Education in Schools is sincerely lacking on the subject of birth, it seems that one should be armed with a balanced education on both hospital and home births by the time one graduates high school. Women have to seek out this information themselves and unfortunately it is not a celebrated topic among women who aren’t yet mothers or looking to become mothers. Pregnancy is almost taboo among young women.
At 37 weeks my doctor became very controlling and told me "You know you will have to give birth on your back right. I have a bad back and can't reach down there." This after I was told my birth plan was fine by her staff months earlier. At this moment I realized she did not respect my choice and I could not feel confident that she would not push inducement or a c-section on me.
Instead of being yet another woman, like the many I consulted who were very unhappy with the way their first child was born, I found a midwife. I loved the experience of a home birth and would pay full price, $4,000, again. I think insurance companies would be well advised to cover homebirths and/or physicians who "back-up" midwives for healthy mothers as it would surely lower costs for them.
The $4,000 included prenatal care, education on childbirth and babies, and postpartum care for both my child and me. The postpartum care is very valuable as the midwife helps the father, mother and child adjust to their new life to each other by addressing most concerns (physical, psychological) at one meeting. My mother is a nurse and my father is a doctor so this was a controversial choice to make. My mother supported me with apprehension but is now sold on homebirths...though she still likes to point out that a hospital is the best place for medical emergencies. I agree but I do not think birth is an emergency.

I have two children, both of whom I birthed at home with midwives.

Having a close friend who is a family practice physician (and women's health advocate) support my early thoughts of having a homebirth (long before I was pregnant), and witnessing a birth in a hospital (again, long before I was pregnant, this is important) inspired me to do more research on homebirth. I learned of positive outcomes, AND just as important to me, positive _experiences_ for the families who birthed at home.

An obstacle I faced with my second birth is that my baby was in a so-called "frank" breech (buttocks first, not the usual head-first presentation) position for several weeks before--and during--the birth. I was fortunate to have a midwife willing to attend my homebirth because she had prior experience with vaginal breech birth (this is increasingly rare). However, our midwife agreed to continue with our planned homebirth only after I took full responsibility for whatever might happen during the birth. This means my husband and I authored and signed a statement saying that no matter what happened, including my or the baby's death, we, nor any of our family members, would sue her for any reason.

Since I had already given birth at home once before, and I had recently learned that even the National Institute of Health had once (in the 80's) convened a panel of experts that supported vaginal birth for frank breeches if the mother was attended by someone with experience, I chose one set of risks over another (major surgery) and am glad I did.

My breech daughter's birth was terrific. It cost $3700 total for all my prenatal care, the birth, and postpartum care through 6 weeks. My PPO paid for 80% of it, I believe. I am guessing that this is less money than would have changed hands had I gone the conventional-style route (and, most likely, because of the baby's breechness, had a C-section).

I have had three midwife-assisted, unmedicated, vaginal deliveries (the first in a hospital, the second in a freestanding birth center and the third at home). My birth choices were influenced by a few factors: 1. I believe birth is a normal physiological act that WORKS. 2. I believe that in order for birth to work as it is supposed to, a woman needs the freedom to do whatever is necessary to give birth: walk around, take a shower, focus inward, receive loving support, listen to her body, etc. 3. I believe in EVIDENCE-BASED healthcare; studies have shown time and again that home birth is safe; "managed labor" hospital models carry a high risk for interventions, and consequently, surgical birth. 4. I believe in making informed choices; having a baby under the care of an OB/Gyn, in a hospital, with labor-enhancing drugs and pain medication IS NOT the only way to give birth.

When I was pregnant with my first child 11 years ago, my husband was a fourth-year OB/Gyn resident at a major teaching hospital in Pennsylvania. At the time, I chose to have my baby in a smaller, community hospital; our daughter was the first midwife-assisted birth at that hospital. Today, my husband is in private practice in South Florida, where, unfortunately, defensive medicine has left women with very limited choices when it comes to childbirth. The threat of lawsuits (some meritorious and many frivolous) has completely warped the way doctors approach childbirth. And women, too, are too blame, as many of them come to childbirth with excessive fear and do not take the time to educate/empower themselves.

All of my births were paid by our insurance at the time (it varied, but all were HMOs). The birth center and home births were about $3500 each. Interestingly enough, my husband is currently paid about $3000 per birth (this includes all prenatal care, delivery, and post-partum care), regardless of the type of delivery. There is a misconception that doctors are paid more for C-sections than vaginal births, but we have not found this to be true. HOSPITALS get paid more for C-sections, but not the attending physicians.

