Possible to have a truly natural childbirth in a hospital?
ByI am terrified of the idea of being put on a table and hooked up to drugs in the hospital for giving birth and want to know if the hospitals allow a natural way of birthing?
Will they leave the woman alone if that is what she prefers? Allowing to be in any position, standing, etc?
Did anyone had any issues with not being able to be in control of the birthing process?
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7 Comments
January 30th, 2010 at 4:19 am
I went natural the 1st time but i was preclamptic so i had to be in bed. This time around no signs of high blood pressure its prefect so i hired a Doula to be my back bone and tell them what i want and dont want. I think its going to be great. They deff should let you alone and just check you & the babys heart rate when needed. Good luck!!
January 30th, 2010 at 4:52 am
It all depends on your hospital. These are questions that you should ask them personally.
The leaving you alone part is iffy…they generally will come in to check your BP etc. Depending on how far along you are, you may not have had your strep b test yet. If that comes back positive, you do require medication while in active labour. Most hospitals, I believe, will allow you to be in what ever position makes you the most comfortable. I know at the hospital where I gave birth to my daughter, they had the labour balls, a labour tub for water births etc.
I would suggest checking out your local hospital(s) and do some research. Good luck!
January 30th, 2010 at 5:09 am
my friend wanted a natural with no midwifes or anything, she asked and they said no, she bought her self a pool (blowing up pool) and when her labour started she filled it, climbed in with her husband at her house, and gave birth some hours later, then called the midwifes, her child was born perfectly fine with no complications. she says childbirth is treat like such an emergency when really its the most natural thing a women will ever go through, i think shes right
January 30th, 2010 at 6:07 am
The first time I gave birth was in a Birth pool. You give birth in a pool and the midwife gets the baby, apparently being born in water is good luck for the mum and the child
Congrats
January 30th, 2010 at 6:20 am
Hospitals are very concerned about liability and lawsuits these days, so they don’t usually allow you as much control over the situation as a birthing center might.
You can go drug-free if that is your choice (assuming you don’t need certain drugs for your health/safety and that of the baby). But many hospitals require IVs in case of emergency, and many hospitals also require constant fetal monitoring.
As for position, they also vary on this. Some will allow you to try other positions. But because you may be hooked up to monitors and IVs, some positions may not be possible. Most hospitals prefer that mom labors and delivers in the bed, although will allow some variation in position in some cases.
A hospital is very likely to have some rules and restrictions that will limit your freedom and your control over the situation, and it’s primarily to protect themselves.
January 30th, 2010 at 6:54 am
I had antural at a hosp. i did lay when i was pushing but i am sure you can do it anyway you wish I used a birth ball and stuff while in labor
January 30th, 2010 at 7:32 am
It is possible…but it’s a fight at most hopitals. You need to pick a good OB or midwife that is onboard with everything you want and make sure you write out a birth plan and have them sign it, so the hospital will be more acomidating. Also some hospitals are more open to that sort of thing so check around see what the different hospitals in your area will let you do. They tend to not be to excited about leting you do it all natural, cause they have there standard procedures and policies they are used to following….but stand firm…they can’t make you do anything….you can refuse.
I too am planning an all natural birth, I have found a small hospital that is willing to give me almost everything I want….Like not being hooked up to an IV, intermitent monitering, being able to walk around during labor, being able to get in the tub for pain management, playing relaxing music….etc…..my doctor isn’t to excited about it but is willing to let me do it provide everything is going smoothly and there are no complications. My Only word of advise is be prepared to fight for what you want, don’t back down….and take a Bradley Method Class it’s amazing and will help you a lot! I am currently taking it and have learned so much (it’s a 12 week course on giving birth naturaly)!
Hope that helps, I wish you the best! E-mail me if you have any other questions!