https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 17 Jun 2026 00:12:58 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-naturally-in-a-hospital-your-way#post-796858 Mon, 20 May 2013 23:33:31 +0000 Vegmama 796858@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sloaneandpuffy: I was talking about labor &amp; delivery of the baby. I don't consider getting pitocin to deliver the placenta an intervention. A lot of midwives give pitocin shots after birth even with skin to skin and immediate breastfeeding. </p> <p>I asked because I was curious about freedom during labor &amp; the "pressure" that I've seen hospital staff putting on mamas. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-naturally-in-a-hospital-your-way#post-796561 Mon, 20 May 2013 19:32:36 +0000 Andrea 796561@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't have any interventions with my hospital birth. You can read my birth story here: </p> <p><a href="http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-ks-birth-novella" rel="nofollow">http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-ks-birth-novella</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-naturally-in-a-hospital-your-way#post-796462 Mon, 20 May 2013 18:35:11 +0000 pregnantbee 796462@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@VEGMAMA: I had an unmedicated/no intervention hospital birth: <a href="http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-pregnantbees-birth-story" rel="nofollow">http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-pregnantbees-birth-story</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-naturally-in-a-hospital-your-way#post-796454 Mon, 20 May 2013 18:31:08 +0000 Penny Lane 796454@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a totally un medicated intervention free birth in a hospital. I had a midwife, and the only time there was a doctor in my room was to help the midwife stitch a tear. I didn't see a nurse once. </p> <p>I'm not sure my experience is really relevant though, because I'm in New Zealand and birth is looked at much differently here. (I'm assuming you're in the states?). </p> <p>however, FWIW... I laboured at home. I turned up at the hospital basically already pushing. (I wouldn't necessarily recommend that, it was more than a little worrying!). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-naturally-in-a-hospital-your-way#post-796440 Mon, 20 May 2013 18:21:34 +0000 sarac 796440@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was not able to due to low fluid and fetal distress - I ended up with a lot of interventions. But everyone at my hospital, midwives AND doctors, was very supportive of natural birthing. At the worst part of my labor, I asked if we shouldn't just do a csection and get it over with. The doctor told me that they really tried to preserve vaginal birth at that hospital, and that he didn't want to jump to that before we had to. And because of that, I got to deliver vaginally. Not med free, but I avoided a csection. Lucky! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-naturally-in-a-hospital-your-way#post-796405 Mon, 20 May 2013 17:52:12 +0000 Baby Boy Mom 796405@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had an unmedicated VBAC in a hospital that is all about scheduled cesareans. The key was finding a doctor that was totally on board with my plans. I also had a doula and arrived really late to the hospital. Basically my thought the whole time was that I was going to do it my way and that's easier when you're not at the hospital. TBH the on-call OB and nurses were absolutely shocked, like they had never seen a natural birth before. But my doc and doula never once mentioned any intervention and that was great. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-naturally-in-a-hospital-your-way#post-796403 Mon, 20 May 2013 17:49:14 +0000 mamimami 796403@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Totally didn't mean to start a controversy! I never know what people mean by unmedicated/natural/no interventions so just wanted to be clear! Mine was plenty natural for me!! Lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-naturally-in-a-hospital-your-way#post-796380 Mon, 20 May 2013 17:30:46 +0000 Corduroy 796380@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a limited intervention birth in a hospital. My hospital typically has midwives deliver vaginal births. I hired a doula to help with the birth.</p> <p>I labored at home for 30 hours before going to the hospital. I was only 2 cm at that point so I was not admitted. I think I would have been admitted if I would have agreed to take Pitocin at that point. I got off on a bad foot with the triage burse who told me my plan to deliver naturally at that point was stupid and I would never have the strength to make it. Nice. I returned to the hospital at 43ish hours. I had an IV block set up and I was given 1L of fluids. Even though I was drinking a ton of water with each contraction I really benefited from the extra IV fluids. </p> <p>I had been laboring on my knees hanging over the back of the bed and had decided to deliver that way. When I felt like I was getting close to delivery I flipped over to my back to give my knees a break for a couple of contractions before pushing. It turned out that position wasn't good for the baby and her heart rate was