Have we talked about birth options yet?

[OrganicRosemary]

I know this can cause some debate, not really looking to start something here. I am just curious if anyone is thinking about birth options/plans yet? We are planning a home birth this time. Anybody else thinking about birth center/home birth? Feel free to share your hospital plans (med free/all the meds) too.

My BMB last time did a med free/birth center/home birth check in a little later on. Anybody interested?

[jewel441]

I would like a med free hospital birth. I originally wanted to do a birthing center (like waaaay before I was preg) but my one cousin who is a doctor convinced me that for the first it might be better to do a hospital birth and suggested a specific midwife hospital practice that she knew. Here I see an OB/Midwife practice, when we go back to Boston I will see the midwife hospital practice my cousin recommended, most likely. So there are doctors and a level 3 NICU there, but if you don't need them, you never see it/them.

ETA: If I end up having drugs or interventions I will be fine, I care most about having a healthy baby, this is just a goal or like if everything works out perfectly and you got to chose this is what I would chose....

[zombiesquad]

With DD, I had a med-free, hospital birth and I loved it (not during, for obvious reasons). I initially looked into a birth center, but the one in my area didn’t take my insurance at the time. It helped that I delivered in a hospital that encourages birth plans and provides resources to help you have the birth you envisioned. I had no one encouraging me to get an epidural or have any other medical interventions. In fact, when I thought I asked for an epidural, they stuck to my birth plan and coached me through it.

Although we had a textbook labor and delivery, MH prefers I have an epidural this time because he thinks I’ll enjoy it more. Honestly, I think it will give him less anxiety if I’m not in pain. But I’m sticking to med-free. I realize I may not have the same outcome as before, but that’s my starting point.

The support team you have no matter which route you decide to go with makes all the difference.

[isolemnlyswear]

I had to no plan last time but to have a baby. I went 15hrs without an epidural before I was too exhausted to go much further. I'm glad I got one because unknown at the time I still has 5 more hours until pushing and then I pushed for three. I never would have made it without one.

This time I'm hoping things go faster and I may be able to do it med free. But again if I end up getting one it's no big deal.

[jess9802]

I expect to be induced again. I will ask that the epidural be placed before the pitocin is started. I'd like to actually remember labor rather than be completely exhausted from the pain before it's even time to push. If for some reason I go into labor spontaneously, I will request the epidural upon admission. I am seeing the same OB and will deliver at the same hospital. I wasn't thrilled with the nursing care I got last time, but the hospital has a Level III NICU and DH and I both feel more comfortable delivering there.

[Missy0483]

I found out at my pregnancy confirmation appointment that my hospitals will now do VBACs if your case is reviewed and they see you as a good candidate. I'm not sure what their criteria is for that. I will find out at my first OB appointment. It's good to possibly have another option as my first was a very long induction, I fully dilated and everything but they said his head was too big, so c-section it was. I'm not sure how true that was. My second was a scheduled c-section. I've had issues with high BP with both pregnancies so I'm pretty sure an induction is not allowed if I want a vbac. I'm interested to see how this plays out. I *think* I want a vbac, I'm just scared that my body won't do what it's supposed to do. All of my labor was medically induced, I feel like my body did nothing on its own.

[katespade]

My goal is to try to labor as long as possible without the epidural, but being completely honest with myself, I'm not confident I could go completely med-free.

[mom2boxers]

I'll go with an epi again and deliver in a hospital. I find comfort in having a Level 3 NICU available if we were to need it. My goal is to hold out as long as I can before getting the epi. I'm hoping they can administer it the same way they did with #1. I had feeling in my legs to my toes and it took the edge off but I could still push effectively. I was able to get out of bed as soon as I got to the mom & baby floor.

I did benefit from reading and watching techniques on med free & how to manage the pain. My labor went quickly for a FTM (arrived at the hospital at 9cm after 3 hours of contractions that didn't follow the 5-1-1 rule). I also wanted to prepare in case the epi didn't work and if I hadn't needed abx it's entirely possible they wouldn't have given me one for LO #1.

[rachelilly23]

My kids take their sweet ass time. Labors are forever for me. Give me all the drugs.

