The Business of Being Born Message Board

Baby’s Birth Date: 11/12/08
Birth Story: My husband and I are both physical therapists working for a hospital system. As therapists we are well aware of reasons to avoid medications and surgery when possible. Thus, as my pregnancy progressed we both felt strongly about having a natural childbirth for the myriad of reasons with which anyone reading this is probably familiar. We proceeded to plan for a hospital delivery within the system where we work to receieve the benefits of great insurance coverage and stick with a doctor who we liked and clearly indicated understanding of our preferences. At one point, we did consider switching to the local birthing center and were ironically even encouraged by our OB. But in the end, after a lot of reading and learning through a Bradley Method childbirth class, we decided we were empowered enough to stay with the hospital along with a doula for support as well. My water started to leak at 6:00pm Sunday evening, we labored at home comfortably until noon on Monday and arrived at the hospital at 7-8 cm dilated. The nursing staff was excited in good and bad ways, prepping for a quick delivery but giving us a timeline of a few hours before antibiotics and pitocin would be necessary if “nothing happened.” Sure enough I stalled. Around 4:00pm, my nurse told me I was “way off the labor curve” increasing my risk for a c-section. Great encouragement. Fortunately, my doctor came in around 5:00pm and very positively recommended I keep progressing as best I could for another hour. I had conceded to the antibiotics by this point (that magical 24 hours since water had started leaking), but was determined to avoid the pitocin. We had learned so much, worked so hard, come so far. With a few new positions suggested by my doula and ongoing support from both my husband and her, I started to transition around 6:00pm. Within the hour I was pushing. At 8:55pm, our baby girl naturally entered the world thriving and ready to nurse. I learned of this new documentary through Ann Curry’s interview with Ricki Lake on the Today Show last week. I was so glad that this subject is reaching mainstream media outlets and hope that it can bring a change to what has definitely become bad hospital business. Had my doctor who clearly understood my birth plan not been present, we would have likely received intervention. Hospital staff are very sadly disconnected from the natural process and struggle with people who want it. If we have another child delivery will be at a birthing center or at home. Can you do a documentary on vaccines next?