How to Avoid Unwanted Medical Intervention [Archive] - Bub Hub Pregnancy & Parenting Forum

elissas

04-10-2006, 01:22 PM

I would recommend going through a Birth Centre rather than standard delivery suites.

Also, while arming yourself with knowledge, involve your DP if you have one, or any other birth partners. Make it about both of you as a team, not just about you and him on the sidelines. As women we might be the vessel, but I considered myself and DH equal in birth - we just had different roles. Make sure he goes through the emotional process with you, the fears, joys etc. Work through them together. That will help him feel empowered and make the experience more intimate. Discuss the birth plan and create it together and enjoy this process of discovery about each other. If he knows you well enough to be instinctive and confident as a partner, it means that he doesn't need to try and remember bits and pieces from a list of what you want in birth.

There are lots others and if I get time I'll post again.

But there's just one more major one to remember. Under no circumstances in Australia can you be forced by any medical professional to do anything you don't want to do, even if it IS for the best! If you reach 42 weeks and don't want to be induced, they can't force you. If you don't want internals, you can tell them where to go. You can refuse antibiotics, emergency c-section, everything. Of course, you wouldn't refuse something that was absolutely necessary, but a lot of intervention isn't, such as c-sections for many breech babies or inductions at 41 weeks (are they serious?!?)

Hope this helps.

meme

04-10-2006, 01:24 PM

in my experience having good strong support people who know your wishes and can act for you while you are labouring is important. my first experience my then partner was hopeless freaked right out and i ended up having gas just to calm him down, luckily my labour was troublefree and quick anyway, no thanks to him.

with my second labour i had more support but due to complications with the placenta there were things that happenned that i would have prefferred to avoid. even when my suport people tried to advocate for me the bl88dy nurses just did what they wanted:mad: . i wish i had had more confidence to tell them to leave me alone. i wonder if they hadn't been so eager to yank my placenta out if i wouldn't have hemoraghed.(sp).

3rd go i combined the suportive team with the confidence to be the one in charge. we went to hospital early enough to meet the midwife and explain fully how we wanted the birth-the afterbirth-the first breatsfeed etc.
when she wanted to intervene and use monitors dp told her no thanks. when it came to the after birth she was hands off as we requested.
it was a great birth and all that i would have wanted but i couldn't have had it without, knowledge, confidence and a great support team.

Duchessa

04-10-2006, 01:25 PM

I have to say, I am going to take the "easy route out" for the next one by avoiding the hospital if all things are ok and we have a low risk preg/birth.

Otherwise... I will definitely, absolutely have an independant midwife who will be employed to serve my best interests and who will attend me within the hospital setting, if she is for some unforeseeable reason unable to do it without.

I will also do what I did last time and reemploy my very strong, very well informed dh and my very together, totally in agreement exnurse mum (both whom attended the birth of my twins) and make sure that my wishes are still clear to them.

I trust them both to ensure that I am protected from the hostile hospital environment as much as possible, while ensuring that I have a minimum of monitoring, poking, prodding, cutting, weighing, measuring, intervention, distraction, desensitisation, canulation, catheterisation, antibiotics, robotics, etc etc etc...

Failing that, I will have a big stick. :laughing:

DoulaFelicity

04-10-2006, 01:41 PM

Birth at home. :) Aside from being an obvious way to avoid intervention (when there isn't any available, you're not going to have it!), evidence shows it to be the safest mode of birth with a professional Independent Midwife in attendance at "normal" birth (and there's a whole spectrum of what's normal in birth, a lot of it the Hospital system will pathologise and treat as abnormal - at home, that doesn't have to be the case in a lot of situations).

If you must birth in a Hospital for whatever reason, hire a Doula! The statistics on outcomes with a trained Doula in attendance speak for themselves:-

Proven Benefits of Doula Care

Decreased medical intervention in labor*:

Reduces need for cesarean by 50%

Reduces length of labor by 25%

Reduces use of oxytocin by 40%

Reduces pain medication use by 30%

Reduces the need for forceps by 40%

Reduces epidural requests by 60%

6 weeks after birth, mothers who had doulas were:

Less anxious and depressed

Had more confidence with baby

More satisfied w/ partner (71% vs 30%)

More likely to be breastfeeding (52% vs. 29%)

*These statistics appear in “A Doula Makes the Difference” by Nugent in Mothering Magazine, March-April 1998.

For detailed results from multiple studies, see: http://www.dona.com/positionpapers.html

An Independent Midwife in the Hospital system will often be relegated to the role of Doula anyway, as she/he is not usually authorised to be your primary medical careprovider once inside the Hospital. Worthwhile knowing.

Research, know your facts, know your options, and be a consumer! You're hiring your careproviders, whether they be Private Obstetricians, Independent Midwives, Doulas, or public Hospital staff. So act like you would in any situation where you were hiring someone to provide a valuable service to you - interview them! Have standards you want met and don't compromise on them, no matter what! Be willing to reject a careprovider and search for a new one if they don't measure up! Demand to be treated with respect, and expect your basic human rights to be met! Pregnancy and birth are major life events with outcomes you will remember for the rest of your life, especially if they impact detrimentally on you, your baby, or your family. So don't go in blind, hoping to be appropriately cared for by sheer luck. Read, read, read. Ask questions of everyone. Think laterally, with a healthy degree of skepticism until you're satisfied totally. Push for what you want - and know what you want. You wouldn't take your car to the mechanic and say 'you know, I do know some things I want done to this car, but hey, you're the professional, I'm not going to tell you what I want done; and I won't ask any questions. I'll just trust you know best. Go for your life!" - so don't do it with your birth! The only person who knows best is you.

Trust your body, your baby, and birth - and ensure you're in a safe environment surrounded by people who support and share your trust and understand the best way to be there for you, as you require, when you require.

Be aware of your rights as a Hospital Consumer, and be aware of your careprovider's Obligations. Any medical procedure carried out upon you without your express informed consent is legal assault. NO means NO in a Hospital with a man in a white coat presiding, just as it does in a dark alley with a man in a trenchcoat lurking. You don't leave your rights behind at the door - but if you don't know your options, you don't have any options. Informed choice is not when someone else informs you of your choices.

Understand the system. It's not warm and fuzzy, and it can get ugly. It can also work wonderfully, given the right circumstances; but it's dangerous to assume you will automatically get what you want in the system. If you know how it works, you know how to work it.

What a great idea for a thread. :)

pickles

04-10-2006, 02:06 PM

1. Go to a birth center - you are already placing yourself in a low intervention environment.
2. Ask questions +++++
3. If you choose medical care and then dont feel that you get along with the doctor - change to another.
4. You should have extra suport people ( doula , mother , sister or friend - someone there to support you and your partner ). It is a huge responsibility to expect your partner to be able to do everything on the day especially if this is your first baby.
5. when it comes to pushing your baby out no one can force you into a position that you do not feel comfortable with - you just say 'no'

At the end of the day whatever happens you will know in your heart that you gave it your best shot .

