Today was my last visit with my OB/GYN. Hopefully, new insurance permitting, my last visit with an OB/GYN. I am determined to find a nurse-midwife to take us through the last four months of this pregnancy. That simply was not an option here in this rural community. However, hubby and I are relocating (SOON! I will post confirmation and specifics by the end of the week!) and hopefully our new more metropolitan home will have more alternatives for prenatal care and child birth.
Before I go further, I have to say that for the most part, I have had a WONDERFUL experience with my OB/GYN, Dr. W. She is intelligent, caring, and obviously experienced. I respect her, and believe she has given me excellent care throughout my pregnancy. Dr. W always has the time for and the answers to my questions, which is what I've needed most through this stage of my pregnancy. However, I have never asked her about her philosophies on Cesarean Sections, pain control, or labor induction. She made a comment today that leads me to believe that she and I may have some fundamental differences when it comes to the way we view child birth.
We were saying our good-byes on what was to be our last visit together when she said, "Just remember when you're lying on the delivery table, there is only one thing you need to remember: EPIDURAL." I was so taken back all I could do is laugh and make some non-committal comment, but that is the last thing I wanted to hear from my caregiver. Admittedly she has delivered HUNDREDS of babies, where as I am completely inexperienced...but I want to know from the get-go that the person delivering my baby believes not only that labor pains are perfectly acceptable, but has the utmost faith that I have the strength, like all women do, to endure them.
Her comment today really solidified for me that I am committed to having a natural childbirth. My mom delivered three babies naturally (Zach at home!) and I had always just assumed that I would do the same, without giving it much thought. Well, now that I am pregnant I have been doing research on epidurals, Oxytocin, and other commonly administered pain drugs, and I have decided that I want no part of it. I know tons of women who have used these methods, and all of them have healthy wonderful babies. However, I also know there are risks. Epidurals increase the risk of delivering by C-Section because the women, numb from the waist down, can't push effectively. To compensate the OB/GYN administers Pitocin, which puts stress on the baby, who then can go into distress. Oxytocin, or Pitocin, commonly given to induce labor or along with an epidural, causes more intense contractions with shorter intervals, which can bee too stressful for the baby. At least that is what I have understood based on my limited reading.
I realize I am no expert, I really don't understand the whole argument for and against all the various medical procedures. However, I DO understand that childbirth is a natural process and the female body has evolved to be a competent baby delivering machine! It seems that standard hospital delivery procedures have become far more medicalized than need be. OB/GYN's are trained as surgeons first. Therefore, some feel more comfortable and in control while using scalpels and drugs to moderate the body. Then there is the fact that hospitals and doctors make more money when epidurals and C-Sections are administered. I read a statistic today that one in five women currently deliver with a C-Section. That just seems crazy. I KNOW C-Sections sometimes save babies lives, but doesn’t 20% seem a little excessive?
After today's appointment I started reading The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer, and she definitely thinks the national C-Section rate is over the top. I won't lie, this woman writes with serious bias in favor of all natural childbirth when possible. However, it's obvious she has done her homework, and I am finding it a fascinating read. I have only read through chapter IV, yet at this point I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn some information your OB/GYN probably isn't going to tell you. The book explores all of the options available to women with various conditions under different circumstances. She gives solid pros and cons for the medical vs. the natural approaches to childbirth. So there's my plug for the day.
I will be probably be looking for a good nurse-midwife in the Bay Area VERY soon, so if anyone has any recommendations or tips on choosing let me know!
3 comments:
If you look at the attached picture long enough, it begins to look like Homer Simpson.
Hi there! Was reading your past blog entries and had a comment for ya! I had three kids (as you know) and I've had one with pain killers (my first), one natural (my second) and one with an epidural (my last). To be honest with you, I think it's pretty awesome of you to have the baby naturally. I'm lucky, no C Sections ever. I have heard that water births are more relaxing for you. I wish I had tried that. :) And do lots of squats! It really helps!
Post a Comment