Can I really deliver my baby WITHOUT drugs in a hospital?

[Anonymous]

I’m seeking advice from knowledgeable posters about what it’s really like to try for an un-medicated, natural birth in a hospital. I have read through many, many past posts on this forum regarding hospitals, doctors, midwives, natural birthing, etc., but it’s still hard to imagine how this will work because of the implicitly different philosophy of the hospital/doctors and natural birth advocates.

I am a strong proponent of trying to have a natural, drug-free birth. However, I am also 36 years old, pregnant with my first baby, and am a cautious person; having the baby in a hospital setting seems to be the safest approach, should anything go wrong (the idea of a birth center that is attached to a hospital is very appealing to me, too, but I don’t know if that type of set-up exists in the Washington area. I was really surprised to learn that there are not that many midwifery practices in the area).

I will most likely go to Holy Cross hospital for the delivery. It’s only 3 miles from my home, which I really like. I will look into their doula program as I think that might be an excellent way to increase my chances of having a natural birth. I would love to hear from women who have delivered naturally at local Washington hospitals, and particularly at Holy Cross.

Will I have to fight off the nurses with the epidurals, pitocin, and other meds? How often will I have to be hooked up to the intermittent monitoring equipment? Will I be scorned because I’m not availing myself of all that modern medicine has to offer? If my labor takes a long time, will they try to force me to take meds to speed it up? Do I really have to wear those horrible nasty hospital gowns? Can’t I bring a bag of cheap Kmart t-shirts with me to wear? And, having been on the tour at Holy Cross, I know what that birthing bed looks like. I am really going to have to be on my back to delivery the baby? That just seems instinctually wrong and anti-gravity…..

[Anonymous]

I had my first at the now defunct Columbia Hospital for Women. Natural all the way, she was a 10/10 on the Apgar scale, no stitches either! My OB was Dr. Bruce Ames, and he was 100% in favor of natural childbirth, and of easing the baby out gradually so that there was no epistiotomy necessary. I walked up and down the hall until 10 minutes before my DD was born. I didn't even WANT natural childbirth, but they were all so encouraging that I somehow ended up going through with it.

[Anonymous]

I can't help you with the specifics (didn't have a natural birth nor did I deliver at Holy Cross), but some of the things you mention could be the policy of the hospital or your doctor. So I would suggest preparing a birth plan and discussing it with your doctor. For example, some doctors have very strict rules about how long they will let you labor without progress, or how long you can go with your water broken until a c/s is considered, etc. You want to know how your doctor feels about these things and if you agree with him/her to anything that is outside of the norm, have it clearly spelled out. Also, make sure your partner/support person knows your specific wishes and can advocate on your behalf. Once you are in active labor you will want to concentrate your energy on that, and not on fighting the nurses/doctors. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

You should search the archives. This topic has been beaten to death on this board.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You should search the archives. This topic has been beaten to death on this board.

Yes, I don't know what the OP is asking especially since she said she already read through previous postings. It's like beating a dead horse.

[Anonymous]

OP here:

Yes, I did acknowledge that I had read many prior posts because I didn't want to raise all the same questions again. However, I asked some specific questions that I wanted further information on: regarding hospital/doctor policies regarding how long they will let one labor w/o meds and how possible it is to be mobile during labor, etc. The first poster who responded to my original post who was very helpful and gracious in reply. I apologize for bringing up a tired topic, but when one is new to this, there is just no end to the amount of information one desires.

[Anonymous]

I am in the same boat as the OP and would like to know the answers to her questions. It is hardly beating a dead horse since the specific answers aren't in the other threads.

[Anonymous]

just get the epidural. you will be glad and the baby will be fine. no need to be a hero.

