Comments on: The Unmedicated Hospital Birth?

By: Kirstan Graham

Kirstan Graham — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 09:10:47 +0000

I love this article and had the similar feelings going into my first birth. I work for a large company so “had” to go the hospital route or pay out of pocket. Aditionaly, some minor risk factors made my husband (and I’ll admit myself) a bit leary of going 100% natural in home, which based on statistics and great books/films such as “Birthing from Within” and “The Business of Being Born” is the ONLY way to avoid an intervention. Even many home births still involve at least an IV. I’m here to tell you, I did it. I fought the system and won an entirely 100% natural birth in a hospital enviroment! My beautifull daughter was born 09/30/09 and is asleep in my arms as I write this now in the wee hours, from my phone. I’ve had so many people already ask me how I managed it that I’ve decided to try writing my story and getting it out to the world. If my story inspires or empowers just one mother to succeed in the same way I have, it will be worth it. I started a blog and am slowly getting pieces up, the complete story to come soon. Please check it out, http://www.dkgraham.com/babyblog, and know it’s difficult to achieve in this country but that it’s worth it. It CAN be done, believe in your strength and ability as a woman to birth!

By: Brandy

Brandy — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 22:39:27 +0000

Rachel, thank you so much! I will check out “The Thinking Woman’s Guide…” and follow up on your suggestions. I feel that you gave me some power back and I’m not even in the situation yet! Take care…

By: Rachel

Rachel — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 18:10:13 +0000

Brandy, Thanks for your comment. I really appreciate you bringing this up, because I realize the post can be quite discouraging. It’s hard to balance sharing true, but hard information with not wanting to be negative. In your situation, I can understand why the hospital birth is your plan. You’ve taken great steps (doula, open-minded doctor, early labor at home) to protecting your natural birth. In addition, I encourage you to find out how you can sign-off to avoid interventions that you don’t want. For example, if you want to labor without IV or EFM and/or you want to be able to eat/drink as desired in the hospital, be upfront with the hospital about those desires at your hospital tour. They will tell you that IV/EFM is required. Ask them what form you have to sign to go without. The hospital doesn’t generally offer up these forms, but if you are insistant they DO have them. Ask if you can have a nurse who will monitor the baby with a handheld instrument. Just, in general, realize that you are the CUSTOMER. You are paying THEM to support you in your birth. Be sure that you (and your husband) are well-educated about risks/benefits of interventions (“The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth” is a great resource) beforehand, so you can call those shots at the birth without being cowed by “This is the way we do things.” Good luck!

By: Brandy

Brandy — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 22:00:16 +0000

Thank you for the birthing advice. As much as I would love to have a home birth with a midwife, my husband & I have compromised and decided to go to our hospital instead. I know it sounds silly based on all that we know about interventions at hospitals, but I too will try to have a natural birth there. It’s covered by our insurance (a midwife in our area would be $5000+), I have an awesome-openminded doctor, and my husband is overly concerned about my safety and would feel more comfortable at a hospital (he has NOT read my birthing books yet!). Luckily, I have a fabulous massage therapist who is also a doula and a fellow yoga instructor. With her, my doctor, and my husband (who will be more educated by then!) on my side, I’m hoping & praying that the nursing staff will back off from pushing IVs, drugs, and the constant monitoring and instead trust that I know my body well. I know the liability is the driving force behind these persuasions so I’m going to try laboring at home as long as possible. We’ll be attending a birthing class at my hospital & taking a labor room tour soon, and I’ll be armed with tons of questions. Other than that, I don’t know what else we can do and I’m just trusting that it will go well! Any other advice would be appreciated…