Private hospital and birthing positions?

Has anyone heard of an Ob not allowing any other delivery position other than on a woman's back?? I thought this was a really old practice! I had no complications in labor whatsoever, and my Ob only walked in just before my body started bearing down, but he wouldn't let me go with my instincts (on my knees) and said that I had to be on my back. I had a wonderful experience otherwise (except for third stage), but this still niggles and bothers me! My mind may be playing tricks on me, but I felt like delivering my 6lb baby hurt more and was harder than delivering my 9lb baby who I delivered on my hands and knees.

Because of this minor thing, I'm not sure I want to go back to him for our next baby.... Even though I have been told he is one of the top Ob's in our area. The midwife did say that she doesn't really see any women delivering any other way than on their backs!:o

I delivered privately and was flipped from my knees to my back to push. I hadn't thought about how I wanted to push and didn't think to question - I was in labour four weeks early and totally unprepared so just went with the flow!

BW

Congratulations on your latest edition Catherine. :hug:

I feel really sad and defensive when I read your post. It is incredibly outdated and against all available data that women "should" birth their babies on their backs.

Birth is about primal instincts - for some women that will mean they want to be on their backs - but frankly those women are in the very small minority.

When women are given the space to access their inner wisdom and freedom to explore their instincts and to follow them... They will crouch, squat, swivel their hips, stand, stomp, fall to the all fours position etc etc.

Interfering with these primal instincts interrupts the energy of birth.

As a woman that advocates for women's birthing choices I would have to say... Change obs. He might be a great obstetrician in some eyes. However the fact alone that he cannot meet a birthing Goddess on the ground or in the shower, or on the fit ball tells me that his skills in natural childbirth are not good. (I know that is direct... :redface:)
This is where some obstetricians fall short. They are specialists in obstetric medicine and surgery... Not necessarily (but by no means not always ;)) in the natural process of birth.

When I was birthing my DD in a Private Hospital, I actually wanted to lay on my back (mostly because I was just exhausted) and my midwifes & obstetrician told me this was not a great position, encouraging me into another. It was good because as a 21yr old first time Mum, I was really uninformed so their advice was invaluable. I ended up pushing in a sort of side on crunch position and didn't tear or anything so that was great. It might be worthwhile to explore some other health professionals until you find one who will support you in the way you are wishing for.

Was this ever discussed prior to birth? with your birth plan etc? I do not think I could have birthed on my back, just getting the placenta out was hard enough on my back!

Thank you for your posts!

Flowerchild - I thought about changing Obs, but the midwife saying she rarely sees anyone birth in any other position concerns me that all the Obs here must have the same concept? She said they preferred women deliver on their backs because there is better head control and if anything needs to be done quickly (shoulders get stuck or something) it can be. It's not like I was expecting my Ob to deliver my baby in the shower - I just wanted to kneel on the bed. I have an understanding of those natural instincts during birth, because that's all I used to birth my first baby. It was my instincts that told me it was time to get on the bed and rock on my hands and knees - before they knew it, the baby was crowning.

Kazbah - It was in my birth plan but I guess when I gave it to him, he overlooked that part?! I didn't bring it up in conversation because I honestly thought it just wasn't something that was practiced now a days. I thought everyone birthed how they liked, birthing chairs, standing, squatting etc. We mainly discussed how I wanted another natural birth with no intervention and no drugs etc. and we discussed things like his c section rates etc. This was all discussed before 30 weeks and I went two weeks early, so maybe he would have discussed it more at one of the last two appointments I should of had. I can't fault his care otherwise, so maybe I'm just being a sook and am letting it bother me more than I should.

Contractions were so much easier to deal with and handle this time compared to my first, but the birth canal part was much worse than I remember. The first time I actually thought the contrax were worse than her crowning and total opposite this time. With DD1 I went public, this time private. The first time I loved the birth and birthing suites, thought they were well equipped! But I really hated the ward and the MW's were too busy to help me with anything (most importantly breastfeeding - so I really struggled establishing it) and I was out 24 hours after I delivered. This time, I hated the birth suite - thought the public hospitals birth suites were better equpped but LOVED the ward and my own room, MW's and help. I really don't know which is more important now.... downsides to both.

Hi Catherine,

I birthed at a Private Hospital in a kneeling position - i used back of the bed as support. my ob was actually in the funniest position almost like looking at the underside of car like mechanics do! - But he encouraged me to stay in that position if it was working for me (which it was) so 1.5hrs of pushing later i birthed my DD with my ob just standing there to catch her :)

Hi Catherine!

I was told to get on my back. i was devastated but waaaay to gone in labour land to say no and advocate for myself. i had actually started pushing when i was on my knees (was leaning on the wooden railing at the side of the bed and bearing down on my knees). i felt that this position was really helping with the flow and i felt DD move down. However the moment i went on my back, i could no longer 'feel' where DD was at when i was pushing so had to use a mirror to get some idea. also i felt that the majority of the strength in the pushes were comprimised (sp?) and it slowed down the progress.

have you considered the possibility of going public as a private patient? that way you can use the delivery suites and generally get a private room (also, you do tend to get more one on one care...). this might be a good half-way ground ITMS...

Claire - spot on, that is exactly how I felt. And I too at the time wasn't in the frame of mind to battle with them about it. With my first baby, I did try and get into our public hospital as a private patient, but they didn't offer it because they were so busy. I haven't checked with our now local (we moved from where we had our first daughter) hospital, so that may be an option - not sure if their birthing suites would be as good as the Gold Coast ones were though. It's sad that either side seems to be lacking something. :(

ETA - When I mentioned that the Ob made me give birth on my back and I was shocked by it to one of the middies on the ward she said, 'well I guess he is the one delivering it!' Pffft... what a joke! lol. Don't worry about the poor laboring woman now will you.

Oh that sort of statement makes me cross... You birthed/delivered your babies - he "caught" it. It's just a big ego trip... *she says grrrrrrr and pfffft*....

I can't prompt enough women to engage a Doula or a private midwife. Birth takes up all your energy and it is so helpful to have another woman with a good sound birthing knowledge to support you. AND to advocate for you...

Birthing on your back is convenient - it's eye height, it's all lovely... But not for the mother - unless that's where she organically goes...

Birth should be mother led. The mother wants to dance - we all dance even if we hate the music. The woman wants to be in the shower - we all get wet. This leads to the best outcomes FOR THE MOTHER AND BABY...

much love to you honey - I wish you the birth ofyour choice... :hug: