How effective are hospital based midwife programs?

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:	Yes	No
Policies that allow me to eat and drink in labor?
Policies against induction and early intervention?
Comprehensive Natural Childbirth Classes?
Policies that encourage mobility?
Birthing Tubs that are available to every mom (that they actually use)?
Intermittent Fetal Monitoring that goes in the water (this is very important)?
Staff that has had un-medicated births and wants to help me?
Quiet?
Dim Lights?
Peaceful Music?
Patience?
A peaceful environment?
A NO EPSIOTOMY policy
Statics that PROVE success (a hospital that is promoting a natural birth policy should have a cesarean section rate below 15%)?
A low epidural rate?
Beds without stirrups (that they used)?
Birth Stools (that they use)?
Squatting Bars (that they use)?
Unlimited use of a shower?
Prenatal education and care that keep me healthy until my due date?
Lots of doulas?

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!”

www.CarolinaWaterBirth.com

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Carolina-Waterbirth/117473901646081
https://twitter.com/CWB_SC

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My Birth Story

My Birth Story of Samuel Emryck Eshenbaugh

I’m not quite sure when my labor began exactly. It was so different than my last one. My last labor was in the hospital & I was induced. It was more like having a procedure done, not birthing. Anyway this is my story.

I went to Carolina Waterbirth on May 9^th, 2011 for my 41 week check up. Not much was happening. So, they told me that I could try this herbal stimulator called “Start Up”, since my hubby was overly anxious for me to have our newest son. I wasn’t so into trying it, but my hubby bought it & we went home.

I was feeling a little out of sorts that night but nothing that would nor could interrupt my sleeping. I awoke at the usual time, fed my 2 yr old son breakfast, while my husband took my 13 yr old son, Riley to school & I took my first dose of the herbal stimulator. Took my shower & decided that we were going to go to the mall. My hubby, David & my 2 year old son, Aidan accompanied me. I figured I was going to try to walk this baby out! And that’s exactly what I tried to do.

As we were walking I started having a few contractions, however, they were quite sporadic. I just ignored them & kept walking. As we approached the indoor kiddy play area of the Haywood Mall, I felt this trickle. I wondered if I had just peed on myself. Feeling a bit embarrassed, I told my hubby I had to go to the restroom. Turns out that it was just my water breaking. It was now about two o’clock in the afternoon. We walked around for a little bit more then we left to head on home.

The contractions were beginning to become more consistent. We ate some dinner & played with our other sons. Around 9 pm, my husband recommended that we call my sister to come over so that she could watch the boys. I told him that it sounded great. I wanted to go over a few things with her, so the timing was perfect. When she arrived, I went over a few things & asked my hubby to run me a bath. I soaked in the tub for a little bit, which helped greatly with my contractions.

My contractions were getting closer & closer together & I asked David to call Sandy, my midwife. Then, as he was dialing her number, I felt a lot of pressure & the urge to push . I looked at my husband and told him it was time for us to go. He briefly talked to Sandy & she told us that she was going to head on into the center & get things going for us. We headed downstairs & I told my sister that we were leaving. She panicked and shrieked,” I though you had already left! You better go & go now! I don’t want to deliver that baby here! Go, go, go!” And with that she shoved me out the door.

Things had picked up quite quickly by this point. I was waiting on David to unlock my mother’s car door, (my sister had driven it over & we were leaving her our car since we wanted her to have the car seat for our 2 yr old) when a hard contraction hit. So, here I was, down on all fours, doing pelvic rocks in the middle of my driveway. My hubby ran over with a pillow & moved me onto the pillow. Lord only knows what my neighbors thought!! But, I didn’t care…I was working through it & did what I needed to. Somehow, amidst all the hyped up energy my hubby & I both had, we just couldn’t figure out how to unlock my mother’s car. After a moment or two, we finally figured out how to get into my mother’s vehicle. Note to anyone planning on using someone else’s vehicle on the “big day” ….get acquainted with the vehicle beforehand!

So, my husband hit the highway. I was working though the contractions when I suddenly felt this urge to push….again! I may have mentioned that to my husband because, all of a sudden he started driving even faster than he was already! I didn’t know what to focus on more, my labor or my hubby’s erratic driving!

We arrived at Carolina Waterbirth at 10:35 pm. Sandy was there, waiting on us. She had the room & tub prepared already. I quickly hopped into the nice, warm, soothing tub. The lights in the room were down really low and I felt so comfortable. It’s amazing what a difference the atmosphere makes when your in labor! The minute I got into the birthing tub, the pain seem to have lessened. I felt great!

Jody, our doula had arrived and started helping me right away. She was placing nice, cool compresses on my forehead. It felt so good! I was having quite a bit of back pain & Jody didn’t hesitate to start rubbing my back for me. She was so wonderful! My hubby had changed into his ‘birthing‘ clothes and was getting into the tub with me.

