I am in the midst of reading “Your Best Birth” by Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein and I wanted to share with you some things I have learned so far. First of all, the book is a very easy read and I think it is a great book to add to your collection if you are pregnant. I am only on chapter 2, but there is a lot of very important information discussed during this chapter that I think every woman should be privy to. This chapter gives an overview of the options for places to give birth. While the chapter touches on birth center births and home births and gives great supporting information as to why these are perfectly safe options, the focus is on the hospital birth option. The reason that the greatest emphasis is placed on the hospital birth is because realistically, that is the option that most Americans choose.
I did not have a hospital birth with my son and I was surprised to learn of the reality that a hospital birth is. My only experience with hospital births is through friends of mine who have shared their stories. I have been surprised to find that for several friends wanting a natural birth in a hospital setting that it seemed that everything was working against them. The book explains why women are put into situations that they did not anticipate when they selected their birthing location and the importance of selecting the right hospital.
A hospital tour is the best way to make your decision in selecting a hospital, but it is important to ask the right questions. For instance, you may ask the question of whether the hospital has a squat bar, birthing stool, and tub to use for labor and pushing, but the question you really need to ask is how many patients use these items. While the tour guide may tell you that the items are available, they may be rarely touched, if at all and the staff may not know where to find them while you’re in labor. The book tells the story of one woman who is laboring in a hospital where they told her that a squat bar was available, but it took the staff hours to locate it and when they finally set it up the doctor came in and told her she needed to have her feet in the stirrups for pushing and the squat bar could not be used.
From my experience, through books I’ve read and women I’ve talked to, the hospital seems to sabotage many women’s initial plans of natural childbirth. Many of the hospital rules make it impossible to have the beautiful birth experience that a woman dreams of. Hospitals that have a high percentage of women receiving the epidural may not know how a mother going “natural” needs to labor. Hospitals may require you to labor lying on your back in bed, or may allow you in the tub only if your water hasn’t broken.
“Your Best Birth” will help you figure out all of the ‘right’ questions that need to be asked when choosing a birthing location. The book stresses the importance of looking into the hospitals statistics including rate of induction (i.e. pitocin used), percentage of epidurals and cesarean rate. If the percentages are high, chances are that you are not going to be the exception to the rule. If you want to enjoy your birth experience and not argue with the nursing staff during labor, it is best you choose a location that fits into the birth experience that you expect and not expect the hospital to conform to you.
I recommend adding this book to your library as a “must-have.”
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Hi! That book actually looks really good…and I think I might have to pick it up. Thanks for the rec
I also really love your blog and added you as a follower! Thank you so much for following mine
I always like to read about young moms view on hospital vs home birth. I was a Labor & Delivery nurse for almost 20 years before leaving about 15 years ago. When I first got out of school I was stunned at all the intervention in a natural process-giving birth. But one hasto realize that a hospital is a business that can be sued for millions. Until people stop suing and blaming hospitals have to be defensive and set up protocols to follow.