Anyone had a natural birth in hospital?

[MrsHuxtable]

I'm wondering. I'd like to hear some positive and lovely birth stories. Has anyone on here managed to have a natural and intervention free birth at hospital?
If so, was it hard to get it?

See I really don't understand why women have an issue with medical intervention surly the only thing that should matter is a safe birth and a healthy baby?

Yes I know in some places women have no option but to have babies in mud huts but there are a lot of charities trying to bring medical/ midwife/ equipment to these women as the death rate is alarming

I think the point keepinmind is that any intervention has associated risks so if they can be avoided then it's better for the mother and child. Then it's not uncommon to get to hosp. and end up with an epidural etc etc when in another setting or with different support this might not have been necessary.

I believe that if I'd had a doula for my first then I would not have had an epidural. I don't regret that I did because it was right for me at the time, but ideally it would have been better not to have had it.

bonkers - I agree - I had a difficult labour, an epidural and end up with EMCS with my first- I was fine, baby was fine - and over all that was mattered - but it wasn't the greatest start for either of us - so with my 2nd i did what I could to avoid intervention and to have a natural birth - it was a way way better experience and recovery was much better, if I had end up with another section, or other intervention, it wouldn't have been the end of the world but I am very glad I didn't

Keepinmind, medical intervention can harm you and your baby. Some policies and protocols that interfere with the body's natural ability to birth your baby can affect it negatively.

Sometimes one unnecessary minor intervention can lead to extremely necessary major intervention.

Many women may well think 'oh thank god I was in hospital for that' when actually the whole thing would have probably been avoided being necessary if they had stayed at home/been left in piece etc.

I was fully prepared but still ended up with forceps due to circumstances out of my control but will still be trying for a natural VBAC this time.

Personally I would still count a birth with G&A as natural, however I know that personally I got a little carried away with it. I had managed to 8 cms with nothing so I should have just not bothered! I too used a birthing pool (in the midwife led unit) but was only allowed in for 4 hrs.

As I say DS1 was induced but I had no pain meds and no intervention, spent a while walking up and down waiting for things to start then went to the delivery room and had a lovely midwife

Had a natural birth with DC2 - not entirely by choice as I wanted drugs but dilated too quickly! However I would recommend reading up on your options, and making sure that you pass that information on to your birth partner so they can communicate on your behalf to the midwives. Also, be ready (or have them ready) to ask questions if the medical staff want to intervene, e.g.

• Why do I need this?
• What are the risks to me and the baby if we do/don't do it?
• What happens if we don't do this right now and wait half an hour? I found having information made me feel a lot more in control of things.

And if you want a positive story, I went into hospital at 8pm, was sent home at 10.30 as 'nothing happening', was back in at midnight and 10CMS DILATED, DS born at 2.30. Had I thought at the time I would have pointed out that DC was was pretty fast first stage and slow second stage, which was exactly what labour 2 was like. As it was, DS was born with no intervention, I was walking around an hour or so after delivery, and was back home with DD none the wiser. It was luck more than anything though, no tearing or anything, unlike with DD whose position was less than optimal. (I seriously recommend perineal massage ladies!)

Yes - 4 happy natural births in 2 different hospitals. 2 were water births - other 2 were a bit too quick for that. Midwives were lovely and everything was very calm.

Never would have wanted a home birth although lots of friends have loved them. Just not enough space and too many children at home for me!

Good luck whatever you decide.

DD1 I was induced as 13 days over and they wouldn't let me go any further over, was bed bound on a drip so had epidural but delivered without assistance

DD2 shot out like a rocket in a hospital corridor lol -not a doctor in site (but a very shocked looking porter!)

My DD1 was completely natural - if you don't count gas and air, which does nothing for the pain anyway. It was quick, too - all over in 2 hours, the very painful bit about 30-40 min. Wouldn't describe it as lovely, though. 30-40 min in intense pain still feels pretty long.

i had a natural birth at hospital with my second child...the night nurse wasnt in the mood for giving birthing aids or following my birthing plan...it was alright. but hospitals have their own agenda...if you want your experience the way you desire i would suggest paying, as it can depend on who you get on the night

Natural birth, in hospital, in a birthing pool with a few puffs of G&A. Lovely lovely midwife who had been with me throughout most of my pregnancy delivered my ds

I gave birth in water, with nothing but gas and air, without a single internal exam, and in a hospital. The catch is, it was a midwife-led birthing unit. I'd been in latent stage labour for 3 days at home, and when I'd come in to be checked in the main ward the bright lights and noise and bustle actually made the pain worse. The MWL unit was low-lit and quiet and a pleasant place to be, and that helped a lot. I was grateful to be in a hospital that had both, and I have to say a lot of women started in the MWL and then went upstairs when they wanted an epidural. But I still think starting somewhere nice probably made that worth it for them.

