When my husband and I found out we were pregnant, I knew I wanted to avoid a hospital birth if possible. I did not want to deal with a parade of strangers in my room during one of the most intense, private and intimate times in my life. I did not want technology to become the focus if I was not having any problems, and I wanted to avoid being frightened into unnecessary interventions. I am in excellent health and knew that I could give birth without interventions. I had read the studies showing that electronic fetal monitoring and pitocin during a normal birth do not improve outcomes, and sometimes lead to unnecessary C-sections because of problems they can cause. Most births to healthy moms will proceed without major problems if proper prenatal care and labor support from experienced trained professionals are available, so I had no fears about complications arising that the Birth Center staff could not deal with. I am convinced that a drug free birth is best for baby and that is what I wanted to give my son. One good friend told me she found unmedicated birth "intense but totally doable" and another said that afterwards she "felt like I could climb Mt. Everest." I wanted that experience and was committed to doing what I needed to do to have it.
Touring the birth center and then talking to the midwives for a while afterwards was enough to convince me that the difference from a hospital birth was profound-not just a paint job. We knew our insurance would not pay so we had to discuss payment options with Aszani, which she was very willing to do. When I came home that night I was incredibly excited. I felt very comfortable with the midwives already, agreed with the birth center's philosophy, and already knew who my caregivers would be and what the birthing room looked like!
We were expected to be active participants in my care; eating well and guarding my health, reading the materials given to us each trimester by the staff, thinking of and writing down questions for each one-hour visit. I enjoyed my appointments, because I learned a lot, was encouraged and praised for my efforts, and was also given a good chance to get to know and trust the women whose care I would be under during the birth. The class was fascinating and prepared us very well for labor and delivery. (An added bonus is that I am getting to be friends with all the women in my class, whom I see every week now in the new mom's group!) During labor we were not frightened, both because I knew what was happening every step of the way (Oh- I've got the shakes! That's normal, it's the oxytocin kicking in") and because I trusted the midwives so thoroughly.
My labor was fast, starting at 2:30 am and proceeding quickly to active labor. I woke my husband at 3 when I no longer doubted it was the real thing. I knew that being upright and active can help women deal with labor pain, so that is what I did. I leaned on piles of pillows on the bed, the bathroom counter, my husband, a pile of laundry on the dresser, what ever was available during contractions. When I arrived at the center I was already 8 cm dilated. I got in the tub (heaven!) and did the rest of my dilating and most of my pushing there, but in the end delivered my son on the bed.
The midwives managed and monitored the birth very carefully using non-invasive technologies like a BP cuff, an electronic thermometer and a Doppler ultrasound to listen to the baby's heartbeat. They suggested different positions to help with particular discomforts or problems, and provided myriad comfort measures and encouragement. During the birth I was barely aware that all this was going on-they have a calm, low key style that is very reassuring, even when the baby's heart rate dipped a bit during pushing. They were concerned about a large baby and the possibility of stuck shoulders. To be on the safe side they suggested that I deliver on all fours in the runner's position, and he came out very quickly with only minor tearing, and was handed to me immediately. This level of support and comfort measures, and the familiarity with the normal process of labor and birth is rare in hospitals and I now believe is the key to a satisfying natural birth.
My son arrived in perfect health. He nursed soon, well and long, and was calm and alert all day. He spent much of the day looking around the room, at me and my husband and at the staff (to their delight). He spent his first day of life in our arms and I got lots of help and encouragement from the staff with breastfeeding. Natalie took some great pictures with our camera, so we have a nice record of Ben's birthday.
I have a great sense of satisfaction that I had a natural pregnancy and birth and am breastfeeding successfully-with the birth center staff's invaluable help and support. I told a good friend that I wanted a great big shiny trophy for my efforts, and she pointed out that I had my trophy-my healthy and happy baby boy.
Touring the birth center and then talking to the midwives for a while afterwards was enough to convince me that the difference from a hospital birth was profound-not just a paint job. We knew our insurance would not pay so we had to discuss payment options with Aszani, which she was very willing to do. When I came home that night I was incredibly excited. I felt very comfortable with the midwives already, agreed with the birth center's philosophy, and already knew who my caregivers would be and what the birthing room looked like!
The midwives managed and monitored the birth very carefully using non-invasive technologies like a BP cuff, an electronic thermometer and a Doppler ultrasound to listen to the baby's heartbeat. They suggested different positions to help with particular discomforts or problems, and provided myriad comfort measures and encouragement. During the birth I was barely aware that all this was going on-they have a calm, low key style that is very reassuring, even when the baby's heart rate dipped a bit during pushing. They were concerned about a large baby and the possibility of stuck shoulders. To be on the safe side they suggested that I deliver on all fours in the runner's position, and he came out very quickly with only minor tearing, and was handed to me immediately. This level of support and comfort measures, and the familiarity with the normal process of labor and birth is rare in hospitals and I now believe is the key to a satisfying natural birth.
