is anyone else having an unassisted pg?

[rainbowmoon]

I really want an unassisted pg. & birth.

I had white coat induced hypertension w/ my last pg (I had a mw btw & a birth center planned birth). I just really don't want to see a HCP or submit to any testing at all.

I am a VBAC though so not sure if it's the smartest thing to do in our situation. (I REALLY do want to avoid the hospital though at all costs and planning a homebirth).

I don't see how I could see a HCP around here or my current OB (and be honest about my plans) and have a UBAC.

am I just crazy for wanting to do this?

is anyone else doing an unassisted pg? if so what/how are you keeping track of your medical info?' what is your back up plan?

[mehndi mama]

This is my second UP. I did not keep any records, and my backup plan is the emergency room, as I no longer have a "family doctor" in the area.
You may want to check out the UC threads in the birth forum, or sign up for the Cbirth yahoo group - I got most of my info from those ladies last time. Most of them would think that you are more sane than most for wanting a UBAC ;)

[carlasher]

I am.

I had an OB with my last pregnancy and was not happy with her (or anyone else) at all. That pregnancy ended in a miscarriage. My reasons for having a UP/UC are:

* Healthy - pregnancy is normal and healthy
* I dont like OB GYNs (most of them)
* Dont want a hospital birth
* Midiwves are booked
* Insurance issues

I forgot where I got them, but I printed up pregnancy check-up sheets. I keep tabs of my blood pressure, weight, etc. I eat very well, get excercise, etc. I did have some bleeding at about 13 weeks (like a river) so I saw an midwife and she sent me in for a ultrasound. So if I feel like I need assistance, I am not afraid of getting. But I have been fortunate, so far, to have a pretty healthy pregnancy.

Check out some yahoo groups. Their are a number of UP/UC ones out their. A lot of women have VBAC unassisted.

[rainbowmoon]

thanks ladies! I have been lurking on the UC thread for months. was a member of CBirth for awhile but it's a bit too militant for me :LOL (I love the empowered childbirth list at yahoogroups however)

anyway..so far my plan is to do nothing until 10-12 weeks then I will rent a doppler to check baby's heartbeat. I guess I will need to go to PP or something though to get proof of pg paper for the BC eventually though.

otherwise I am ordering urine strips next week (to test for sugar and protein). I also plan to keep track of my weight and all that. also and most importantly my BP (twice a month). I plan to go the fire house so I can have someone skilled take it and I will document it.

my biggest concern is I just am not sure if I should find a mw or not due to VBAC issues/complications. I am thinking I will just take my chances but is that incredibly stupid? I think I would just go to the ER at our local hospital if I had to. I am also debating an u/s. would you get one if you were a VBAC? how do I go about getting one without a providor (or should I go see my OB and just tell her I'm having a homebirth?) I don't want to lose her as a dr. though because I really like her. if I were to have another c/s I'd want her to do it hands down. but I'm not willing to plan a hospital birth. she is also in another town so that is highly unlikely if I end up at the hospital here.

anyway I'm really confused as you can see!! thanks for letting me sort it out here.

[Oregonicmama]

Hi RainbowMoon,

I had an Unassisted Preg and birth with DD. I am using a Midwife this time, but I support you wanting a UC.
I found most of my info and support online for my UC. I found "Spiritual Midwifery" to be very helpful and also Susun Weed's "Wise Women Herbal For the Childbearing Year." I'd even say I'd of been lost without the second one!

As far as your VBAC issue goes, I would try to find a friendly midwife who is willing to support you in your decision and help you out if the need arises. VBAC shouldn't have much effect on your preg, but it could effect the birth. If you found a midwife who was willing to be on call if something came up, i think that would be great.
I don't know your OB, but based on what I've heard of most OBs, I'm guessing she wouldn't be very supportive of a UC VBAC. I don't think I would even tell her the UC part (but I don't know her).
I am willing to bet your birth will be great and there won't be any problems. But wouldn't it be nice to have a freindly Midwife you could call, instead of having to rush off to the ER if something did happen?

[kynd mama]

Another Freebirther here! I am also doing a UBAC... there is a yahoolist called the same that I belong to... please sign up!! You CAN do it!! My last pregnancy was not UP, but was planned UC.. then turned c/s because of breech presentation. (or so they say... there was nothing wrong with her, she would have been born within 30 min. vaginally... it's just not hospital policy to have ANY confidence in women. You know we're all incompentant fools, right?! :eyesroll )

I'm so glad you have chosen to respect your body and your baby.

