Reply to Looking into a natural birth...

Forum Index » Expectant and Postpartum Moms

Reply to "Looking into a natural birth..."

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous]OP, it is NOT too late to switch.  I switched at 25 weeks to midwives from an OB practice and it was the best decision I could have made.  I think my baby's birth would have turned out so, so differently had I stayed with the OBs.  Because I switched to midwives, I was able to avoid induction (the OB would have induced at 41 weeks, my baby was born at 41 weeks 4 days), have access to much better pain relief options (the midwives made a tub available for labor, and monitored me very intermittently so that I could move around), and just received care that was already in line with my preferences, so I didn't have to fight for what I wanted.

I understand that feeling like "I'll just stick with where I'm at, and do something different next time", but what happens this time could determine your options next time.  If you stay at Sibley and end up with a cesarean, then your options next time around will be much more limited (not all providers are supportive of VBAC or have good VBAC success rates).   Also, switching is really not a big deal.  I remember being really intimidated at the thought of switching, but it was tough.

A doula is not going to trump an unsupportive provider or setting, so while her support would likely be very useful no matter what path your birth takes, I don't think it's wise to assume that a doula is going to be the answer as far as you being able to have a no/low intervention birth.  As a doula myself, I've been hired by women who have similar preferences to yours, and who are with providers/settings similar to yours, and it can be a real uphill battle for them to have the kind of birth they want.

This is an interesting essay:  "The First Birth:  No Do-Overs"
http://mamabirth.blogspot.com/2010/12/first-birth-no-do-overs-currently.html

[quote=Anonymous]OP here: Thanks so much everyone!  I'm 22 weeks, so it might be too late for me to switch to a midwifery practice - and it scares me a bit to switch in the middle like that since I've just discovered all this info. I'm thinking I should try the doula route so I can get the support of working towards a natural labor in the hospital and learn techniques to cope.  And since it's my first baby, I'll still be there with my Dr. in the hospital if anything goes wrong. 
I actually live in Woodbridge, VA. I liked my ob/gyn a lot and just stayed with her, and she delivers at Sibley - she assured me I'd have plenty of time to get there and she's had patients who live further away than me.  I'm going to talk to her next time I see her and see how receptive she is to natural birth. Hopefully all goes well and the next time around I'll feel comfortable choosing a midwife![/quote][/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics