[LaffNowCryLater]

I have to have a hospital birth this time around (insurance reasons) and I am wondering, is it possible to have a true natural birth in a hospital? Has anyone been able to forego IVs, monitors, etc at a hospital?

I had my first 2 in a naval hospital- vaginal but far from natural (I had IVs, monitors, and epidurals)
-Had #3 at a birth center and it was great- all natural birth
-#4 will have to be at a hospital b/c I have Tricare Prime (and I am not going to switch to Standard or paying for anything OOP) and they don't cover any midwives or birth centers near me.

Oh and the kicker is DH won't be home from his deployment until the baby is 5 months old so I won't have his help as an advocate.

 

[SeekingJoy]

A doula can't advocate for you, but she could support you. It may be your best shot at a natural birth. I had a natural hospital birth, but I also showed up pushing.

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[murphysaangel]

I know it's possible if you find the right hospital. You might have to tour a few and ask a bunch of annoying questions, but if you do the research you'll find what you're looking for. I'm going 1/2 hour away to a hospital that's very hands-off and pro natural-birthing. I'm a VBAC and they still don't do EFM or IV and they even allow waterbirth (not just labor). I'd recommend finding the hospital 1st, then the midwife (or OB) who's also in line with your needs. I'd also recommend finding a great Doula who will help advocate for you ESPECIALLY because your dh won't be there. If you're comfortable with more than 1 person with you, you might want to ask a close friend or family member to be there as well. The more people saying "keep your hands off her!", the better, yk?

I just read Your Best Birth by Abby Epstien and Rikki Lake. I think it comes out in May. It's got a great list of questions to ask both the hospital and any HCP you'll be interviewing. I literally copied the q's out of the book, added some others to the list that I thought of in addition, and took it with me to ask the nurses during my tour. And I did the same with the midwives I interviewed. They might find it annoying but you'll feel a lot better knowing the answers before you even get started, and it will help you to make an informed choice. good luck!

 

[wombatclay]

I think a lot depends on how you personally are defininf "natural"... I've seen a lot of threads where people express very different "lists" of things that are or are not part of a "natural birth".

From what you've mentioned (no IVs, no monitors, vaginal delivery) I would say yes, it's possible. However, some people feel strongly that if there is any interference in the birth (and that would include going someplace during labor, or having strangers entering the birth space) interfere with the "natural" birth process. So if your personal definition includes not being disturbed during the birth, or being in complete control of the setting (total freedom to eat, drink, use alternative birth techniques, freedom of positioning, etc) then the answer is somewhere between "maybe" and "probably not".

A lot will depend on the facility you are using and the care provider you have. A doula can offer support (and without your partner there, I'd 100% support having a doula and perhaps a close friend who is on the same page regarding birth), a pro-birth provider can opt you out of many interventions, a mama/babe friendly facility can provide options that will make your birth closer to that of a birth center.

With dd1's birth my local hospital and the family practice I was with didn't "require" anything. I could move as I liked, eat what I wanted, get into or out of the tub at will. My partner and my doula were both welcome, the staff was familiar with alternative birth practices (incuding hypnosis for birth), etc. It wasn't until the very end (after more than a day of back labor and lack of progress) that interventions (including pain meds) were suggested. And then they were only suggested after I specifically asked about options.

With dd2's birth (same hospital, different provider) I was a vbac mama. Their only interventions were a heplock and BP for me/Doppler heart tones for the babe every 15 minutes while pushing. Everything else (eating at will, moving around, using the tub, pushing in different positions, etc) was still totally fine with them. When I asked about pain medications the nursing staff actually suggested I get back in the tub for a while!

I pushed for 4 hours and had my vbac birth.

With this next birth I'll be at a different facility and with a much less birth friendly provider. So I know the sort of worry you're going through! I'm not thrilled about my birth options. I'll have the doula I was with last time, my DH is totally on board and familiar with our family birth philosophy, and I have spent a lot of time with ICAN and other birth support groups so I know my "rights as a birthing mother". I'm expecting some resistance from the hospital staff and realize that I'll be stepping on toes... so part of my birth prep is getting into the mind space where I'm ok with that.