Oh, and to answer your question: I will also be getting a doppler from www.cascadedopplers.com, checking with urine strips in late pregnancy, eating an awesome organic vegan diet, and most importantly... enjoying and respecting my body and my unborn baby!! :love

Feel free to email or IM me anytime!!

[rainbowmoon]

I will seek out that list Angelina! thanks for passing on the info! :thumb

thank you for so much support mamas! I need it! :innocent

is there anything else you can think of I should be aware of?

also on an unrelated note, what did you do plan to do post birth for your newborn? see a pedi or not? and also about the PKU for instance (I'm pretty sure it's the one required thing here in AZ but I might be wrong)

[kynd mama]

My plan is to cuddle, nurse, and change some diapers! :wink
Unless there is an obvious need (or instinct to), I will NOT be taking my newborn to see anyone. What a pain for both of us!

And the "required" shots and procedures? "I do not consent. Let me sign the waiver." There is one somewhere, believe me. My dh even got a stack of them with my hospital massacre. Never forget: this is YOUR baby, YOUR choice. We're even free to make mistakes, and we will, as parents. Do not let anyone intimidate you into submission. They're not gods. They're humans... and they have bad days, they have memory lapses, they are IMperfect. (they being the medicos). Rely on yourself, and give yourself the same responsiblity that you will have for the time after these 9 months... :D

I would also suggest joining Cbirth on yahoo... if someone offends you, you can always delete it... but the information and support there is tangible.

Talk to you soon!!

[Oregonicmama]

All I did with DD after her birth was cuddle and breastfeed. :) When she was about 2 weeks old I brought her to a Dr. just to have a peice of paper saying that she was healthy and I was doing good with her. We were living in our van at the time and I just thought it would be a good idea incase something every came up. Nothing ever did. Thats was the only time in her life she's ever been to a Dr.!

You should be able to sign something like a waiver for the PKU. There are several things required by law here (OR) and I have just been signing forms saying I do not consent. I forget what the forms are really called. There has to be a way around it.

[liamandpipersmama]

I'm having my 1st uc in april. I had a very traumatic birth last time and I feel I need to correct the trespasses on my body:) ( long story) I 'm hoping this will be a healing process for me. I belong to yahoos uc group and love them so much. It's very difficult to find any kind of support except for my husband and my sister. I would love to have all of you to chat with about various concers. I glad to see your all here:) thanks- Laura

[mwherbs]

also on an unrelated note, what did you do plan to do post birth for your newborn? see a pedi or not? and also about the PKU for instance (I'm pretty sure it's the one required thing here in AZ but I might be wrong)

PKU is a requirement for care providers they have to provide or offer PKU, parents are not required to submit their child to the test.
You are going to need some sort of documentation of pregnancy and of birth in order to get a birth certificate. In AZ it is fairly simple if you see someone once in pregnancy and the baby is seen post-partum.
I had one UC in Washington state and it took me 4 years and a personal connection in order to get a birth certificate even with proof of pregnancy and a doctor statement postpartum. I know someone right now who has been pursuing a birth certificate for her AZ born child and the child is 6yo she did not have a documented pregnancy and no early postpartum visits to the doctor, basically she gets so far and then nothing she has even hired a lawyer without results yet and$$$$ later.
I would recommend getting the more expensive urine strips to rule out a UTI, nitrates in urine are only formed via bacteria, although you can have a non-nitrate producing UTI the most common forms of UTIs do produce nitrates.

[rainbowmoon]

omg I am sooo angry! :angry my (former) mw's told me I HAD to do this test. I asked numerous times and how I could get out of it. what frickin bs is that!?! I am really glad they told me the truth. :irked: how do they get away with straight out lying is my question?

and this is only the tip of the iceberg of the crap I went through. I am sooo turned of by mw's ( or should I say MEDWIVES) right at this pont I could scream. no offense to you though mwherbs you seem very kind and helpful!

[rainbowmoon]

thanks for the tip on the urine strips btw mwherbs.