[Anonymous]

Your OB will tell you that the more planning a woman puts into how she's going to deliver (hiring doulas, taking lamaze, etc), the more her chances of having a c-section increase. Chill, people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Will I have to fight off the nurses with the epidurals, pitocin, and other meds? How often will I have to be hooked up to the intermittent monitoring equipment? Will I be scorned because I’m not availing myself of all that modern medicine has to offer? If my labor takes a long time, will they try to force me to take meds to speed it up? Do I really have to wear those horrible nasty hospital gowns? Can’t I bring a bag of cheap Kmart t-shirts with me to wear? And, having been on the tour at Holy Cross, I know what that birthing bed looks like. I am really going to have to be on my back to delivery the baby? That just seems instinctually wrong and anti-gravity…..

The answer these questions depend on the OB/midwife who attends your birth, rather than the hospital. If your OB is supportive of unmedicated birth, then it is the orders of your OB that the hospital staff will follow. So focus your energy on selecting an OB/midwife rather than on the hospitals themselves.

In terms of "scorn", yes, it is possible that there might be L&D nurses (as there are posters on DCUM) who will have a negative attitude toward unmedicated birth - but others will not. So it is really luck of the draw. I would suggest that you also consider hiring a doula to be present with you during your birth and serve as your advocate.

In addition, you should ask your OB/midwife about the possibility of getting a hep-lock IV instead of a regular IV (the put the portal for an IV in your hand in case of need in an emergency but don't hook it up to anything, which makes it MUCH easier to move around) and having intermittant fetal monitoring rather than continuous (there is no research to support the need for continuous fetal monitoring over intermittant in terms of safety).

Gl to you and ignore the trolls!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your OB will tell you that the more planning a woman puts into how she's going to deliver (hiring doulas, taking lamaze, etc), the more her chances of having a c-section increase. Chill, people.

I agree it's important to be flexible and keep in mind that a healthy outcome is the most important thing, but I tend to think this is a made up "statistic" (unless you can point me to somewhere). Our OB certainly didn't say that, and I can tell you without a doula I wouldn't have been able to skip the epidural (although truth be told, they may not have given me one anyway, since things progressed pretty fast).

[Anonymous]

I had my first in a hospital (in another state) with a midwife. I think the practitioner's attitude makes a huge difference. Also, we were told in our birth class that it's possible to request a labor nurse who is supportive of natural childbirth. (We didn't end up asking because I labored at home and come in ready to push!)

I'd also recommend finding a good birth class. If you (and your partner, and possibly a doula) are feeling confident about trying for a natural birth, it will help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:just get the epidural. you will be glad and the baby will be fine. no need to be a hero.

Why come into a thread like this to say something like that?? Women who birth without drugs are not trying to be heroes. Sheesh.

[Anonymous]

OP -- birthing with a good midwife makes a natural childbirth 1,000 times more likely and infinitely more manageable. Even though Holy Cross is close, it would be worth it to seek out one of the areas in-hospital midwifery practices (Midwifery Care Associates or DC Birth Center midwives). Also, there is a birth center attached to Anne Arundal Medical Center (out near Annapolis). It is called "Bay Area Midwifery" and it is on the same campus as the hospital. I know many women who have travelled from the DC area to go to them because it is the only place where you can be in a birth center, yet connected to a hospital.

[Anonymous]

I delivered with no drugs at Sibley twice with two different OBs and the same doula. The OBs were basically irrelevant; since things progressed well and quickly, I only saw them to catch the baby (basically literally) and give me stitces afterwards. The key for me was my doula. It helped that she had attended many births at the hospital and knew the styles of the doctors, procedures of the hospital etc (when to tell me to ignore the nurses, e.g.). I did make it quite clear to my OB ahead of time what I wanted, but he wasn't even on call the night I delivered, so what was key was having my doula know what I wanted, so she could convey it when I was not at my most articulate.

As for delivery position; I found that when I was really concentrating on myself, my pain, and my pushing, lying down (well, propped up but more or less horizontal) was just fine. The gravity vector may not have been perfect for the baby, but it was the lowest potential energy state for me, which I needed.