Last week I met with a Doula that recently opened up her own birthing center right by my house. Her partner is a friend of mine in the doctoral program, which is how I find out about her. I had a long conversation with her (Michelle) about my doubts and skepticism of my current doctor and the general high rates of c-sections in Florida. Apparently Florida has the highest rate of c-sections, with South Florida being the highest in Florida. This worried me as I really do not wish for a c-section unless I really have to. Since I've been seeing three doctors at my practice so far, I haven't really decided for one doctor yet. I also found out that they often rotate, which means the chances I'll get my doctor to deliver my baby is slim. This is unnerving to me so at my last visit with the doctor I had once before (and liked), I asked him specific questions regarding his philosophy of practice, rate of c-section, etc. He admitted he does quite a lot of c-sections but with a healthy women such as myself and first time pregnancies, his rate is around 30%. This is still relatively high in my opinion. I told him about my interest in a natural birth without drugs and he basically shot me down, saying why would I do that to myself? He explained that his and his colleagues' philosophy is the belief in drugs and a painless delivery. He then said if you want to go natural, maybe a birth at home would be more suitable for me.
I do not want to give birth at home but I am strongly entertaining the idea of having a natural birth without drugs in a hospital setting. There is something in me that would really like to try it. Maybe it's because I love challenges. Maybe it's because I have a feeling it would give me a huge sense of empowerment (and based on the literature I've been reading is true), or it's because I'm scared of a big needle being put into my spine and a catheter up my vagina so I can urinate. I don't know what it is but my belief is that women are meant to give birth naturally, women did it for centuries without drugs and survived. Mammals do it all the time. I've been doing a lot of reading on this topic, learning about the benefits of natural birth (reading birthing from within right now) and how to best prepare oneself. I do believe that if I want to have a natural birth in a hospital setting, I will need the support of a doula to help me through the process. Especially if drugs will be so available to me in the hospital it will be more tempting to choose to get them if I'm in serious pain. Also, I am worried that if Brad sees me in serious pain, he will not know what to do and will support me getting an epidural to ease my pain. Having a doula would also make me feel more comfortable staying out of the hospital as long as possible when I start going into labor. That way I could move around freely in my home, do whatever helps me manage the pain, before I have to go to the hospital where I am limited to a bed and a room. A doula would also be a support system in the hospital and make sure everything the nurses and doctors are doing is kosher. Michelle has been a doula for 20 years in south florida and has 6 children of her own, 5 of which were born by natural birth.
Michelle recommended a doctor to me that works at a different hospital, a hospital she prefers over the one I am with at my current practice. Dr. Spiegelman has been in practice for almost 20 years and has his practice at Baptist Hospital in Miami. He's been there for a long time and Michelle has worked with him a lot in the past few years. She thinks he's amazing, listens and respects his patients wishes and does not believe in c-sections. I immediately made an appointment with him the next week for a consultation to see if he really was as great as she made him out to be. I figured I had to be proactive about this process, and as she reminded me it is my body, my decision, my money, to make the right decision for myself . I shouldn't feel bad if I switched doctor's at 22 weeks pregnant. I think she's absolutely right. I am educating myself on what kind of birth I envision for myself, and I am interviewing doctors to find the one that fits my ideas and philosophy best. I am usually a little intimated by doctors, look at them as experts without questioning their choices much. But this time I feel differently and do not feel bad switching doctors, and asking a lot of questions to really make sure what doctor is right for me and my baby.
Yesterday Brad and I headed to meet this new doctor (Dr. Spiegelman) Michelle recommended to us. Baptist Hospital is big and although the doctor's office wasn't as nice as at my other doctor's, the actual experience ended up being sooo much better. We instantly liked Dr. Spiegelman. He was funny and laid back, and you could tell he's been doing this for a long time. I also liked that he was trained in the United States (and not some carribean island like one of the other doctor's I was seeing - call me a snob i don't care) but I felt at ease knowing Dr. Spiegelman went to Dartmouth and UM med school. It made me feel more secure knowing he must be a pretty bright guy. Anyways, I liked him even more when he talked about his philosophy of practice, how he respects and encourages whatever birth his client wants (natural, epidural, or c-section) as long as the baby and mom are healthy. He said I can give birth naturally.. standing on my head, hanging from a chandelier, whatever makes me happy as long as the baby and I am in good shape. I really liked what he had to say and it made it even better because he constantly made us laugh. I set up an appointment for a month later to do my glucose test and I will cancel my appointment with my other doctor. Brad and I soon after decided that he was going to be our doctor and we would be delivering our baby at baptist hospital. What a relief! One thing scratched off my list, and now we need to decide if we want to hire Michelle as my doula or go without. I would hire her if we can work something out on the price. We didn't expect to have to pay for a doula on top of all the other costs of having a newborn so we are unsure if we should proceed with her. Since her price is relatively high as she is very experienced, she did tell me that she is willing to compromise for us since I am a friend of her partner's and will be taking all my prenatal classes through her birthing center. It feels so good knowing that I am comfortable with this new doctor (and his practice) and can relax and get ready for my baby's arrival in April.
After the new year, I will be starting prenatal yoga once or twice a week, which is apparently a great preparation for a natural birth Michelle informed me, and will be taking a breastfeeding and a birthing class with Brad. Exciting stuff.
Ok, time to bake some cookies before it's Lucky's evening walk.
Happy Holidays!
