Seeking Positive Labor and Delivery!

I recommend using a midwife and/or birthing center. They are usually great about listening to what you want as long as it is safe. They also tend to view pregnancy as a normal family experience rather than as a sickness. My midwife was Heather Caudell but she delivers in Lewisville hospital so she isn't in the Plano area. When I asked her how many people could be in the room with me she said as many as I wanted as long as they didn't get in the way and didn't get loud enough to disrupt other patients. Since I delivered in the hospital, I would have been able to have an epidural and still have my midwife deliver my baby. However if you choose a birthing center you don't get the epidural but most can give you a shot for pain. I was able to do it without the epidural. I did get a shot of Stadol that basically let me take a nap during the middle of my labor. At least you have been through it before and have an idea of what the pain is like. I was a first time mom and had no idea if I could handle the pain or not. Birthing centers are usually good about offering different suggestions for pain relief, such as massage, birthing balls, different positions, laboring in water, etc. Plus they are setup to be family friendly. When I was pregnant I did a lot of searching online about birthing centers and midwives in the Dallas area. Several of them were contracted with my insurance in case that is a consideration for you. I would definately use a midwife again.

From what you are describing, it sounds like you need to be at a birth center. Even if you are able to find a hospital accommodate your family during delivery, I would be surprised if they actually followed through when the time comes. I hate to sound negative, but they only care about your medical needs. Plus there are several other in the room at the time... your OB, her tech, your nurse, your support person, a baby nurse, a tech from anaethesia if you had meds, and the room gets really crowded.

Birth centers are designed more to accommodate your emotional and physical needs during labor. They are wonderful alternatives for many people. There are a few in your area...

www.allenbirthingcenter.com
www.fcmcdallas.com
www.dallasmidwife.com

are a few of them. There are also midwives who will deliver at home. FWIW, a homebirth isn't any different from a birth center in terms of safety. Everything they have at the birth center they would have for you at home. You should consider how far you live from the nearest hospital (shouldn't be more than 20 mins) and your comfort level at home (no obnoxious family that you can't get rid of) but otherwise, a homebirth is a less expensive version of a birth center.

If you would like to learn more in general, or ask questions, you can always go to www.homebirthdallas.org and request to join our yahoo group. Great support for those considering home and birth center births.

I am a local doula and have worked with many local midwives, OB's and hospitals, so if you have specific questions, please feel free to email me at ____@____.com luck and this important decision!
E. Boyce, LSP
www.earthboundbirth.com

Hi there,

My OB's name is William Wiese, MD ###-###-####) and he is amazing. I had my daughter, Hannah Grace, at Presby in Allen and they let me have as many people in the room as I wanted. I can't say enough about Dr. Weise. He's got an awesome bedside manner and Presby Allen is a very mother-friendly hospital. They believe strongly in rooming in with your child so you can breastfeed on demand. I had a wonderful birthing experience there.

Good Luck,
A.

Hi Adria,
I don't know about the other questions you have but I wanted to direct you to the Bradley Method of childbirth if you are worried about the pain. This course was wonderful in preparing me for my delivery. Good luck and I hope you find a facility to accommodate you.

K.