When I think about the state of birth in the US today, I am overcome with sadness. The medical community is focused on "managing" birth so that as many unfavorable outcomes as possible are avoided (meanwhile they are creating other, more dangerous, unfavorable outcomes in the process). Mothers are not being responsible with their choices (or, more accurately, by not MAKING choices). Both parties are hyperfocused on convenience and ease (scheduled births and pain medication). Nobody seems to be thinking of the sacred nature of birth, or honoring the baby's transition into the world by setting the stage for a peaceful, gentle birth.

Well, some people are thinking about it: the alternative birth community. But there are so few of us and it doesn't seems as though the mainstream culture will ever come around.

My story, that of an OB's wife choosing alternative births, is an unusual one, but one I hope exemplifies that both "sides" can co-exist. There IS a place for medical birth, as there are times when complications arise. But there is also a place--a much larger place than we are currently seeing--for normal birth. I would like to see the day when most women have their babies in a peaceful setting of their choosing, with the confidence that their bodies will work, and without the use of drugs or interventions. For those who need the assistance of a medical doctor, it is important that they receive the care they need also. That is the appropriate role of OBs--for complicated cases.

There is so much to say about this topic, but I will stop for now. I will end with this observation: Over the last 10 years, I can't tell you the times I have looked upon my childbirth experiences for strength and inspiration. At my most challenged moments, I have been able to reach inside myself and recall the euphoria I felt immediately after birth, the heightened state of awareness, the all-encompassing feeling of triumph and pride I felt after pushing through the pain and accomplishing my goal of delivering my babies the way nature intended. Many time, I have told myself "If you can got through unmedicated birth three times, you can definitely do XXX". That has been a surprising and long-lasting effect of active, empowered birth that I never knew would be so meaningful to me.

Folks, these are great stories.

It's interesting that everyone who's posted so far chose an alternative birth, while also having a personal relationship with a traditional medical practitioner (mother, father, friend, husband).

For women who don't have that, I'm guessing it can be a little daunting to decide between the alternative and traditional options. I wonder what might make that choice easier...? Maybe a doctor willing to take a back seat to the mid-wife, so that someone can have both?

I shared my story earlier, see the top. I would like to say that my father, a family practice doctor in a small town, was not supportive and during the two weeks that I was past due left me messages stating that I should be induced in a hospital because that is "what we do now at 41 weeks". Inducement most likely would have led to a c-section. I did not talk to him until after my daughter was born.

My mother, a nurse, was not happy with the notion of her first grandchild being born outside of her comfort zone, the hospital, but she supported me because I told her it was my choice and her opinion didn't really count. I don't think familiarity with the hospital system makes the choice easier; probably the opposite. Perhaps having a relative in the medical field and deciding to have your baby at home makes one more passionate on the subject as you have had to argue from both sides of the coin. Not just your own need for a truly empowering moment as a woman but also that it is as safe as hospital births.

In San Diego and I believe in California the insurance companies have forbade (maybe even made it illegal) for doctors to "back-up" midwives. If they do they could lose malpractice coverage which for any OB Gyn is unthinkable. Midwives must have their patients sign paperwork acknowledging their awareness that a midwife is supposed to be backed-up by law but that a doctor is not allowed to back them up.

I think in the end a woman has to take responsibility for her own health and this is the major difference between hospital and homebirth. A woman can walk into a hospital knowing nothing about childbirth and the staff will see to it that she has her baby. A woman chooses homebirth and thereby becomes responsible for her baby and herself. I think this is what scares people, both women and men. It is at one time more comforting to know that someone else is responsible and that the woman does not hold that power in our society. Generally people on the media and in grocery stores like to talk about taking drugs rather than self empowerment.

So getting your family to understand your decision was actually an uphill battle for you. I love how you describe the difference between the two styles of birthing as you see it: that you don't consider birth an emergency, and that choosing homebirth empowers a woman by making her responsible for her baby and herself.

Interesting point about insurance companies and back-up OB Gyns; not sure what the reality is, but that's something we could look into and clarify for the show.

By the time I had my first child, my husband and I had been together for 11 years, and married for 6...he knew who he was with (someone who is not extreme, but definitely NOT mainstream either!) and he had witnessed the progression of my self-education about pregnancy, birth, and parenting choices. I count it a blessing to have been with this guy since we were both 17, as our relationship has been deepened by the fact that we've "grown up together"--he into manhood and his chosen profession and me into woman/motherhood and my chosen passions (one of which is now my profession, but that's another story...).