Good luck
Pickles
DD 02/03
DS 03/05

annsam

04-10-2006, 02:29 PM

1. I second or third the doula idea or well informed support person. :thumbsup:
2. Also lots of research, questions and investigation before birth on options, interventions, 'what if's' and flowdown effects.
3. Birth plan outlining your requirements/wishes given to your caregivers (especially if hospital) before birth so its all ready in your file for your arrival.

Cant add to what everyone else has written. Fantastic suggestions.

Tracie

04-10-2006, 03:00 PM

As far as what you can do to avoid intervention, no matter what your choice of birth place, here is some great info...

These evidence-based practices adapted from the World Health Organization promote normal birth:

1) Labor begins on its own
2) Freedom of movement throughout labor
3) Continuous labor support
4) No routine interventions
5) Adopt non-supine (e.g. upright or side-lying) positions for birth
6) No separation of mother and baby after birth

10 Tips for a Normal Birth from Lamaze International:

1. Choose a place to birth where you’re most comfortable and that supports normal birth. This may be at home, in a birth center, or hospital.

2. Choose a healthcare provider who supports the six care practices that promote normal birth. Many women have found the care provided by midwives to include less interventions and more labor support.

3. Don’t request or agree to induction of labor unless there’s a medical indication. Allowing your body to go into labor on its own is usually the best sign that your baby is ready to be born. Allow your labor to fi nd its own pace and rhythm. Don’t focus on the clock and don’t use Pitocin to speed up your labor without medical indication.

4. Plan to move around freely during labor. You’ll be more comfortable, your labor will progress more quickly, and your baby will move through the birth canal more easily if you stay upright and respond to the pain of your labor by changing positions. Try rocking, straddling a chair, lunging, walking, and slow dancing.

5. Think carefully about who you want to give you support during labor and birth. Consider hiring a doula or other professional labor support person to give you, your partner, and any other support person who’s with you, continuous emotional and physical support.

6. Ask that your baby’s heartbeat be monitored intermittently instead of all the time so that belts, cords, or wires do not tie you to a machine or specific place.

7. Eat and drink as your body tells you to. Drinking plenty of fluids during labor will keep you from getting dehydrated and give you energy.

8. Use nonpharmacologic pain management strategies. For many women, warm baths and showers give powerful pain relief. Practice using birth balls, massage, hot and cold packs, aromatherapy, focused breathing, and other comfort measures.

9. Don’t give birth on your back! Upright (e.g. sitting, squatting, or standing), all-fours, or side-lying positions are more comfortable for you, increase the effectiveness of your contractions, and enable you to work with gravity. Push when your body tells you to and ask that support persons give only quiet encouragement. “Cheerleading” or counting is not recommended so that you can work with your body’s own cues and rhythm.

10. Keep your baby with you after birth. Skin-to-skin contact keeps your baby warm and helps to regulate your baby’s heartbeat and breathing. Keeping the baby with you in your room helps you to get to know your baby, respond to your baby’s early feeding cues, and get breastfeeding off to a good start.

If problems arise, ask questions about the risks and the benefits of any recommended interventions.
Understand that sometimes labor and birth don’t go as expected. If you’re involved with decisions about your care and have good labor support, you’re more likely to be satisfied with your birth even if medical interventions are needed.

And Some more....

Helpful Tips for Minimizing Interventions

During Pregnancy
 Focus on good nutrition. Well-nourished tissues adapt better to the stresses of labor.
 Optimal Fetal Positioning: In the last six weeks, spend more time sitting up straight or leaning forward than you spend leaning back or reclining on your back.
 Know your options. The more you know about the range of options available to you, the better able you are to make the right decisions for you and your baby.
o Educate yourself: Take classes, read books, ask questions.
o With your doctor or midwife, discuss interventions, and what they do to avoid them. If you’re not comfortable with answers, consider changing caregivers.
o Take a tour of the hospital/birth centre. Ask lots of questions about routine interventions and standard policies, so you know what options are available to you.
 Practice positions, breathing, comfort techniques so you’re comfortable with them. Try to imagine what labor will be like, and how you will react. Do Kegel exercises.
 If doctor recommends induction, explore alternatives: is it possible to wait a few more days? Is your cervix favorable for induction? Are there tests for fetal well-being which would indicate how necessary induction is?

During Early Labor
 Stay at home as long as possible: your early labor will progress best if you are comfortable and relaxed, which is simply easier to do at home than in the hospital.
 Eat light meals throughout early labor: noodles, rice, crackers, non-acidic fruit, eggs, nuts, nonfat dairy products. Drink LOTS of water. Go to the bathroom every hour.
 Alternate rest, relaxation, and labor-stimulating activities.

After you Arrive at the birth centre/hospital
 Be active! Change positions frequently.
 Delay pain medication as long as possible. Wait till at least 5 cm dilated.
 Avoid/delay interventions associated with an increased risk of c-section: continuous electronic fetal monitoring, pitocin augmentation, artificial rupture of membranes.

During Pushing Stage
 Change positions frequently. Try hands and knees, semi-squatting, kneeling.
 Push 6-8 seconds at a time. No purple pushing: holding breath/straining for 10 seconds.

Throughout labor:
 Doctors may recommend a variety of interventions to speed labor along: induction to start labor, Pitocin or breaking your water to augment labor, forceps, vacuum, or episiotomy to speed second stage. If doctor recommends interventions, ask if there are alternatives. Ask if there is a reason why labor needs to be rushed. If you and baby are doing fine, it might be possible to avoid or delay these interventions.
 Be patient! Everyone’s labor is different, and having faith in your body and faith in the natural process of your labor is important. If you don’t think you’ll be able to be calm and confident, consider hiring a doula, or asking a friend or relative to help out during labor. Choose someone who supports your choices and has confidence in you!

04-10-2006, 03:05 PM

Yes, stay at home!!
:thumbsup:

FinnsMama

04-10-2006, 08:24 PM

Yay :yelclap: So many excellent tips so far.
Here's a few more:

Remember (and get your support persons to remember, cause it's hard when you're in the middle of labour) BRAN : Benefits, Risks, Alternatives, Nothing. If your careprovider suggests any sort of intervention, take the time to run through BRAN with them. Ask them what the benefits of that intervention are. What are the risks? Are there any alternative courses of action? And what would happen if we just did nothing and allowed things to take their own course? As was pointed out to me, even if your careprovider is suggesting an emergency CS, that still usually takes at least 20mins to organise, so plenty of time to run through this first. And as others have said you CAN refuse any treatment.

Prepare yourself physically during your pregnancy. Giving birth is hard work! I found swimming and a "yoga for active birth" class benefitted me.

Birth in an environment YOU feel comfortable in, be that home, a birth centre or hospital. For most women labour slows down or stalls when they leave home to come to the hospital, because they are entering a "foreign" environment. Choose birth attendents you feel comfortable with and trust for the same reason.

If you are considering your own OB and/or a private hospital read this article (http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/321/7254/137), which compares birth outcomes for low-risk first-time mums in the private and public system in Australia. Here's a quote from the article ("primaparas" means first-time mums): Notably, of all private primiparas at low risk in private hospitals only 18 per 100 women achieved a vaginal birth without any intervention compared with 28 per 100 private patients in public hospitals and 39 per 100 public patients. Among private patients with an epidural, the most likely birth outcome was an instrumental delivery with an episiotomy. Among similar public patients, the most likely outcome was a non-instrumental vaginal birth without episiotomy.