[calgal]

Like mom2boxers I got to the hospital at a 9 as well. I had back labor so didn't know what the heck was going on or if contractions ever started or stopped. I had my daughter 45 minutes after arriving so there was no time for an epidural. I only pushed for less than 10 minutes which was crazy for a ftm. I'm glad I was able to go med free so I'll attempt again but I know if I have normal contractions and no back labor it will be an entirely different experience. I just hope it goes fast again.

[awkwardturtle]

I have a lot more research to do on this, but my initial thoughts are to try to labor as long as I can, then get an epidural. I plan to give birth in the hospital with my doctor. I want to make sure any medical interventions that aren't neccesary are avoided. I'm hoping to get all the facts and be on the same page as my doctor. I also want to talk with my husband so he understands and can stand up for me in case he needs to.

[miggg]

I've considered home birth but have decided to go with a birth center again. I took a hypnosis birthing class with DS and had an absolutely amazing, empowering birthing experience. So I'm hoping for a similar experience this time around. I'm very lucky in where I live in that I have several birth centers to choose from. Here is where I am planning to birth:

I went med-free with DS but may take a hit or two of laughing gas this time around since they now offer that as an option.

ETA: And yes, I'd be interested in a check-in.

[tacocatmom]

Give me all the drugs as soon as possible. I delivered at a small hospital and there were 3 people in front of me for the epi. My water broke for the second time and I went from 4cm to 8 and I seriously thought I was going to die.

[OrganicRosemary]

Jul 30, 2015 8:52:12 GMT -5 zombiesquad said:

The support team you have no matter which route you decide to go with makes all the difference.

I totally agree about the support team being key. I had a hospital water birth last time and it was great. A rare thing to find. I drive an hour each way to appointments. We are moving an hour further away or I'd go back.

Having a supportive team and being in the right mind set really helped last time. I didn't feel like I had to defend myself for everything while in labor. I just had to focus on being in labor, which is all I had energy to focus on.

Anybody looking to do med free, I highly recommend Ina May's Guide to Childbirth. It does a great job of helping you mentally prepare, which I think is 90% of it.

[OrganicRosemary]

Jul 30, 2015 9:31:58 GMT -5 calgal said:

Like mom2boxers I got to the hospital at a 9 as well. I had back labor so didn't know what the heck was going on or if contractions ever started or stopped. I had my daughter 45 minutes after arriving so there was no time for an epidural. I only pushed for less than 10 minutes which was crazy for a ftm. I'm glad I was able to go med free so I'll attempt again but I know if I have normal contractions and no back labor it will be an entirely different experience. I just hope it goes fast again.

I've heard back labor is worse than regular contractions, so you're probably well prepared for "regular" contractions.

[OrganicRosemary]

miggg that place looks awesome. Sadly, we have one birth center in the state...It's about 6 hrs away .

[calgal]

Jul 30, 2015 9:37:30 GMT -5 OrganicRosemary said:

Jul 30, 2015 9:31:58 GMT -5 calgal said:

Like mom2boxers I got to the hospital at a 9 as well. I had back labor so didn't know what the heck was going on or if contractions ever started or stopped. I had my daughter 45 minutes after arriving so there was no time for an epidural. I only pushed for less than 10 minutes which was crazy for a ftm. I'm glad I was able to go med free so I'll attempt again but I know if I have normal contractions and no back labor it will be an entirely different experience. I just hope it goes fast again.

I've heard back labor is worse than regular contractions, so you're probably well prepared for "regular" contractions.

I really hope so. The nurse who taught our childbirth prep class came to visit and we told her she needed to make sure to cover back labor in her classes because I was so unprepared for that. I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

[jewel441]

migg I want to live there, that is so nice looking!

[nexttonormal]

I was induced with both DDs, so if this one follows suit the plan will be to go to the hospital around 5 or 6 pm (of whatever date the doctor gives me) put cervadil in for 12 hours (or less, depending on how well it works), start pitocin, labor until I'm 5cm, then get the epidural. Push for 5-15 minutes then have a baby. That seems to be my M.O.

Or I could go into labor on my own, which in that case I'd be freaking out. I need a plan for that situation haha.