As I said in my original post, my first child was born in a hospital. It was a midwife-assisted birth, and I did not have any drugs at all (labor enhancing or for pain), or continuous monitoring or separation after the birth. At the time and in the place that I had this child (1997, Pittsburgh, PA), I did not feel comfortable with a birth center or home birth. By the time I was pregnant with my second child, I knew I did not want to deliver in a hospital.

I have to say that my husband was a bit concerned when I came to the decision that I wanted to leave the Ob-with-a-midwife-on-staff practice I was going to for prenatal care for a midwife-owned birth center birth, but he trusted me. He met with my midwife, asked all the questions he needed to ask, met with the back-up OB...became okay with the idea. That was the biggest leap; after that, the concept of a home birth (for baby #3) was a no-brainer.

I can't say if/how my decisions were influenced by my husband's profession. We influence each other in much of what we do, regardless of our professions, so it is hard to categorize. I know it would've been immensely difficult not to have a supportive partner for such a life-changing decision. I would like to think that I would've made the same birth choices if I were married to someone outside the medical profession, but who knows. In a way, his being as OB/Gyn helped my resolve to push away the messages that a medicalized, hospital birth is best. It was not in a combative way, but he and I both knew I had something to prove with my choices--to myself, him and "the world" (ha!). It worked.

Sorry so long-winded!

Sorry so long-winded!

Oh, don't be! It's fascinating to read about how you worked through your decision. I'm sure it will help others to read this.

I was planning a hospital birth at first, and then took a great independent (not hospital sponsored) birth class. Through that class, I decided that a wonderful program called Homestyle Midwifery would be the best for me. It was a HOMEBIRTH midwifery model of care (The midwife is with you for your whole labor, and you have had enough meetings with all of the midwives by the time of the birth that you know the midwife who delivers your baby.), but in a hospital.

This is what I felt most comfortable with, and could afford because my insurance covered it. I had a wonderful delivery, but it was not without it's difficulties due to th e hospital setting. Had I to do it over again, I would find the money to have a homebirth. The pressure from the hospital staff to induce (when all the testing was coming back with flying colors) and the uncontrolled anxiety of the attending OB did have some negative effects on things.

Through my birth education, my birth experience, being at my best friend's birth a month prior to my own, and with the encouragement of my birth doula, I decided to become a doula myself. Now I am doing postpartum doula work, because my baby's too young (11 months) for me to be away for the extended periods of time that would be required of a birth doula.

I believe that education is key. Birth is not an emergency! It is a natural process, and women are perfectly equipped to birth their babies the vast majority of the time. Yes, 'alternative' birthing options should be readily accessible to everyone.

I have three children. One was born in a hospital with an OB attending. The second and third were born at home with a midwife.

I gradually educated myself about birth when I was expecting my first child. I had pregnancy-induced hypertension, which was serious enough that it would have precluded a homebirth that first time, but I don't know that I was really ready to consider homebirth. It just seemed outside of my normal.

Then a met a woman who was planning a homebirth for her first birth. Through our friendship I began to be convinced that I could do this, too. Parenting my first child, especially breastfeeding, also convinced me that the biological systems are designed to work right, without intervention, in most circumstances. I became increasingly aware of the places where what the evidence shows (for example, that most women can birth without episiotomies) is ignored by a sizeable chunk of the medical profession.

The main obstacle I feared was my husband's reaction. As we interviewed midwives, however, he grew convinced that birthing at home would be at least as safe and certainly more gentle than our comparatively-good hospital birth.

I again developed PIH, but it remained low enough that my midwife felt comfortable proceeding with a homebirth. I had a super-fast birth and my son required a bit of oxygen at birth, but my midwife handled that confidently and we were always safe. When you say you are going or have homebirthed you inevitably hear everyone's horror story. Most people don't realized that midwives come prepared to deal with a wide range of complications. My third birth was similarly smooth.

All three of my births were "natural" (ie: no anesthesia), but the differences were huge. In the hospital we were left feeling like the baby belonged to the hospital staff, not us. At home the babies never left our arms unless it was okay with us. We felt more more connected and confident as a result. I strongly believe that the hormonal impact of normal, non-intervention-filled birth is huge in paving the way for an easier transition to parenthood.

