Natural Labor in a Hospital Setting: Experience
Why so many c-sections?
In my first pregnancy, I began to think more critically and research the childbirth process. For one thing, I had noticed by being one of the older ones of my friends to have a baby, that it seemed like all of my friends were ending up with c-sections. This made no sense to me. I was in my late 20s by the time I was pregnant with my first, and many of my friends had given birth to their babies in their twenties and seemed healthy and having great pregnancies and then it seemed as each of them told me how their births went, there was always a c-section. I had one friend at the time out of several that had ended up with a vaginal birth on her first child, and the rest had various reasons for why they’d had to get a c-section.
I learned about the rise of c-sections in the USA
I also had a friend who had told me to watch a documentary, Pregnant in America. This documentary laid out the truth about how America was far behind the rest of the world in this area. It gave all kinds of information about how insurance companies decades ago had forbidden doctors from teaching younger doctors how to flip breeched babies, and many other techniques that were previously commonly known by doctors because it was now deemed “too risky” by insurance companies. Practices like these led to more and more medical interventions in birth and to cesarean rates being about half while some other countries were more like 2-3 percent.
I’m so grateful that my friend recommended this documentary, “Pregnant in America,” for me to watch before I had a baby myself. It was so eye opening. It is something that I highly recommend that you watch, especially if you are planning to have a baby in the future.
I researched childbirth to prepare
I began studying childbirth like crazy as I was pregnant to make sure I didn’t become a c section statistic. At the time (2014), I was still very mainstream previously in my habits of going to the doctor regularly and trusting everything they said. I did my best to find a supportive doctor.
My 1st Childbirth
For my first birth, I went into labor naturally and ended up getting an epidural at the very end, which was a mistake. I still had a vaginal birth, but the damage done to my body because I couldn’t feel what was happening as I was pushing was intense. It was a great experience as I gave birth, because I couldn’t feel anything. However as soon as the drugs wore off and I saw the intense damage done to my body and spent months recovering, it wasn’t worth the epidural. For the births of my next three children, I had no drugs and had amazing births with insanely fast recoveries with all three of them.
Recognize that Many USA Doctors and Nurses Have Never Even Observed Natural Labor
My Second Childbirth
When I gave birth to my second child, the natural labor was not exactly my plan. I didn’t really recognize yet that the experience with my first was likely due to the epidural and that I should avoid it all. I don’t really recall at this point what my plan exactly was, but I remember getting to the hospital and they didn’t check me in properly. There was noone at the front desk to get my name in the system and I was already about to give birth. Because of that, even though the got me in a room, according to the computer, I wasn’t in the system. So therefore, they couldn’t give me any pain relievers at all. I had to go into labor all natural. Now, I feel like that was God helping me to see how much better it was.
The on call doctor, forgot her phone and turned around to get it, and therefore didn’t make it in time. This also was a blessing, because in her absence, a nurse who was a midwife in her home county, somewhere in the Caribbean, took the lead and delivered my baby. I’m so grateful for that. Because after this natural birth, I was able to see how much better the recovery process was than the one with the epidural. I realized that I healed so much faster and felt so much better. This helped me to see that unmedicated was the way to go.
This video helped me prepare for natural labor (with my 3rd and 4th labors) along with Penny Simkin’s book
My 3rd and 4th Childbirths
For my next two births, I knew I was going all natural from the beginning and I prepared for it by researching and reading people’s stories. The most helpful thing I recall now is the resources that I found by Penny Simkins. I watched the video several times in the last week or two before my third birth. Before my fourth birth, I also bought her book, “Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn,” by Penny Simkins. I remember in the hospital, with my fourth, asking a question and the nurse admitted to me that they don’t know how to help women with natural births and most of them even seen one, since almost all women choose medicated births or c sections at the hospital. I literally had Penny’s book in my hand for the fourth birth, which was a bit slower than my second and third births, and I coached myself through it by referencing the book when I had a question.
Have a Natural Birth if You Can
I never had a c section, but given how amazing my natural births were, if you have the choice not to get one, don’t. Have a natural birth if you can. I know there are times when it’s truly warranted, but I also know there are far more times in the USA when it isn’t. Do your own research and don’t just do whatever the doctor says without knowing your own information. If you want a natural birth and you’re going to a doctor, you’re going to have to really be informed and bold and not easily pushed around. It’s good practice for the mama bear you’re becoming. Stand up for yourself.
You can do this!
The main thing you need to know is that you absolutely can do this! Your body was made for this. Of course, there are times when interventions are needed. But please know, there are also times, that they are not needed. Many times, interventions are offered and encouraged because that’s just the way they do it. It is not the norm to just allow a woman to give birth naturally in a hospital setting.
Stand Up for Yourself and for Your Baby
If you choose the hospital setting, be prepared to be bold and don’t take no for an answer. Know that you have the right to refuse any and all interventions. They cannot make you do anything. Know your rights and stand up for yourself. Keep in mind too, that when you first start to go into labor, you can stay home until the contractions get closer together. Going in too soon makes interventions more likely. But of course, don’t wait too long either. Also, stand up for your baby, and don’t let them force vaccinations or ointments or anything else on you or your baby. Keep your baby with you or your spouse.
Why We Chose the Hospital
For me, I was in a hospital each time, even though the hospitals, here in the USA, during the time of my births was not conducive to natural birth. My husband and I chose that just in case of an emergency. I think a home birth would have been amazing, but I didn’t have a lot of family nearby and didn’t know of anyone to help with that around me. I was also wanting to make sure that in case of an unexpected emergency we were safe.
However, I had to be bold and outspoken for my natural birth to happen. I even had a nurse try to inject me with pitocin AFTER my natural birth without even asking me and I caught her with her fist in the air about to jab my thigh and I had to say “STOP!” When I asked what that was and she said it was pitocin, I was shocked. She said it was to prevent bleeding and when I said no, she was visibly angry. Thankfully, the doctor told her that I had the right to refuse it.
Learn From Others, but Your Experience is Unique
When you’re pregnant, especially for the first time, a lot of people give their advice and their stories. It can be overwhelming, and even a bit scary. No one else’s story is your own. However, by reading and listening to them, you can learn from them. Don’t let them scare you though. Know that when you refuse interventions, you are much more likely to have a natural birth. If that’s what you want, make sure that you understand what the typical interventions are. Know when those interventions are truly needed, and how often they are offered. Know the side effects to main interventions before you even go into labor. This way, you’ll be able to have intelligent and informed conversations with your doctor or primary caregiver.
Your body was made for this, and when you embrace the contractions and don’t see the pain as your enemy, you’ll have the baby. Of course, interventions are sometimes needed, but those times are the exception not the rule, so if you find them being pushed on you, please make sure your cause is one of the legitimate exceptions.
Childbirth is a Beautiful Thing
The moment your baby is born is such a special and beautiful moment. Whatever ends up happening, the goal is a healthy baby and a healthy mama. Hug up your baby, learn everything you can, protect your baby, and most importantly, teach him or her about Jesus. Stay home and raise your babies if at all possible. Prioritize being home with them, because as they say, babies don’t keep. They need you and you need to be with them. Lean on the Lord for all that you need, and with Him, you can do this!