A good book is New Active Birth by Janet Balaskas. I've also heard good things about Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering by Sarah Buckely.

Trust in your body's ability to birth your baby. Your body grows your baby during pregnancy, it can also birth it and nourish it afterwards. Millions of women have done it before you. It's normal!

:)

FinnsMama

04-10-2006, 08:32 PM

A few more stats (Thanks Tracie!), these ones taken from The Report of the Review of Maternity Services in Queensland (2005): Among women whose pregnancies were otherwise low-risk whose labour was induced in 2002, the incidence of caesarian birth was more than one and a half times higher than among women with low-risk pregnancies whose labour was not induced. Among women whose pregnancies were low-risk who had an epidural for pain relief, the incidence of caesarian birth was more than three times higher than among women with low-risk pregnancies who did not have an epidural for pain relief. In other words if you want to avoid a CS, do everything you can to avoid an epidural, and only agree to an induction if it's medically indicated.

Tracie

04-10-2006, 08:50 PM

Remember (and get your support persons to remember, cause it's hard when you're in the middle of labour) BRAN : Benefits, Risks, Alternatives, Nothing. If your careprovider suggests any sort of intervention, take the time to run through BRAN with them. Ask them what the benefits of that intervention are. What are the risks? Are there any alternative courses of action? And what would happen if we just did nothing and allowed things to take their own course? As was pointed out to me, even if your careprovider is suggesting an emergency CS, that still usually takes at least 20mins to organise, so plenty of time to run through this first. And as others have said you CAN refuse any treatment.:)

Hey FinnsMama,

Yep, so true - and don't be afraid to ask for some privacy/time alone to think things through - nothing worse than trying to make a decision with a midwife or obstetrician staring at you or breathing down your neck. This gives you a chance to nut things out a bit with your support team or to look through your resources (yes...bring a good book/resource with info on interventions).

(The thought of that makes me giggle - I birthed both my babies in hospital, and a big part of doing that involved my response to all the offers of intervention..."Hang on a minute - We'll just have a quick look at this book here...hang on, contraction...OK, let's see...ooh, contraction...OK, No thanks, I'm OK, everything's fine!...Ooh, contraction!)

Also with respect to BRAN - my Doula course suggested using BRAIN?

B What are the Benefits to me or to my Baby?
R What are the Risks?
A Are there any Alternative courses of action?
I Ask yourself - what is my Intuition?
N Must it happen right Now...can we wait? Or is Never OK?

FinnsMama

04-10-2006, 09:02 PM

Ooh I think BRAIN sounds even better - your intuition is surely the most important thing afterall.

Had a laugh at the thought of you reading a book in between contractions :laughing:!!! Could be a good stalling technique though - "I'll just read up about that first... oops here comes the head, too late!"

Lunar

04-10-2006, 09:25 PM

What a great thread. And might I add there is the always informative 'google' (admit it everyone loves it!)

Both my births had medical intervention, very regretibly, but I had no choice.
#1 I was stuck flat on my back in bed with moniters all over and in (TMI) me. Had to have a vontuse delivery and a MAJOR episiotemy and tear.
#2 I was overdue but having regualr contractions 2 weeks prior every day but they would fizzle out. They were doing nothing to my cervix. Bub was getting stressed with this so they decided to induce me with the cervidal tape. That basically was the only intervention I had. Labour started shortly after that (my cervix just needed to be softend so the contractions could open it) and about 26 hours or so later she was born. I had a tear that needed stitches but that was it. I did it all (bar the last 2 hours with gas) drug free.

I would suggest ot anyone to arm yourself with all the info you can get your hands on. Some will surely be scary but better you read up on it than be suprised and have a shock and not know what to do.

This is a great thread and I agree with what everyone has said.
If I were to have another bub (which I am not) I would have a doula/ private midwife and have bub at home:thumbsup:

spiritedfamily

05-10-2006, 09:19 AM

What a great source of info so far...

I always prefer to stay right away from the hospital environment and birth at home with a homebirth midwife...Fortunately my first one at home went very well and so I proceeded from there and the rest of my babies were born at home in water...I would say never say never...no matter what number and even with first births its always possible to birth successfully at home. In actual fact if the first baby's born goes unintervened..it opens the door for subsequent pregnancies.

The environment at home allows you to move ever so freely...to feel your body and allow you to understand your body in labour without interuptions. Educating is also about having the freedom to feel the process your body is going through and trusting all the information you've gained in pregnancy will be a source for you to draw on when in labour.

A midwife is a great source of information and usually has access to books, videos etc and they tend to run their own classes that educate women about their impending births. If your not sure where to start even when planning a hospital birth, most midwives and doula's are happy to talk to you...they themselves have experienced an array of births from natural - complicated so I always think they are a great place to start.

Someone mentioned 'google' yes google 'natural birth or anything similiar and you'd be amazed how much info is out out there. I have found many natural birthing forums and the resources here are so wide...they range from midwives - natural birthing women...all interacting to help each other achieve the same goal - natural birth & parenting. There are quite a few within Australia and its best to latch onto those as they usually have lots of local information or know where you can find it. Here - bubhub is great too as some of those women from these forums come here..

The other issue people forget about is after baby is born - breastfeeding, it helps to educate yourself before and not rely on the hospital midwives to guide you. I suggest attending a independent lactation consultant course...and possibly being prepared to hire one to help you if you are having difficulties, if you truly want to succeed at breastfeeding and unexpected problems can arise...then they are worth every penny.

I hope I'm allowed to put this link in as this women is quite well known and respected for educating women about natural birth

http://www.sarahjbuckley.com/

demeter

11-10-2006, 06:02 PM

I agree with those who have said do lots of reading beforehand and birth at home.

I've also read that the liklihood of interventions in a birth centre or hospital is decreased if you have a doula with you (http://www.doulasaustralia.com/benefits/indexdoulabenefits.html)

Tracie

18-10-2006, 01:53 PM

I just added this to another thread but wanted to post it here too....

I think it is REALLY important to have someone in your corner (other than a partner) who can fend off the bullies!

Not saying it has to be a Doula (even though they're great - I know, I'm biased!) but it would help to have someone who has experienced natural birth or knows about birth and also about how hospital policies, staffing levels, routines etc can play a BIG part in whether intervention is suggested/done. Yep, sadly, it is not medical indication that determines intervention these days - it's whatever makes the hospital most efficient!

Go into your birth EXPECTING them to want to break your waters, put in a syntocinon drip and continuously monitor you and KNOW what you need to ask to feel certain that this is for the good of you and your baby and not for the good of the hospital. Then stand strong and be firm (or have someone who can do this for you) and simply say "No, thanks, I'll keep going on my own."

I attended a wonderful woman on Friday and she did a fantastic job of birthing her baby but, disgracefully, in order to be able to do it, she also had to contend with 2 OBs and a midwife bullying her, telling her she needed syntocinon because they were understaffed and her labour would be too long (I KNOW - f***ing unbelievable!), and an absolute lack of respect for the natural process, this woman's body and her innate ability and right to birth her baby the way she wanted to.

