Joey, have you done hypnobirthing? I can't remember, but I think I had this conversation with you once before? I recommend that... and you have a doula, which is awesome! I went to hossy once things were probably about 5/6 mins and getting intense. I did some things to "humour" them ... ie: allowed the canula to be put in (made me look co-operative lol) BUT then when they mentioned monitoring, I told them that we were happy for that but intermittently unless there was a good reason that I had to have continual. They were happy with this... cos I was saying, ok (and I let them know we were making INFORMED decisions and weren't silly and would take things as they came if we needed to deviate from our birth plan... this makes them a bit more at ease I think) I'm happy for this but how about we both compromise and meet here. Re: strep B... I never did the swab and they then assume you to be positive and want to give AB's JIC... I refused this completely cos they monitor bubs after birth anyway. I think that the main thing really is open minds from both parties... I went in expecting a huge fight etc but it really wasn't like that (well for me anyway)... the midwives were great. It's the OB's at hossy you need to watch lol. Don't let them talk you into anything! They like "timeframes" and I even had one talking about "checking things out and doing an S&S before I was even due"!! No need for that.... what is there to check if I'm not in labour... nothing! mmmm dunno if I've helped at all ... let me know if it's confusing lol.
Yeah, I did Hypnobirthing for my last baby, but I don't thing DH beleives in it too much. I am going to start listening to the CDs and reading the book again soon though.