I hope you find a great care provider (my vbac was with an OB and they were 110% committed to birth as a natural part of life and big homebirth advocates) and have a wonderful birth!

 

[XanaduMama]

I would post over in Finding Your Tribe to see if anyone else has delivered at your hospital or (especially) with your OB. It really depends on the specific doctor and facility you get. On the whole I've heard that military hospitals are pretty unsupportive of natural birth, but I'm sure it varies like everything else.

 

[LaffNowCryLater]

Quote:

Originally Posted by murphysaangel I just read Your Best Birth by Abby Epstien and Rikki Lake. I think it comes out in May.

Thanks for the book rec! I will probbaly order it from Amazon.com

Quote:

Originally Posted by XanaduMama I would post over in Finding Your Tribe to see if anyone else has delivered at your hospital or (especially) with your OB. It really depends on the specific doctor and facility you get. On the whole I've heard that military hospitals are pretty unsupportive of natural birth, but I'm sure it varies like everything else.

I've asked around but all the good OBs I hear about are also not covered

but the hospital I am delivering at is pretty new and looks good. They have huge rooms that you birth in and stay in after the baby.

I have my 1st appt mid-May and if worse comes to worse I will just have to find a better one if this one is bad.

 

[femalephish]

I'm planning a homebirth because it feels right for me.. BUT

My sister had two WONDERFUL, natural, births in a hospital. (I'm defining 'natural' as drug-free, no IV, vaginal. I'm not sure about monitoring during labor.)

She had a family care doctor (also called general practitioner) instead of an OB. Not all will deliver babies anymore, but you could look for one. I think they are (generally) more 'natural' minded because they aren't surgens, you know?

She also labored for a while at home. But her husband was there. If you don't have a mom/friend/sister to hang out with you (or maybe even if you do) I think a doula would be a good idea.

I think a positive attitude also helps. (Not always, sometimes things just happen that you can't help.) Try to visualize your birth. Imagine the people you will have there. Imagine your body working efficently.

Hang in there, you CAN have the birth you want! Good Luck!

 

[Honey693]

I had a fairly natural hospital birth. 20 minutes monitoring on admittance (I thought I wasn't in labor b/c I'm slow lol), random checks with the Doppler and drugs for Group B strep which I wouldn't have needed if I had felt like arguing/my chart had been sent over and only 2 cervical checks (on admittance and when I felt like pushing). So I think it is possible, but much much easier if your doctor is on board and it's a good hospital.

 

[MegBoz]

One tip I wanted to share was to have your OB WRITE like a "Prescription for Normal Birth" - maybe even on a prescription pad! Things like "No IV, only intermittent monitoring with doppler, eating & drinking at will, laboring in tub (even with broken waters), no regular cervical checks, etc."
That way the nurses won't have to constantly go double check with the doc if you are deviating from their standard procedures.

I've also read a suggestion to actually request a different nurse who's comfortable with natural birth if you get one who seems annoyed at your audacity in not wanting unnecessary stuff.

Good luck!

 

[Juniperberry]

Yes it is possible. Although I'm not sure I would have got everything I wanted had my midwife not been like a tiger between me and the hospital staff

I arrived at the hospital at 8 cm, so did almost all of my laboring at home, and although the ride to the hospital was hellish to say the least.. looking back I wouldn't have it any other way.

I was GBS+ so I was supposed to have IV antibiotics for 4 hours before birth and also the hospital I go to have a routine of injecting pitocin the moment the head crowns to be sure you contract after birth for the placenta etc. Well.. I was totally against it all, and arrived too late in any case for the IV hehe... so the only interventions I had was a shot of antibiotics and I allowed them to place a heplock.

