I’d first written this at the end of my post Feeling Good in Pregnancy, but I decided it was enough to read in one sitting by itself. Here’s what I’ve learned from birthing our 10 babies about choices you can make for a hospital birth.
How to know when it’s time
It took me several birthing experiences to understand when labor was really starting. Contractions 5 minutes apart doesn’t always happen. Hurting enough to make you cry doesn’t always happen. What I finally figured out was when the contractions bent my body over, it was time to go.
For example, I can remember with one baby, my hubby had dropped me off by the maternity door at the hospital while he parked, and as I waited for him I had a contraction that took me from standing to an upside down L position. With another I remember being in bed at home, lying on my side, and my body curling into a ball during a hard contraction. With #9 I felt the need to get off my chair and kneel on the floor, leaning forward on the chair seat for one big contraction. With #10, I went from lying on my bed to kneeling on it and a contraction bent me over till my head was on the bed. That was how I knew it was time.
Hospital choices in Labor and Delivery
Feeling good through pregnancy includes all the way till birth. All my birth experiences were in hospitals, so that’s all I can share about. I learned over time that you don’t have to let them do their normal hospital routine on you. Ask them questions about any thing they’re doing that’s unfamiliar to you.
Hospital gowns are optional. I always wore them, but the last time I was comforted by keeping on my comfy nursing bra under it. I like being covered.
An IV port is optional. That is a safety precaution, in case they need to give you fluids or want to give you pitocin or other things like that. If you aren’t comfortable with that, say no. They can put one in quickly if it turns into a need.
Pitocin is optional. It usally does speed up the labor process by making the contractions come faster and harder. But that means the contractions are coming faster and harder. The birth that hurt the most for me was the one with the most pitocin. My best feeling labors and births were the 2 without pitocin. Another thing to keep in mind is that if you have pitocin, it stays in your system after you give birth, making the after pains worse than they need to be.
An epidural is optional. Epidurals are talked about like they’re the best way to feel good as your pregnancy ends. There are costs and benefits to having an epidural. It doesn’t always work correctly. A couple times it made me too numb to function well, and one time it left the pain of each contraction just in one hip. It usually slows down the labor process, which often means they’ll want to give you more pitocin to make up for it. The times I gave birth without an epidural, I loved the euphoria of relief when the baby was born. You can’t feel that when you’re numb. That being said, I did opt for an epidural with #10 because I was so exhausted from false labors earlier that week, and it turned out ok. It was a beautiful birth.
Sitting/lying on the bed is optional, and I encourage you not to! Stand and sway, rock on your hands and knees, bounce on a birthing ball, or whatever feels good. It’s way more comfortable to be moving through your contractions than to just sit there.
Induction or c-section are optional. There are times when those are the best options, but there are other times when they shouldn’t be options at all. The vast majority of the time, a baby will be born safely without either of those medical interventions. Listen to your body, your healthcare provider, your own knowledge, and maybe a second healthcare provider, then pray for inspiration and follow it.
A New Baby
There’s no feeling in the world like holding your new baby for the first time. 💗💗💗 It came very naturally to me to forget any worries or pains in those precious moments and just be happy. I hope that’s how it is for you, too.
And where this story ends, parenthood begins. I hope you enjoy that adventure!
