Natural Birth Support Group

Well, they can't make you get a c-section. If you were in that situation and the baby was not in distress and you really don't want that, than I would refuse it. That being said though, there is a possibility that they could make you sign a form that says you aren't following your doctor's advice, and there's a possibility that your insurance could get out of having to pay anything then. Thats one of the things that really sucks about it!
Some hospitals also dont' let women labor too long because they are afraid of getting sued.
That's one of the big reasons I chose to have my baby at home with a midwife who is patient and realizes that some women labor a long time.
It is also normal for some women to stall half-way through their labor. Some people will even stop having contractions. It's almost like the bodies way of giving you a little break and letting you regroup. Doesn't happen to everyone, but it does happen. After an hour or so, then things start up again.

I have full trust in my midwife (which I didn't with the ones in the practice I started out with) and I know she would counsel me to go to the hospital only if an intervention was truly, TRULY necessary. She would only recommend a C-section if the baby is breach, in distress, or if I was so exhausted that I couldn't go on naturally.

I think that the most important part of my birth plan was choosing the midwife that I have now. I know that she shares the same ideas and beliefs about labor and birth that I have, so between her and my husband, when I am in labor and unable to think as clearly, I am confident that I can trust their judgement.

I don't know how far along you are, but if you dont' think that your medical team is fully on board with your wanting a natural birth, mabye you could consider looking for another provider.

My cousin who has had all 3 of her babies naturally said that you will get to a point during transition where you think you can't go on. You will probably want/ask for drugs by then. That's when it's important to have a labor team who will encourage you to continue to go naturally. If you are going to a hospital that doesn't have a lot of natural childbirths, one thing I'd recommend is to write in your bith plan that you do not want them to ask you about meds, ever.

Sorry, I'm just kind of going on and on. I just get so tired of hearing doctors that tell women they NEED to get a c-section and bully them into it (which is what that story sounds like). I am not a doctor, nor was I there, but in my opinion, if she'd had a medical team and a husband/partner who was totally on board with her going all natural, she could have had her natural birth. Our c-section rate in the US is in the 30% range. There are places though that believe in natural childbirth, and their rates are 2%! That is a HUGE difference and says that women are being forced to have a c-section when there truly is no need. It really angers me! I realize that some times it IS a must, but so many times these days it just isn't.
I'll stop going on now--sorry!

thank you for your advice...i am 34 wks so at this point i dont feel like i would have enough time to get together a team to help me with this. my mother and DH both know that i want to do this naturally so they will be my voice when i am out of it...i see a midwife at the practice i go to and she is really nice but i dont get the option to see her every visit. they want me to rotate through all of the doctors (14 i think) bc i dont know who will deliver the baby. it just makes me nervous at this point. there are no real labor centers here in DE (the one they do have does not have the best reviews) but the hospital i am delivering at is the best in the state. i have a birth plan that states i want no meds/epi during the labor but after watching that story i dont want them to try and push me to a c-section. and thanks for telling me about the insurance bc that is terrifying...i cannot imagine paying for the birth..i am just going to stay strong and hope my body does what it needs to naturally

Yeah. I don't mean to scare you with the insurance thing, but it can happen. It's wrong but what can we do.

Another thing I'd recommend is going to the hospital at the last possible minute. A lot of hospitals have a "time limit" and they will only let you labor for x amount of hours.

I was seeing midwives at a practice much like the one you described until I was about 30 weeks. Then I finally decided for sure that I wanted to have a home birth, and I switched. One thing I learned is that midwives are definately NOT created equal! I see 2 now that are totally different from the ones I saw before.

also, the fewer medical interventions you let them have, the better. You can refuse anything, so don't let them tell you differently! I would refuse stuff right up until the point where they were going to force me to sign the AMA (against medical advice).

When I was planning the hospital birth, I was planning to put in my birth plan that I did not want an IV and would only allow one in the case of an emergency (like C-section). They will probably want to take blood from you when you are admitted, and they can leave in something, I think it's called a butterfly, so that they can hook you up to an iv quickly in an emergency. Most likely they will tell you it's hospital policy, but you can still say no! If you are hooked up to an IV, it's all that much easier for them to start giving you drugs through it.

Also, I would avoid letting them induce you. Every intervention you get, makes it more likely that you'll end up with a c-section. If you would end up having to be induced, I would research the drugs they use for inducing, so you are able to tell them which ones you will allow, and which ones you won't. There is a drug used for cervical ripenning, and I can't think of the name right now, but I'll try to get on later and let you know. It is not FDA approved for birth, infact, the manufacturer sent out a letter telling medical personal not to use it to induce, but many hospitals continue to use it. It has actually killed women/babies. The hospital I was going to deliver at, I found out, does use that drug! Scary! Hospitals use it because it's very cheap.
I'm glad you have your DH and mother for support. I'm not sure how much research you've done on the drugs used during labor, C-sections, etc. but make sure you share with them what you find out so that they understand why it is so important to go naturally. My husband knew I wanted to go natural and supported me fully, but it wasn't until taking classes and researching everything that we both realized how important it truly is to go natural. Now I know that he will be even more of an encouragement to me. It's no longer something I want, but something we want and he's now so much more commited to helping me achieve that.