I felt the urge to push again & told Sandy. She told me to do what I felt that I needed to do. I started pushing with the wonderful guidance of my own body. My husband & midwife were calmly coaching me. After a few more pushes, and at 11:22 pm, Samuel Emeryck Eshenbaugh was earthside and born into my midwife’s guiding, and my husbands loving hands.

Then my new baby boy was placed on my chest. He was so calm and peaceful. Unlike my other two sons, that was born screaming & crying, in a hospital. I attribute Samuel’s calmness and peacefulness to the calm birthing experience and the darker atmosphere. I was then moved to the big, beautiful bed where I was able to bond and nurse my beautiful son.

My husband and I enjoyed cuddling our new baby boy. Sandy came over after the baby was done nursing and documented Samuel’s birth weight, length, and all the other important information. I was released to go home at 2:30 am, a mere 3 hours after his birth, with our new bundle of joy!

Carolina WaterBirth on Fox Carolina

http://carolinawaterbirth.com/birthcenter.html

Carolina Water Birth discuess Doula’s and your different birthing options. | Your-Carolina - Local Entertainment for Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson S.C. and Asheville N.C.

Carolina Water Birth discuess Doula’s and your different birthing options. Your-Carolina - Local Entertainment for Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson S.C. and Asheville N.C.

Just Add Water

Photo by John Fowler of Sandy with client Jenny Moeder

Sandy Glenn | Just Add Water
By Sheril Bennett Turner, Saturday, October 1, 2011
http://greenville.skirt.com/shes_so_skirt/sandy-glenn-just-add-water
Unhappy with the way her first delivery played out in a typical hospital environment, Sandy went in search of a better birth experience. “Josiah, my third son, was the 1st documented water birth in SC by a licensed midwife. It was a fabulous experience and I decided that every woman needed the same opportunity.” Now a licensed midwife herself, Sandy offers a unique pregnancy and delivery experience at her birth center in Simpsonville, Carolina WaterBirth. “Our motto is ‘Enjoy Your Birth’ because we want women to know that birth truly can be enjoyable. Yes, it’s hard work, but with the right support and preparation, it can be the most fulfilling experience of your life. I get to witness some of the most life-changing and powerful experiences of a person’s life, so I try diligently to protect and empower those moments.”

More about Sandy…
Hometown: I’m from Greenville. I was actually born in an elevator at the old Greenville General Hospital. I’ve been here my entire life. I went to Parker High the year they closed down and had to graduate from TR in 1986.
Children? I have four sons.
Tell us more about your work: I had my first baby in the hospital and it almost ended with a C-section. I was very unhappy with the way I was treated during pregnancy and labor, so when I found out I was pregnant with my second baby, I looked for a midwife but could not find one. For my third and fourth sons, I used a midwife and it was a completely different experience. That’s where my journey to midwifery began. I love my job, and I really think that it shows. I get to watch women become mothers, men become fathers, and couples become families.

Kelly tells us about Ava's birth.

RED RASPBERRY LEAVES (Rubus spp.)
from Susan Weed's site

Brewed as a tea or as an infusion, raspberry is the best known, most widely used, and safest of all uterine and pregnancy tonic herbs. It contains fragrine, an alkaloid which gives tone to the muscles of the pelvic region, including the uterus itself.

Most of the benefits ascribed to regular use of Raspberry tea through pregnancy are traced to the nourishing source of vitamins and minerals found in this plant and to the strengthening power of fragrine - an alkaloid which gives tone to the muscles of the pelvic region, including the uterus itself. Of special note are the rich concentration of vitamin C, the presence of vitamin E and the easily assimilated calcium and iron. Raspberry leaves also contain vitamins A and B complex and many minerals, including phosphorous and potassium.

The benefits of drinking a raspberry leaf brew before and throughout pregnancy include:

~ Increasing fertility in both men and women. Raspberry leaf is an excellent fertility herb when combined with Red Clover.

~ Preventing miscarriage and hemorrhage. Raspberry leaf tones the uterus and helps prevent miscarriage and postpartum hemorrhage from a relaxed or atonic uterus.

~ Easing of morning sickness. Many attest to raspberry leaves' gentle relief of nausea and stomach distress throughout pregnancy.

~ Reducing pain during labor and after birth. By toning the muscles used during labor and delivery, Raspberry leaf eliminates many of the reasons for a painful delivery and prolonged recovery. It does not, however, counter the pain of pelvic dilation.

~ Assisting in the production of plentiful breast milk. The high mineral content of Raspberry leaf assist in milk production, but its astringency may counter that for some women.

~ Providing a safe and speedy pariuntion. Raspberry leaf works to encourage the uterus to let go and function without tension. It does not strengthen contractions, but does allow the contracting uterus to work more effectively and so may make the birth easier and faster.

http://www.susunweed.com/Article_Pregnancy_Problems.htm