Thankfully she was strong enough to stick to her plan and stand firm in the face of real pressure and scaremongering.

Thankfully, they were understaffed because after all of that, we didn't see another OB for 4 hours (!?!) and she was able to just focus on calmly birthing her bub.

And thankfully, I bumped into a beautiful midwife in the hall (also a homebirth midwife) and she did offer this woman the respect, privacy and encouragement that should be accorded to every birthing woman.

And what do you know?

5 hours later, she roared her baby out into the world - all on her own.

Such a pity she had to deal with all the other OB, hospital, routines, policies and staffing c**p.

If you are going to a hospital, do not go with the flow, do not take a chance that "It won't happen to you". Be VERY prepared.

becca74

18-10-2006, 04:42 PM

Everything you have all said....

my personal solution - stay at home, and only allowed a VE when I was pushing too early (though I pushed for about half and hour before I allowed it, and we discovered the anterior lip. Hypothetically, in a future labour, I would have no exams, and skip straight to the 'holding back pushing until it is beyond my control'......as I would just assume the same issue might need to be resolved.

Also, I became a brainwashed birth religious cult member.....it was all I read about, thought about and spoke about - but I needed to remain focused on achieving my goal. So research is very important....and lots of it.....your life could literally depend upon it!

Another take on the 'BRAN' and 'BRAIN' thingy.....I read something similar a few years back (wish my DH had used it when I was in labour - or I'd had a doula to help me ask - ahhh, we live an learn the hard way!)....the version I heard was 'BRAND'.....which is all the same as above, but the 'D' referring to asking to be left alone to make a decision for about 20 mins. Also buys you time......

Remain positive.....even when you want to shout out "h*ly f**k I'm dying here, get this thing outa me now".....force yourself to shout "this is all good, this is all good", and the experience will become more tolerable - well, it worked brilliantly for me :thumbsup:

I visualised getting wider than necessary, I did my best and kept that image in my head of everything functioning perfectly. It is funny how by doing so, it really did happen.....

Anyway, I'll just start repeating what others have said if I'm not careful....:o

faery

18-10-2006, 06:01 PM

cool thread! I had an odd birthing experience that covered the regular ante-natel unit (baby conveyor belt), an shared care ob, birth in a super-cool birth centre and a 3 hour trek in labour. so i had to wade through all the different "ways to birth" to get MY birth

- have great support team, and make sure they know your wishes. and that they are comfortable to get in the pool with you if need be
- have a birth plan that covers all possible births (mine had a what to do if we give birth at a servo on the hwy!!!)
- know what you want/don't want before you have your appointments, so the doctors/middies can't convince you of something you're not sure of (like when they ask you 400times why you didn't have the 20 week ultrasound, be strong in your answer)
- try all methods of natural induction if the docs start muttering about gel and IV's
- get a doula even if they can't come to the actual birth (;) u rock trace) as they can give u lots of info and support that your pregnant brain can't think about
- be flexible. i got to the BC and was told i couldn't use the pool until there were 2 middies on, so i might not get my water birth. i didn't let myself get upset about it just went "okay". (got my waterbirth though!)

demeter

19-10-2006, 06:10 PM

I think it is REALLY important to have someone in your corner (other than a partner) who can fend off the bullies!

Not saying it has to be a Doula (even though they're great - I know, I'm biased!) but it would help to have someone who has experienced natural birth or knows about birth and also about how hospital policies, staffing levels, routines etc can play a BIG part in whether intervention is suggested/done.

I totally agree Tracie. Before I knew much about what happens during birth I thought a partner would be enough support for the birthing woman, but once I got to know a bit more (through conversations with women who had given birth) I realised how crucial it is.
I know you said it doesn't have to be a doula, but I think you and I might agree (?) a doula would be the best, most qualified support a woman could get during birth :)

lilpearl

24-10-2006, 02:26 PM

Great thread! Better still, I've only just seen it, and everyone has done the work of answering for me!! What a bunch of fantastic advise!

I'll probably be repeating a lot here, but I'll just dot-point a few suggestions.

* Midwife care!!

* No intervention unless proven necessary (i.e - why be induced just because your 10 days "overdue", babies come when they are good and ready, and induction increases the chance of all sorts of other intervention, including caesarean, and risks the baby being born before it is ready.

* Prepare a long birth plan, that doesn't just state wishes, but your reasons behind these - this will show your educated/have done your research, and people will be less likely to bully you.

* hire a doula if at all possible

* Read everything, including the things you don't expect (such as info on caesareans), this will mean your better able to make informed decisions.

* Walk throughout pregnancy. Do yoga if poss.

* Drink heaps throughout labour

* Don't get on the bed during labour! Your not sick, your not a patient, your busy getting a baby into the world, aid gravity!

* Use water throughout labour. Think about a water birth.

* Make sure your support people (including your mother, husband, sister, friend, whoever) are confident in your ability to birth your baby, and see birth as a normal event. If they are tense, you will end up tense (another reason why a doula is great - she can support the support people, which frees you up to get on with the job!)

* Know your rights. Don't be bullied. It is YOUR birth. Say "NO!" when you mean it!

* Develop an awareness of your body and it's ability to birth, naturally. Perhaps hypnobirthing classes, yoga classes, or simple breathing techniques throughout the day, with some relaxing music or nature sounds - tune in.

* Eat well. eat nutrition-dense foods. instead of a simple white-bread sandwich with ham and tomato (which is fine in a way), go for wholegrain bread, ham, tomato, cheese, lettuce, carrot, beetroot, avocado, and a glass of milk! (for example :laughing: )

* Speak up. If you have a question, ask. If your not happy with the answer, ask someone else. Some care providers can be patronising. Keep an eye out for this - you only want care providers who see you as an equal, and as the decision-maker in your pregnancy and birth choices.

* I've said "have midwife care'....but I'd like to add - avoid private hospitals and obstetricians!!! If you have a condition that requires a bit more care, and must see an obstetrician, shop around - get a referral from an independent midwife if possible - they are likely to know the truly good ones.

* Rest. And in the last weeks of your pregnancy, don't hike up mountains - it's always the night you say "I'd better bloody well not go into labour tonight, I'm exhausted!" that you'll go into labour. It's harder to enjoy labour when you've had no sleep. If you start to get some little contractions in the evening, try and sleep through them, or in-between them, as exciting as it is....don't walk the hills in the middle of the night to get labour going, let it happen. Rest while you can, and when your in active labour, get active!

* Know all your options for natural discomfort management. Homeopathic remedies, essential oils, heat, water, breath, music, support, etc.....don't expect labour to be bad or the most painful thing in the world - if you expect it, you'll get it. If you have pain during labour, it will be much different to the pain experienced if you break a bone. Labour brings about a wonderful interplay of hormones, that include natural pain-killers and feel-goods. Drugs, intervention (including going tot he hospital, bad smells, bright lights, etc) can all disrupt these hormones, which is why labour often slows down when you get to the hospital. Have someone (like a doula or other support person) prepare the space for you and ensure no unwelcome people enter the room, and give yourself time to get back into the flow of labour. If labour slows due to tension, it will take at least an hour to get it going full-swing again. Make sure others respect YOUR time.