dropping. </p> <p>This is where I'm frustrated with the hospital staff. I was told I had to have a shot of terbutaline to slow contractions or go immediately to the OR for a c-section. I asked if I could flip back over to my original position and was told no. My doula tried to get convince them to let me try it without luck. So I accepted the shot. Even after the shot they wouldn't let me turn back to my preferred position. </p> <p>Yes, I believe I needed the terbutaline in order to deliver on my back. However, I could feel things weren't right when I was on my back. I think a homebirth situation would have allowed me to change back to a position that was better for baby. Instead the rest of the birth was a very tense situation. I had to finish laboring at an awkward angle on my back (leaning about 30 degrees to the right). The midwife called in a doctor to get her opinion on a C-section. It was clear the midwife thought I should have a C-section. She looked shocked when the doctor said I could keep going. </p> <p>When I was allowed to start pushing I was only allowed to push every other contraction to prevent baby's heart rate from dropping further. I could be TOTALLY wrong but I feel like that all could have been prevented.</p> <p>I could tell the hospital staff was far out of their comfort zone and they really stretched to allow me a natural birth. I appreciate that now. It would have been much easier for them to give me a C-section. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-naturally-in-a-hospital-your-way#post-796322 Mon, 20 May 2013 16:54:12 +0000 JoyfulKiwi 796322@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with others who said your best bet is to choose your provider/practice (because your primary caregiver isn't always the one available for delivery) AND hospital. I had a CNM, who worked closely with the hospital and stayed with me for all 4 hours of pushing. The hospital was very "natural" friendly (they had tubs, showers, classes, encouraged skin-to-skin, rooming-in, etc) and even the nurses were surprised that I wasn't getting an epidural. Nobody pushed me at all &amp; I loved that.</p> <p>Technically, my birth wasn't "intervention" free - I was induced with pitocin, I took a dose of fentanyl/oxygen toward the end, and my son needed a vacuum extraction. I think it's great to plan and prepare for an intervention-free birth, but also let yourself be ready for getting some interventions. My husband and I talked before about the pros/cons of the interventions and what I was comfortable with. We knew which interventions we'd accept more quickly and which ones we'd try to hold off on (and the alternative options for those interventions). </p> <p>TL:DR: Find a caregiver/hospital that is friendly and familiar with med-free births and research/be informed about your intervention options! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-naturally-in-a-hospital-your-way#post-796316 Mon, 20 May 2013 16:50:38 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 796316@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@allison: I had an IV for GBS too with my 2nd birth. I don't know! Does that really count? If I didn't have GBS, I wouldn't have needed the IV. I gave birth twice at the same hospital so I know from my first experience that they wouldn't have put the IV in me if it wasn't medically necessary. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-naturally-in-a-hospital-your-way#post-796315 Mon, 20 May 2013 16:50:24 +0000 joyjoy 796315@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had an intervention free, unmedicated hospital birth with no doula or midwife. Our hospital has great rates for natural births, and my doctor was very supportive of me wanting to go med free. I asked the nurses ahead of time not to offer me meds at all. If I wanted them, I would ask, and I never asked. They didn't even offer me an IV, but they did check to make sure I was drinking a lot of water/peeing often. :-P </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-naturally-in-a-hospital-your-way#post-796313 Mon, 20 May 2013 16:47:58 +0000 allison 796313@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@runsyellowlites: @Mrs. High Heels: oh, good. So what about the IV?? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-naturally-in-a-hospital-your-way#post-796311 Mon, 20 May 2013 16:46:46 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 796311@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@allison: @runsyellowlites: i agree, i'm in the mindset that i don't think pitocin AFTER the birth really counts... I always considered intervention-free as no interventions for anything leading up to the actual birth because isn't that the part that matters the most? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-naturally-in-a-hospital-your-way#post-796306 Mon, 20 May 2013 16:42:03 +0000 runsyellowlites 796306@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@allison: I had pitocin after delivery... I was in labor for almost 2 full days though so I had a pretty tired uterus AND I wasn't able to immediately breastfeed (if I had we wouldn't have used it). I've still always considered the birth intervention free though... I mean if you tore &amp; needed stitches after the birth I don't think you'd count that the same as if you had had an episiotomy, right? