how you want things to be.

[Helen White]

It seems like everyone who had a positive experience had a midwife! I really, really do wish I could have one, but it's not an option. Maybe I should change my post title to "Anyone have a positive, unmedicated hospital experience while tethered to an iv and under the care of a medical-minded ob?" *sigh* Probably not too many would say yes.

This is definitely not the type of hospital to have birthing balls available. I do have one of my own I will bring, though.

As far as staying hydrated, I am already trying to do that, but I don't think my hydration will actually have anything to do with the hospital's approach to my iv. I think keeping patients hydrated is their standard excuse/justification for keeping people on the ivs, whether or not it's actually necessary. I may very well argue with the nurses over these types of things, but I don't want to be arguing my way through labor, either. Part of the reason I've got so many negative feelings about the hospital in the first place.

[momof4peppers]

My first delivery was in a hospital, with an OB, and I didn't think it was all that bad. He was DEFiNITELY in control of the situation (I had no clue as to what I was doing), the nurses respected him, and I was actually really comfortable with the labor & delivery. I think it helped that it was the middle of the night, the lights were off (or very very low) and it was generally quiet in the room. But because I was having twins, and Baby B was breech, we were wheeled into the OR for the actual delivery. I don't know if I was tired, or out of it, or too doped up to care, but I really remember focusing on every muscle of my body during the whole thing. I was afraid I'd never have another baby (and here I am, 2nd baby AFTER the twins!) so I really wanted to just focus. Not be in pain, but enjoy the process. And I did. Not the after part, where both babies went straight to the NICU (I didn't even get to hold them!) but the labor and delivery part wasn't that bad.

[mntnmom]

I had a great experience with my DS. Partially because I showed up right before he was born and there was no time for intervention. But had a good experience with DD, despite the interventions. I think most of it is in your attitude and how well informed you are to what you want. A supportive parrtner or doula to help you refuse things you do not want can help a lot too.
But if you are open minded about the goal: going home healthy, with a healthy baby, a lot of small interventions and medical attitudes will "roll off your back" a lot better.

[rebeccalizzie]

I had a wonderful almost-natural hospital birth with my ds, and I had an OB (and I'll use him again, he was very supportive). I arrived at the hospital when my contrax were 3-4 minutes apart, I was 6 cm at that point. I was hooked to the IV because I was GBS positive. i got my 15 minute IV push of antibiotics, and then she removed the IV and left in the hep lock. I was monitored during the IV, so once that was done I was free for 2 hours. The monitors they used were waterproof and portable anyway, though. My hospital had whirlpool tubs but not birthing tubs--it was just a small bathtub with a whirlpool. I was able to get in there for a while but I didn't like it as much as I thought I would, and got out.

My nurse was awesome, I had the same one throughout my entire labor. She was very doula-like and super supportive. She was by my side cheering me on through the entire labor. I pushed standing up for a while (hanging off the bed, which they raised WAY up so I could do that) and then I was worn out so I laid down for a while. DS was sunny side up and stuck on my pelvic bone--the doctor tried to turn him twice and it was horrifically painful, so once we realized he was really and truly stuck I got an epidural so he could be turned without killing me. He was born 15 minutes later.

I did get an epidural, but it was totally my decision, the doctor didn't push me into it but he said the baby was going to have to be turned and I couldn't go through that pain again. I call it my almost natural birth because if he had been facing the right way he would have totally been born about 2 hours before he was, and I wouldn't have needed the epidural!

[khaoskat]

Originally Posted by Helen White

Aside my group b strep, this baby has SUA and is at higher risk for heart/kidney/genetic problems. And we live over 30 minutes from the nearest hospital, and that's just too far for my comfort.

Helen:

I cannot confirm nor deny the fact that my Isabella had an SUA. I have US pics showing clearly marked 2V CI on them, but was never informed of this by my care providers. I due believe that there was an issue with the Umbilical Cord, such as you have.

Unfortunately, my OB/Midwife were not straight forward, nor did they do anything to proactively monitor if it was an SUA. As such, when I finally went into labor, my Isabella passed away. I know you don't want to be hooked up to the monitors, as I don't either. Even if we get pregnant again, I am going to go into the birth center earlier in labor (if I ever get a labor that makes it seem like I am in labor and not just having BH Contractions), I will request that they monitor using the hand held a bit more frequently, so that any issues can be caught earlier.