Oh, heaps of other stuff!!.....what a great thread!!!:yelclap:

stellarella

24-10-2006, 02:29 PM

My tips are..

Be active "get up and give birth"

Limit pain relief drugs and any other drugs

Conserve energy

If bubs shows signs of distress change position as a first option

Be informed

stellarella

24-10-2006, 03:37 PM

Ok DS is asleep again so i can elabortae on my brief post.

I read a book called "New Active Birth" by Janet Balaskas which was recommended reading at the birth centre I birthed at.

I read about 600 books on the topic of pregnancy and childbirth and how to birth without interventions.

In the end I asked for intervention in the form of an epidural...so It was not unwanted. Although I did not want to have drugs at all, but I caved YKWIM?

Anyway as I said before, Upright positions and moving around is what got me through the first 30 hours of active labour, and lots of hot water in the shower.

I also got up on all fours to push (with jelly legs) and I am convinced this is what eventually allowed bub to be born without assistance as he was nearly 9 pound, posterior and I have an android pelvis (suspected). I pushed for 2 hrs 15mins.

I think its really important to conserve your energy, sometimes its impossible if labour goes for days, but for a first birth dont go crazy with the first contraction. Try and rest as much as possible before the pain gets too bad. Thats something I wish I had done...I was just too excited:D

The most important thing is to have a great support team. I had a known midwife and my partner and mother. Next time im having a doula, a known midwife and my partner (im sure mum will be looking after DS:) ).

Also, birthing at home is an excellent option if you can, or at the very least in a birth centre (however i do believe if you are informed and pro-active a hospital birth can go really well too). Im not sure where I would birth next time, I would love to birth at home :fingerscrossed:

I believe supplementing during pregnancy is really important...particularly zinc, magnesium and calcium as they allow optimal functioning of the uterus...BUT all nutrients are super imortant...Francesca Naish and Jeanette Roberts have some great books about this.

Ummmm...that is all for now!:wave:

Mia

25-10-2006, 10:06 AM

I went private/obstetrician because I started the pregnancy thinking I might want an elective caesar. But as it went on I transformed into a natural birth enthusiast and really badly wanted an intervention free birth. I went 10 days overdue in the end and my obstetrician pretty much booked me for induction without giving us much alternative. I was pretty upset about this, but luckily for me the gel made things happen super fast and effectively and I had a 3.5 hour vaginal birth with no further interventions and no pain relief at all. The obstetrician/midwives literally walked into the room in time to help the baby out and then we were left alone to bond with him for ages.

I think things that helped me were:
In the last few months of pregnancy I used to think this little mantra I made up: "My body is strong; My baby knows how to be born; We are both loved."
I have done a lot of yoga and gym and kept that up right through the pregnancy, so I was strong and healthy and happy.
My pelvis really fell apart painfully in the last trimester, so I guess it was geared up to give birth.
I went to ante natal physio/exercise classes and really did practise a lot of breathing and letting go and pelvic floor focusing.
No one (including me) knew how far along I was in labour, so there wasn't really any attention on me, or examinations, or offering of pain relief until it was too late and the baby was coming out!

dragonflyblu

11-11-2006, 05:30 PM

This is a great thread. Just wanted to say thanks for all of the advice! I am sitting here with my birth plan open jotting down notes to discuss with our doula. Someone suggested to me to attach chocolates for the modwives to the birth plan. I think this is a good idea, we couldnt get into the birthing centre, so we are going to a public hospital. Would love to birth at home but we didnt even have a home in the first few months and we may need to move 2 weeks after bubs is born so its not ideal. Just going to try to make the public hospital room like a birth centre, unfortunately they have a bath in each room but we cant use them :thumbsdown:

I just wanted to add a book I have just read called "labour of love" by Gabrielle target. I found it really good for preparing me mentally and to get me into planning the labour, up until now it has been all about the pregnancy.

SassyMummy

12-11-2006, 12:00 AM

I've never had a natural birth, never even experienced so much as a single contraction. Next time, however, I am going to VBAC (yep, that's right, I'm GOING to, not "TRYING TO" but "GOING TO":yes: ).

I've decided to lose weight BEFORE I fall pregnant as I think this will make many things go in my favour. It's also healthy...so obviously it's a good thing.

I'm going to GO TO YOGA hopefully before, and hopefully during, pregnancy. I want to get a bit more in tune with my body, and know it as much as I can. I already think I know it pretty well, but a little extra flexibility and confidence can only be a good thing.

I have the right to object. Birth is not about medicine, OBs, Midwives or hospital policy. It's not about 'Trial of Labour,' Being hacked open, or being a number in queue. It's about me and my baby and my body's natural ability to give birth. I am the only person with my TRUE best interests at heart...and I'll always keep that in the back of my mind.

I'm not planning on TTC until mid-late 2008... and I'm already very interested in reading about VBAC. Hopefully my reading and research will pay off...

Don't just "wing it." I did, and ended up with 3 inductions (all failed) and a c-sec when I was 42 days "overdue." I had decided not to bother with reading much about birth itself, because I figured i'd just "go with the flow." It's a really ridiculous philosophy when giving birth...

tru

12-11-2006, 01:14 PM

I found hypnobirthing techniques really helpful for my successful natural birth - they really helped keep me relaxed throughout the whole birth. Even though I still felt pain, it was bearable and I didn't once contemplate asking for drugs. I also took raspberry leaf tablets from 32 weeks which I think helped prepare my uterus by making braxton hicks contractions stronger throughout the pregnancy. I recommend reading "Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering" by Dr Sarah Buckley, and any other books on natural birth. Having a good birth plan helps too :thumbsup:

Julie Doula

13-11-2006, 05:13 AM

becca74

13-11-2006, 12:38 PM

Excellent suggestions! There is a wealth of knowledge there. Hear, hear to all the above!
Just a word on the important of privacy in labour. Ina May Gaskin talks about "Sphincter Law". Our sphincters open up and work normally when we feel relaxed and uninhibited. Imagine trying to take a poo while people watched you, hooked you up to machines that measure your progress, said, "well, your progress is a bit slow" and yelled, "Push! push!" Hmmm. It would be a little bit off-putting.
Privacy, respect, soft lighting, warmth, ambience, warm water, soft speech, gentle handling - this is what we need to conceive and this is what we need to birth. What helps you orgasm is what helps you birth - same hormones involved!
So - smart physics: stay mobile, use gravtiy, use Optimal Fetal Positioning to get the baby anterior in the last weeks of pregnancy, perineal massage to get the tissues conditioned.
- smart chemistry: privacy to ensure optimum release of hormones
And a few little practical tips:
* Raspberry Leaf Tea in the last trimester
* Birth Tea you can make yourself from RLT, basil, nutmeg and lavender on the day
* Labour Ade - home-made rehydration drink - lemon juice, honey, pinch of salt, pinch of baking soda, 1-2 dissolveable Calcium tablets.
Last word - break the fear-tension-pain cycle. it may seem hard to believe that in a such a hugely physical event, attitude and state of mind can be so important. But that is why there are sports coaches and sports pyschologists! Some people say birth is 90% mental and 10% physical! So, whatever you do to calm your anxiety, build your confidence, empower yourself, practice relaxation, prayer, affirmations, resolving past trauma, providing for comfort & support that works for you (friend, Doula etc) - this is all important, because birth is not just a physical event - it involves your soul and spirit, as well, and the emotional, psychological, sexual and social aspects are also very significant.