We paid for our homebirths out-of-pocket, although I also did concurrent prental care with an OB that was covered by insurance. It is certainly a more cost-effective way to birth. I would love to see out-of-hospital births covered by insurance, but for me it would be worth every penny to homebirth again.

Thanks for this lively and important discussion.
I am a midwife practicing in San Francisco and the East Bay. What strikes me about the comments posted thus far is that they speak to the level of satisfaction that people experience with their care. Giving birth with a midwife is an experience that goes above and beyond what most people experience in even the best of hospital births. Childbirth is not just an everyday occurrence, it is a monumental life event. When people choose to have a home birth midwife care for them through pregnancy, they are choosing to have prenatal visits that last an hour or more, rather than the 5-10 minutes that are standard in an OB practice. They are choosing to actively participate in decision making during their care. They are choosing to have a meaningful relationship with the person who will assist them in bringing their baby into the world. A midwife provides support consistently throughout the birth process, acknowledging that the body knows how to give birth, just like it knows how to grow a baby inside. Most often all that is needed is support, nurturing, and physical comfort measures, and the body does what it knows how to do. The experience of giving birth at home often exceeds expectations, and those who make this choice commonly proclaim that they wouldn't do it any other way.

It is encouraging to see this topic covered. I had a hospital birth and was assisted by a midwife, doula, my husband and one of my best friends (the Birth SWOT team as my husband lovingly calls it). It was completely unmedicated. I decided to go this route after losing my dad in heart surgery four months earlier and losing my faith in the medical establishment. Also, my OB - who is fabulous - could not guarantee who would be at my birth and I did not care for some of the other doctors in her practice (especially the one that said "Of course, you will have an epidural!"). Another factor was that I did not want to be induced because it often leads to C-section surgery. I too feel birth is a natural process and wanted to be as present as possible during and after the birth.

There are 3 midwives who can practice at Alta Bates Hospital in the East Bay and I choose one of them to catch my baby. We developed a relationship over a couple of months during prenatal appointments where the midwife not only checked on the pregnancy's progress but also made a point of getting to know my husband and myself. This made an important difference during the birth. She understood the loss of my father, my fears, my expectations and supported me 100%. We talked about the possibility of a homebirth but I was not comfortable with those risks.

Insurance paid for all of the expenses - I have an HMO.

There are other choices that went along with feeling empowered to have natural childbirth and which our midwife supported and advocated. We decided to delay the vitamin K shot and the eye drops for at least 1 hour so that they would not be the first thing our son experienced. We insisted he be with us (really on me or my husband) as much as possible from the beginning and we continued to make choices that felt right for us, not what was standard hospital procedure.

I want to echo the woman ("anaestorino") who wrote how she looks to her childbirth experience for strength and inspiration. Having given birth to my baby naturally is my badge of honor. I think I am more proud of it then anything I have done in my life. It has also helped me heal from my father's passing. I wish all woman could have that experience and that their partners could be apart of it.

Ruthann, did you make your decision before you were pregnant or after? How long did it take you to find the right people for your team?

In response to Stacy's question, I made my decision during the 6th month of my pregnancy. There are 3 midwives who practice at Alta Bates Hospital in the East Bay and so I easily chose one of them. I chose my doula based on the recommendation of my midwife. - RA

I had my first baby at home in November of 2004. I made the switch from prenatal care and a planned birth at UCSF in my 32 week of pregnancy to a midwife assisted homebirth. Frankly, until late in my pregnancy homebirth had never crossed my mind. My 'epiphany' came suddenly and was influenced by several factors. An old friend from graduate school had recently given birth naturally and assisted by a midwife at Alta Bates after laboring mostly at home. She was the person that provided me the references on the safety and advantages to infant and mother of homebirth. I then found out that my Grandmother had birthed four of her six children safely at home with the support of local midwives. I also kept replaying the four previous hospital births I had attended for friends and family and knew that their experiences would have left me feeling deeply unsatisfied and fearful that decisions in the hospital would be made FOR me rather than WITH me. I observed first hand that interventions/technology (epidural, pitocin, episiotomy, baby monitor, IV, etc) were more likely to adversely affect the outcome of a birth than help it (the four births I had attended resulted in one natural birth, one emergency c-section, one vacuum extraction and one forecep extraction). These factors convinced me to find and interview local midwives and switch care and birthplan. With a healthy pregnancy and no signs of complications, I gave birth in the privacy of my own home with my husband and two attending midwives after a typical 16h labor. It was the toughest thing I have ever done and the greatest experience of my life (and my husbands). I experienced mostly nervous nods of support, or downright objection, from friends and family about our decision to homebirth.

