Birth Series (3) – Comparing a Medical vs. Natural Birth

Hospital birth

Read the whole story of my hospital birth experience: “Birth Series (1) – A Hospital Birth Experience”

Natural birth

Read the whole story of my natural birth experience: “Birth Series (2) – A Water Birth Experience”

Medical birth

I dreaded the birth experience, expecting the worst pain of my life. Childbirth was about my biggest fear since I was a child. After 9 months of an incredibly challenging pregnancy, including severe morning sickness, all I could think about was getting it over with. I actively refused to learn more because it was so frightening and anxious a topic for me.

• I chose a doctor at the nearest hospital. It was also the one in-network with my insurance.
• I went to all of my prenatal appointments with my OBGYN.
• My doctor prescribed me some anti-nausea medication, but I would immediately throw it up.
• I followed my baby’s development and my pregnancy through an app, “What to Expect.”
• I toured my birth facilities before giving birth.

Natural birth

This was another very challenging pregnancy, but I decided early on I would try a different approach.

• I chose a new doctor at a different hospital who was committed to empowering women and helping me feel in control.
• This doctor prescribed me a slightly different anti-nausea medicine that I usually kept down; it made this pregnancy significantly more bearable.
• I read a lot of books and other material on natural birth.
• I switched to a midwife.
• I hired a doula.
• I worked with my midwife and doula to find diet and lifestyle solutions to many pregnancy symptoms.
• I took two natural birth classes.
• I joined natural birth Facebook groups for support.
• I included my husband in my preparations. He worked with me to practice relaxation techniques daily for several weeks. He took a birth class with me, and we wrote a birth plan together.

Hospital birth

Prenatal appointments:

• Several cervical checks in third trimester.
• Opted out of the glucose test; did it at home with my diabetic husband (drank a soda, then tested blood sugar level).
• Group B Strep (GBS) test performed on me; I came back positive.
• Membranes stripped.

Birth:

• Probably 10+ cervical checks.
• Epidural, my choice.
• Pitocin, to speed along the labor.
• Continuous fetal monitoring after epidural.
• IV. (Required by hospital with epidural. Also required by hospital to administer antibiotics to treat GBS.)
• Episiotomy.

Postpartum:

• Stitches for episiotomy.
• Baby fed formula for first meal, after little opportunity to nurse.
• Fundal massages in the hospital.

Natural birth

Prenatal appointments:

• Zero cervical checks.
• Did glucose test at midwife’s office but performed by my diabetic husband (ate a normal meal, then tested blood sugar level, showing midwife diabetic’s finger-pricking technique). 
• One foot zoning and a prenatal massage, included with midwife package.
• Visited a chiropractor about 8 times during pregnancy.
• Self-administered GBS test; I came back negative (after midwife advised me on dietary changes to decrease risk).

Birth:

• Intermittent fetal monitoring and vital checks on me.
• Essential oils to help with nausea.
• Manual pressure on my back to ease pain.
• Inflatable birth tub.

Postpartum:

• One no-contact vaginal check right after birth.
• 3 hot rock and essential oil massages on belly and 3 herbal sitz baths within 1 week postpartum.

Hospital birth

• I am learning to feel peace about it, but it is only coming after now years of emotional pain.
• I don’t like to relive it.
• I felt out of control.
• In large part, this birth happened to me; it doesn’t feel like something I actively did or chose.
• In the moment, it was the path of least resistance, but it did not end up as the cut-and-clear “easier” way.
• The actual birth was mostly painless.
• The physical recovery took weeks of terrible pain and months of mild pain.
• While I wouldn’t do an epidural again, I think it was necessary for where I was at the moment and considering the very meager preparation I had put in.
• I mourn the experience that could have been and wish I had given my sweet baby girl a better, healthier, more bonding start to life.
• Despite the trauma of both pregnancy and birth and the inherent work we both had to go through, 2 years later, she and I are both generally happy and healthy.

Natural birth

• I feel complete peace about the moment.
• I am happy to relive it.
• I felt very much in control.
• In the moment, the preparation and the birth took a lot of work, effort, and even some pain, but it ended up as an easier, less painful route in many ways.
• The actual birth involved some pain, but it wasn’t as completely awful as I imagined it could be. The final hour or two were very hard; the rest was quite manageable.
• The physical recovery took just a few days of moderate pain and a few weeks of mild pain.
• I would absolutely choose this route again.
• I am grateful to have given my sweet baby boy a peaceful, healthy, bonding start to life.
• My baby and I are both generally happy and healthy.