1. Please give me your full name, how you want to be identified (full name, first name only, anon, etc.), your general location, number of children, number of cesareans, number of VBACs, anything else pertinent to your story.
Sarah, located in Maine, 2 vaginal hospital births-2nd was waterbirth, planning 3 waterbirth in Jan.
2. Did (do) you ever believe that you might have a cesarean? When did you first think that a cesarean was a possibility for your birth?
I believe I could have one just like I believe I could get hit by a car walking down the street, you just never know. I hoped it wouldn't happen but I knew that if I or my baby were having possibly fatal complications then I would be able to be ok with a C-section. If I had not educated myself and been in a more uptight hospital then I'm sure I would have ended up with a C-sec. with my first labor. My contractions were not very strong but 3-5 minutes apart for 3 days. Part way through my labor the staff started to push me to consider pitocin, even though the baby and I were fine. I had developed a good rapport with one of the nurses, and my husband was of great support and a great go-between, so we told her that as long as baby and I were fine, "leave us alone!", and they did. After 72 hours of labor, I pushed out my 9lb. 5oz boy in 45 minutes and all was well. With my 2nd I assumed a C was a remote chance and I also went with a midwife. After 41 weeks I was diagnosed with low amniotic fluid, which I now believe is a bunch of bs, and the hospital started me with a suppository in the evening. By morning with lots of overnight nipple stimulation and threats again of Pit, my labor started and 17 hours later I pushed out another 9+ pounder after 35 minutes of pushing. My hopes are up for another great, even shorter waterbirth:).
3. When did your practitioner bring up a discussion about cesarean? Before labor? During labor? Was it a surprise?
It was discussed in our prenatal class and everyone hoped to avoid it but knew it was a possibility.
4. If you had a cesarean, do you think you could have done anything to prevent it?
N/A
5. If you had a cesarean, did you or your baby experience complications? If yes, which ones and how did you feel about this?
N/A
6. If you had one good piece of advice for pregnant women or women considering having a baby, what would it be when it comes to cesarean prevention?
EDUCATE, EDUCATE, EDUCATE yourself and your spouse/partner!!!! Stand your ground with obnoxious doctor's nurses that try and tell you what your body can and can't do. Take an early childbirth class, do not work up until your due date-rest, rest, rest, subscribe to Mothering Magazine, read everything you can on childbirth and talk to mom's about their experiences, they are all different and you need to hear the good, bad, and the ugly.
7. What is one sure way to have a cesarean?
Ask for it or be clueless about childbirth.
8. Did you try to prevent a cesarean? If so, how? (Did you switch doctors or midwives? Did you pay out of pocket for a homebirth? Did you stay home longer than you normally would have? Hire a doula? Stuff like that...)
Made sure I knew everything I could about birth, and I'm still learning.
9. Advice for pregnant women in talking to those offering birth horror stories?
Lots of horror stories can be blamed on horrific docs that treat birth as an abnormal medical condition.
10. Where did you get a positive view of birth? Where should others turn?
From the millions of moms that have given birth for centuries. Also from reading Dr. Sears, lots of birth stories from friends and relatives, Bradley method was a savior, and again...Mothering magazine!
11. If you have had a VBAC, what resistance did you have? (If any.)
N/A
12. What is the hardest part of having a VBAC?
N/A
13. What was pregnancy like for you? What advice do you have in general for pregnant women? Feel free to add stories or quotes here.
Besides heartburn and some hip sciatica I had very little problems with my first 2 pregnancies. I was physically active and I think the best advice I was ordered to take by my Doc was that I stop working 2 weeks before my due date. I ended up being a week late with both pregs. so I had plenty of time to rest and get ready for the work of labor. For my current pregnancy I don't even have the heartburn or hip problems which I "blame" on being in even better physical shape and starting yoga about a year before getting pregnant.
I believe that being clueless and working right up until you begin labor is a sure fire way to end up with a C-sec., you need to be physically and mentally rested to handle the challenges of labor. I didn't take a Bradley Class but my husband and I studied his books over and over again. The fantastic thing about his books is that he does an amazing job of explaining exactly what is going on with your body during the stages of labor and how to deal with them. Since his method has you completely relaxing every muscle in your body during the contractions, instead of fighting them like many women end up doing, I had plenty of energy after 4 days of labor to easily push out my bouncing boy. Again, educate!! If your husband/spouse is not a strong viable advocate then find yourself a midwife or at least a doula and stand your ground!
14. Anything else you’d like to add?
I can't wait for this book to come out, this American society needs to wake up and stop the unnecessary slicing and dicing of women. Childbirth is a natural, normal, cycle of life and needs to be treated that way.
Thanks for letting me stand on my soapbox for a while:).
