https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 05 Apr 2026 12:11:57 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-delimma/page/2#post-1934725 Fri, 07 Nov 2014 13:14:24 +0000 zeebaby 1934725@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thank you so much for all the advice and info. I'm much more calmer now than when I wrote this post. I knew this was a supportive community of moms but you girls exceeded all my expectations :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-delimma/page/2#post-1930318 Wed, 05 Nov 2014 08:20:18 +0000 getjazzy 1930318@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@zeebaby: Not a hero by any means! Mamas do it all the time I'm sure, and honestly... it was pretty horrible but I think I could have done it without the epi had my labour been shorter. We'll see what happens next time, but I definitely don't dwell on the fact that I didn't get my natural birth, or even a vaginal birth. All that being said, I was under the care of an OB, in a hospital and they let me labour for over 50 hours, walk, use the tub, and finally push for an hour when I was fully dilated before they suggested I might need a c-section.</p> <p>There are a few things I would do differently if I could go back, which is what is leading me to likely use a midwife (in hospital) next time but I think it's definitely possible! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-delimma/page/2#post-1928150 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 22:52:06 +0000 ashleyt 1928150@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I gave birth at Prentice and had the opposite experience with midwife who tried to get me to delay an epi when I wanted one! Other then that I loved Prentice, but I work in healthcare so I'm used to that sort of environment. They see it all and have people all over the spectrum on birth plans - I wouldn't stress about it too much. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-delimma/page/2#post-1928122 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 22:11:29 +0000 Mrs. J 1928122@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@zeebaby: is there any reason you're set on Prentice? I delivered at Evanston and I loved it. I had midwives through a group with OBs, and I had a totally med free experience. I took Bradley classes. I feel like the OBs would have been just as supportive, and the one on call stitched me up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-delimma/page/2#post-1928107 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 21:57:14 +0000 jedeve 1928107@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Definitely! I watched that movie too. Tbh, I found it a little overblown. When I started tellingly providers I didn't want an episiotomy or to have the baby bathed immediately, they were all like, "duh. Of course not." I don't think the medical establishment is as bad as that movie makes it out to be, although there are some providers out there who need updating. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-delimma/page/2#post-1927991 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 20:23:25 +0000 Vegmama 1927991@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@zeebaby: You can absolutely have a med free birth. Having some text in your birth plan about nurses/doctor not asking about pain, or offering medication should be a must. </p> <p>I would ask your specific OB about their philosophies on med free birth. </p> <p>At the end of the day, you are in control of ALL medical procedures and drugs given to you. Informed consent. You can say yes or no. I would recommend having a doula present to be your advocate!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-delimma/page/2#post-1927840 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 18:28:59 +0000 BadgerMom 1927840@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@zeebaby: There is really no way to know you're 6cm. I just took it as stay home as long as you possibly can. You kind of have to rely on the 4-1-1 timing. But I think you also kind of *know*. My husband slept through most of my labor and therefore we sucked at the whole timing contractions. I was finally just *done* I didn't care how far along I was I wanted to go to the hospital and get an epidural. I ended up getting there fully dilated and ready to push. I think this is also where a doula can help. They've seen a lot of births and know what to look for.</p> <p>I did not take a hospital birthing class. I took one from a woman who used to teach Bradley Method and had condensed all the important info into a shorter class. </p> <p>Also, I agree with people who said you need to make sure you and your ob "click" and are on the same page. I used my birth plan to figure that out. If she had not been so supportive of the majority of my wishes I think I would have switched. Even if it was late in the game. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-delimma/page/2#post-1927775 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 17:31:07 +0000 AprilK 1927775@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The other thing is that about 80% of the people I know who have had babies there have had nicu time- I find that many of the reasons were unnecessary, so you really have to be baby's advocate bc those first days with you are so important!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-delimma/page/2#post-1927766 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 17:26:29 +0000 AprilK 1927766@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@zeebaby: I gave birth at prentice for my first. I would say it VERY much depends on your ob, but I found that the ob on call from my practice was not supportive at all and actually told me that they "didn't need any more heroes" at their hospital. I felt, in all respects, like a number and because they had so many babies born there each year, that they knew better than I did with every single decision that needed to be made. You can wall me if you want more details. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-delimma#post-1927742 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 17:15:34 +0000 Kemma 1927742@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My biggest advice would be to find a provider that you "click" with and discuss your wishes from the get go. If you have a good relationship and have built a solid foundation of trust with your OB / midwife / whoever, then you're more likely to be ok with however your labour and birth turn out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-delimma#post-1927740 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 17:14:45 +0000 zeebaby 1927740@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BadgerMom: I love this! I didn't even think of getting it signed by the ob and keeping it in the records. I'm 26 weeks now and I think a written down plan would make me feel better. How do you know if you have dilated 6 cms? Is there a way you can check it yourself? Was the natural birth class you attended provided by the hospital? