"Strike when the iron's hot"- preserving vaginal birth

I had the amazing opportunity to attend a birth at Brandon Regional Hospital. I was nervous about my doula clients delivering there because their cesarean rate (as of 2008) is over 40%. Although the birth did not follow my clients ideal birth plan, ultimately our goal moved from wanting an unmedicated birth to preserving a vaginal birth.

SROM occurred at home with no contractions for over 12 hours. Pitocin was started and the contractions maintained a beautiful pattern until the mom pushed her baby out, over 24 hours after rupture of membranes at the hospital with the highest cesarean section rate in the county! Every decision that was made regarding the birth was based on the informed choice of the mother. She owned her experience!

Every intervention that exists in the hospital exists for a reason. Do I think that the rate of intervention is too high? Of course I do, however, there is often a time and a place for most interventions. It is important, as birth professionals, to understand the resources available at the hospital (Pitocin, epidural...) that can be utilized to achieve a gentle birth which preserves a vaginal birth.

As always, be flexible. Every birth is uniquely different!