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?

I did, DS2 was gas and air only
good luck x

I did with dd but I waited as long as I could before going in to hospital - which is easier to do when you've been through it before. Didn't lie down - i think that was the key! No drugs at all. DD was 7lb 4oz and I had a couple of stitches. Was home after 6 hours!

First time had pethadine as I didn't really know how bad it was going to get, wished I hadn't as it made me sick, and I knew it would. Also quite full on monitoring due to medication I was on, but no other intervention.

Second time, was only allowed gas and air until I was pushing, had to refuse episiotomy several times, the last time a loud FUCK OFF and an attempt to cross my legs got the message through.
Was supposed to have drip as contractions were slowing and I was knackered but by the time they had got the needle in the head was out.
Lost lot's of blood afterwards. This was my worst experience, hated not being allowed G&A for pushing, felt not listened to by the midwife, she discouraged me from trying to move positions etc, was right to refuse episiotomy as had no tears.

Third time, most natural, was only in room for 40 mins, and only had the M/W in for about 15 of those. Was allowed to stay on my side, and allowed Gas and Air to push, it really helped to focus my breathing.

Hope to repeat number three again this time, would like to try birthing pool if I have time.

Yes. 1st time I was 8cm by time I arrived at hospital; by the time DH arrived back on the ward after reparking the car, I was pushing...

2nd time induction via pessary and artificial rupture of membranes - but despite that still felt natural.

G&A both times - didn't make me feel weird but that taste! Plasticky and sweet.

(Pessary was midwife's suggestion - Dr wanted me to have oxytocin etc but mw suggested pessary first, which did the trick. Yay!)

My unsolicited advice: keep asking questions. Ask anything you don't understand. Ask for pros and cons of every treatment option suggested. Don't forget, it is your choice.

Good luck! !

keepinmind "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?"

When people say this to me it makes me cry.

DD was born in 2008 by EMCS and, to keep this short, it was the end result of a cascade of unnecessary interventions as I tick high risk boxes. DD was 100% fine and healthy showing no signs of distress (yet CS was for 'fetal distress'). Everyone said, well at least she was safe and healthy.

Sadly, I was not OK mentally and as a result DD suffered for the first few months of her life (in my eyes anyway). We did not bond, she would not feed, i left her to cry in her basket as I could not cope and it was all due to the birth.
Even today, at age 3, she is massively clingy and shy and I do wonder if it is due to her arrival and first few weeks.

No one wants their baby to be unhealthy or unsafe but for me (now pg with No2), it should not be a safe baby at any cost. It should be the best outcome for mum and baby. Doctors are too quick to focus on 'healthy baby with lowest possible risk of litigation for trust'.

The vast, vast majority of women are capable of birthing their babies without any intervention.

I have been so traumatised by DD's birth that DP and I are paying for an IM (that we can't really afford) and a doula and intend to have a HB. My consultant is horrified and has tried lots of scare tactics about uterine rupture. I have done my research and feel the very low risk is less than the risk to me of another section.

But to answer the OP - yes, a natural birth in hospital is possible if you are either prepared to stand up for yourself and insist on it and refuse interventions if they are based on policy and are not specific to you, or hire a doula to be your advocate and leave you free to concentrate on labour. Takes the pressure off DPs/DHs too.

In hospital, 'being allowed' to do something is just wrong - it is your body and your labour and no one can allow you - you can do or not do anything you choose (obviously within reason!)

No drugs no G&A with No2 with No1 they did an epidural but it was too late and kicked in an hour after dd was born . AGain NO G&A mind you this was not in the UK........

Hmmmm, well first time round I had ventouse and gas and air (local anaesthetic before ventouse!)- and then second time round I didn't quite leave enough time to get to the hospital and DD was BBA in the hospital car park (!). Both experiences ok, first was actually more controlled than second, but second was easier labour, a lot less hours and pain and no pain relief. I preferred labouring on my own and I mean on my own (no DH) which was possible at home second time round...

Me. I had two hospital natural births.
It was because
a)I was lucky enough not to have a breech, back to back, brow presentation etc type complication and
b) I did LOADS and loads of preparation. I read Ina May Gaskin and Michel Odent, went to 'Yoga and Natural birth' classes weekly, and listened to a hypnobirthing CD (only about 5 times in all, but still it helped!).
If you know what is happening and allow yourself to go with it, it is much less scary and I think a lot of intervention happens when people freak out because its all so foreign and new (which it is, but you can prepare for feeling that and not scare yourself more with your reactions).
I am not saying it didn't hurt but it was an amazing empowering experience to go with my body, poop on the floor and give birth naturally. With lots of roaring! You have to be uninhibited!

Belgrano I also had a completely natural hospital birth, and I didn't go to any classes at all. I did read up on it, which definitely helped in terms of being informed, and my husband and mother knew my wishes and were willing to insist on them, which did too, but I still think a LOT of this is down to luck.

I too had 2 natural births in hospital, no G&A or anything.

I wanted as natural a birth as possible, and apart from an episiotomy first time around (36 hour labour- we were both knackered) i was lucky it turned out that way.. In fact DS2s arrival was lovely, as my birthing partner (my bezzy mate) just happened to be a midwife at the hospital so they just left us to it completely.

As i said, its largely down to luck, you can hope for a natural birth with no intervention, but i'd advise you still learn about whats available and any side effects etc, to make choices if offered.. but i agree with everyone else who say that it would be wrong to put your, or your babies health at risk in any way, for the sake of idealism.