Are you really getting
the natural birth experience you deserve or are you just getting baited back
into the same old hospital routine?
First let’s ask
ourselves, “Why do we want a natural birth?”
The most obvious answer
is that it is SAFER. Epidurals, Induction and IV medications all
have side effects. The most notorious
side effects are problems with your baby’s heart rate and the need for a
cesarean section. And so, what is the
increased risk of a cesarean? (Oh my….It’s
a long list):
Increased pain, infections, bowel problems,
bladder problems, delayed milk supply, difficulty breastfeeding, increased post
partum depression, abdominal muscle injury, increased risk of disease for the
baby such as asthma, allergies or Type 1 diabetes, placental problems for future pregnancies,
increased miscarriage and future stillbirth rate, increased risk of a repeat
cesarean in the future, breathing problems in the newborn, surgical injury to
the newborn, increased bleeding, reaction to anesthesia, uterine rupture in
future pregnancy….And difficulty Bonding!
Wow! Those are a lot of reasons to avoid a
cesarean section. So, by becoming more
natural birth oriented; we avoid cesareans and thus reduce the risk associated
with a cesarean section.
NOW: Let’s ask ourselves,
“What does it take to have a natural birth?”
Then let’s ask,
“Is my hospital going to give me what it takes to have a natural
birth experience?”
Does my hospital have:
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Yes
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No
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Policies that allow me
to eat and drink in labor?
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Policies against
induction and early intervention?
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Comprehensive Natural Childbirth
Classes?
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Policies that
encourage mobility?
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Birthing Tubs that are
available to every mom (that they actually use)?
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Intermittent Fetal
Monitoring that goes in the water (this is very important)?
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Staff that has had un-medicated
births and wants to help me?
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Quiet?
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Dim Lights?
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Peaceful Music?
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Patience?
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A peaceful environment?
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A NO EPSIOTOMY policy
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Statics that PROVE
success (a hospital that is promoting a natural birth policy should have a
cesarean section rate below 15%)?
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A low epidural rate?
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Beds without stirrups
(that they used)?
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Birth Stools (that
they use)?
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Squatting Bars (that
they use)?
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Unlimited use of a
shower?
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Prenatal education and
care that keep me healthy until my due date?
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Lots of doulas?
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So, are you still
thinking about a hospital birth with a Nurse-Midwife?? Well then, now it’s time to schedule a
hospital tour. Make sure you’ll be
viewing the actual birth rooms. Are the
water birth tubs set up and working? Here
are some questions you’ll need to ask at the tour?
What percentage of your moms deliver in the water?
What percentage of your moms have un-medicated childbirth?
What percentage of your moms get Pitocin to augment or induce
labor?
What’s your cesarean section rate?
How many water birth areas do you have/how many
babies are born here?
Can I walk around the hospital if labor is slow?
Can I labor without an IV?
How long do I have to be on fetal monitors, if I’m
having a natural birth?
Do your monitors go in the water?
How many members of your staff have had a
natural water birth themselves?
Does the midwife get to make decisions about my
care (in SC a Nurse Midwife must be supervised by a physician)?
After the tour, don’t for get to ask your
friends if any of them were able to have a natural birth at the hospital.
I hate to be a stickler
for these details, but make no mistake; Natural Birth is difficult. You are going to want as many tools available
as possible, so that you aren’t tempted with an epidural. Remember, the staff will ask you repeatedly
if you’d like an epidural. Make sure
that your birth enviroment gives you the best possible chance of having your
choices honored.
Why are hospitals
integrating midwives into their systems anyway? For years these same
hospitals adamantly opposed the midwife model of care. But as cesarean section rates rose; women
fled the hospitals to other lower interventive options like birthing centers.
So now these new, hospital-based, natural childbirth initiatives are
trying to lure families back to the hospital.
But are they giving a false sense of security?
I know what natural childbirth
looks like and how it feels. It’s an
important and empowering process in a woman and baby’s life. Imitation programs that make families think
that they are going to have a natural childbirth make me sad and angry. Then I hear dear ladies say things like, “Well,
I had a midwife at the hospital, and planned a water birth, but I was
induced. I’m glad I was already at the
hospital because I needed an emergency cesarean when the baby’s heart rated
dropped.” Sigh….
Don’t get me wrong, if
midwifery in the hospital is really “The Best of Both Worlds” (hospital and
birth center), then I’m all for it. But
for now, I have to say:
“Show me your statistics!”
