Natural Birth Friendly OB/GYN?

[Anonymous]

Can anyone recommend an OB/GYN practice with hositpal privleges at Fairfax that is friendly or supportive of natural birth?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

There are a few definitions of "natural" birth now days - do you mean like birthing ball/water birth, or no epidural birth, or reiki/hypnotherapy?

[Anonymous]

Basically, no epidural or other interventions. Possibly intermittent fetal monitoring as well. I'm not talking about home birth or water births.

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Tepeyac Ob/Gyn.
Not sure about Fairfax Inova, but deliver at Fair Oaks.

[Anonymous]

Natural birth and Fairfax Hosp are antonyms. Fairfax is HIGHLY medical and intervention. I'd look elsewhere for a natural birth.

[Anonymous]

Not always true, PP. I had a natural birth (no epidural - if that is how you define it) at Inova Fair Oaks.

[Anonymous]

Physicians and Midwives practice in northern VA and Midwifery Care Associates (affiliated with Simmons and Simmons practice) in Rockville, MD both support the things you are talking about. The first delivers at Inova Alexandria and the second delivers at Shady Grove.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not always true, PP. I had a natural birth (no epidural - if that is how you define it) at Inova Fair Oaks.

I think the PP was talking about Fairfax. Your experience seems to have been at Fair Oaks.

[Anonymous]

Dr Tschabo at VA Hospital Center in Arlington is the backup for my midwives and is very pro-natural birth.

[Anonymous]

OP - Maybe you already are aware of this, but it is not just your OB that will shape your birthing experience, it is also the hospital and the nurse you get at the hospital. There are some things your OB decides, like episiotomies and when to go to a c-section, But a hospital isn't going to change its protocols like required fetal monitoring just because your OB wants it to - hospital makes its employees follow the protocols to protect the hospital from liability. In my instance, I had a supportive nurse who was willing to hold the fetal monitor to my stomach during the required intermittant fetal monitoring (because it was way too uncomfortable to have a belt around my belly during contractions). But the monitoring was required, and I also couldn't get out of getting a hep-lock (although I was allowed to do that in lieu of an IV).

So the general recommendation (what my OBs and doulas suggested to me) is to plan to labor at home as long as possible to avoid as many hospital procedures as possible. For me, that meant 24 hours at home, 4 at the hospital (arrived at 8.5 cm dialated).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP - Maybe you already are aware of this, but it is not just your OB that will shape your birthing experience, it is also the hospital and the nurse you get at the hospital. There are some things your OB decides, like episiotomies and when to go to a c-section, But a hospital isn't going to change its protocols like required fetal monitoring just because your OB wants it to - hospital makes its employees follow the protocols to protect the hospital from liability. In my instance, I had a supportive nurse who was willing to hold the fetal monitor to my stomach during the required intermittant fetal monitoring (because it was way too uncomfortable to have a belt around my belly during contractions). But the monitoring was required, and I also couldn't get out of getting a hep-lock (although I was allowed to do that in lieu of an IV).

So the general recommendation (what my OBs and doulas suggested to me) is to plan to labor at home as long as possible to avoid as many hospital procedures as possible. For me, that meant 24 hours at home, 4 at the hospital (arrived at 8.5 cm dialated).

You are certainly right that the nurses have a huge role but what do you mean you couldn't get out of it? You have a choice. They won't physically restrain and force you and they won't send you home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: There are some things your OB decides, like episiotomies and when to go to a c-section,

An OB should never be the one making the final decision - it should be you. You, as a patient, have a right to refuse any procedure. An OB may offer their advice but you can certainly choose not to follow their advice.

[Anonymous]

I'm am the 14:27 poster. While technically the PPs may be right - that legally you can reject treatments and procedures - I don't think that view reflects reality. The fact is, when you have been in labor for 24 hours, and are exhausted and in severe pain because you are unmedicated, there is no way that you're going to be in a position to argue about everything that happens to you in the hospital. At least, that was my experience with my natural childbirth.

I don't think it is helpful to make such broad statements. Can you be restrained at a hospital? Sure, under certain circumstances. Can the hospital or OB reject treatment of you and send you away? Yes, at least under certain circumstances.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think it is helpful to make such broad statements. Can you be restrained at a hospital? Sure, under certain circumstances. Can the hospital or OB reject treatment of you and send you away? Yes, at least under certain circumstances.

I don't think the above is true. There is a law (federal, I believe) that states that a hospital cannot turn away a woman who is in labor. So once you are in the hospital with an established labor they can't just "turn you away". They probably can make your life difficult though, and I agree that it's probably not something you want to deal with when you are in pain and exhausted from long labor. However, you absolutely can refuse any procedure, including a c-section.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm am the 14:27 poster. While technically the PPs may be right - that legally you can reject treatments and procedures - I don't think that view reflects reality. The fact is, when you have been in labor for 24 hours, and are exhausted and in severe pain because you are unmedicated, there is no way that you're going to be in a position to argue about everything that happens to you in the hospital. At least, that was my experience with my natural childbirth.

I don't think it is helpful to make such broad statements. Can you be restrained at a hospital? Sure, under certain circumstances. Can the hospital or OB reject treatment of you and send you away? Yes, at least under certain circumstances.

A laboring woman's natural exhaustion and high emotional state may affect what she chooses to do but it doesn't change what she has a right to do. I've discussed what I am willing to do in advance with my husband and my doula. We are all on the same page. Might I change my mind in labor, or be presented with a true medical need? Sure. But it is a very bad idea to send a woman into labor with the starting position that she isn't the decision-maker.

She is. It's her call. If she decides to agree with a doctor's recommendation, for any reason, including exhaustion, that is still her decision. We shouldn't lie to women and tell them they have no choice.