Posted by My OB said WHAT?!?.
Posted by My OB said WHAT?!?.
“We Don’t Do That Kind Of Stuff Here.”
“We don’t do that kind of stuff here.” – OB to mother who hoped to birth in the water.
Yep, that was my OB and she also said that “if I wanted to play wonder woman [because I wanted to go unmedicated], that was my problem”. Well it sure wasn’t hers because I was out of there! I switched practices and ended up having a wonderful unmedicated WATER birth
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At my hospital you can labor in the tub, but not birth in it =( I suppose I could have an accident, and since it felt so wonderful on my 7 cm contractions, I might do that next time, but my goal is just to have control over it. I’m sure I can push my little one out in any other way LOL
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Tee Reply:
March 20th, 2012 at 8:39 pm (Quote)
I’ve known a few women that have pulled that trick and I actually recommended it to a friend of mine not too long ago. (Sadly, this friend wound up with a necessary section.) I say go for it!
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Heather Reply:
March 20th, 2012 at 10:10 pm (Quote)
Well the thing is is that when I told them I felt the urge to push (I won’t tell them next time) at 7 cm, they literally had me out of the tub in a mere 3 seconds and I was in the bed within another 4 seconds. So ya….it’d have to be “OH MY GOD RING OF FIRE CANNOT MOVE” etc etc then “oh, is that a head??” =)
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Tee Reply:
March 21st, 2012 at 12:15 am (Quote)
Yeah, the only way around that is to not let on that you feel the urge to push and not all women are comfortable doing that.
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genniemom Reply:
March 21st, 2012 at 6:37 am (Quote)
Some (hopefully) helpful tips: I’m not sure if the nurses at your hospital are experienced with waterbirth, but make sure that no one panics and causes a bad situation. When I talked to my midwife about waterbirth and catching my own baby, she said that babies underwater should not be touched while coming out, so as to maximize on their natural instincts, and if a mother catches her own baby, she should remember not to panic and pull the baby far upward quickly, in case the cord is short. If this advice is followed, everything should go great. At my (dry) homebirth, I caught my own baby, and his cord was indeed short. He only reached to my waist before the cord was taught. My midwife was watching, and had to remind me not to lift him too high and pull the placenta out.
I really hope that you get the birth that you want, and that everything goes perfectly. Sorry if I seem like I’m trying to scare you. I’m not. There should just be a little bit of preparation if you’re taking charge of your own birth instead of relying on caregivers solely. I suggest that you ask about catching your own baby, just to hear what your providers have to say about it.
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Well, I’ll give him some credit for being honest and upfront with the Mom, rather than pulling that last minute crap that so many doctors pull. (Sorry for the language, really in a lousy mood tonight.)
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Anais Reply:
March 21st, 2012 at 4:11 am (Quote)
Yes, I guess at least she was upfront. But there are other ways to say it, like “I’m sorry, we don’t allow to birth in the water, but you can labor in the tub or in the shower” for instance. She had zero patience with any of my birth desires. Funny thing is, I am now a doula, and I hear about expecting parents leaving her practice mid-pregnancy all the time. Maybe she’ll change her manners? One can only hope.
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Tee Reply:
March 21st, 2012 at 12:09 pm (Quote)
Yes, you’re right! I didn’t mean for my comment to come across as less than supportive and I would hope the comment that I said directly under yours indicates that. I doubt anything will make her change the way she practices but who knows? Miracles can happen!
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Argh! This is the same thing I was told (snidely), after their first initial shock when I told them I wanted to birth in the water… Then she proceeded to tell me how dangerous and horrible waterbirth was (though… she’d never seen one or done it).
Funny thing, I transferred right out and had a wonderful, perfect birth in the water only 11 days ago!!
If only they’d embrace it. It was wonderful, I wouldn’t want to have it any other way!
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I saw an OB for the first 20-some weeks of my pregnancy w/ DD. This was a question I asked and when I found out I could only labor in a tub, I switched to a midwife and I got my waterbirth! (hospital…still working on the DH for a homebirth…he doesn’t want our home to “look like a murder scene”.)
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Veronica Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 11:51 am (Quote)
I read your comment and I just had to respond. I was in the same situation… wanted a home birth but my husband was afraid of the cleanup. He figured, go to the birthing center and after you have the baby you just leave the mess behind.
My midwives knew how to set up so that most of the mess was just a few sheets that they put into the wash, and the rest they took care of too. Try saying it that way to your hubby. There won’t be a mess!
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In that case, I’ll just stay home.
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