As you may have read on my About Me page, though I delivered in one of the best, medically advanced hospitals in the area, we used a midwife instead of an OB. I had all the technology needed within reach, yet was able to have the person of my choice deliver our first born. Yes, there was an OB on call in case of complications, as well as all the other hospital staff, but it was my midwives who saw me through my delivery from when I met them at the entrance of the maternity ward, to the birth of Abigail. Some people assume midwives means all natural, no pain meds, and fly by the seat of your pants. None of this is the case. You are offered everything an OB has at their disposal. I too, met with the anethesialogist in case I would need/want an epidural as labor progressed. I found the biggest difference between seeing both an OBGYN and a midwives group during my pregnancy, was being informed. The midwives not only checked me and gave me the time of day to answer ALL of my questions, but, also great resources in which to prepare my body for labor. They also have great confidence in me and put me at ease. I was treated more like a person that a patient with a sickness.

Although my labor wasn't an easy one, being it was my first and took a long time to get to that final "push" phase, I had a voice that was audible throughout my labor. I was allowed to move around and walk rather than be confined to the bed. I did not need an IV for fluids which is said to dilute your body's natural hormones that are stimulated to aid in labor. I was allowed to drink fluids and eat lightly...though I had no appetite for food.  I was also NOT forced to deliver on my back. In fact, this is a big difference of using a widwife. Being my baby was posterior until the last moments, meant had I delivered on my back, it would have put further excrutiating pain/pressure on my tail bone, as if the pain wasn't intense enough during each contraction. For those who don't have experience with a midwife, when I tell people I delivered on my side, they seem very surprised that it is possible.

At my most recent 6 month pap appointment, I was shocked and very upset to learn my midwives were no longer allowed to deliver at the hospital I gave birth in.  Here, I thought we found the most amazing team, only to learn that when we do have another child, we will also have to research our options extensively all over again. The hospital that is only 5 minutes away from us...will not allow me to birth the way I want.

There is a two-fold wave. One, women are losing choices in the delivery room. C-section rates have SOARED over the years. The problem is a lot are now out of convenience rather than necessity. I had another friend basically pushed into taking petocin, had her baby whisked away after being born...and had to demand to have her back after an hour so that she could start the  nursing process. Another friend is terrified to think about a second child because doesn't want to go through what they experienced their first time around. I know people who had severe episiotomies and now dread that potential aspect. Birth is a natural process in life...it shouldn't be this way. There are ways to prevent this!

While labor was...well...labor for me, drug free by personal choice, I would still do it all over again for how successful the outcome was and how well I recovered. More and more women are looking into using midwives because they feel they are more part of a team, than a medical condition. While I am not bashing the OB world, because there are some very good ones out there that follow the techniques and strategies of birthing like a midwife. On the flip side, I am seeing and learning more and more that the process of labor and birth is becoming more structured and routine than looking at the individual and allowing women the time they need to let their bodies do what it's created to do. I am saying I think a women's involvement is slowly diminishing.

My voice is not alone.  I am part of a large network just in my area alone, who are trying to keep a woman and her husband's options open during their labor. It's called labor for a reason, things take time. We shouldn't feel rushed or pressured. The medical world is taking a lot of lead way and assumptions on the way it thinks births should be performed.  It's scary for me to think that I have to actually research to have things go how I plan and desire for any future children we wish to have.

Why should we have options removed from us during a time in our lives when we need them most.

My husband and I wrote up a birth plan that we brought to us when I went to the hospital. Even though I knew who would be delivering, and knew the way they operated, I wanted to be safe in case for some reason, my support had to switch. It was not long and drawn out, but I wanted it in writing so everyone was on the same page. (I highly recommend this to anyone.) All our wishes were followed through except for one due to complications. It wasn't major, but I had also agreed that I would do what is best for the baby should something come up so long as our options were explained to us. For those who have done any research on the cutting of the umbilical chord and the benefits of waiting for a few moments to allow the baby to receive all the nutrients, this is what we desired. Being that there was a little meconium, the NICU checked her at my beside right away, hence cutting the chord quickly. Vitals were checked and within moments she was returned to me. The family bond continued.

We need to have a voice in the medical profession when it comes to birthing. It's becoming harder and harder to carry out your wishes and have the freeom of choice during labor.