My cousin who had her natural childbirths at a hospital shared her birth plan with me. If you'd like, I'll try to post it for you later. It is at home,and I'm at work right now.

Good luck, and remember, in the end, it is your decision!

There are definitely OB's out there that are not always necessarily looking out for your best interest - let's face it, they get paid WAY more for a c/s than a vaginal birth - but I do think most of them want to help you as much as possible.

I agree that the best things to do to avoid a situation like that are 1 - avoid being induced if at all possible and 2 - wait as long as you can to go to the hospital. Labor does stall out sometimes, but with an induction it may just be that your body and the baby weren't really quite ready, plus there are things you can do to help get it going again. An hour does not seem like a very long time to wait, especially if there is no distress on the baby. Move around if you can - even if you are on monitors/IV you can still stand right by the bed or even move around on the bed. My SIL just had her third and had to be induced. labor was stalled b/c baby wasn't moving down - her nurse had her get on all fours on the bed and that somehow helped the baby twist right or something and she was born 30 minutes later. My hospital requires you to have an IV (my mom was the last woman to deliver there without an IV, 32 years ago today!), so that is not an option for me, but I do agree that the fewer interventions you allow then the fewer opportunities for problems/complications to arise.

Of course there is always the possibility of the unexpected happening, so I would try not to get too set on having it go a certain way. But being prepared and having your hubby on board with your wishes are a great start! Good luck!

thank you again for your advice...well i start laboring i will go to my mom's house and she lives 5 minutes away from the hospital so i can labor there as long as possible. even though i am anxious to have my baby i will not be induced unless i am 42 wks...i would very much appreciate if you posted cousin's birth plan. this is my first baby so i am getting worried as the time gets closer

Well for one the OB sounds like he took advantage of a woman that was tired and couldn't fight for herself which is why I always suggest having someone be your advocate.

If you watch Baby Story - honestly most episodes are what NOT to let your OB do.... I can't even watch that show because OB on there say the most ridiculous things... They gloss over patient concerns, do a c-section at the drop of a hat and I suspect give their patients way too high doses of pitocin.

yeah, I will look for it when I get home today. I know exactly how you feel. I felt the same way back when I was planning my hospital birth. I was so afraid of things not going the way I wanted them to (within reason). I mean, I understand that sometimes emergencies do happen, and you have to change plans, but it's nice to know you have things planned out incase something changes. In my birth plan, I even wrote out instructions incase I do transport. There are certain things to ask for even during a c-section to make it more possible to have a VBAC if you want a second child. It just feels better when you feel like you're prepared for every situation!

Although some of this might not help you as much since mine is for a home birth, here is my birth plan. You'll notice that there are places where I've instructed my midwives to do what they think is best, without consulting me, this is only because I fully trust their judgement and I know they are just as much for natural birth as I am. Had I gone to the hospital, I would not have put those phrases in there!!! My main midwife has never given an episiotomy in all of her home births (over 160). So, I know she'd only do it if it's truly needed. She also will not break your water unless you are at a 10 and ready to push and it still hasn't broken on its own. The longer your water remains intact, the less things are supposed to hurt--so I've heard anyways.

Coach/Father/Husband: Orin
Mother/Wife: Janessa
Midwives: Zellen and Liz

To be done when my labor begins:

• Call Janice and/or Sam to come and pick up dogs. If labor begins during the middle of the night, they can stay at our house, in their crate, and they can be called in the morning.
• Call Kelly to let her know that I will not be coming into work.
• Call Zellene and Liz

Message to Liz and Zellene:
Please do not tell me unless absolutely necessary when anything medical will be done to me. Just go ahead and do it. You can warn me that I might feel pain/pressure/stinging/etc., but please relate it to the baby and then do what needs to be done. Maybe even mention that closing my eyes (if they are open) will help me relax, so that I do not see what you are about to do. I do not want to know! I trust your judgment.

Also, if at any time you feel a transport is in the best interest of me and my baby, please do not hesitate. Again, I trust your judgment.

Early First Stage Labor:

• Keep upright doing normal as possible routine
• Sit on birthing ball if I don"019t want to be standing
• Provide food/drink as wanted
• Watch tv/movies with me to keep my mind off of things and help me relax

? That 70"019s Show
? The Office

Active First Stage Labor:

• Please massage
• Remind me to try to go to the bathroom every hour
• Make sure I"019m drinking at least 1 glass of water an hour. Offer sips after each contraction
• If I get hot, turn on AC
• Freedom to try different positions
• Speak quietly to me during a contraction, massage during contraction
• Positive/Helpful Phrases: (ideas to get you started)
• Relate pain to progress and pressure of the baby moving down
• Each contraction brings the baby closer
• You"019re doing a great job
• You can do it
• I"019m so proud of you

Second Stage:

• Remind me how to push"026kegel muscle, easy baby out, chin to chest, 2 breaths in/out hold push, C-back
• Please support my perineum
• Umbilical cord is to remain intact unless medically necessary
• Orin is to catch the baby, and be given the option to cut cord, unless not medically feasible
• If an episiotomy is needed, please just do it. Do not ask"014if you would have it done for yourself, do it for me. I trust your judgment.
• If my water has not broken on its own, and needs to be broken at this point, again, do not tell me you are going to do it, just go ahead and do it.

