After writing last week's post on the Ideal Birth, I haven't been able to stopping thinking about the topic. Why was I believing some random OB/GYN commenting on a blog post over a good friend of mine? The OB didn't really cite any stronger evidence for her statement than my friend. And then I realized, I couldn't articulate a good response to either comment because, frankly, I know nothing about birthing a baby. This realization coupled with the fact that the hypnobirth course I signed up for suggested some pre-course reading materials, has me reading yet another book. This one about birth.
The book was one of two suggested readings from the HypnoBirth instructor - The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer. (The other for those wondering was Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin.) I figured that I'm a "thinking woman" so having a guide to a "better" birth might be helpful. I bought the book at 9:00 last night and have read 150 pages within 24 hours - you could say I'm completely absorbed in it. I've now realized that I really don't know anything about labor and birthing a baby and will be armed with a legal sized pad of paper full of questions at my next OB appointment.
I still think that every woman should choose whatever birth suits her best and that we shouldn't judge one another for our selected birth plan. And while I continue to have low expectations about my personal birth (or I should say Lukas' birth - he's the one being birthed, I've already had my birth 29 years ago...), I now have, shall we say, hopes. Actually, until I talk to my doctor, I now have major question marks and a few concerns, but at least I'm now more informed about all the options out there.
My main questions/concerns now are -
Can I eat and drink once I'm at the hospital? (I really hope so, because I don't function well on an empty stomach. I'm also not a pleasant person to be around when I'm hungry and one can only assume I'm not going to be the world's most pleasant person that day, so why make it worse? Also, I don't stop eating before a half marathon, and I certainly don't stop drinking water, so why should I during labor? I know, I know, the fear of having to have surgery and having a full stomach - but what about someone who gets in a car crash after having a large meal? The doctors still proceed with surgery on them and how often do you hear about them dying or having complications due to having food in their bellies? Mr. Cob, the lawyer that he is, says that the reason doctors won't allow eating or drinking during labor is purely to cover themselves and avoid litigation. There really are too many lawyers out there...)
Must I deliver lying on my back? After doing some reading, my friend appears to be on to something when she said this is not the most ideal way to give birth.
How long can I go past my due date before being scheduled for an induction? While hopefully this won't be an issue, I'd be comfortable waiting 10 days to 14 days, but ask me again on November 5 if I still feel this way.
Is a C-section absolutely necessary for a breech baby?
Would a doula be helpful?
These are just a few of my questions as of now and I'm sure my list will continue to grow as the weeks continue to tick by.
Here's to be informed.
When I was in PT school I learned that delivering on your back is the MOST ergonimically INEFFICIENT way possible to deliver...in other cultures squatting and being on all fours are fairly common. It blows my mind that the laying on your back way is still so widely used. I guess that's where we stand in modern medicine...in the backwoods. I have heard though that Northside (Forsyth) offers some of these other alternative options.
ReplyDeleteI think a few weeks before delivery the baby can be assisted into proper positioning, but they get too big to do it at the very end sometimes, and c-sections are really more for both of your well being at that point. I had a pilates PT teacher that had to have 2 c-sections and she insisted on being cut vertically as opposed to the traditional "below the bikini" cut so as to preserve her transverse abdominus muscle (the deepest layer of your core). Muscles grow back better if they are cut perpendicular to the fibers. Seems counter-intuitive, but it's true! You can see her scar but her abs are pretty much awesome.
Hopefully my comments make sense; although I am fairly inexperienced in this department, so sorry if I have just been rambling! I hope you're doing well! ~Jaclyn