People are all so different, but I actually found it as nice as being at home, with the reassurance of a full medical support if needed. And I couldn't float in the bath at home at 9 months pregnant, either - the water no longer even covered the bump there!

I honestly think how your birth goes is down to more than "a little bit" of luck. It's more like almost entirely luck - in how your body copes, in how nice the staff on duty that night are, etc...

I did no preparation, no fanny massage, no yoga, no breathing exercises, no birth plan (beyond signing consent forms for interventions). I booked into the university clinic, which isn't very touchy-feely, but you can have every intervention known to medical science there. DD was born naturally and without any problems within four hours, but it certainly wasn't due to anything I'd done. Plenty of my friends did loads of preparation and ended up with inductions, C-sections, etc. And that is no sign of "failure" on their part - nor, often, on the part of the hospital, whose priority is for you both to come through it all safe and well.

In my hospital everyone was lovely, put no pressure on for interventions but equally told me not to try and be a hero. Everyone has different experiences and pain thresholds and an epidural can be an absolutely brilliant thing. Incidentally, while yes it does carry (small) risks, it can also aid the birth as well as the pain. If a woman's in too much pain sometimes she can't dilate properly, and an epidural will fix that. My doctor told me he'd often seen cervixes "open up like flowers" after giving an epidural.

It really does depend on your individual situation and that's hard to predict before it's actually happening. I'm all for complaining vigorously if a hospital is doing something they shouldn't be, that's important, but equally I wouldn't beat yourself up if you decide you'd rather have some pain relief after all. It wouldn't be your fault, and there's nothing wrong with having it.

It has so little do with being in hospital/not being in hospital, and all to do with YOU. I've had two totally different births - both in hosp. The first one, thank god I was in hospital, as I would have died without a major magnesium sulphate infusion (severe pre-eclampsia). The second, I could have been anywhere - she just pushed her own way out. It was so nice to have a nurse bring a cup of tea to me afterwards tho.

I agree its just luck a lot of the time. I read no literature on childbirth, didnt go to NCT and didnt even bother turning up to the free NHS one. Had no birth plan whatsoever except turn up and give birth, just didnt facy an epidural or anythig as dont like needles.

I was just with my husband in the water pool place with a midwife I saw for about 10 minutes over all the hours I was there. When my mum rang the hospital they had never even heard of me!! I did it all just by sitting with my husband in the dark in the pool with no staff until my husband rang the bell a fair few times as no midwife even came then!

If its going to happen like that then it will so no point stressing about it and getting worked up before the birth

I agree with Weissbier and think it luck. People invest so much in it-I just went with the flow. I went to antenatal classes, but no way was I going to write a birth plan -I have no idea how you are supposed to know what you want when you haven't done it before! I was just open minded. Everyone was friendly, all 3 times, in all 3 hospitals and the births were easy. Just luck.

Was birth partner for my BF's first DD, born in a big London hospital. She sat in a rocking chair for 6 hours looking a bit spaced out but quite calm, then said, "I think I'd like to push now", and her DD appeared not long afterwards. It was amazing - no intervention or analgesia needed. My friend had a completely open mind about the whole thing and was happy to go along with whatever was needed (she had no birth plan). We are both doctors so had no fear of the medical side of things too; it was wonderful.

In contrast, I had two planned caesareans for breech babies....also wonderful in its own way!

Oh, where to start!

I had a show two days before I started in labour with number one, went to hospital 8 hours after contractions started at four in the morning to be told I was only 1cm but they wanted to keep me in cos they were very strong contractions. Was eventually given an epidural at one in the afternoon cos I was in a state, and ended up with a forceps birth after a ventouse didn't work.

Second, had a show in the morning, followed by contractions, went to hospital at four, had him at half eight, with just gas and air the whole way.