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-naturally-in-a-hospital-your-way#post-796304 Mon, 20 May 2013 16:40:36 +0000 Weagle 796304@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I ended up deciding on an epi thanks to an almost ruptured cervix at 10 cm. But I would have been able to go completely natural without any fight otherwise. My OB was totally on board. The only problem was that I couldn't get up and walk around because I was in the PACU (no rooms were open). I couldn't be walking around and possibly giving birth anywhere in the room while they were wheeling in post-csec mammas. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-naturally-in-a-hospital-your-way#post-796302 Mon, 20 May 2013 16:39:23 +0000 allison 796302@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sloaneandpuffy: hmm. I've said all along that I had an intervention-free l&amp;d, but I did have an IV (antibiotics for GBS, and in the end stages, fluids), and pitocin to deliver the placenta. I'm sad to think that I might be wrong! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-naturally-in-a-hospital-your-way#post-796289 Mon, 20 May 2013 16:30:59 +0000 allison 796289@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did! And I had a long labor (36 hours), and I was at the hospital for 20 hours of it. I had a great doctor (not an OB, a family doc) who was on board with my birth plan, a doula, and a great hospital (Mission in Asheville, NC). I was so worried that I would be pressured into doing things I didn't want to do (pitocin, epi, etc), but I wasn't! And I am almost certain that if I had've had a "normal" OB, I would've had a c-section because I pushed for 4.5 hours. From my experience, I say choose your healthcare provider very wisely, and make sure the hospital is on-board with your birth plan. Drive a ways if you have to -- Mission is an hour away from my home (2 other hospitals in between here and there), but I knew that's where I wanted/needed to be. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-naturally-in-a-hospital-your-way#post-796243 Mon, 20 May 2013 16:08:15 +0000 birdofafeather 796243@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i had an unmedicated hospital birth. i had a doula, DH was on board and our hospital was used to women doing it naturally. honestly, my OB didn't have much to do with the decision, but my labor was quick and she was just there to catch/stitch me up. i did end up with the OB in my practice that i liked the most and was most encouraging re: my doula, but at the point that the doctor entered, it wouldn't have mattered!</p> <p>here's my birth story: <a href="http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lady-baby-bird-of-a-feathers-birth-story" rel="nofollow">http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lady-baby-bird-of-a-feathers-birth-story</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-naturally-in-a-hospital-your-way#post-796231 Mon, 20 May 2013 15:59:29 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 796231@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@VEGMAMA: Yes, I had two unmedicated births in a hospital... my first experience was better than my second, but I also had a doula the first time around and she was absolutely wonderful!</p> <p>1st time - <a href="http://www.hellobee.com/2012/07/18/how-baby-hh-came-to-be/" rel="nofollow">http://www.hellobee.com/2012/07/18/how-baby-hh-came-to-be/</a></p> <p>2nd time - <a href="http://www.hellobee.com/2013/03/07/baby-boy-heels-birth-story/" rel="nofollow">http://www.hellobee.com/2013/03/07/baby-boy-heels-birth-story/</a></p> <p>I personally just felt safer in a hospital setting because in case any complications happened I liked knowing that I would have the resources right away. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-naturally-in-a-hospital-your-way#post-796215 Mon, 20 May 2013 15:52:44 +0000 MrsStar 796215@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was induced and due to a medical condition I wasn't allowed an epidural (wasn't considering it anyway) I had an amazing midwife who helped me focus on getting through the contractions, I had one OB suggest pain relief once when I started getting exhausted but overall hospital wasn't pushy at all. My midwife and I had drawn up a hospital birth plan and besides the induction medication everything stayed to the plan thankfully. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-naturally-in-a-hospital-your-way#post-796155 Mon, 20 May 2013 15:32:32 +0000 mamimami 796155@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Here's my story: <a href="http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/we-have-our-little-girl#post-360589" rel="nofollow">http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/we-have-our-little-girl#post-360589</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-naturally-in-a-hospital-your-way#post-796150 Mon, 20 May 2013 15:31:37 +0000 mamimami 796150@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had an IV and also had pitocin to help deliver the placenta so I guess that's not technically intervention free... or is it? Anyway, I didn't have an episiotomy or an induction or an epidural with my second and it was a hospital birth. I agree with another commenter that arriving when you're well advanced is the way to go! No time for monkeying around -- my daughter was born about half an hour after we walked in the door. (Or staggered as it were.) My doctor was very on board with my plans and didn't offer me any pain meds. