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Ruth,

Would you e-mail me, I work with some of the midwives at Alma as a doula, I'd love to talk to you more. Melea.Bauer@gmail.com

posted 2 years, 10 months ago
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Women have the right to choose where birth is best for them and there babies. Its about choice. I choose for my first birth to be in the hospital. I had wanted a natural birth. But the docs and nurses don't have the time or energy to be with a women throughout the whole process helping her deal with what’s happening to her body. Epidurals are used 70 percent of the time in labor. This started a very common chain of events. Epidural to cope with the pain... led to a drop in my blood pressure...led to a drop in babies heart rate...led to emergency pushing situation...yelling to prep OR...yelling to call the pediatrician...heart rate dropping...PUSH...led to using a vacuume...led to 3rd degree episiotomy/tearing...baby born within seconds of c-section...baby born with a 3 APGAR...resuscitated in front of us and whisked away to the NICU...left with a broken tailbone from force of pulling the baby out to fast with the vacuume. Horrible, horrible birth but so common in the hospital. As the doctor stitched me up she looked me in the eyes and said, "There must have been something wrong with your pelvis, the baby just couldn't get out, and I will never deliver you vaginally again, If I see you again, you will have a c-section" Well, you know what- you won't see me again! I know why all that happened and I know I can have a better experience. 

 Two years later pregnant with my second child I knew I would not have him in the hospital, I knew my body was capable of this given the right support. I knew it would be healthier for my baby. I started my care with Alma and it was a whole other world from OB care. They have time for you, get to know you and your family, listen to your fears, massage you--tell me what OB has ever sat and given you a massage?!? My son was born after 8 hours of labor, 1 1/2 hours of hard pushing. Never thought about pain meds, because I had the support to get me through this. Baby was perfect, healthy, 9 APGAR.

Safe, healthy babies are being born everyday out of the hospital in Oregon and all over the world. For me and my baby it was safer outside of the hospital. I knew that inside me. That said, I knew and trusted my midwife to make the call about transfer at anytime. The hospitals and Midwives should be working together- not against each other.

posted 2 years, 10 months ago
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