[Deleted]

I haven't thought too much about this. I do know I'm team All the Drugs. I've done a little research and have a hospital in mind, but beyond that, I don't have much planned yet.

I'm planning on really tackling all of that in Second Tri. Is that too late?

[cinnamonsmiles]

I'm team med-free hospital birth, unless it turns out I'm having twins (in which case I will choose whatever MW/OB has the most experience with vaginal twin delivery).

My story is similar to calgal. Med-free with the fast and the furious. I labored at home with back labor until I started pushing and then we got to the hospital with me at a 10, ready to go. Pushed for 40min and DS was born. There wasn't time to do anything - no IV, no drugs, thankfully GBS- or we might have had issues. I really hope this one goes as quickly and maybe that there's no back labor? We shall see though.

[peachesncream]

I was induced for DD and overreacted to the Cervadil so for 12 hours I was having 90 second contractions every two minutes. I made it through about 2-3 hours of Pitocin after that before I asked for an epidural. I was doped out on magnesium sulfate and don't remember much. I don't regret my epidural and would definitely be open to it again, but a part of me wants to see how far I make it if my body goes into labor on its own. I already know I will be on antibiotics again which is a bummer but hopefully I will be on IV fluids for less than 24 hours this time.

[miggg]

Jul 30, 2015 9:38:55 GMT -5 OrganicRosemary said:

miggg that place looks awesome. Sadly, we have one birth center in the state...It's about 6 hrs away .

Yeah that's a not exactly a workable commute for birthing! A home birth would be wonderful too, no commute at all!

[readinglove]

I'll be at a hospital, and I'm hoping to do med-free. The hospital offers water birth as an option, so I'm hoping to take advantage of that as well. As far as a check-in, that's definitely something I'd be interested in!

[OrganicRosemary]

Yeah, 6 hrs is just a bit far for me.

[mom2boxers]

Jul 30, 2015 9:54:14 GMT -5 @pugsandwine said:

I haven't thought too much about this. I do know I'm team All the Drugs. I've done a little research and have a hospital in mind, but beyond that, I don't have much planned yet.

I'm planning on really tackling all of that in Second Tri. Is that too late?

My OB gave me a packet of paperwork at my 1st appointment last time around and wanted me to submit my hospital pre-registration by the time I went back 4 weeks later. In it they asked me about medicines I was on, previous surgeries, allergies, feeding preferences, etc. I think it may have also had a question about epis, med-free, etc. I can't remember for sure. This is also when they asked me to pay/start to pay my expected portion of the OB's fee after they calculated what my insurance would cover for my appointments (pre and postpartum) and them delivering the baby.

ETA: My docs only deliver at one hospital. The actual birth plan, if I wanted one, could be given to them later.

[michelleca]

I saw an OB and delivered at the hospital, with drugs. This time around, I have a midwife, and still plan on delivering in hospital. With drugs.

I personally would never choose to deliver at home.

[azurestar]

I plan to have an epidural in the hospital for my first. I will try to wait til 4 or 5 cm but yes I want one. I work as a L&D nurse and I have seen a lot. It is nice to have the NICU right there in case of an emergency. Second baby, I may try without anesthesia because that generally goes a lot faster than the first. We shall see how the first one goes. Whatever you guys do, don't write down a birth plan. It is bad luck.

[peachesncream]

Jul 30, 2015 9:54:14 GMT -5 @pugsandwine said:

I haven't thought too much about this. I do know I'm team All the Drugs. I've done a little research and have a hospital in mind, but beyond that, I don't have much planned yet.

I'm planning on really tackling all of that in Second Tri. Is that too late?

Not too late at all.  I didn't have a birth plan ever and if I did, it would have flown out the window due to my pre-e.  I think we toured hospitals and decided on which one for sure in 2nd tri but I never gave it any more thought than that.  They asked me at my first appointment if I knew where I wanted to deliver this time which was weird but I just said the same hospital as last time.

[carissa325]

I had a csection with DS because he was breech. He was also very big and had a giant head. My ob said he felt like we would have ended up having a c-section anyway because my pelvis is small. For that reason I'm probably not going to look into a vbac unless this baby is looking like it will be a lot smaller.