Excellent Post Julie!!

I had actually read all about these things before my traumatic birth experience with DS3....(ina may is my birthing mentor). I had read both her books religiously, I had also devoured Grantley Di ck-Read, Michel Odent, Sheila Kitzinger.......

So I just want to add, dont skimp on any of these things!

I did, and it didnt matter how much I knew about how to have a great birth, if I didnt put all of these links in the chain together to plan a great birth, the chain would break. And it did with an almighty snap. I skimped on the doula. I didnt check out c/sec rates at the hospital I was at, and the midwife and ob who were my careproviders during my labour with DS3 totally ridiculed and/or ignored my birth plan.

To get my ina may style birth with my subsequent baby, I had to be very strict about who was supporting me in my labour with DS4, and very strict about the location. I cant stress this enough. Where you birth and who you allow into your birth space can either make or break your birth plan, despite your best intentions. It is sooooo important to make sure you are comfortable with who is in your birth zone.

This time round I chose only my carefully selected midwife at home, and my DH was only going to be allowed in if he agreed and supported all my choices fully and lovingly. I forced him to go to vbac classes to learn what I wanted him to know (he wasnt going to listen to me alone). I knew that if I had anyone with any negative attitude in my birth zone I would just stall. I am too sensitive to these things, as all women in labour are.

Only by being totally strict and assertive about my birth plan was I going to ensure that I would be off to a good chance of getting the birth I wanted....and I ended up getting the birth of my dreams :D

Julie Doula

16-11-2006, 03:18 PM

* Birth at home. After you've talked to a homebirth midwife and seen a few birth videos, you really get the idea it's safer than hospital.

* Michel Odent used to say, "Stand up on the bed". If you feel like you're not being heard, stand up on the bed! Bascially, don't hand over your power.

* Keep walking as long as. Dump your bags on the bed when you enter the room. It sends a message! Stay off your back. Keep moving.

*Have great support. There's doulas & birth attendants out here and we want to help Aussie women have the best births they can. Students provide free or nearly free services, and some have a sliding fee scale.

* Stay hydrated. Difficult to work that hard if you're dehydrated & got low blood sugar. Make up your own home-made Labour-Ade - great to sip on icy cold in labour.

* It's a day's hard work. Make everything as nice for yourself as poss. Own music, own doona from home, dim lights, cover the clock if you want, loving caring birth support, massage, prayers and affirming messages, and .... WATER!!!! Oooooh that birth pool feels so good!

* Beware of being induced - especially if you're a first timer and feeling impatient about being overdue. Avoid starting that domino effect of interventions.

* Check out Optimal Foetal Positioning - especially if it's your first. Get that baby lying forward by spending time on hands & knees during the last two months of pregnancy. Google to find out more. (or email me)

* Perineal massage during the last 6 weeks helps!

* Check out The Pink Kit if you get a chance!

* Make your preferences clear in your birth plan. (Doulas are a big help with this). Some people write them up on big posters and blu-tak them to the birth room walls. Hard to ignore then!

* Discuss your plan ahead of time - if your care providers are patronizing or unsupportive, change care providers! It is harder to negotiate when you are in the throes of labour. That is when it can be reassuring to have a birth attendant/doula there with you and your partner.

* Be real about the pain. Don't let it scare you. It's pain like running for longer than three minutes is like seriously painful for most of us these days! It's the pain of healthy muscles working well. It's not torture. It's hard work, that produces a fantastic result. So, work with it and let it guide you to find movements and positions that are more manageable for you.

HOPE IT ALL GOES WONDERFULLY FOR YOU! YOU CAN DO IT!
[text removed by admin]

Julie Doula

16-11-2006, 03:22 PM

Rebecca, it is so wonderful to hear of how assertive you were and how you stood firm on what you knew you needed! Good on you! You have given me goose-bumps. This is so true:
Where you birth and who you allow into your birth space can either make or break your birth plan, despite your best intentions. It is sooooo important to make sure you are comfortable with who is in your birth zone.
Big hug to you Rebecca (as my little girls say!)

Tracie

16-11-2006, 03:57 PM

Just wanted to add -

Don't accept an earlier due date because an ultrasound says so.

Stick with the date that you feel is right (if you know) and add 2 weeks to it! Use that as your due date.

Luna

26-11-2006, 09:25 AM

This is my first post and I just wanted to say thanks to you all for sharing your advice. Being my first pregnancy and with no family in town, I have opted for the private hospital and obstetrician.

I had been planning/hoping for a natural birth because my mum had five babies with no drugs, no intervention and no tearing. However, my partner and I recently finished the antenatal course at the hospital and left feeling very concerned and were seriously considering an elective c-section.

Since then I have been talking to everyone I know and reading as much as possible to reassure myself about attempting a natural delivery. So thank you for reinstating my confidence about natural birth!

demeter

26-11-2006, 09:55 AM

Great to hear Luna.
I get the impression a lot of scare-mongering goes on in hospitals (one of the reasons I won't be giving birth in one)
Its really great to know you've been taking things into your own hands and finding out whats safest and best for you :)
I hope you have the most beautiful, natural birth!

dragonflyblu

01-12-2006, 09:51 AM

Thanks so much for all the info in this thread. I had a midwife appoint yesterday with a new midwife. She was really lovely but she had very ingrained ideas about a natural birth. She basically said to me that I "may" be able to avoid and epi if I have a fluid drip and some gas. I was horrified and told her I wouldnt be having any drips or injections or anything so medical! she basically said that birth is really hard and painful and that I shouldnt be so hard on myself and just take the epi to make it easier. I didnt know what to say. I was polite and tried to change the subject. So I guess I have had a little practice run of the intervention push.

I got home and told DH and he said "no, no there wont be any of that. I will just say Thanks but not thanks, now leave us alone!" so I think delay, delay, delay might be the key with this type of midwife?

Oh yeah she also booked me in for a full blood count even though I feel great, my diet is good and I dont have any health issues... I think I just might skip the blood test. Why take blood at this late stage unless I had some obvious problems?

demeter

02-12-2006, 07:07 AM

Would you consider finding a different midwife? Doesn't sound like she's working for you, afterall its your body, your birth, so what you say goes. And you really don't need the distraction of battling for what you want while you're in labour.

Great that DH is on board and ready to advocate for you :)

dragonflyblu

02-12-2006, 04:10 PM

Thanks Demeter I am in the public system in Brisbane- so really not alot of choices. When we were trying to get pregnant we were living in Sydney and the public system down there has a lot more choices. I was booked into RPA birthing centre but then we decided to relocate to Brisbane for DH work. But next time (if we do it again) I am going to look at paying a private midwife and have a home birth, unless we are living somewhere with a good public system.