My second child was born in August of 2007. I had planned a homebirth and received prenatal care by the same midwife that had helped me deliver my first baby, but by my 32 week a diagnosis of a complete placenta previa necessitated transfer to an OB and a scheduled c-section at 37 weeks. This was a relatively traumatic turn of events for me, having experienced the comfort and exhilleration of a homebirth. I did not have fear or concern about the surgery itself, but felt that we had to prepare as if going to court on a strategy to retain some control over what I and my baby experienced while in the hospital. Despite the care of a terrifically suportive OB, we were routinely pressured by other staff and pediatricians to succumb to their standard operating proceedures despite consistently advocating for minimal testing/intervention. in the end, I am still dealing with refuting charges made to my insurance company for services that we declined while in the hospital.

My homebirth was much less expensive than my hospital birth, but I was required by my insurance company to pay a greater % out of pocket for the homebirth. The quality and depth of care for myself and my newborn throughout the pregnancy, labor, and post-partum recovery was first rate. In fact, I can offer many examples of how my midwife-based care was superior to my OB/GYN practice care. I feel that women require and deserve early access to information on safety, advantages, and disadvantages of birthing options in order to make an informed decision that best fits their personality and mindset. Of course, many also need improved access to alternative options in their area. I also feel that insurance companies should pay equally regardless of a woman's decision to birth at a hospital, at a birth center, or at home with a professional midwife.

I did not have an alternative birth, however, I would prefer to with my next one.

I have one daughter who was birthed in a local community hospital almost 2.5 years ago. I used a Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)/Nurse Practitioner (NP) who belonged to a OB/GYN practice. Unfortunately, when my daughter came 3 weeks early, my CNM/NP was on her honeymoon (we had joked about it, but never thought it would happen). I ended up having to use the MD's for my daughter's birth which ended up become a very complicated situation which I think could have been avoided if the doctors had listened to and respected me.

Every book you read, every class you attend, and during prenatal visits, the same mantra comes back: Every pregnanacy is different. I was so angry that the doctors did not listen to me, that they made me doubt my own body and instincts. The doctors did not bother to treat my situation as a unique one. I felt insulted by the whole experience and was angry that when I was finally believed that I was in labor, that the doctors then had to "react" to the situation (which I believe they created).

We are trying for another baby at the moment and I am considering alternative birthing options. What makes it difficut now is that I would be attempting a VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesasian). My husband is very concerned about what sort of health implications this means for me and a baby, and does not want a homebirth because of this. As I understand it, most hospitals in the Bay Area are not allowing VBAC's at their facilities because of liability issues. I have also heard that many doctors will not attend VBAC's for the same reason.

I am in the process of trying to find a new OB/GYN practice that will support my decisions. I am also planning to use a doula for my next pregnancy because I think having an birthing advocate would have helped my situation the first time around by keeping things in perspective and to support me to listen to my body. I am prepared to pay more for an alternative birthing option, I can afford to do so this time around. I am also more determined with the next pregnancy to be more assertive because it is my body. Pregnancy should not be treated as a disease or illness, but rather as a part of a natural process.

Wow Kim, you seem very disappointed in the traditional experience you had. You also raise an interesting point:

I am prepared to pay more for an alternative birthing option, I can afford to do so this time around... 

Many of the posts here mention wanting to have more control during the actual birthing situation, and at least a few folks seem willing to pay for that. But that might not be an option for everyone. I'm curious about those who might be considering an alternative birth but who don't have the economic resources to supplement insurance coverage (those who have insurance, that is). If this describes you, how are you planning to cover the costs?

In response to Stacy's question regarding cost of home-births... My daughter was born at home with a mid-wife, a very positive experience and one I strongly recommend for others given many of the reasons people have so eloquently stated. If we have another child, I would also choose a homebirth... however... we are one of those family's with a very limited income and our HMO does NOT pay for homebirth. Even though it will cost them close to $15,000 for a no-intervention hospital birth. It is ludicrous. So, money is a huge factor for us and I imagine many families, in having the option to even have a homebirth. If insurance companies could be educated and understand the health benefits and cost benefits to them in terms of the cost of a home birth vs. a hospital birth, would they change their policies to support home birth? I'd be interested to hear others thoughts on how to go about educating insurance companies as well as better understanding the "business side" of how the hospitals, insurance and docs all make money with hospital births vs. a homebirth.

