In this day and age of “thinking green,” many women are opting to have their babies in the comforts of their own homes while other women are choosing to birth in maternity centers. Women are beginning to reclaim the birth experience as one of nature rather than a medical emergency. For women who want as natural a birth as possible, the idea of having to give birth in a hospital setting can seem scary and overwhelming. They may worry: will my needs be heard? Will I have pain medications and unnecessary interventions pushed on me? Will I be allowed to hold my baby immediately after birth? Yet hospital birth is still the primary place that babies are born in the United States. For some women it is unavoidable, they may have medical conditions that require their birth to be monitored in a hospital setting. Other women may have trouble getting their insurance to pay for a home birth. Some are still fearful of that “What could go wrong scenario” and others never realized that home birth could be an option. For women who are birthing in a hospital but still desire as natural an experience as possible, here are some easy guidelines to follow to help ensure that the hospital birth is as close to a home birth as can be.
First, educating oneself about birth is the most important thing any mother can do. The more mothers know about pregnancy, labor, and birth, the more they can plan for a natural birth. The mother who recognizes her own body’s reaction to the stages of labor, who understands what a baby goes through during labor, and who recognizes childbirth as a normal and natural experience will be the most prepared for a natural birth in a hospital setting. She will understand her body and will be able to make good choices based on her knowledge. The mother who is uneducated and unsure will find herself more subjected to her choices being made by medical personnel. There are many books on pregnancy and childbirth available and a trip the local library can allow a mother-to-be a chance to pick from and study an array of books and perspectives long before the first contraction.
Once labor has begun and the mother is preparing to go the hospital, she should remember to bring in some of the comforts of home. Most hospitals allow women to play music, or have their own blankets or pillows. Birthing mothers may find that the experience is more pleasurable if familiar items surround them. Birthing mothers may even want to bring their own gown or Binsi skirt (http://www.birthinbinsi.com/index.htm) to wear instead of the provided hospital gowns. Any extras that can make the hospital setting feel cozier will aid in allowing the mother to relax and enjoy her birthing experience.
All mothers should have a birth plan in order before their baby is due. This plan simply states the mother’s desires for their birth experience and serves as a map for birth professionals s to follow. Sample birth plans are available online and can also be found in the indexes of many pregnancy books. A birth plan allows the mother to remain undisturbed during her birth experience as her wishes have already been expressed on paper and are available for all attendants to read. For the mother desiring a natural birth in a hospital setting, certain desires can be made known on the birth plan to help facilitate a natural birth. For example, the mother can make known that she would prefer not to have constant fetal monitoring, that she does not want to be asked for pain medication, or that she would prefer to not have an episiotomy. Some hospitals are now allowing mothers to labor and even birth in birthing tubs and this desire can be made known on the birth plan as well. An important thing to remember is to have the doula or birth partner briefly go over the birth plan with hospital staff upon arrival in order to make certain there are no questions beforehand. Mothers may find that often hospital staff is more than willing to facilitate the birth plan baring no unforeseen emergencies.
One of the biggest ways to avoid unwanted medical intervention is not to get to he hospital too soon. For mothers with uncomplicated medical histories and who are within an easy proximity to the hospital this can be especially helpful. Some birth classes even suggest not leaving for the hospital until the mother is no longer able to speak during her contractions. Spending time laboring at home shortens the length of time in the hospital being subjected to hospital protocol. Some women may not be as comfortable with laboring at home as others, and so the choice of when to leave for the hospital should be a personal one.
Finally, mothers looking for a natural birth experience in a hospital setting should be prepared to hold their babies after birth and try nursing immediately They can ask that all infant monitoring be done at mother’s bedside. The new mother should plan to room-in with her baby. Mothers should be sure to add this desire into their birth plan.
This will facilitate the mother-baby bonding and is exactly what would have happened with a home birth.
Hospitals do have some protocols that they must follow and emergencies can arise, but the prepared mother is most likely to be the mother who has the birth that she desires. Through education and planning, even a hospital birth can be a beautiful and natural experience.
