Childbirth options

Pretty much anyone who's been reading my blog for any length of time knows that I really want to have a baby, and I'd like to have it soon. However, I am mandated not to start trying to get pregnant until I'm a year out from surgery, so in the meantime I content myself with looking into baby names, admiring baby clothes--and, recently, actually doing some research into childbirth options.

I am not actually QUITE as far ahead of the game as you might think. I need an annual exam in a couple months, my first one in Denver, so I'm in search of a new gynecologist. Since this will be my last annual exam before we start trying to get pregnant, I would, if possible, like to have it with the person who will manage my prenatal care while pregnant, so I can meet them ahead of time and decide if I like them.

So, I started doing some research to find the place where I'd like to give birth, so I can make an appointment there for my annual exam. I had some parameters in mind: if I give birth in a traditional hospital setting with a doctor delivering my baby, I'd like there to be some kind of advocate in the room other than Torsten who knows my birth plan and will work with the doctors to achieve it as much as possible, so that Torsten can focus on me and my needs and what's going on and not have to worry about dealing with doctors and making decisions, if necessary. So basically, I'd like some sort of doula or midwife.

I also figured out a few things that I would, in an ideal situation, like. I'd like a natural birth, if at all possible. I know that all births are different and everyone has different circumstances and it is quite possible that when it comes down to it, depending on the specifics of my own birth process, I will change my mind about this.

Also, I understand that a lot of women feel a lot of guilt, shame, and/or regret about the way their own birthing experiences played out. I hope to avoid that. Of course I would like to have things go a certain way, and will have a birthing plan and a clear idea of what I want. But I also want to try to accept that things can't always go the way you would like, and that the important thing is that the baby is born healthy and that the mother is healthy--no matter what it takes to make that happen. So if nothing ends up going according to my birthing plan, I am very much hoping to be OK with that.

Still, if it is possible, I would like to give birth naturally, and avoid a c-section. It is a little upsetting to me that the c-section rate in the US is over 30%. While I recognize that quite often c-sections are truly necessary, I simply do not think that's the case 30% of the time. I think that the whole process of pregnancy and childbirth has become way too medicalized and fear-based, and I want to avoid that as much as possible. So it's also important to me to go with a practice that has a low c-section rate, preferably under 10%.

However, despite not wanting my birth to be overmedicalized, I do want to give birth in a hospital. I want the peace of mind of knowing that if something does go wrong or become complicated, I'm in a facility that's equipped to handle it right away. I know Torsten needs that peace of mind as well.

Also, if possible, I would like to do a water birth. In reading about these, I've found that some doctors won't let a woman in labor get into the water until she's five centimeters dilated, because it is so relaxing that it can slow or even stop labor. I think that's great. Something that relaxes you so much? Excellent idea as far as I'm concerned.

So, I did a bunch of research on local options, and you know what I found? A Denver hospital that has a state-of-the-art birthing center with private rooms and birthing tubs, a midwives' practice IN the hospital (meaning that a midwife will deliver your baby unless a c-section is required or there are other serious complications, in which case doctors are right there to help), and a c-section rate of 9%.

In other words, I have found my dream facility. And I am totally making an appointment there for my annual exam to confirm. And I'm pretty sure this is the first time ever that I have actually looked forward to a gynecological exam.