Surprisingly, my completely natural second birth at Stanford Hospital in May 2007 was only $4400 (with the OB this time, the first birth was with the midwife at the same hospital - too bad they don't offer this service anymore).

I have had two homebirths in 3 years and we live in El Cerrito, CA. In fact, because of my first homebirth and the amazing support I received from my midwives, I decided to become a midwife myself and am currently in an apprenticeship. The main reasons I decided against a hospital birth are that birth should be treated as a normal event, not as a sickness or illness; I wanted few interventions and only ones that were necessary; and I wanted to birth my babies in any position I felt comfortable - something which the hospital staff told me may not be possible. I could not see being stuck in one room for my entire labor and having to probably lie on my back for the births. At home, I had the entire house and my neighborhood to walk around in; I had a birth tub for labor and in case I wanted to birth in it; I had as many people as I wanted to support me. For my first birth, I was in my own bed squatting. For my second birth, I was in the living room, in the hands and knees position to give birth. At my second baby's birth, he was born as the sun was rising, with my then 2 1/2 year old son and my parents as witnesses; and within hours of the birth, we had family visit while the four of us snuggled in our own bed, ate our own food and got to know each other uninterrupted. My midwives cared for me and my baby in my own home for the next 6 weeks. The entire birth, including prenatal and postpartum visits at home, cost $4000.00. If I were to have given birth in hospital, it would be at least 3 times that amount and I wouldn't have had any at-home postpartum visits! My insurance company paid 70% of it although the second time around, it took about a year of calls and letters before I was reimbursed. As a homebirth parent and as an apprentice midwife, I think that hospitals and doctors should be more open to the choices that some of us make and help these families be comfortable in a hospital setting should they end up in hospital for one reason or another. Midwives should catch babies and doctors should take care of high risk pregnancies, as is the case in many many other nations, developed and otherwise. Morever, homebirth families should be able to see an OB or practitioner at a doctor's setting in conjunction with their homebirth midwifery care, should the need arise. Instead, once our primary care provider/OB found out we chose to have a homebirth with concurrent care from them, they dropped us immediately as patients due to malpractice insurance reasons.

Minutes after my second child was born in our living room, with my then 2-1/2 year old son present at the birth.

I have had two children delivered vaginally without medication at Mills-Peninsula hospital. Before having my children I would NOT have thought of this as an “alternative” birthing method, but after going through the hospital experience and talking to my many mommy friends it feels like my un-medicated method was not typical.

For my first pregnancy in 2004 my ob/gyn practice had midwives and MD’s. For “normal” pregnancies the mid wives took care of most of the visits and deliveries. The midwives were very supportive of my birth plan; the primary goal of which was to labor at home as long as possible and avoid medical intervention. When I arrived at Peninsula hospital in the middle of a Sunday afternoon the nurses were FANTASTIC and very supportive of an un-medicated delivery. They helped me stay on my feet and off my back and I had a beautiful baby girl within 1.5 hours of arriving at the hospital (I labored for over 24 hours at home). I had such a great experience I announced moments after pushing out my daughter, “Let’s do that again!” I was able to labor in a way that made me most comfortable and I was not tethered to medical equipment or an IV.

When I was ready to have my second child in 2007 the midwives had been eliminated from the OB’s practice. Apparently their insurance costs were too high with midwives on staff. Wow, what a different experience having to meet with a medical doctor every month and then weekly. When I expressed my desire to not have an IV during delivery he scoffed and related a story of how he had a birth that went wrong and they needed to administer general anesthesia immediately through the IV. He thought it was an “unnecessary risk.” When I was one week late my doc started to push for an induced labor. When I got to the hospital to have the baby and told the doc on call and delivery nurse that I was going to go without medication they were shocked. The nurse asked me multiple times if I wanted pain meds. She offered no advice on good laboring positions. She commented that I should just have the epidural. The doc wouldn’t let me take the fetal monitors off so I had to labor within 4 ft of the bed. The nurse acted inconvenienced when I wanted to get out of the bed to labor. It made the experience stressful.

I was able to deliver that day without pain meds and the nurse and doctor were surprised. “We just don’t see that very often these days,” they said.

I desired a medication free birth because I believe that medical intervention is a slippery slope. I know many people who started with an induced labor, or got to the hospital early in the labor process, received medication and ended up with a c-section. I put a lot of time into labor preparation to try to avoid coming to these scenarios. I understand that medical intervention is sometimes necessary and saves lives, but I also believe it can be avoided in many cases.

My experience has been that whe