Leave It Up to Nature – by Lisa Kelly


A few weeks ago, I reached out to a doula who had been recommended to me.  I just wanted an initial consultation – some answers to a few questions.  Her first question was about my doctor.  When I told her, she immediately said she could not attend my birth but could recommend someone else.  It seems my doctor is not natural childbirth friendly. Ah, another layer of stress to conquer.

 I have never had a major surgery and I don’t intend to start this late in life.  I am actually on my way out the door for yet another OB appointment.  I do not like going to the doctor but today I am looking forward to it.  I need to let her know that she will not be rushing my baby into this world.  I read just last night about maternal mortality rates rising in America due to C-sections and other medical interventions intended to hurry the process of labor and delivery along.  I always think of my great grandmother telling me how Indian squaws would go out behind trees and squat to give birth.   I’m a long ways from that but would much rather use that method than pitocin to speed up contractions.  

A friend told me he and his wife were on their way into the hospital for childbirth classes when her water broke.  He wanted to go on up to labor and delivery and get the party started.  She opted to rush right back home and make lunch.  She spent the afternoon bouncing on her exercise ball and didn’t go back to the hospital until her contractions were very close together.  Like me, she didn’t want a doctor to try and get a delivery in before the evening news.  I’ve been rehearsing how to say this to my OB/GYN without sounding like I’m telling her how to do her job.  Nature has been pushing babies out into the world since the dawn of man.  I trust that tried and true method.

  1. 3 Responses to “Leave It Up to Nature – by Lisa Kelly”

  2. Congratulations on your pregnancy! I, too, intended to have as natural a birth as possible, but the doctors, who will tell you whatever they have to to keep you coming back so they can bill your insurance, rushed my little girl. At 40 weeks and 1 day, they decided to induce, saying they “don’t like her O2 level.” Of course, they tested her while I was ordered flat on my back. (In case you don’t know, that puts pressure on your spine, her spine, and cuts off blood flow to the placenta. Of course her oxygen was low! Duh!)

    I managed a 12 hour, pitocin induced labor with no drugs. It was excruciating, and they kept trying to get me to take something for the pain, but the aftermath was far more pleasant without drugs, no matter what else they forced on me. I was up walking the halls the next day. :)

    My next labor will be at home, where the first one should have been. Trust your body. Good luck!

    By Heather Bowles on Jul 24, 2012

  3. Since I was a “high risk patient,” just due to my age, I hired a wonderful Doula, however in the delivery room, when you are a “high risk patient,” the hospital could care less about what YOU want. My Doula was pushed aside, was basically regulated to feeding me ice chips and taking photos once my son was born. I was highly disappointed. All because I was a Later Mom!

    By Cara Potapshyn Meyers on Jul 25, 2012

  4. I was all ready for battle yesterday but then only got five minutes with the nurse practitioner. I think what I’ll do is wait at home as long as possible since I’m only a five minute drive from the hospital. I don’t want my baby (or me!) hurt because of someone else trying to stay on a schedule.

    By lisa on Jul 25, 2012