Becca74- I am going to re-format my birth plan and print several copies in colour and make sure it is obvious, like maybe on the door of the birth-room! I rewalise after my experience with the last midwife that many midwives have good intentions but dont realise that the same 'model' of 'medical care' doesnt work for everyone.

demeter

03-12-2006, 08:40 PM

Okay, I understand a bit better now. Brissy is so tough right now :crying:

At least we can relax knowing that you and DH are clear on what you want and DH is willing to get in there and advocate if need be. Lovely.

Let us know if there's anything we can do here to help you along the way :)

reverendgaea

30-04-2007, 02:26 AM

Never had a hospital birth, this will be number 3 homebirth. I am here to say that after watching them (hospital staff) almost kill my niece with intervention I had no other decision that I could make. They wouldn't like me anyway I carry to much of my own power for those kind of people. Just remember that who you chose at a homebirth is just as important as who you chose for the hospital. Didn't work out spiritually so well with the last midwife so I am travelling 1600 miles pregnant this time to have my first midwife again and so that I can have my mother and my sister there. Best decision I ever made. I feel so confident and relaxed about the whole thing.

I was wondering however... Julie Doula mentioned this Birth Tea and it is different than the ones I used. I realize that it has been some time sense these posts but can someone tell me what "RTL" is? Can anyone tell me?

[quote=* Birth Tea you can make yourself from RLT, basil, nutmeg and lavender on the day
* Labour Ade - home-made rehydration drink - lemon juice, honey, pinch of salt, pinch of baking soda, 1-2 dissolveable Calcium tablets.[/quote]

Reverend Gaea

Julie Doula

29-05-2007, 08:29 PM

Yes - Raspberry Leaf Tea. I have 40 pages of research on it if you are interested! (just pm me).

Also -

* Evening Primrose Oil during the last weeks is said to help produce prostaglandins that help ripen the cervix

* Manuka honey is fantastic on the healing perineum (I 've got pages of research on that too). Yep, a bit sticky on the pad but if you're about to get into a nice herb & sea salt bath, no worries eh?

* Squeezy bottles to squirt a gentle stream over the perineum is great for those first few tender days

* Herb bath: try lavender, rosemary, uva ursi, sage, calendula, (and goldenseal if you've got some), smells heavenly and I found these baths so soothing & healed quick. (I took the babies in for more skin-to-skin).

I agree with you ReverendGaoea, about choosing your homebirth cp wisely. I learned that from experience.

reverendgaea

30-05-2007, 12:10 AM

Oh... good, I always use a mix of raspberry leaf, alfalfa, nettle and as I get closer I add a little oatstraw to the mix too. With my son I needed more iron so I used a little yellow dock root as well. Sweetend with natural juice or home grown honey. Tastes delicious and is very nutritious and strengthening. I find that if you add the yellow dock that it tastes better if you cold brew it slowly... less bitter flavor.

This pregnancy I moved to a hot dry climate so I seem to need more salt. I hardly ever use salt in anything so it is a little weird to me... but a pinch of sea salt here or there really helps with my swelling feet. Never had much problems with that before but as I said completely different climate.

Herb Bath... I add comfrey to that mix and plantain. I swear by the goldenseal but I don't use the sage very often because I don't like the smell that much. I also add a little bit of epson salt, baking soda and witch hazel sometimes. really takes the muscle aches away.

I don't know what manuka honey is but I do know that honey numbs the nerve endings slightly and has anti-germ properties as well as an ability to aid healing.

The spiritual setting for any birth sets the tone for the whole affair. It is either a celebration or an emergency. I am happy that my births have been a celebration... even my son's midwife did not totally change that for me she just dampened the reveling. :angel:

JATS

30-05-2007, 01:41 AM

If anyone has tips on avoiding Placenta previa I'm all ears. :rolleyes: :laughing:

Tom was in the right position, he was a good size and I was all mentally preped and ready for a VB, had taken all the raspberry leaf and other stuff supposed to make labour easier, Only to find the d@mn placenta was in the way!

Everything else was perfect!

My C/S was fantastic, but I'd love a VBAC next time. Apparently I have a high risk of getting PP again though.

So if anone can tell me how to aviod/fix placenta previa I'm all ears!:laughing:

Julie Doula

30-05-2007, 08:13 AM

Herb Bath... I add comfrey to that mix and plantain. I swear by the goldenseal ... I also add a little bit of epson salt, baking soda and witch hazel sometimes. really takes the muscle aches away.

The spiritual setting for any birth sets the tone for the whole affair. It is either a celebration or an emergency. :angel:

Oh yes! I forgot the comfrey. Of course! You've given us some other good ideas, too. I like Sea Salt in the bath too (Celtic Sea Salt is my favourite but I think that's just because of the Irish connotations - our #1 was born in Ireland).

I just heard about the use of GLA (Gamma Linolenic Acid - an omega-6 essential fatty acid) in late pregnancy to help prepare for labour because it is a pre-cursor to prostaglandin. It's found in Evening Primrose oil, spirulina, blackcurrant seed oil and is highly concentrated in Borage Seed Oil.

Has anyone had any experience with this?

Totally agree with you Reverendgaea about the spiritual climate.

Julie Doula

30-05-2007, 08:36 AM

If anyone has tips on avoiding Placenta previa I'm all ears. :rolleyes: :laughing:

My C/S was fantastic, but I'd love a VBAC next time. Apparently I have a high risk of getting PP again though.

Hi Jats,

Nope, sorry, Nettle tea is wonderful but as far as I know it won't tell the placenta where to grow!;)

Shame about that pp, darn, and you were all ready, too! About 1 in 500 women get pp, and although you do have a 'higher' risk of getting it again (as does everyone), I wouldn't say you are 'high risk' because that's not a helpful label: the chances of you NOT having another placenta previa and higher than getting one! Also one of the side-effects of c/s is the whole placenta accretia thing, when the placenta likes to grow over the scar ... not ideal! It is a risk, it does happen - but looking on the positive, thousands of women have successful VBACs, your odds are good if that's what you really want!

It is good to hear that you c/s was a positive experience, especially as you did not have any choice but to have one. Glad it was a good experience, it sure is good to know that the technology & expertise is there in cases like yours. It could happen to anyone. I have a friend who had three blissful homebirths and a c/s for #4, which was an unusual breech presentation (if it had been a usual breech, she could have birthed safely at home - but this one definitely needed a c/s). She's had a broader personal experience of birth than many of us. Her story is powerful.

It's good that you can celebrate your c/s birth. Good on you Jats.

Have you found "Birthrites - Healing After Ceasarian" yet? They would be a good source of info for wanting a VBAC after previous placenta praevia. Maybe through them you could find someone who's had that experience - a c/s for pp and a then a VBAC?

All the best Jats, keep hopeful, may your next birth be all that your heart desires.

no1bub

30-05-2007, 04:47 PM

Great thread!!!

Im just wondering what exactly raspberry leaf tea does?

