Need Birthing Advice

Sorry, I don't have time to type everything. I'm at work. Please call me and I'll be happy to discuss water birthing and awesome midwives that do it locally. I'm assumng you live near North Fulton, since they're the only hospital locally that permits it. I'm glad to hear you're considering it!

K.
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I don't know where you live, but the only local hospital that allows waterbirth is North Fulton. Everywhere else will let you labor in the tub, but you must get out for the birth. North Fulton might be a hike for you, but it's worth it if you want a waterbirth.

The highest-recommended midwife is Margaret Strickhouser. My close friend (who lives in Tucker) had a waterbirth with her last year and it was the best thing. She loved it. Margaret is very popular in the natural birth community. http://www.npobgyn.com/index.php?page=margaret_strickhouser

There is georgia birth network - hopefully you can find online. These are doulas, I did not use this one, but my doula was a life saver, mostly because of the pre-birth decisions and thinking through the child medical treatment at birth as well (get educated about those vaccinnes!!).

I highly recommend a doula, you make the decisions and then just nicely inform your ob what you want to do. To answer your questions, doulas support you through the birth with physical support as well as techniques to help with the pain and so forth. They also take the huge stress that your husband feels to support you (not that he won't, but honestly, how the heck is he going to help, he is going to be worried about you and has never birthed a baby - even if he has, he probably has never birthed his baby with you - which is a emotional journey without the stress he feels over you in pain.)

Also, you need to consider the hospital you are going to be birthing, you need to know they will respect your wishes to have a doula as well as follow your birth plan (which needs to be written down and hung beside your bed in the hospital).

This is your birth and your baby, as long as you are educated and considering all the advice, your doc, your doula and your hospital need to be respectful and offer you any assistance they can.

Happy birthing! good luck with the water birth, I can't help there. J

Hi Ana,

I am less than 4 weeks away from delivering and we will have a doula present. Please check out www.dona.org. They explain what a doula does and how to find one. Upon many recommendations, we went with a doula who works with a group of doulas. Check out their website at www.alaboroflove.org. They have a monthly tea where you can meet all the doulas and pick one you feel comfortable with. They are there to support you. The nurses will not always be in the room helping you. She will be and will help you and your partner in whatever ways you need (non-medically). Also, I am not doing a water birth, but I know several women who are and they are all going to North Fulton Regional Med. Ctr. and using North Point OB/GYN (http://www.npobgyn.com) who apparently has terrific midwives who support water births. Hope this helps. Best of luck, S.

You have come to the right place! I have had two water births within the last 1.5 months!!! My first was with my baby girl Holly and then just about two weeks ago with a baby boy.

I strongly suggest water birth and having had two now, can't imagine how women have babies outside the water.
First of all, the pain management is wonderful. You cannot have meds or an epidural in the tub but honestly, the warm water keeps the pain at bay so you don't need them (or at least I didn't.)

I refuse to ever seen an OB because from what i have found, they are not "baby friendly" and don't deliver in ways that are ideal for babies. I do know that Dr. Lambert preformed his first water birth on CNN last year and he was surprised at how cool it was.

The water is so gentle to the baby that when they come out they don't even cry. I would be happy to share some pictures with you if you are curious about what the tub looks like and what an actual water birth involves. My husband was in the tub with me both times. There is nothing like it.

Finally, you mentioned midwives. If you google water birth and midwives in Atlanta, one name comes up first, Margaret Strickhouser with N. Point OB/GYN. She works with two other midwives, Robin and Kim. All of them are awesome and have led the way for water birth in Atlanta.
North Fulton Regional in Roswell is the only hospital at this time that offers water birth. And honestly, they only have a few tubs so you have to put "water birth" into your birth plan and make sure everyone knows to hold a room w/ a tub open for you in the event that you are on your way to the hospital and they only have one room w/a tub. They recently did this for me.

Insurance is not an issue w/ water birth. It is covered the same as a normal vaginal birth. I also suggest Marie Young as a doula (she is on this site under doulas.) She assisted us w/ this birth and was wonderful.
With my other birth I used Labor of Love but was not very happy w/ the lead doula over there. We decided not to use her again.

Please feel free to email me at ____@____.com I would love to share my experience with you.