[udonandbroth]

I guess you don't have any Amish midwives in Arizona, do you? Because they are pretty cheap, will work with any kind of situation (breech, twins, VBAC, etc.) I am pretty brave but I don't know if I would have the cahones to do a VBAC unassisted.

With my first child I seriously considered doing an unassisted birth. When I actually got there, though I realized that there is a reason for midwives. I guess I am the type of person that needs a cheerleader in those sort of situations to keep my spirits up.

I would totally get some chiropractic alignment, esp. of the hips, first if I were going to attempt an unassisted birth. Good luck.

[rainbowmoon]

:LOL no amish miw's that I know of.

I am really leary about hiring a mw after my last experience. plus I worry about the BP thing. I am not concerned about the birthing part per say but if I had complications come up during late pg, who would I see? I have an OB, and a small hospital w/ an ER 20 min away (we are in a rural area) so I at least have that I suppose! just wishing I had a more solid plan at this point.

[MamaFern]

im not pregnant yet, or at least i dont think i am..ttc..and if i do have another babe i will really consider UC. my sister in law had her second daughter UC.. and it went so well..and it was very inspiring.

my son's home birth was amazing though..and i Loved my midwife. in canada midwifery is free.. covered by medical rather..she was not a MEdwife in any way and supported me in all of my decisions and did not push anything on me.

my only concern is that i have lowered platelets from a blood disease as a child, it wasnt an issue at elwynn's birth except that after he was born i bled very heavily and my midwife insisted on giving me something to slow the bleelding ( i cant even remember what it was..).. i worry about that but maybe i can just use herbs or give myself the injection..?! i guess ill think about it more closer to the time.

anyways, good luck with your UC's and if i get pregnant i'll let you know and definately be talking with you all.

[Hey Mama!]

Oh man, if I had my way I'd go unassisted all the way. I hate the army hospital I go to, it's like a baby factory.

[amyjeans]

My 2nd was UC.I was considered high risk by my Ex-OB. We did manage the pregnancy ourselves in the end- monitoring the BP, urine test strips, etc. Comparing my prenatal with that of an OB, I think I did a much better, and thorough job- as opposed to the 45min wait in the office, for a 6 minute visit consisting of belly measurement, pee in a cup, and scare tactics :eyesroll
Anyway- I agree with the others here- go to the sites, and read read read! There are some fantastic books out there that helped us (and I am sure others)
(This is our list- in order of reading)
"Expecting Trouble, the Myth of Prenatal Care in America" By Dr. Thomas H. Strong Jr
"Ina May's Guide to Childbirth" Ina May Gaskin
"Rediscovering Birth" by Sheila Kitzinger
"Unassisted Childbirth, an Act of Love" Lynn Griesemer
"Pleasurable Husband/Wife Childbirth" Marilyn A. Moran
"Emergency Childbirth" Dr. Gregory White Best book ever!
all books available at Amazon.com

I would suggest having nutritious food on hand for before, during and after birth. Tons of water to keep hydrated.
Bottles of Hydrogen Peroxide (great for cleanup)
Warm fuzzy jammies and sheets- for cuddling afterward in your own bed!
Someone- spouse, understanding friend or family member to come by when you're ready to cleanup. Some people say birth is messy, some say its not. Totally subjective. You really can't tell until afterwards. Have drop cloths or sheets on the floor for any fluids, but avoid anything with plasitc backs (slippery!)
The birth supply store we got our kit at had an herbal bath for right after the birth that was just wonderful!!!! Takes about 30 minutes to prep but WELL worth the wait! We loved it!
What helped us through it all is realizing the nature of birth and what to expect. We had a lot of obsticles to overcome, like getting over the "medical" thought process in birth, and trusting myself.
I have to admit- unassisted birth is very humbling and grounding.

My birthstory is in my signature if you would like to read it.

Warm Regards

[crayon]

Well, for our DD #1 we planned a U/C and had a back up doc, but after nearly 40 hours of labor and no need to push yet, and hearing DP say several times "do you think we should go to the hospital?" I said yes, I was getting worried, because he couldnt tell how far along I was, and I was having cx so close I could not longer feel the baby moving. So we went and she was born an hour after we got there. I wish I would have just stayed at home, so may things happended to us and to DD that I wish would have not, and it ended up being stressfull and the docs and nurses once they found out we were trying a U/C treated us like sh!t.

