So, here I am, early in pregnancy number 2, and I am already not only terrified of labour (it frikkin hurts lol) but terrified of going to hospital, or, more precisely, giving birth in a labour ward.
Punky was born in the water at the RPA Birth Centre, no drugs, no issues, but now we're in "the country" and there are certainly no Birth Centre options here.
Homebirth, well, I would love it. L.O.V.E. But I just don't think it would be possible, cost wise (although any info anyone can direct me to re: homebirth in Victoria would be greatly appreciated, if the costs were spread out I might be able to get them past DP lol, but then the whold govt changes to regulations & everything... is it all just too hard to contemplate...?!), so I'm stuck freaking out about what to do with Punky when I go into labour & wondering how different birthing in the labour ward is going to be.
What is the procedure in a labour ward? You can't give birth in the bath, can you? Who is there? A nurse? A doctor? A midwife? Did you like your hospital labour?
i had both DD in a labour ward, with DD2 i had my DH, doula and midwife, a second midwife came in at the end but it was a brilliant labour and birth, drug free, not bath but i did spend the last40 mins including transition in the shower which was bliss!! if you cant have a homebirth then id look into having a doula!!
Some hospitals do allow waterbirths, our hospital does now. You just need to ask. I have had three labour ward births, two of them drug free. The rooms were really well set up and comfortable. I second Olive's suggestion of getting a doula!
I read up on calmbirthing and my last two labours were wonderful. DD's was completely drug free, I had her 30 minutes after arriving at the hospital, it was a great experience!
I had all mine in the labour ward (uh except DS2) and it's really not that bad not as nice as a Birth Centre I'm sure but not awful.
You would most likely have just a midwife, you might never see a doctor - I didn't see a Dr with my second & fourth labours, my fourth was a VBAC & it was just a midwife. They pretty much left us to it and were there if we needed them (and then for the actual birth).
Water / bath will depend on the hossy but I used the shower a lot with DS1 & it was great
All labours are different but FWIW I loved my labour with DS2, it was great
Ah, thank you ladies, I knew you would put my mind at ease!
Trish - I went to calmbirth classes AND had no fear of labour, so the actual, hideous, almost unbearable pain... well, that kind of took me by suprise! I guess I'm just not that good at going to my 'happy place' lol.
Re: A doula - I forgot about that, actually. I looked into having a doula for #1 but after meeting a couple decided against it, in the end I was glad it was just DP & the midwife, but I might look into that again, DP was a wee bit at a loss....
talk with HB midwives and discuss payment plans and costs...esp if that is all that is holding you back.
i know with my 1st it was terrible pain but my second it wasnt anywhere as bad as i knew that it wouldnt last long and i knew that working with them, going with the flow would be better.. DDs birth was STUNNING compared to DS.
My hospital had a birthing bath that we could use if we really needed it - but there was just the one, so tough luck if someone else was in there. Each room had a shower attached (as they tend to do), birthing balls, mats, etc. So there were quite a few different options. And this is a hospital that I had a hard time finding positive feedback about!
ETA: Oh yeah, and you'd think for a SB, you'd see the doctor more than the midwives - I don't think I even met "my" ob That would explain why he f***'ed up the paperwork
Last edited by TeniBear; April 26th, 2010 at 02:43 PM.
What's it like...?
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not as nice as a Birth Centre I'm sure but not awful.
That would explain why he f***'ed up the paperwork 
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