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

[Anonymous]

How do I know how long to stay home if there's no doula?

[Anonymous]

I am the PP who posted about staying home...I have to admit in my situation my entire labor was only 1 hr 15 min, so I literally just went to the hospital as soon as my DH got home from work and then DD was born 15 minutes later. But that was my second baby, I will tell you that with the first the doc told me to go to the hospital and I didn't really need to....I think alot of it depends on whether you are dilated at all before actual labor and how quickly your contractions are progressing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am the PP who posted about staying home...I have to admit in my situation my entire labor was only 1 hr 15 min, so I literally just went to the hospital as soon as my DH got home from work and then DD was born 15 minutes later. But that was my second baby, I will tell you that with the first the doc told me to go to the hospital and I didn't really need to....I think alot of it depends on whether you are dilated at all before actual labor and how quickly your contractions are progressing.

I was like this poster. I was at home and didn't realize I needed to get to the hospital. When I felt like I had to sit down to endure the contractions I called my doctor and was told to not walk, but run to the hospital. I gave birth 20 min. upon arriving (DH almost missed it trying to park the car).

So, like the poster said, you can go without drugs. It's easier to do at home when you're distracted (I was home alone with my toddler, DH at work) and in the comfort of your own home. I was 3cm dilated at my 37 week appt. a week before so I was progressing gradually and naturally over the course of a week.

So, like everything else in pregnancy, it really depends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am the PP who posted about staying home...I have to admit in my situation my entire labor was only 1 hr 15 min, so I literally just went to the hospital as soon as my DH got home from work and then DD was born 15 minutes later. But that was my second baby, I will tell you that with the first the doc told me to go to the hospital and I didn't really need to....I think alot of it depends on whether you are dilated at all before actual labor and how quickly your contractions are progressing.

I was like this poster. I was at home and didn't realize I needed to get to the hospital. When I felt like I had to sit down to endure the contractions I called my doctor and was told to not walk, but run to the hospital. I gave birth 20 min. upon arriving (DH almost missed it trying to park the car).

So, like the poster said, you can go without drugs. It's easier to do at home when you're distracted (I was home alone with my toddler, DH at work) and in the comfort of your own home. I was 3cm dilated at my 37 week appt. a week before so I was progressing gradually and naturally over the course of a week.

So, like everything else in pregnancy, it really depends.

Yes, that was my situation too...3-4 cm at my last appt. By the time I woke up, my contractions were out of control. As an aside, don't panic that this will happen to you too, it WAS my second and I had been having prodromal labor for 3 weeks.

[Anonymous]

I am the PP who asked about how do I know when to go to the hospital. I am going to have my first. So this may be a little different from the PPs with their second kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am the PP who asked about how do I know when to go to the hospital. I am going to have my first. So this may be a little different from the PPs with their second kids.

Some people zing to the hospital at the first feeling of a contraction...only to be sent home.

Wait until the contractions are consistent and frequent. If they are noticable and begin to become uncomfortable get in the car. If all you can do is lay in a fetal position in your bedroom and close your eyes than you're on your way to active labor so drive fast.

Of course, call your doctor since he/she knows your specific medical history. High risk, bleeding, water breaking, etc. should be addressed immediately.

[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.

This is a crazy statement. I had a totallly unmedicated birth in a hospital and could not have done it without my doula and the classes that I took. Yes, there is always a risk of complications but the more prepared you are the better.

[Anonymous]

this is a great post that might help mamas figure out when makes sense to leave for the hospital!

i love that it recommends focusing on the mother's behavior and feelings, and NOT on timing the contractions, which can be inaccurate.

http://motherwitdoula.blogspot.com/2010/01/throw-your-clocks-out-window.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Some people zing to the hospital at the first feeling of a contraction...only to be sent home.

Wait until the contractions are consistent and frequent. If they are noticable and begin to become uncomfortable get in the car. If all you can do is lay in a fetal position in your bedroom and close your eyes than you're on your way to active labor so drive fast.

Of course, call your doctor since he/she knows your specific medical history. High risk, bleeding, water breaking, etc. should be addressed immediately.

thanks, that's helpful

[Anonymous]

I had a wonderful birth experience last March at VHC with no drugs, not even a Tylenol. First baby, so I was in active labor for 11-12 hours (about 24 hours from first labor pang). Yes, it hurt a LOT (more than I expected), but it was so worth it that I can't wait to do it again. Also, I had done perineal massage beforehand and had only minimal tearing - only need a couple of stitches (they numbed me locally for the stitches).

How did I do it? I had an amazing doula. We stayed at my house (in my tub, on an exercise ball, or over the toilet bearing down) until I was about 6 cm dilated. She made the judgment call to go to the hospital by watching the frequency of my contractions, my pain level, etc. Our mutual goal was to keep me at home as long as possible, which was okay because I live only 2 miles from the hospital.

I had a midwife (Karen King) who practices in an OB practice (Arlington Women's Center). She completely respected and supported all of my decisions. Truly couldn't have done it without her patience and support.

My husband was also really supportive about my choice and agreed with my reasons for doing it. Interestingly, I didn't want him with me much when I was in labor. Some primal female thing kicked in, and I only wanted women around me. He checked in periodically, but stayed outside the room (at home and in the hospital) until I was actually pushing.

I was on a euphoric high for 7 days after the birth, which apparently happens when your body has to manage its own pain. It was like the best drug you can ever imagine. Physically, I was sore, but mentally, I was floating on a high. My baby was SO healthy and alert at birth. She latched on right away and has been a dream ever since. Not saying that is only because of our birthing experience, but I do think it contributed.

I read lots of books (best being Ina May Gaskin's book), got great advice on these boards, and did lots of visualization and thinking in advance. Commitment matters. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: We stayed at my house (in my tub, on an exercise ball, or over the toilet bearing down) until I was about 6 cm dilated.

I will have all this at the hospital...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: We stayed at my house (in my tub, on an exercise ball, or over the toilet bearing down) until I was about 6 cm dilated.

I will have all this at the hospital...

of course, but you will also have the opportunity for an epidural, for some that temptation is too much.

[Anonymous]

at the hospital you might also have people asking you questions, asking you to fill out forms, wanting to monitor your contractions, wanting you to put on a gown, lots of beeping and buzzing noises and distractions, cervical checks (assuming you agree to them) which open the door for interventions to be suggested, IV being put in if you agree to one, medication being suggested, etc.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: We stayed at my house (in my tub, on an exercise ball, or over the toilet bearing down) until I was about 6 cm dilated.

I will have all this at the hospital...

[Anonymous]

having had a home birth and a hospital birth i can say that in my experience, laboring in the hospital is not at all like laboring at home, even if your hospital has a tub, birth ball, etc. i think being in your own space, able to eat and drink, wear your own clothes, not be attached to monitors, not have strangers around, not have to be checked, etc. can really help labor progress to the point where it will proceed healthfully once you arrive at the hospital. at the hospital you are on someone else's turf and there are constant distractions, expectations, requirements, protocols, questions, etc. and the earlier you go, the more chance there is for them to intervene if they don't think things are going "quickly" enough. there are many stories of women's labors stalling or slowing when they get to the hospital if they are still in earlyish labor, and some fairly compelling evidence out there that an unfamiliar or stressful environment can interfere with the labor process, and that going to the hospital too soon can result in more intervention.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

of course, but you will also have the opportunity for an epidural, for some that temptation is too much.

True.
The point is to make it as painless as possible... if at all possible...so that there's no temptation

at the hospital you might also have people asking you questions, asking you to fill out forms, wanting to monitor your contractions, wanting you to put on a gown, lots of beeping and buzzing noises and distractions, cervical checks (assuming you agree to them) which open the door for interventions to be suggested, IV being put in if you agree to one, medication being suggested, etc.

Also true. But I will have to fill out forms anyway. Maybe some preregistration is possible, I will check. I have a stupid question: what is IV for? instead of eating and drinking? assuming that there's no medical reason to give me IV