Comments on: Monday Teeny Poll

By: TeleriB

TeleriB — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:32:11 +0000

I had a midwife and doula at the hospital. Even though I was restricted to the bed because of blood pressure and the doula couldn’t use her bag of tricks, she was oh-so worth the money.

And I learned my father would make an awesome doula. (I delivered a month early; he was down visiting by coincidence and ended up in the delivery room with us. Most serendipitous thing that’s probably happened in my life.)

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By: Meg

Meg — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 20:48:40 +0000

I had a doula and an OB (none of the midwife options on my insurance were taking new patients at the time), but my OB was fairly non-interventional. I gave birth in the local hospital and would have tried to go it natural, but ended up induced due to pre-eclampsia leading to emergency C-section. With as fast as that decision went down, I will probably go hospital over birthing center again — world of difference for the baby when the operating room is right down the hall versus down the street.

By: raincoaster

raincoaster — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 17:23:44 +0000

I’m what’s known as a “geriatric mother” which means anyone over age 25. And as such, ain’t no way I’m taking any chances. I’ll be giving birth in a hospital (should I find a sucker to go into this with me) with a midwife.

My sister was born in a hospital, as was I (uneventfully) but she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her throat and if she hadn’t been whisked off to the Intensive Care Unit immediately, she’d have died. I will never forget that.

Hospitals put utility first, there’s no question, but the good ones do recognize the miracle of birth and allow some leeway. Visitors, cigars, champagne, it’s all in good spirits and they’re happy to see it (as long as you’re not next to an oxygen tank!)

By: Tizzy

Tizzy — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:15:37 +0000

My sister was planning to give birth with a dola (I think that’s the word) and a midwife at Women & Infants in Providence, RI but she ended up having to have an emergency C -section. I can’t imagine trying to give birth without emergency medical care available. I don’t understand the appeal but then I’ve never been pregnant.

By: Bellamama

Bellamama — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 05:53:41 +0000

I had my first in a hospital and I will have my second in the same place. I know the prevailing fashion is for home-births, but I never could see the point. When I went into labor I wanted to be somewhere clean, where I felt safe, and where someone knew what they were doing – because I sure didn’t! The hospital provided all these things plus the marvelous advantage of an epidural. Unfortunately I made them stop the epidural for the pushing. I pushed for two hours in terrible pain and ended up resenting my little son for the experience.

I once went to a birthing class where the teacher told me I’d be less of a mother, and less of a woman, if I didn’t choose natural childbirth – I should WANT to do it. I’m sorry, but I thought the whole point is to get the baby out of your belly and into your arms as safely as possible. No prizes for pain.

By: dgm

dgm — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 01:37:54 +0000

My first was with a midwife in a hospital, at least until it became an emergency and the aptly named Dr. Cutting performed a c-section. Still, in a perfect world I’d still go for the midwife at home.

By: Brian's Babymomma

Brian's Babymomma — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 22:15:37 +0000

I had a midwife in a hospital. No doctors, no drugs, but everything was close by.

By: gemdiva

gemdiva — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 22:03:33 +0000

My son is now 31 and I had him in a regular old hospital which was pretty much it back in the day. I was present for the birth of my grandaughter and that was a revelation! My son and her mom were also present during the delivery. Prior to that, during her labor, it was SRO in the room with multiple family members and friends drifting in and out. When I realized that this was the same room where they intended to deliver the baby, I had this overwhelming impulse to start sterilizing things. There was both a midwife and a Dr. present at the birth. I’m tellin’ you, it was crowded. All in all, though, I think it was a pretty good combo of options and the baby was and still is healthy and happy.

By: marvel

marvel — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 21:13:37 +0000

Loved, loved, loved my in-hospital experience, especially my epidural and my OB RNs. Seen too much go down too fast and too many unexpected bad outcomes to feel comfortable anywhere too far from an OB, a delivery suite and at least a level II nursery. But that’s my personal experience.