Forum Index
»
Expectant and Postpartum Moms
Can I really deliver my baby WITHOUT drugs in a hospital?
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
| I had an unmedicated birth at Sibley but had a Doula with me who helped A LOT! Just be aware that some nurses don't know what the heck to do with women who don't get the epidural. I lucked out and happened to have a nurse during the second hospital shift of my birth who was also a midwife(her name was Cindy). The difference between the two nurses was unbelievable! Next time I give birth I don't know if I'd be willing to chance not having a midwife there... |
Anonymous
That's just stupid. |
Anonymous
| Yes, you can deliver your baby without drugs (I assume you mean epidural or other pain meds) in a hospital. I delivered my daughter at Sibley last year without any pain meds and I did it on Pitocin (had to be induced due to high BP). I would agree with a PP who suggested that some of the other interventions can lead to an epidural (e.g. Pitocin) ... I have not experienced non-Pit labor, but I can tell you that Pit induced labor is intense! Having a doula or midwife may help you avoid having to go down the Pitocin road which I am sure increases the likelihood of a woman requesting an epidural. For what its worth, I was never pressured to have an epidural. |
Anonymous
|
I delivered unmedicated at Georgetown and was tremendously impressed with the support I received from the nursing and childbirth education staff. I had two "coaches" with me--my husband and a best friend--and I needed their assistance constantly. We had all done a lot of reading (The Birth Partner by Simkin, Easy Labor, Our Bodies Ourselves, etc.), and we had a birth plan that we gave to the nurse when we got to the hospital. I spent a ton of time in the jacuzzi tub, and I was able to walk around as much as I wanted. I had a hep lock in case fluids or meds were needed, but no one ever suggested that I try an epidural. That said, the staff later told us that very few women have unmedicated births at G'town, so some of the nurses aren't as familiar with techniques to help the mother. Still, it was a wonderful (though exhausting and very challenging) experience, and I give Georgetown a lot of credit for the great support and encouragement they provided.
One more thing that helped: yoga. My prenatal yoga class taught me to learn breathing and relaxation techniques that helped a great deal during my labor. Good luck! |
Anonymous
| To the OP, I think it really depends a lot on your body. I will tell you though, I drank some castor oil before that day (I was ready to have my baby!) and it was the best thing I ever did. I felt fine all day really, had a few cramps, by the time I got to the hospital I was 8 cm and couldn't get the drugs. Son was born 40 minutes later. Sure not a pleasant feeling I want to have everyday but not bad enough that I wouldn't think about doing it sans drugs again. |
Anonymous
|
OP, best of luck with labor!
I don't know much, as both my previous labors were medicated (but, I'm a wimp and tend to throw up and pass out when in pain, so don't take me as an example). My sister planned to go natural at Sibley with her first, and said everyone was totally supportive. They eventually put her on pitocin and she took an epidural after two hours on pitocin because she kept tensing up during the contractions, and it was stressing the baby. My mom went natural with four kids, and she said the secret was to stay at home moving around until she was well into labor - and then there was no need/time for a spinal. Apparently, it also helped keep her from focusing on the discomfort. Stay strong - if you want to, you will find a situation that works for you! |
Anonymous
I delivered at Sibley with a Doula last year. I was 100% med free. They don't push the epi on you or anything. I will say though that my first nurse had no idea what to do with someone having an unmedicated birth. She kept expecting me to stay still. Ha! She was younger and had clearly only been around women with epidurals up to that point. I lucked out in having a nurse/midwife as the nurse on duty for the 2nd shift of my labor(my doula had worked with her before and when she saw her she asked her to help out). The 2nd nurse was amazing and along with my doula and husband was able to help me through a very difficult labor. She said afterward if I could do that sort of labor without medication I was home free for any other future births. 
My point is, you CAN do it! Just prepare ahead of time. Get a doula, take classes that are geared toward natural childbirth, etc. Have your partner take them with you so they know what to expect as well. I recommend Birthworks classes. Also, try to have your doula meet you at your home pre-hospital to help you determine when to leave for the hospital. This will cut down on the amont of time you labor as a hospital patient, thereby reducing your likelyhood of having an unnecessary c-section. Good luck and remember, baring any health complications, your birth experience is exactly that, YOURS! Prepare for the sort of experience you want to have and you can have a natural birth in whatever setting you chose to. |
Anonymous
Really stupid. You have no idea what you are talking about. |
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.
