BIRTHdays

I read a lot of "birth blogs" and some of them are very anti hospital, anti OB's, anti intervention, etc. etc... I am all about empowerment and having the option of birthing how you want. I am awestruck by some of these incredible women that birth their babies at home, either unassisted, or with the help of a "lay midwife". Some of these blogs leave me very unsettled and anxious, and some are amazing and beautiful. Birth is an absolute miracle, and EVERY SINGLE delivery that I have ever attended has been an amazing experience. I decided long ago, that if I ever feel like my job is "just a job" or that it is "just another delivery" and that it isn't the most humbling, awe inducing experience EVER, then I need to find a new job. It is truly a miracle, even a religious experience, to see these little babies fresh from the spirit world, a new life, so precious. It really is amazing, and I am so grateful for the opportunity that I have to be part of that. As a medical professional in the area of childbirth, I support "in hospital births" I guess I have seen too many things go wrong, that I personally would never, ever, (intentionally) have a baby outside of a hospital. Hospitals are not inherently evil places! OBs and L&D Nurses don't have some secret vendetta to "wield knives and rip babies from wombs, like a slaughterhouse" as was written in a blog that I read recently. As a Nurse, I am a patients advocate, and if I have a patient that comes in with a desire to labor naturally without the use of medications, I say GO FOR IT!! But, please, please, PLEASE come prepared. Take a class, read some books, practice your breathing regularly, have a plan on how you are going to deal with the pain, bring your own music, have some idea of what you are in for. Try hypnobirthing, it is absolutely amazing and peaceful. Do marathon runners just show up on the day of the race having never run before?!?! Nope, that would be absolutely crazy!! They prepare for months, sometimes years to be ready for that day. If you come to the hospital with the intention of going natural with no preparation, then you can probably expect to be disappointed. It is kinda like expecting an "A" on a huge important test that you have never studied for. I have been blessed to be part of some amazing natural deliveries, peaceful, calm, quiet, seemingly pain free, these women are truly incredible! They have the strength and ability to allow their bodies to do what they were made to do! Do I personally think that birth has become too medical? Sometimes. An an L&D Nurse, I sometime have to "manage labor" with various medications. I have been told by Doctors to 'push the pit, because I would like to have this done sooner, rather than later' or, 'It is a holiday, and I would really like to be home with my family, so go ahead and pit her up'. I do not like to be a pitocin pusher, I prefer to let the body do what it can do, all on its own. If my patient is progressing with little or no pit, I will leave it low. I am my patients advocate, and I try very hard to provide autonomy for them during their labor process. I think many people have been taught to never question their medical providers, but I absolutely disagree! We DO have to be our own advocates, especially when were are in a vulnerable position such as child birth. I try to provide my patients with the teaching that they need, in order to make informed decisions. Ultimately it is her body, and her decision. Of course in a medical setting, we have certain protocols that we adhere to regarding patient care, and what to do in case of an emergency, which again, I try to educate my patients about. Sometimes, unplanned things happen during childbirth, I understand that, and have been witness on occasion. (C-sections, episiotomies, forceps, vacuums, lacerations, dystocias, etc.) Do I think that these unfortunate things happen "because" we were in a hospital setting? (As some people believe) As a matter of fact, I believe the outcomes are generally better, because we were in the hospital. Do I know that again and again, research has shown that continuous fetal monitoring has not necessarily improved fetal outcomes? Yes. Do I know that there are occasionally unnecessary operative births? Yes. Do I know that "women have been having babies for thousands of years out of the hospital"? Of course! To each his own. I love my job, and I am grateful for those people who have allowed me to be part of their miracles! Lives are changed forever when sweet babies enter this world. I hope that I can forever be an advocate for my patients and their wishes, I hope that their birth experiences are positive and always hold good memories.