By Sarah (not verified) at Thu, 10/25/2007 - 11:33am |
1. Please give me your full
1. Please give me your full name, how you want to be identified (full name, first name only, anon, etc.), your general location, number of children, number of cesareans, number of VBACs, anything else pertinent to your story.
Sarah, located in Maine, 2 vaginal hospital births-2nd was waterbirth, planning 3 waterbirth in Jan.
2. Did (do) you ever believe that you might have a cesarean? When did you first think that a cesarean was a possibility for your birth?
I believe I could have one just like I believe I could get hit by a car walking down the street, you just never know. I hoped it wouldn't happen but I knew that if I or my baby were having possibly fatal complications then I would be able to be ok with a C-section. If I had not educated myself and been in a more uptight hospital then I'm sure I would have ended up with a C-sec. with my first labor. My contractions were not very strong but 3-5 minutes apart for 3 days. Part way through my labor the staff started to push me to consider pitocin, even though the baby and I were fine. I had developed a good rapport with one of the nurses, and my husband was of great support and a great go-between, so we told her that as long as baby and I were fine, "leave us alone!", and they did. After 72 hours of labor, I pushed out my 9lb. 5oz boy in 45 minutes and all was well. With my 2nd I assumed a C was a remote chance and I also went with a midwife. After 41 weeks I was diagnosed with low amniotic fluid, which I now believe is a bunch of bs, and the hospital started me with a suppository in the evening. By morning with lots of overnight nipple stimulation and threats again of Pit, my labor started and 17 hours later I pushed out another 9+ pounder after 35 minutes of pushing. My hopes are up for another great, even shorter waterbirth:).
3. When did your practitioner bring up a discussion about cesarean? Before labor? During labor? Was it a surprise?
It was discussed in our prenatal class and everyone hoped to avoid it but knew it was a possibility.
4. If you had a cesarean, do you think you could have done anything to prevent it?
N/A
5. If you had a cesarean, did you or your baby experience complications? If yes, which ones and how did you feel about this?
N/A
6. If you had one good piece of advice for pregnant women or women considering having a baby, what would it be when it comes to cesarean prevention?
EDUCATE, EDUCATE, EDUCATE yourself and your spouse/partner!!!! Stand your ground with obnoxious doctor's nurses that try and tell you what your body can and can't do. Take an early childbirth class, do not work up until your due date-rest, rest, rest, subscribe to Mothering Magazine, read everything you can on childbirth and talk to mom's about their experiences, they are all different and you need to hear the good, bad, and the ugly.
7. What is one sure way to have a cesarean?
Ask for it or be clueless about childbirth.
8. Did you try to prevent a cesarean? If so, how? (Did you switch doctors or midwives? Did you pay out of pocket for a homebirth? Did you stay home longer than you normally would have? Hire a doula? Stuff like that...)
Made sure I knew everything I could about birth, and I'm still learning.
9. Advice for pregnant women in talking to those offering birth horror stories?
Lots of horror stories can be blamed on horrific docs that treat birth as an abnormal medical condition.
10. Where did you get a positive view of birth? Where should others turn?
From the millions of moms that have given birth for centuries. Also from reading Dr. Sears, lots of birth stories from friends and relatives, Bradley method was a savior, and again...Mothering magazine!
11. If you have had a VBAC, what resistance did you have? (If any.)
N/A
12. What is the hardest part of having a VBAC?
N/A
13. What was pregnancy like for you? What advice do you have in general for pregnant women? Feel free to add stories or quotes here.
Besides heartburn and some hip sciatica I had very little problems with my first 2 pregnancies. I was physically active and I think the best advice I was ordered to take by my Doc was that I stop working 2 weeks before my due date. I ended up being a week late with both pregs. so I had plenty of time to rest and get ready for the work of labor. For my current pregnancy I don't even have the heartburn or hip problems which I "blame" on being in even better physical shape and starting yoga about a year before getting pregnant.
I believe that being clueless and working right up until you begin labor is a sure fire way to end up with a C-sec., you need to be physically and mentally rested to handle the challenges of labor. I didn't take a Bradley Class but my husband and I studied his books over and over again. The fantastic thing about his books is that he does an amazing job of explaining exactly what is going on with your body during the stages of labor and how to deal with them. Since his method has you completely relaxing every muscle in your body during the contractions, instead of fighting them like many women end up doing, I had plenty of energy after 4 days of labor to easily push out my bouncing boy. Again, educate!! If your husband/spouse is not a strong viable advocate then find yourself a midwife or at least a doula and stand your ground!
14. Anything else you’d like to add?
I can't wait for this book to come out, this American society needs to wake up and stop the unnecessary slicing and dicing of women. Childbirth is a natural, normal, cycle of life and needs to be treated that way.
Thanks for letting me stand on my soapbox for a while:).