Im going to go buy some evening primrose oil, just wondering what the tea does before i buy it aswell :D

Also, i had a quick look at manuka honey today in the health food shop (after reading this thread, i hadnt heard of it before this!), and the label sounds as though we are supposed to eat it... but to help healing i assume we put it 'down there' on the tears etc, so just seeking some clarification on that as well :yes:
Oh and the label also has different ratings... ie 5 and 10, i cant remember what units they are measured in... it has something to do with the activity. I assume the higher the number the more activity, so the better it works? Or will strong ones be too much for sensitive areas? :laughing:

JATS

30-05-2007, 05:21 PM

All the best Jats, keep hopeful, may your next birth be all that your heart desires.

Thankyou!

Already doing plenty of VBAC research, ta for mentioning that birthrites site.

Julie Doula

30-05-2007, 08:16 PM

Im just wondering what exactly raspberry leaf tea does?

Also, i had a quick look at manuka honey ... sounds as though we are supposed to eat it... but to help healing i assume we put it 'down there' on the tears etc, so just seeking some clarification on that as well :yes:

Hi there, yep RLT is said to help nourish and tone the uterus, and there is an anecdotal tale that a strong brew can really get some good strong effective cx happening (pm if you'd like me to email the story to you - it's too long to post here.) It is very rich in Vit C and other vitamins, I figured, well, it can't hurt so I brewed up a good cupful of the leaves in warm water & drank it after I was in labour. No ill effects and labour went well.

Yes, the manuka honey does have real healing properties (and the reserach has been done) - it is being used topically to heal slow-healing wounds. Some midwives use it on the perineum, pretty sticky but you are anyway right after birth right? and if you're about to step into your nice herbal bath that'd be all right.

I don't think it matters which strength you use on the perineum but you could check with the health food shop person behind the counter.

I figure that giving birth, while a wonderful experience, is also reeeellly hard work - so all pampering and self-nurture is well-deserved - especially after months of discipline & preparation to prepare for the big event. You deserve that TLC!

Thought of something else. I added a few drops of tea tree oil to my baths - has anyone else? It is a natural antiseptic (btw Manuka is the New Zealand tea tree). I had super sore nipples the first few weeks (anyone need tips on coping with that ... hoh boy can I share from (painful) experience!) so I was very in to lots of baths - for soothing BOTH ends.

Also plenty of Zinc is essential for breast-feeding - it's the kind of nutrient that is easy to have a mild deficiency of in our modern world.

And they reckon Fish Oil during pregnancy is a good idea - all those nice Omega 3 oils.
Your body rocks - rock your body! :smiliedance:

no1bub

01-06-2007, 04:08 PM

Thanks Julie Doula, you are ever so smart! :D :yelclap:

I am now drinking my first brew of RFT, tastes delicious... i think i will continue to drink it even after pregnancy!

kymmy

11-06-2007, 09:09 PM

This is a very enlightening thread. I think the most powerful thing you can do is be informed and educated. Also to trust in your own body.
I avoided intervention by avoiding the medical people. :) I birthed in hospital but pretended I was at home as much as possible - I own my body wherever I am.

chant

12-06-2007, 09:17 PM

I've just come across this thread and haven't read all of the posts. But my 2 cents:

* spend some time during pregnancy doing mental/emotional/spiritual preparation.

In my area there is a wonderful woman who runs weekly gatherings where pregnant women can share their feelings and experiences of pregnancy and plans for labour. It helped get me in touch with my body and my baby before the labour. It helped me take the time to reflect on my journey. Also it gave me confidence to be hearing the positive natural birth stories that the women would come back with after their babies were born.

I also chose a meaningful "mantra" that I repeated during the latter part of my pregnancy which I used during the labour to focus and this helped to keep the unwanted fearful thoughts at bay. This sounds a bit airy fairy but this 3rd labour is the first in which I did this and it made a *huge* difference to me.

Julie Doula

12-06-2007, 09:24 PM

I birthed in hospital but pretended I was at home as much as possible - I own my body wherever I am.

I love it!

:yelclap:

mishlc

18-06-2007, 09:39 PM

What an awesome idea.

I have learnt so much off this site and chatted to some awesome people. Here is a bit about my first birth experience:

I had my first baby, Georgia Charis, at Bentley Hospital 14th October 2005. I went in for a check up as she hadn't been moving much, my Dr said to go in Fri morning and back again on Mon morn to see how she was going. I went in 10am Fri, was hooked up to the monitor aout 10:30am and when the midwife came in to check the readings about 10 mins later, she looked worried and said "Your having the baby today my dear" I was shocked, as you would be and naturally asked "Am I in Labour" "No" she replied, I said "Are you going to induce me?" "No" she said, "I am calling your Dr now, you are going into theatre NOW, your having a Caesarian" and with that she took off out of the room with the phone and my husband and I were left there thinking, What on earth is going on! So the phone calls began to tell our parents etc I was going in to have the baby today. This was done by my husband because of course I was absolutley bawling my eyes out. The midwife finally came back in about 5 mins later very apologetic however stressing to me, my baby was in distress and they needed to get her out ASAP. I asked if I could just be induced instead or something, anything other than having a Caesarian, she explained no this couldn't happen because my baby probably wouldn't survive. With this, I broke down again.

After much consolidation :kiss: , the next thing I know I am being shaved and putting on a lovely Hospital gown and preparing for theatre. I was in Theatre about 12 noon and eventually my baby was born 1:04pm (the delay was due to the Anaesthetist not being able to work out the machine for the drip???) I didn't get to hold my baby until about 3pm that afternoon as, when I was taken to recovery (and assured it would only be for 10 mins) the nurse in there couldn't work out the paperwork or something so wouldn't let me go upstairs until she had. It was a complete stuff up. My husband had held her and showed me her in Theatre and then she was whisked off to have all her measurements done etc. Until I held her she had been upstairs with my Mum and my Sister-in-Law until I came up. I was later told by my Mum, she had been asking where I was saying Georgia needed to be bonding with me and they were just saying "yes, she should be here by now" however making no real attempt to find out why I wasn't. She was born 1:04pm and I didn't hold her until about 3pm. That was such a loooong time, I tell you.

This time round I am armed with so much more knoweledge. I truly beleive if they'd monitored me longer I probably could have been induced or just left to see how she went. She was born with an APGAR result of 9 at 1 min and 9 at 5 min so I don't think she was very distressed..? I may be wrong and will never really know how she was, I was glad to hold her in my arms at the end of the day but it did take me a while to get over and being told because I'd had a C/S I would subsequently have to have C/S for all future births I was heartbroken. Then 1 of the midwives told me, I could try VBAC at KEMH. So I asked my Dr his advice, which was to wait a bit longer between babies to give the scar time to heal and to have a CT done to see how my pelvis shaped up. The CT showed I was a bit narrower than average and so he would recommend I just book to have elective C/S.

I am now 27wks and have decided "NO" I am having a VBAC.

I found alot of great info on a site called birthrites
http://www.birthrites.org

So much help and info on there.

So now I am in the midst of changing Obs in order to have the birth I want, not what is easier for my Drs schedule.

Good Luck to all expecting mothers out there and again, what an awesome idea for thread!

xxx Mish