Anecdotally true among my peer group. |
Anonymous
|
YES, it is possible! I delivered my son at Virginia Hospital Center last year with absolutely no meds. I do agree with a lot of the previous posters, your success will have a lot to do with how supportive your physician is and how mentally prepared you are. Also, the longer you wait before you go to the hospital, the better chance you have of getting through your delivery without unnecessary (and often harmful) procedures. I was 7 cm when we got to the hospital, my midwife (Karen King with Dr. Rossi's practice) was waiting for me, and two and a half hours after we arrived I delivered my son. When I was admitted, the nurse kept trying to get me to sign a permission form for an epidural (I refulsed) and Karen convinced her that it was OK, that I really was going to have a natural birth. My friend, on the other hand, arrived at 4 cm, at which time the Dr. on call broke her water (which makes labor really intense) and convinced her that an epidural was the only answer. It slowed her labor, so of course then they gave her Pitocin. I am convinced that trusting my body, waiting longer to go to the hospital, and having a midwife (whom I had gotten to know well) waiting for me made a difference for me. Was it the perfect delivery? Maybe not - I wish they would have given me more freedom to choose an upright position for pushing, use a squat bar, etc. But was it the natural delivery I wanted for my son? Absolutely.
Also, I second the list of books that was mentioned earlier, and would like to add Birthing from Within, which I found infinitely helpful. |
Anonymous
| To the PP, and not to hijack the thread ... how did you know how long to wait at home? What you've described is exactly what I would like to do. Did you stay at home even after the time they tell you to come in? (contractions every 5 minutes for 1 hour?) Or did you do something else? It seems perfect to arrive to the hospital around 7 cm, but I just don't know how to tell when it's the right time (without panicking, too!) I plan to have a doula with me to help with this decision, but any sort of insight is much appreciated! |
Anonymous
Maybe they've improved because I had an IV and was still able to deliver using the squat bar and all sorts of positions. Tip: ask for the squat bar when you show up because they might have to go looking for it. |
Anonymous
Well, that was the tricky part! My midwife didn't tell us to pay attention to how far apart the contractions were (as opposed to the doctors in her practice, who say to come in when they are 5 - 7 minutes apart). She said to come in when I was "really uncomfortable"! LOL! How was I supposed to know what that meant, right? I kept waiting, and waiting because I was so afraid of gettting there and being told that I was only dialated 1 cm. Finally, my husband decided that he thought I seemed "really uncomfortable" and he was getting nervous, so he called her back, she talked to me and told me to come to the hospital. (She says she can tell a lot by hearing your voice when you're in labor.) At the point when we left the house, I could not walk during a contraction, but would stop and lean against something for support. Also, once we decided to go to the hospital and I tried to get dressed (it was 2 a.m.), I realized my contractions were too intense for me to be able to put my own shoes on, and I was so focused on them that I couldn't think straight in order to find my makeup, hairbrush, etc. and put them in my hospital bag. (Lesson from the trenches: Put EVERYTHING in your bag when labor first starts!) Once we got in the car, just trying to still in the passenger seat was extraordinarily painful. I think that's how you know! By the time we got to the hospital, my contractions were varying from 2 minutes to 4 minutes apart. (Mine were never as evenly spaced as I expected.) I hope that helps! Good luck! |
Anonymous
| Your doula should be able to help you determine an appropriate time to go in. She has likely seen it all and knows how to get you there before it's too late, etc. My doula was awesome and helped me to stay at home comfortably (it's all relative) as long as possible (which is what I wanted and had asked her to do). I know she was taking a variety of things into account -- contraction timing, my reaction to them, bloody show, pressure in my bum... |
Anonymous
|
OP, read this blog from the beginning. It is written by a woman who wanted a natural home birth, unmedicated in a birthing tub with her midwife. She went two weeks past her due date, went into labor and ended up in the hospital needing a c-section. Her birth was planned to a T. She could not control the fact she needed a c-section, nor could she help the fact that she had to deliver via c-section with an OB she had never met. Just some food for thought about what happens when things go wrong.
|