My midwife was handed the syringe of pitocin to inject me and she just put it behind her (I love my midwives!!) and didn't use it. My LO went straight onto the breast and everything was just fine without introducing un needed drugs into the system

 

[SallyN]

Yes, it's possible (see my recent post in Birth Stories). In my experience, my own knowledge made a significant difference, but I still couldn't have done it without the full support of my midwife. This was my second birth at this hospital (probably helped that it is Baby Friendly) but with a CNM from a different practice and...a completely different experience. I also had a doula (two actually) who was probably most helpful in shielding me from some of the negativity coming from the hospital staff (doula and midwife conversed directly and shared with DH and me... but kept my exposure to the drama as low as possible).

 

[Alyantavid]

I tried. With my youngest, I said no to an epi, an iv and any drugs. I had a short labor and walked alot but the doc did end up breaking my water to monitor the baby. I had him within minutes after that.

I had dh and my mom with me and the nurses asked constantly if I wanted something for the pain. I was doing great though until they broke my water and it was much harder and I know I would have given in if I hadn't had some good support there. Of course, I was probably too late for any drugs anyways, but knowing that I had the full support of my dh and mom helped a ton. And I did go over with the doc what I did and didn't want beforehand.

 

[CrunchyChristianMama]

On a side note about getting a doula...there is an organization that provides doulas free of charge to women whose husbands are deployed. So if you're worried about the cost, be sure to look into that! http://www.operationspecialdelivery.com/

 

[cappuccinosmom]

I have had three vaginal hospital births, two of those I would define as natural.

I "compromised" by accepting a hep-lock and intermittent monitoring those two times. Otherwise, no drugs, I moved around as I wished, pushed when I wanted to, no episiotomy, no vac/forceps. I also arrived at a very mushy 8 cm and nearly ready to push. I'm sure that helped.

 

[ShadowMoon]

I considered my hospital birth to be natural. I had very little fetal monitoring (and they used an hand held Doppler when they did. I was moving around too much and they eventually stopped altogether). I had no IV or hep-lock, no drugs or interventions of any kind. I could labor, push, and deliver in what ever position I wanted, or wherever I wanted. I controlled how much light was in the room and any other kind of "mood" items I wanted (scents, music, etc).
I highly suggest hiring a doula. She made the biggest difference I believe. She knew what I wanted and what I didn't want and could voice that for me when I was in a zone. I had a great, hassle-free hospital birth because of her.

 

[D&S Mom]

All depends on what is available where you live. I'm in Canada. I had my first 2babies in hospital (Vaginal, epidural, vacuum, doctor, and all the needles, etc). Midwives are not covered there. Then I had my 3rd baby is another province where midwives are free and have hospital priviledges. I had a very natural birth, no needles, vaginal, no monitoring, dimmed lights, very low key.

It all depends on what is available in your area. The only thing I can suggest is to labour at home as long as possible so that once you are at the hospital you only have to push out the baby (hopefully).

 

[Aufilia]

I had a natural hospital birth. I think it's just really going to depend on your hospital, the nurses you get assigned, and your OB. My hospital didn't require an IV or continuous monitoring and my provider (a CNM) was pretty hands-off and supportive. I also had a doula, which I highly recommend in a hospital situation.

 

[Turquesa]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evie's Mama On a side note about getting a doula...there is an organization that provides doulas free of charge to women whose husbands are deployed. So if you're worried about the cost, be sure to look into that! http://www.operationspecialdelivery.com/

How cool is that???

 

[amnda527]

Hi, I haven't read any above posts, but I just wanted to say that I enjoyed my hospital birth, and I'm getting ready to have another! I found a great midwife, and she doesn't do routine iv's. I showed up at the hospital fully dilated and ready to go, (of course I didn't know this at the time). I went straight to the room, and the nurse did strap the monitor on my belly. A few minutes later I started pushing, my midwife showed up just in time. She had them take the straps off, and I pushed in whatever position I wanted. I was going for a waterbirth, but I was already pushing and the tub wasn't even filled up yet, so that went out the window. About 40 minutes later I was holding my daughter, and that was it!

 

[Talula Fairie]

For me, no. I just can't do it in a hospital. But there are women who can! Depends a lot on the specific care provider and hospital, their policies, and possibly how hard you are willing to fight them.

I don't know a lot of women who got out of at least occasional monitoring in the hospital, however.