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-naturally-in-a-hospital-your-way#post-796135 Mon, 20 May 2013 15:25:39 +0000 Vegmama 796135@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@runsyellowlites: I LOVE your birth story!! So awesome. </p> <p>It makes me happy that you appreciate birth photography ... I know mamas either love it or hate it. I think it's amazing! If I were in Texas, I'd do it in a heartbeat!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-naturally-in-a-hospital-your-way#post-796103 Mon, 20 May 2013 15:14:56 +0000 Vegmama 796103@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wheres_c: Thank you for sharing!! I hope you'll have a better experience next time. I am so inspired by vbac mamas. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-naturally-in-a-hospital-your-way#post-796096 Mon, 20 May 2013 15:13:31 +0000 JoJoGirl 796096@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We stacked the deck to make this happen - midwife and doula in a hospital. My body didn't cooperate though and THEY both recommended intervention, which was the right choice in the end. I am glad I was there and had the choice. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-naturally-in-a-hospital-your-way#post-796075 Mon, 20 May 2013 15:03:26 +0000 wheres_c 796075@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wish that I'd had the courage to choose a midwife and/or home birth.<br /> I had a doctor that was " pro natural birth" but the reality is that he was completely absent until started pushing. After a little bit of pushing, he started pushing, for a c section that is....</p> <p>I knew the hospital wasnt the most natural birth friendly before choosing to deliver, but I wanted to deliver at one with a great NICU.</p> <p>I arrived at 4cm, and they were trying to push pitocin and pain meds the entire time.</p> <p>I'm 5mo post partum and still resentful of my birth experience.<br /> For #2 I hope to have an unmediated VBAC, hopefully at a birth center if I live in a state that allows them.</p> <p>Here is a link to my birth story <a href="http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-benjis-birth-story-emergency-c-section" rel="nofollow">http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-benjis-birth-story-emergency-c-section</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-naturally-in-a-hospital-your-way#post-796062 Mon, 20 May 2013 15:00:02 +0000 rachiecakes 796062@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@VEGMAMA: I was not but the hospital I gave birth in is one of the best in the country when it comes to natural birth &amp; minimum interventions (23% caesarean rate, less than 50% epidural). When I was sent home on bedrest for pre-eclampsia, one of the nurses told me that any of the hospitals she had worked in previously would've given me a c-section that day.<br /> They were very, very supportive of letting things progress as naturally as possible. Part of the reason I chose to go there is, everyone I know that's given birth there has gone completely med-free. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-naturally-in-a-hospital-your-way#post-796051 Mon, 20 May 2013 14:56:59 +0000 runsyellowlites 796051@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@VEGMAMA: Reading @SAHMo811 response I guess with my second I did "technically" have a intervention free hospital birth... I had a heplock placed at 10 cm while I was prepped for a erc as a homebirth transfer (our hospitals have defacto vbac bans).</p> <p>You can read my birthstory here:<br /> <a href="http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-completely-unmedicated-hbac-turned-hospital-birth-almost-cesarean" rel="nofollow">http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-completely-unmedicated-hbac-turned-hospital-birth-almost-cesarean</a></p> <p>On a sidenote: You should come be my birth photographer for our next!!! lol Seriously we don't have any here &amp; it's my only real regret with P's birth!</p> <p>ETA: I have never posted G's birthstory... maybe I'll do that! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-naturally-in-a-hospital-your-way#post-796034 Mon, 20 May 2013 14:52:50 +0000 Vegmama 796034@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SAHM0811: That's amazing!! My friend transferred to the hospital like you did, and I was on the phone with her hubby in the car: he thought she was going to deliver on the way. You're a super mama!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-naturally-in-a-hospital-your-way#post-796027 Mon, 20 May 2013 14:51:46 +0000 Vegmama 796027@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@runsyellowlites: The only episiotomy I've seen preformed was by a CNM in a hospital. Not that it's terrible, but I remember thinking that it was very interesting. I've seen her deliver 10 babies outside of the hospital (I'm a birth photographer), and she's never mentioned an episiotomy ... So I agree with you that hospitals change a lot!! </p> <p>I've never seen a completely intervention free, hospital birth, and I've photographed a lot. It's sad, but obviously, I'm not there to advocate in that way for my clients. </p>