I guess my suggestion is to live with the monitors on yourself to ensure that the safety and health of your baby are monitored. Even with the monitors on, you can get up and move about, albiet there is not much room to your leash, you still have some mobility. Also, ask your OB if the Hospital has a mobile telemetry unit. If they do, then they can hook you up to that, but make sure your OB is on the same page as you, because they can pull a lot of strings at the hospital to get you as close to what you want...while still allowing the nurses to have "their control". With Ds1, my OB knew I wanted to be up and about walking halls, etc. He literally told a few nurses off and told them to find the unit and get me on it ASAP or else. I know a few of them hated it, because it made their job harder - they had to find me when they wanted to do things, but it made labor a bit easier.

[momofelise]

Are you able to get a doula? If you're worried that your doc is still on the conventional side, a doula can help you get through the labor and make it more likely that you won't need meds.

I had a positive birth experience in a hospital with a very pro-natural doctor. I didn't start out hooked up to an IV, but because my labor was so long and I got dehydrated, I was put on one shortly before pushing (for four hours!). I wasn't given any meds, and although my labor was 22 hours, I was very happy with my labor experience overall. Good luck with everything!

[jakobsmom]

My three children were all born in hospital with midwives and all three were very positive experiences. I felt comfortable and was able to walk around didn't mind the monitors too much when they were on. I mean, you're in labour without meds, so what it a little monitoring

Anyway, all were positive experiences. we were very blessed to have healthy children and were able to go home three hours after each birth.

[sparkprincess]

I agree with looking into hiring a doula! We didn't have one with our first (hospital) birth and I really, really feel like it would have made a big difference!

[Ks Mama]

I think you can! First time around I had a highly medicalized birth, in a hospital with my midwife, and ended up with a C-section.

But I have to say that I felt in control of my decisions (until the very end, when time was getting to be an issue, and my ob, while willing to wait until I said the word, was getting very nervous as my water had been broken for 31 hours, I had a fever, I hadn't slept, the spinal wasn't "working", and pushing for hours wasn't working either), before having my spinal, I was able to shower without being connected (my midwife just came in & monitored my bloodpressure, listened with the doppler), sat on the birthing ball, walked around (as much as I could - back labor was horribly painful).

I fully admit that once I was being wheeled into the OR, I was RELIEVED that my baby would finally be born. I was tired, in pain, and when they gave me the meds to stop the contractions, it was wonderful!

ALL of the nurses were so supportive, my midwife was in the room nearly the ENTIRE time I was in the hospital, and the anethesiologists & docs in the OR were great as well.

My only "regretful" experience, which I cannot control, was that my baby was taken quickly from the OR, and I got only a kiss & a glance before they started suturing me.

This time I am in a state that sounds like yours.... and so I've chosen to go with an OB, a doula, and a hospital recommended by my LLL leader.

I believe that if you stay involved in your care, have a birth plan that you share with all of the staff that is caring for you, and keep a positive attitude & focus on the importat thing: your baby will be born & be nursing in your arms soon, then HOW it happens just isn't that important.

[jessitron]

Do look into getting a doula, an assertive one. It helped in my hospital delivery to have my doula talk to the on-call OB who showed up and tell her that we were educated on this process and knew what we were doing when we questioned her recommendations.

Also, maybe read some of Birthing from Within (since it sounds like you don't have time for a class) or talk to a counselor to help you process your first birth, if you haven't already. Try not to take the resentment and fear from that one into this one.

Our hospital experience (home birth transfer) was decent. Even with an IV hooked up I had some mobility, could use the birth ball and change positions on the bed. Once they put in an internal monitor, it was much more limited. Avoid that one if you can. (besides, it hurts like ***!!* when they put it in.) Spend time in the shower if you can -- wish our L&D had one.
Having a doula and making sure you, she, and DH are all in agreement about your goals is critical. Make sure DH is fully read up and ready to defend you from invasive stuff.

[AngelBee]

I had a wonderful hospital experience with #3.

The difference was being educated for myself, trusting my body, and being bold enough to speak up about what I wanted (and would get )

I was very verbal so that they would not just push me along with the norm.

You can create a beautiful birth experience no matter where you are. It is a mindset really. Good luck!