Natural Unmedicated Childbirth

            So this is a relatively large subject to cover so I am going to break it down into options and explain them each, in depth. Natural Childbirth is defined as a method of childbirth characterized by the absence of anesthetics, in which the expectant mother is given special breathing and relaxing exercises. Even though there are no medications given to the mother to relieve pain she manages pain with many different techniques. Natural Childbirth is not for everyone but it was something I felt very strongly about. I feel as though going to a hospital to have my daughter stripped me of my right to choose how I labored. There are several options you can choose to have a natural birth experience.
-Certified Nurse Midwife [CNM] in a hospital
            This was the option i tried first, i felt that it fit my want for a natural birth but i still had the security of a hospital setting [what i thought was better at the time]. I started with my first midwife, Dr. Kay at university hospitals. She was wonderful and i would highly recommend her to anyone in the Cleveland area who thinks that this option is for them. Unfortunately, my insurance did not cover UH hospitals so i was forced to switch midwives. I switched to a practice of midwives at the Cleveland clinic and right away i did not feel comfortable. I wanted my own doctor to trust and be comfortable with but that was not an option for me. I was diagnosed with placenta previa and was forced to go to an OB. My placenta previa resolved itself by 25wk. but the midwives refused to care for me because i was considered high risk because of an issue that has now been resolved. I never did get my personal, trusting, caring relationship with my doctor that i wanted. The doctor that delivered my daughter i met only moments before and even though my birth plan was printed out and handed to every member of my birth team they promptly informed me that they were going to start my IV and get me ready for my epidural because i was not allowed to get out of bed. I feel as though hospitals are set up as a business and they just want to get you in and out of their rooms as soon as possible.

-Midwife at a homebirth
              The biggest difference between giving birth to your baby at home instead of in a hospital setting is that, at home you're in charge and everyone supports you. There are obvious advantages to having your baby at home; you'll feel secure in your own familiar surroundings and you can have as much privacy as you want. Your partner, older siblings, family, and friends can all be involved as much as you want in your labor experience. You will have a major say in your labor and you will be able to easily avoid the routine medical interventions that can often do more harm than good. You'll be able to see one midwife throughout your prenatal care and labor experience and there is no danger of being separated from your partner or your baby after labor. Bonding and breastfeeding are encouraged to happen spontaneously after birth. This is the option i will be choosing for all of my birth experiences. Also, I don't know about you but have you ever heard a mother say that she doesn't want control over her body and her baby during birth. . . A hospital setting will not give you any of this.

-CNM at a birthing center.
            A lot of people say that this option can be the best of both worlds. Personally it scares me because of my previous experience with giving birth in a medical facility. But this option will give you a lot more control over your birth plan than a normal hospital setting but with the added benefit of have a high tech medical facility at your fingertips in case of an emergency. Another benefit to this is that there will be no mess in your house to clean up and also you MAY be able to get insurance to cover this.

With all of these options you can choose to hire a doula to help support you through labor.

             A doula is an experienced woman who offers emotional, physical, and informational help or support during and after the birth of your baby. Some doulas are willing to live in for a few weeks after the birth of your baby. A doula is trained and experienced in childbirth and baby care, but is not medically qualified. The doulas purpose is to make sure that women have a safe, memorable, and empowering birth experience.

I will be linking with the pistachio project.

Pregnancy and Birth

            When I found out that I was pregnant, I was dead set on going to a certified nurse midwife [CNM] and having a natural birth. To my disappointment my first ultrasound revealed that i had a condition called placenta previa. Placenta previa is a condition in which the placenta covers the cervix, this can cause massive blood loss and maternal and fetal death if the mother is allowed to deliver naturally. The only safe way to deliver, with this condition, is by a scheduled c-section. I was heartbroken and terrified. Needless to say i was forced to go to an OB. As my pregnancy continued the placenta previa resolved itself so i was yet again set on my natural birth plan. I wanted no pitocin, no pain meds, and i wanted to be able to get up and move around during labor.
             After 42 weeks of pregnancy I finally went into labor. My contractions started waking me up at 3AM but i had experience false labor so many times that i wasnt convinced that i was actually in labor. At 9AM our family went to the zoo. I walked around at the zoo until about 2pm, Christian told me that we had to leave. I was still not convinced that i was in labor. We got into the car and he asked me if we were going to the hospital and i said no they are just going to send me home again, so we went to his brothers house. At 5pm Christians brother informed me that weather i like it or not i was in labor and i was not allowed to have a baby on his couch. Off we went to the hospital, i was horrified. The last place in the world i wanted to go to have my baby was a hospital.

              We arrived at the hospital and they immediatly admitted me. I changed into a gown and they forced me to lay in bed. Laying down caused my babys head to push down on my sciatic cause searing pain shooting down my right leg. I had said i wanted a heplock but not an IV but they told me i didnt have an option. I asked if i could stand up and they said no that it would mess with the moniters. Everytime i would try to move the moniters would slip and alarms would go off. I was forced to lay on my back and perfectly still. This not only made the same pain, that i was able to walk around the zoo in and play with my 9 month old niece, unbearable but also research has proven that laying flat on your back is the WORST position to labor and give birth in. I was finally in so much pain that i was forced to get an epidural and my daughter was born several hours later

             Skylar Elizabeth Marsh, 7lbs. 6oz. 21inches long, born at one forty two AM. Do not get me wrong my birth experience with my daughter will always be one of the happiest days of my life but i truly wish that i had not been pushed along the birth assembly line of a hospital. My desire was to EXPERIENCE my birth. Not ignore what was going on. After my medicated hospital birth experience and the regret i feel for it this was what led me to look into my home birth option

I will be linking with the pistachio project.