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-delimma#post-1927733 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 17:13:07 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 1927733@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@zeebaby: I had both my births in a hospital with an ob - it was unmedicated both times, but i hired a doula for my first birth and took bradley classes to help me and DH prepare! the relaxation techniques i learned was so helpful. </p> <p>this was our birth plan, but i wasn't married to it - i was ok with the idea of an epidural if it was going to be necessary, but was of course hoping for unmedicated - <a href="http://www.hellobee.com/2012/12/11/our-birth-plan-for-an-unmedicated-hospital-birth/" rel="nofollow">http://www.hellobee.com/2012/12/11/our-birth-plan-for-an-unmedicated-hospital-birth/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-delimma#post-1927715 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 17:07:21 +0000 Arden 1927715@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@zeebaby: If you have a doula, they'll come to your home and stay with you throughout labor. They are pretty good at reading cues and let you know when things are getting real and it's time to head in. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-delimma#post-1927712 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 17:05:03 +0000 zeebaby 1927712@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@AmandaB8: I would love to labor at home if possible. Since it's my first birth, will I know when i'll need to get the hospital? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-delimma#post-1927710 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 17:03:30 +0000 Meltini 1927710@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just an FYI, you are 100% in control of your labor and delivery. As long as you are mentally stable you have the right to decline any medical intervention. Dont let anyone tell you otherwise. You just have to stand up for yourself! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-delimma#post-1927702 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 16:58:47 +0000 zeebaby 1927702@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Danizaur: I really like the idea of staying informed on all the medical interventions. I think that would definitely help me be open minded and go with the flow yet hoping for a med free birth. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-delimma#post-1927695 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 16:56:05 +0000 zeebaby 1927695@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: I did hear about midwives at our hospital. I didn't hear much good reviews though. There were reviews saying it was hard to get appointments and it seems they weren't very professional. But i'm planning to do more research on them. I do like the office atmosphere at my current ob practice. I haven't yet started discussing my birth plan with them. I'm hoping once i start the discussion i'll have a feel for which ob is likely to be open minded about med free birth. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-delimma#post-1927687 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 16:51:09 +0000 zeebaby 1927687@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@getjazzy: Oh Wow!! 37 hours: you are my hero! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-delimma#post-1927606 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 16:20:27 +0000 BadgerMom 1927606@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't read all the comments so forgive me if I'm repeating anything, but I could have totally written this post 8 months ago and I did end up having a successful med free birth in a hospital with an OB.</p> <p>Here's what I did that I think helped me be successful (not saying that you need to do all of these, but you can see what helped me):</p> <p>- Took a natural birthing class. This really helped me know what I wanted in my birth plan.<br /> - Went over my birth plan with my OB early. This let me know what things were doable (most everything on my plan) and what things were not feasible or against hospital policy. This was nice because I didn't have any surprises, I knew what I could ask for a what I couldn't. I had her sign my birth plan and put it in my chart, that way if I had proof that my OB agreed with my wishes in case a nurse tried to push something on me.<br /> - Hired a doula. This was mostly to give me confidence that I could do this and that I would have someone in my corner (she actually ended up not making my birth).<br /> - Staying at home as long as possible. My OB actually said, "If you want all these things on your birth plan, don't come to the hospital before 6 centimeters."<br /> - Was OK with straying from the plan. Most of all, I did not want to be pressured into an intervention. I knew there was a chance that I would want an epidural or would need pitocin, but I felt like if I put that in my birth plan then I would feel pressure to actually get one. I wanted to at least give the nurses/OB the impression I was hardcore natural birth so that that door was left open, you can always request more interventions, but you can't go the other way. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-delimma#post-1927562 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 15:58:17 +0000 AmandaB8 1927562@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a med free birth at a hospital with an OB - it's definitely possible. </p> <p>I consented to having an IV for fluids and pitocin after labor (it helps your uterus stop bleeding), and I'm glad I did. But they only asked once if I wanted an epidural - I told them I didn't want one, and if I changed my mind I'd let them know.</p> <p>I think the biggest help was laboring as long as I could at home though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-delimma#post-1927492 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 15:30:10 +0000 looch 1927492@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Anything is possible in any scenario, so I think the best thing you can do is to educate yourself as much as possible and make sure that your partner is up to speed on as well. Some things will be non-negotiable, my hospital had a policy that all women giving birth were required to have a hep-lock in place, but that doesn't mean that the hospital is pro-intervention. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-delimma#post-1927480 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 15:24:04 +0000 avivoca 1927480@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Med-free birth with an OB is definitely possible! </p> <p>I had a med-free birth that was attended by certified nurse midwives in a hospital setting. Even though I didn't see the OB during my labor (I was only there for four hours), he was very familiar with my case and was the one to perform all of my exams after I gave birth. It comes down to how your OB handles it. Because the practice that I delivered with is very low-intervention, the nurses at the hospital are used to that. There are other hospitals in my city where that is not the case, so I would have had to fight harder to get the birth that I wanted. </p> <p>Even though I prepared for a med-free birth, I read up on all of the interventions that would be offered to me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-delimma#post-1927450 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 15:09:58 +0000 artsyfartsy 1927450@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You can definitely have a med free birth with an OB!</p> <p>That was my plan. However I ended up having to be induced. I accepted when I agreed to the induction that I was probably not going to get my natural birth. I was going to try, but I made peace with the fact that it probably wouldn't happen. It didn't happen, but I was one step ahead and well educated of the interventions that came my way. When I had my c section, it was on my terms and I felt very in control.</p> <p>My advice is to read up on all medical interventions anyway. I'm definitely not telling you to plan to fail, although it sounds like it. However if your planned birth doesn't happen, you don't want to leave feeling pressured or violated or robbed. Know what's coming next so you are prepared and you don't feel pressured. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-delimma#post-1927442 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 15:07:44 +0000 Corduroy 1927442@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a med-free hospital birth. It was a mid wife birth but the mid wife told me during transition I would need a C-section. The OB came in to meet me prior to the C section and gave me the OK to continue vaginally. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-delimma#post-1927407 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 14:45:14 +0000 getjazzy 1927407@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>With my first no one at the hospital suggested any medications to me. In fact, my nurse encouraged me to walk the halls and utilize the labour tub instead. She even discussed with me that there were more "mild" drugs available, if I did want that to help cope a bit. I denied all drugs for the first day and a half of my labour but eventually asked for the epidural. I had not received any sort of pressure from the hospital staff, though.</p> <p>I asked for my epi after 37 hours. I had taken a natural birth prep class, done yoga prenatally and tons of prep work but after that many hours of no sleeping or eating, I just couldn't fight anymore. I ended up with a c-section about 15 hours after my epidural. Since I did dilate completely and push for an hour, I am hopeful that we can attempt an in hospital vbac for our second. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-delimma#post-1927399 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 14:41:51 +0000 jetsa 1927399@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@zeebaby: I had a nurse midwife and she was amazing, all major decisions are made by the OB or at least with their input but the level of care from a midwife is better and more thorough than an OB, in my opinion at least and my midwife was used to epidural a and made it clear that I was not the norm in choosing to birth without drugs but that's ok it's what I wanted. I asked for an epi and she and one of my nurses asked me why and that alone was worth it, they were ok with whatever I did but they wanted ME to be in control. I loved my birth and I'm actually scared to do it again bc my midwife is gone and I don't know how it'll go without her. I and my husband trusted her implicitly and I believe that's why the doula wasn't neccesary for me. She acted as a support person and dr. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-delimma#post-1927395 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 14:40:44 +0000 Andrea 1927395@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Absolutely. My hospital and OB were not super supportive (I live in a super non-"crunchy" area) so I hired a doula to back me up. I would highly recommend a doula if you are in a similar situation. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-delimma#post-1927392 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 14:35:09 +0000 wheres_c 1927392@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went in with the same mentality. I wanted a med free birth, but with an OB at the hospital.<br /> I had read Ina May, the Bradley method etc, but I was in no way prepared for the fight against all of the interventions at the hospital.<br /> The second I got there, they tried to hook me up to pitocin, get me to have an epidural etc.<br /> I fought every step of the way. I wish I'd had an advocate, or a doula.<br /> Eventually, after 18 hours of med free (besides blood pressure meds) labour, I ended up with a C-section. Next time I am going to consider a midwife at a birthing center. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-delimma#post-1927359 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 14:08:35 +0000 Arden 1927359@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's ABSOLUTELY possible to have a med-free birth in a hospital with an OB, you just need to make sure you find one who is positive and supportive of it. It shouldn't ever be an "us vs them" thing - if it is, get a new doctor! If your doctor isn't completely supportive and positive about a med-free delivery, find one who is. :) There are also midwives who work in practices with OB's, and deliver in the hospital with an OB as a backup in case of a necessary c-section.</p> <p>A doula is a worthwhile investment, I promise. Again though, make sure you find one who supports your goals. If she's more intense about it than you, or brings personal opinions into her work, find a new one. You need a doula who supports YOU and what YOU want. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-delimma#post-1927355 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 14:04:42 +0000 lamariniere 1927355@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You can definitely have a med free hospital birth with an ob! I ended up getting an epi with my first, but not with my second. </p>