So this time, we have a wonderful Lay MW and she has said she would stay where ever we want her i.e. Downstairs, at home :).... So, as for now, I am planning on laboring by myself with DP and if I feel like I NEED her to come be part of it then I will call her and she will be here in 10 mins. I will call her when I start labor just to give her a heads up. As far as my care, she comes once a month and she is VERY hands off- so we do the BP and weight and that is it. She didnt seem too concerned with my bone condition and said that she knows I know more about "MY" body than the doctors- so she will just take my word- DO YOU FEEL THE LOVE???

:)

[crayon]

Here is a good site with lots of links and stories of U/C, and you can also contact her and ask quetions!

http://unassistedchildbirth.com/

[Lula's Mom]

I am having a UP and planning a UC. I'm "officially due" at the end of this week!!

I had a midwife for my first pregnancy, and she was a lovely woman. But this time, I really need to do everything without a midwife. I think in many ways, my time with her prepared me for this next step of caring for myself. I've kept track of my blood pressure and done the pee strips every so often, and measured myself a few times (not lately). I feel incredible, and I know I am healthy, so I didn't really feel this was necessary- but GA asks for a prenatal record to get the birth certificate, so I'm glad I have some notes.

I have absolutely loved doing it myself, consulting with only DP about this baby. I think it has brought us even closer. And he has said many times how he feels much more involved in this pregnancy than he would if we had a doctor or midwife. He says that it's caused him to learn much more about pregnancy and birth than he would have otherwise; if we had a dr. or midwife, he would have stepped back, not feeling like he really had a role, because the pros would take care of everything. Then he would have been afraid during the birth, because it would have been an "unknown" for him. Now, he feels completely at ease with us doing it ourselves, because he's educated himself. He listens to the baby's heartbeat, and determines the position it's in. :love Those are really special bonding times for us.

We just can't wait for this baby to be born. :)

[OtherMother'n'Madre]

We are doing a UP. As for keeping track of things, if something feels wrong that day I'll write it down. If it gets worse or whatever we will receive help (like bleeding etc.). Our backup plan is simple. If something goes wrong we will go to the hospital but only if it is something that we cannot fix (baby position, wrapped cord etc.).

[rainbowmoon]

I am feeling incredibly calm about having a UP/UC. Last pg I was not so calm. DH is much more supportive this time around as well, which is nice. I don't feel I need to convince him at all. we both feel the mw's didn't do much for us last time around and we paid them alot of $ for nothing. we both like my OB alot. but obviously she's not going to do a home birth! (I wish!)

I guess have decided to deal with things as they come up. but I will keep a sort of health log just in case I need to see a HCP at any point.

for some reason I feel like I'm in unknown territory though :LOL someone should write a book specific to UP, yk?

[amethystrse]

am I just crazy for wanting to do this?

is anyone else doing an unassisted pg? if so what/how are you keeping track of your medical info?' what is your back up plan?

Hey hon. I'm having a UBAC too. There is a yahoo group (http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/UBAC/) I'm on that's been really helpful. I'm doing this totally unassisted. I was going to see an OB but they wanted me to sign a waiver saying that I will allow them to do a c-section. I so don't want to do that again.

My best advice to you is to research research and research some more. It's really not as dangerous as it seems. Yes, there are risks. But, they are limited. To be honest, having a baby without medical interference in a place you feel most comfortable (be it in your home or ontop of a mountain) is safest. Most complications are actually caused by the very medical interventions that are meant to prevent them.

Here is a page (http://www.unhinderedliving.com/childbirth.html) I found to be oh so helpful. They really did a lot of research and it's a great place for you to start.

I totally understand how you feel. When I started considering UBAC I was terrified. I thought I had lost my mind. However, I've become more confident and I feel more intune with my body than ever before. I'm just taking really really good care of myself. Better than when I had my son. There's no doctor or midwife for me to fall back on. It's all me. So, I'm more cautious about what I do and how I do it. I'm actually healthier than I've ever been because of that. lol

*hugs* If you ever need someone to talk who's "in the same boat" then feel free to message me or e-mail me. :D

Oh, there's also a book I've been meaning to get. You can find the info on it here ("http://www.hencigoer.com/obmyth/). It's really awesome from what I've been told. :)