Third, had a show at six in the morning, sent OH to work, half an hour later phoned him to come home and was at hospital at half ten. They tried to put me into an ante natal ward till I said I needed labour ward and fast.... He was born at 11.15 with a small amount of gas and air. I haemmorraghed, however went home the same day.

Number four, had to be induced. Managed with gas and air till he was born four hours after induction. Not pleasant, however I had a domino delivery and it was the best of all four because I already knew my midwife and she was more than happy to be led by me all the way.

The over-riding thing about all four was that the midwives and consultants listened to me and did as I wanted, and encouraged me all the way.

My children were all born in Furness General Hospital, which is under investigation at the moment. I was extremely happy with the care I received up to fourteen years ago.

When I had dd1, I needed intervention, or she would have died. DD2 flew out - I asked for gas and air, but the midwife wouldn't let me have any as it stopped me concentrating -so literally no pain relief (other than 2 paracetomol I took at home), one internal check, and she rotated her a little to ease her out, and that was it. No stitching, nothing. I have found midwives to be wonderful, caring, professional individuals both times (but don't start me on health workers)

Haven't read thread. I have had two intervention free births in hospital. No stitches or pain relief not even g&a as it was in Spain and the only pain relief they have is the epidural. They are much keener on intervention in Spain but respected my wishes when I said I didn't want an epidural preferably and didn't want to give birth lying down. I did a LOT of walking during labour and couldn't have done it if I'd been made lie down at ANY stage. Gave birth sitting up first time and on all fours second time. You could tell it was a bit of a novelty for the midwives but they were nice and encouraged me (apart from one cow)

I've had 3 hospital births - all 3 induced so not "natural" as you see it (although classed as natural on my medical records & in DCs red books). I have to agree with whoever said that the "intervention happy" days seem to be over. At least at our hospital they are anyway. DS1 - 14 years ago - I was attached to a drip to increase contractions, a BP monitor, a baby monitoring machine & a little thing that was actually attached to baby's head during the birth to measure his oxygen levels. The chances of getting off the bed were nil. DS2 - 10 years ago - much the same as DS1 minus the drip. Still not allowed to get off the bed. DC3 - 8 weeks ago - had to argue my case to get an induction (there were reasons I wanted one but Consultant was unconvinced for about 3 weeks - and I was seeing her twice a week), and then I spent much of my labour in a rocking chair, which helped greatly with the contractions - not sure why, but it did . I only got back onto the bed to push the baby out - which took all of 15 minutes. Medically speaking, pregnancies 1 & 3 were very similar. The fact that the births were so different, I am sure, was mainly down to the changed attitide towards intervention. Having said that, if further intervention had been advised by my Consultant then I would have accepted that - I would totally trust her not to advise something which wasn't necessary.

Yes. Lovely, fast, no intervention needed. Arrived fully dilated. An hour and DS1 was there. DS2 born at home. Just as nice no more or less natural... I feel very pleased and lucky to have had both experiences.

Not read all whole thread but wanted to add my experience as I had planned a homebirth but then had to switch to a planned hospital birth after a partial abruption at 28 weeks (dd was full term though thank goodness). For the same reason I had continual monitoring, which I'd heard would make natural birth harder as it would restrict my movement. However, as I didn't get to hospital until I was quite far along (8cm once examined) I had moved around a lot at home and was past the point of movement anyway!

I had a band round my waist for the monitor but was able to kneel on the bed leaning on the head of the bed, so wasn't flat on my back (thank goodness) and was able to deliver naturally, I think I lost some blood at some point and they got a consultant in and I think they were starting to make noises about theatre (all a bit hazy) but I asked for another exam and I was fully dilated and ready to push. Not sure how tightly you define natural birth - I had gas and air and the injection for the placenta (again because of the pregnancy complications I think) but no instruments or other drugs. They also helped me deliver dd with barely a scratch (to me) through guiding my pushing so I didn't tear. It was an amazing experience and I had brilliant care (St Thomas' in London). The midwives were wonderful and supportive.

Sorry to ramble but wanted to post as I had feared the worst when I became a high-risk pregnancy (though equally, having had a scare in pregnancy made me feel less strongly than I had before about how dd was born as long as she got out safely).

I think staying home as long as possible is good though (journey permitting) as it's much easier to distract yourself from the pain at home.