Eek - trying to remember what I wanted to reply to! LOL

Cord blood - Thanks for that shannon, I hadn't associated the synt injection with needing to clamp the cord earlier. Will keep that in mind with #2. Did I read somewhere else on BB that the synt injection actually -increases- the chance of PPH?? I was shocked at this, as I was given it to reduce that chance, as my OB understood I would refuse any blood transfusions. I will be researching this in great depth for my next.
What I find scary is that out of 15 other mothers at my new Mothers' group, I was the ONLY ONE who had a drug-free, intervention-free labour.
Yep - at our antenatal class reunion... only 2 of us had vaginal births. Almost all the others were inductions that led to c/s. We were the only 2 breastfeeding too.

Aurora - I've been pulled up on the natural / vaginal birth thing too hehe. Makes sense tho to distinguish once you know! heh.

Drugs - my view on pain relief was purely and simply that I would not let anything pass through to the baby. I'd spent 9 months (plus pre-conception months) being careful what I ate and drank, coz of any 'risks' to the baby. Why would I suddenly pump DRUGS through to him right at the end? It was just a no-go for me. DH was super-supportive of this, and was extremely supportive of breastfeeding etc, and I truly feel his support was invaluable. My OB is very supportive of intervention-free and drug-free labours. He almost breathed a sigh of relief at my visits I think coz I was well researched, and we had good discussions about everything. (from memory I think his intervention rate is 3% ?? cant remember if it was a general thing, or if we were talking forceps or what). But he really is good. He even told me about a birth he'd attended one morning, where the mum was screaming for an epi, and he was trying to discourage her because she was in transition, and probably would have had the baby in about 45 minutes, but she screamed blue murder, so she got her epi, ended up not able to push properly.. 2 hrs later, she had a forceps delivery. Very sad. But it's good to know he prefers not to intervene! (so there ARE some good OBs out there.. just gotta find one! LOL)

Other things I plan to "tweak" with my next birth LOL:

- labour as long as I can at home. Just wondering - my waters broke fairly early on with #1 - is it true I must go to the hospital if that happens next time? How long can I stay at home with ruptured membranes?

- I will not let them augment my labour again, until maximum time has passed. My waters broke on a Thurs night, and everything stopped. I was given sleeping pills to help rest overnight ready for augmentation (drip) the next morning. Everything went smoothly, but I don't want to run that risk again, having read how the drip can lead to further intervention. Now I feel my body was actually resting itself ready for the impending labour. I'd had 3 days of pre-labour and not much rest (diarrhea and contractions), my body was having a rest, and I'm sure I could have been refreshed enough on my own to labour once it got going again.

- Am looking into the synto injection, so i can decide about the cord clamping. Ideally I want to wait until it stops pulsing, but will need to research this.

- Baby is going straight onto the boob! Last time I think I was a bit embarressed to get my boob out lol, together with not having the midwife around to help, and when she came back I asked her, and she just shoved him on (bruising my nipple too ). Next time there'll be no qualms.. bub will go straight on the boob.

hmm - a question about that.. does putting them straight on the boob affect them getting their breathing right?? And do you put them on while the cord is still pulsating? Sorry - I think of little details. hehe.

Great thread Sarah! Definitely all about informed choices, and feeling in control of those choices. I felt in control of mine, and since then have found out more things I want control over next time!