"Natural" birth

See...I've heard that the L&D nurses will say that. My question is WHY?
Really, I'd like to know where this thinking comes from....

Because we see it soooo often.

Well, I was hoping for more of a reasoning than that. Thats the only answer I ever hear.

Does the care the woman gets from a prejudiced staff have anything to do with it?
Curious.

Yes, I think for some nurses, they react very poorly to patients who want natural childbirth. This attitude is reflected in their care. They'll bad mouth the patient at the nurses station, they won't check on her as much, they won't be as active in offering labor support ideas, etc. They'll many times try and undermine the birth plan, if there is one, by suggesting medication, by saying things like, "Hey, no one gets a reward for natural childbirth." etc. It's terribly disheartening to the patient, who has tried to be informed and could really use a strong ally in the birth room.

I've seen this, and it's been reported to me by L&D nurses themselves. And many of those nurses don't have strong labor support skills because they see so few natural patients that they're at a loss of what to do in the face of a natural birth process - it does tend to be a bit more uncontrolled and intimidating than an epidural birth.

Sometimes it is the dual relationship between the patient and the nurse. The patient comes in loaded for a big fight on interventions, they're incredibly tense and hyper reactive to anything the staff does, even when it's warranted or kind hearted. They refuse to acknowledge the goodness of the staff. That's tough, too. So then the staff gets cranky, and you devolve from there. It's pretty tough to dilate and release to the power of childbirth when you're anxious and worried.

And sometimes it's simply a psycho patient.

I mean, how many of us could walk into a hospital ward and have sex (with orgasm!) in front of a bunch of strangers and bright lights? Well, childbirth is pretty sexual as far as I'm concerned, and some women are very sensitive to this setting, and it's difficult for them to let go. Then you have the other women, who could birth a baby in Times Square. No problems there! Throw in a few obstetric interventions, and you have the makings of a very tough labor and birth.

It's incredibly easy to think it's simply the patients' fault, since they're such control freaks with their 3 page birth plan, birth ball and doula in tow. But it's usually a give and take, and the staff contributes to the failure to progress through their lack of understanding or sheer callousness. Sucks.

Unless, of course, you have SmilingBlueEyes for your RN. And then you're golden. And for the other nurses I've encountered who were either totally awesome and supportive or so professional that they wouldn't let their personal feelings color their support for the Mom. Now THOSE are super nurses!

Alison

too bad we were not birthing with you !

It seems like there are so many different meanings to different people for "Natural Birth"
What do you consider "Natural Birth"? When a patient comes into your hospital wanting the most "Natural Birth" possible, what can she expect?

my most satisfying and gratifying days at work come after one of our rare no meds, or at least no epidural labors. THAT's when my labor nursing and support skills are utililized the most. Just watching monitors and adjusting IV rates doesn't cut it. Must be done, but really, how satisfying is that?