I just got back from the beach yesterday, we had fabulous weather...it was nice and relaxing. Until I found out on Wed that my friend/coworker who has been 5 weeks ahead of me in her pregnancy had a C-section late Monday night. She was not planning that. The only news I got was just that, mom and baby fine, 7lb 7oz. I had seen her last Thursday she was dilated to 2 and everything looked good. She told me her Dr. (who is one that is in my practice) wanted to induce her Mon (3 days after her due date). Which is what I am assuming happened.
It hit me very hard then that I do not personally know a single person under the age of 40 who has had a natural birth. They were either induced and/or got an epidural and/or a c-section. I am starting to feel as if I am crazy to even attempt to think I can do this. I know it is not the end of the world if this happens, if it all goes to hell and I need all or none of these interventions. I am in no way against these WHEN they are needed, it is starting to feel to me as if I may be forced into that cycle of medical intervention because that is what is "normally" done. I feel as if the cards are stacked against me. I am hoping to see my doctor in a couple of weeks after I finish rotating through all the others. She is the closest thing I could get to a midwife on my insurance, she is for a natural childbirth and recommended my doula. But I haven't seen her in 15 weeks. And I have no guarantee of her in the room when I deliver, luck of the draw on that one. Unless I am induced..... see?
6 comments:
Hi my name is Jennifer. I love stiching and am also pregnant. I have a two year old son and am pregnant with my second (20 weeks). I am American living in Holland. Here they do not give you any pain meds when you are having a baby. Although they had to enduce me because I was in labor for 37 hours all the pain meds I had was two asprin afterwards. I just wanted to say hi and if you have any questions about labor or natural child birth just email me.
buysse@mac.com
My first was born with no c-section, no induction, no epidural. I did have a small dose of IV pain meds to help me relax a bit, but that was it.
My second, I went into labor on my own but ended up with an epidural. I didn't really want to have to go that route, I would have taken the IV meds again. But this was a different hospital and my only option was epidural or nothing. After having contractions that were making my knees buckle and bringing on the urge to puke, I opted for the epidural.
I think it's standard for OB's to plan an induction if you go past your due date...probably a CYA policy.
Go into it with the idea of doing it all naturally, but knowing that medical intervention may be needed or wanted. Unless there is major distress to you or the baby, the doctors cannot *make* you do anything you don't want to...they can't (and shouldn't!!) force you to have an epidural or c-section for their own convenience.
Hi there. With both of my kids I planned on natural childbirth, but it didn't work out that way. My son was a complete breech, my water broke three weeks before my due date (and thus there was no extra room for turning him), and so he was a non-emergency c-section. With my daughter I was determined to have a VBAC and enlisted the support of my OB/GYN and was assured that the hospital (Forsyth) would support that as well. I decided to have the epidural after back labor that made me dizzy (I knew that that was sometimes the way my body reacts to pain). She was just as stubborn in her birth as she is now and so ended up a forceps delivery (primarily because my doctor knew that I wanted to deliver vaginally). But in both cases the medical intervention was done thoughtfully and I felt as though I was part of and even in charge of the decision-making process. Both were "good" birth experiences. So stay strong. I know how much research you've done and these will be YOUR decisions and not decisions made just to make life easier for others.
Natural birth is DEFINITELY possible! My best friend had 3 completely med-free, intervention-free births, the last 2 at home. You can do it!
(((hugs)))
I believe you are making a very good and strong choice for yourself and your daughter...it's your body and your child and as you put it well, as long as you or the child are not in danger, you are entitled to choose the childbirth as you wish. That's how I think about it anyway. I'm crossing my fingers and sending good vibes that you will have it just the way you want it and that the three of you will enjoy happiness and good health all your life. Ann
My little sister had her son naturally and she was 20 years old. I had to c section because my daughter got stuck in my right hip, or trust me I was going to go all natural too. Hang in there, you'll be fine.
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