The Labor & Delivery Thread

[blurnette989]

I did the 12 week Bradley course for my first and never realized how religious or paternalistic the original teachers/owners were. Thankfully my teacher was more progressive and left out a lot of the weird outdated stuff that was related to evidence based stuff. MH REALLY benefitted though because he had never watched a birth and had no idea what it could be like.

For DS2 we did a 4 hour refresher with my doula and it was great. Just enough to recall everything MH had forgotten. I'm a medical science nerd and super into birth politics, so it was new for me, but more helpful for him.

This time we aren't doing anything except dry runs to the hospital so he knows how to get there fast. Lol.

[chriskoo]

We did and 8 week course through our local public health system last time, it was great. This time we’ll just wing it.

[Dramaphile]

Jun 1, 2018 1:42:43 GMT -6 blurnette989 said:

I did the 12 week Bradley course for my first and never realized how religious or paternalistic the original teachers/owners were. Thankfully my teacher was more progressive and left out a lot of the weird outdated stuff that was related to evidence based stuff. MH REALLY benefitted though because he had never watched a birth and had no idea what it could be like.

For DS2 we did a 4 hour refresher with my doula and it was great. Just enough to recall everything MH had forgotten. I'm a medical science nerd and super into birth politics, so it was new for me, but more helpful for him.

This time we aren't doing anything except dry runs to the hospital so he knows how to get there fast. Lol.

Yeah I felt the first time around that it was really helpful for MH because he wasn't going to read up on birth like I was and he gets stressed out about medical things.  Knowing how labor progresses and what the stages are and how things can take a really long time and still be normal was really helpful to calm his nerves about the birth.  And watching the birth videos in class helped him prepare for seeing everything (he actually ended up watching in a mirror when he swore he did not want to)

[meggriffin]

May 30, 2018 9:58:08 GMT -6 mirabelle said:

Yesterday my OB said at my next appointment we will schedule my rcs firm date, she is aiming for 8/31 because she operates on Fridays. It’s getting real. I’m scared, but ready for a more controlled experience this time around or at least the illusion.

Is anyone else having rcs here?

Someone asked me in mixed company recently if I’m having a c-section with this one... it was a bit weird. I kept thinking do people who deliver vaginally get asked, “will you be delivering this baby vaginally?” Maybe they do.

I will be having a scheduled c section this time, I was also told at my June appointment we would go ahead and schedule it. I can’t believe it’s that time already- they also told me after this next appointment I start going every other week- how did that happen already?!

[hibachi]

I plan on doing whatever works best for me. If I need pain meds I will, if not, I won't. With DS my water broke at 37 weeks. I had my strep test the day before and the results weren't back, so they put me on antibiotics and wanted to get him out sooner than later. As soon as I got to the hospital they wanted to put me on pitocin because my contractions weren't very strong. I asked to wait. After about an hour and nothing really happening my doctor said to start pitocin, so I did. My water broke at 2am and he was born at 1 pm, so it wasn't long.

I did not have an epidural. One thing that was a pleasant surprise was I thought the contractions were bad and that they would lead up to pushing which would be worse. I found that pushing was such a relief. Once I was able to start pushing it was not nearly as painful.

[poppy]

I didn't have much of a choice in the matter last time. My doctor refused to let me go overdue and told me at 39w6d that I could have my baby that night or the next and be induced. He was all about reducing risk and keeping shit under control. I'm totally ok with that. The worst part of labor for me was them breaking my water. I cried and hated how it felt. My body responded well to induction. I went in and started the process at around 7 pm the 28th (my EDD) then had S at 2:32 the next day. Pretty good!

I LOVED my epidural and won't wait as long to get one this go around. I was in active labor pushing and thought "I could totally do this again". I did push for a long time and peanut got a little stuck. I was being stubborn and didn't want an episiotomy and kept ignoring the suggestion by the doctor to have one.

The major letdowns was not being able to move around at all due to the fetal monitor. And having oxygen during labor. I hate the mask and the horrible smell of oxygen so that gave my H and I something to fight about since I wouldn't leave it on.

[blurnette989]

poppy why would your doctor not let you go over? Just curious.

[tbirdlove]

I'm resurrecting this to talk birth doulas. Did anyone have one? How was your experience and would you recommend one? The few people I know personally who've had one have had a really good experience.

I wish I had had one with DS, and I thought I would hire one for sure if I had more babies. But since I've kinda taken a step back from focusing on a med free birth, I've also figured it would be a waste to hire a doula. But we're starting to consider it again. I know MH is going to be just as lost again even though he's "done this before". He even likes the idea of having more L&D support.

(side story - my Mom weasled her way into the delivery room with DS. We didn't really want her there and we told her so for months prior, but alas there she was all. darn. day. Then at crunch time when MH looked like he might pass out and I would be all alone, I asked her to stay. She was very helpful at the end, but I don't want to go that route again!)

[pixiepink24]

I had a doula. But she was also a friend. It was her gift to me.
I personally loved it!
I went in so confident in my team. She never left my side. There was one other Birth going on at the same time with another woman that was with the same midwife practice so my midwife did have to leave occasionally. My doula also met me at my house and did counter pressure and helped me when DD transitioned. She also calmed me, kept my forehead cool and fed me ice, snacks, and cool drinks. She's just amazing. I plan to have her at this birth as well. My SO isn't the best with words or what to do in times of need so it was very helpful. Never once did I even think of pain meds or that I couldn't do it. So empowering!

If I didn't have her as a doula, i 100% would have gotten a postpartum doula (if I had the money). I really needed that extra help right after the birth with my SO's traveling.

[tbirdlove]

Thank you for sharing pixiepink24 😊 I thought about it a lot yesterday and I think we're really going to look into doing it!

[getdownplease]

tbirdlove I had a birth doula and a pp doula. I really liked my birth doula, but I’m not sure it was totally necessary to have her there. I labored very quickly and very internally with the hypnobirthing approach. So she did a lot of sitting around until I needed something.

My pp doula cooked, cleaned, and did 2 overnights with us so yeah, amazing.

[blurnette989]

I had Douglas with both my boys births and I'm glad I did. The two births were so dramatically different. Also after my first birth I was open to not having a doula to save money and MH was the one who said no we absolutely need a doula. And he was right. The birth was so different that and it was overwhelming for mh in different ways than the first. He loved having the support and I did too.

And Doulas aren't just for med free. I good doula supports you in whatever birth you want. My first wasn't med free and my second was. Doulas just support birth. I wouldn't choose a doula who wouldn't support a C-section personally, because every woman needs support during birth.

[tbirdlove]

getdownplease and blurnette989 thank you both for sharing your experiences! I've got someone who was highly recommended by a friend and I'm going to get in touch with her on Monday. I think it will make a big difference to have a calming presence who knows what they're doing and how to support me (and MH), physically and emotionally, with whatever happens.