Afterbirth/Repair:

• Breastfeeding
• Use a local for the stitches
• Stitch me up if you think it is needed. Do not ask"014if you would have it done for yourself, do it for me. I trust your judgment.
• Please do not cut/clamp the umbilical cord until it stops pulsating, or if mother or father asks, unless medically necessary.
• I would like to deliver the placenta spontaneously, encouraged by breast stimulation from the baby suckling

In the Event of a Transport:
? Bags are by the front door
? Infant car seat is in the car
? Midwives and coach are to come to the hospital with me.
? Unless absolutely impossible, Orin is to stay with me at all times.

If a Cesarean Should Become Necessary:

• I request to be awake during the procedure, unless absolutely necessary
• Orin to remain in OR and Recovery with me at all times
• One arm to remain free (unstrapped)
• Low transverse uterine and abdominal incisions to be performed (VBAC)
• Double sutures for a stronger bond (VBAC)
• Breastfeeding/touching on the table for bonding
• Stitch in 2 layers, NOT one

Afterbirth:

• IV and catheter to be removed from mother ASAP after birth
• Immediately after birth: as soon as baby is stable, healthy baby to be held by Orin (father) and placed against mother"019s cheek. Her free arm can be used to embrace baby and/or put baby to breast
• Nutritious food and drink to be made available to mother within a few hours after surgery.
• If mother develops non-contagious fever, baby is allowed to remain with mother and continue to breastfeed.
• Parents and baby to remain in recovery and postpartum where breastfeeding can become established. 24-hour visitation for husband.
• Once baby has been examined, the baby is to remain with the father (Orin) at all times.
• Mother to receive breastfeeding instruction and assistance from a lactation consultant. If supplements become medically necessary, it should be given by a supplemental nursing system, rather than a bottle.

Newborn Care:

• No special nursery care unless medically necessary and father (Orin) has given okay
• If baby is in need of special care, father is to accompany baby to nursery. Baby and mother are to be reunited as soon as baby is stable.
• Do not give baby Hepatitis B or eye drops. PKU to be done before we leave the hospital, not immediately after the surgery
• If baby is a male, please give Vitamin K shot, but do not give Vitamin K shot to baby if she is a female
• Baby is not to receive any supplementation, sugar water, or pacifiers. If supplements become medically necessary, it should be given by a supplemental nursing system rather than a bottle
• If male, please circumcise before leaving the hospital
• Father and I are to give the baby their first bath
• Baby to remain with parents at all times.

thats really great! thanks for posting that. i will use some of the items on there and incorporate them into my birth plan. and i will also put some type of second birth plan if i end up needing a c-section (i want to be cut so that i can have a vbac next time)...thanks again you ladies are very helpful

yeah i agree..i felt really bad for her and even when her sister tried to see if there was anything else they could do he said no a c-section was the only way. it really upset me (guess thats the reason i really dont watch those shows) i much rather look up my questions on the internet and research them then watch those shows.

It upsets me that people look at doctors like they are some sort of god and know everything. Yes, they did go to school, and yes, they do know some things that I don't know. But, it is also your own body, your child, and I don't understand why they feel like they have the right to try to force you into what they think is best. You need a good balance of both.

I also heard that when they are in school, OB's see so many c-sections and drugged births, that they really don't understand natural childbirth anymore and it makes them uncomfortable to be a part of.

One of my midwives had both of her children at the hospital over 10 years ago (she didn't know about home birth at the time, then after he second found out and trained to become one). Anyways, her first birth, the hospital here found it so RARE that a woman could give birth without drugs that they called in a bunch of the medical staff to witness the birth! I think that's extremely sad!!

It wasn't that long ago that husbands weren't even allowed in the delivery room because doctor's didn't think they should be. Now they know that it actually is a huge help to the mother. If women hadn't started to fight back though and do it the way they wanted and demand the father be allowed, it would probably be the same today. They used to strap women down to the tables also. Not cool!

Just wanted to say that I love the responses to this! I was one of those unfortunate moms who wanted all natural and ended up with a c/s. I do believe it was ultimately medically nessasary, but it still sucks. Like the other said, choosing your care provider wisely is the best thing you can do. Avoiding induction is 2nd on that list. If you have to be induced, be careful about what they do to induce you - how they ripen your cervex (avoid cytotech!) and how they control the pitocin. Always have that back up plan for your wishes in your birth plan. Jesessas - LOVE your c/s section of your plan! Be educated about what you want!

hipk-I tried to post my cousin's birth plan on here 2x's last night, but each time it locked up my computer. If you want to send me your email address, i can try to send it to you that way.