I’ve never labored outside the bathtub, and I’m starting to think that’s the key to an unmedicated birth!

My first hospital birth was just me pushing the baby out, but they gave my fentanyl to stitch up my big tear (which I did need, but wish I’d received more information before getting it) and it kind of knocked me out so I didn’t hold my baby much the first couple hours. The stay at the hospital was not great, either. I felt disrespected and condescended on the entire time by the nursing staff.

My second birth, same hospital, was totally different! I actually labored at the hospital, everyone was hands off but supportive, I was in the tub the whole time (and my nurse told me they don’t prefer a tub birth but not to worry about it too much if it just worked out that way), no one offered me a thing that wasn’t in my birth plan, and it was just a very pleasant experience. Then the stay was awesome too. Minimal checkups, techs brought me an endless supply of warm muffins while I nursed baby, didn’t bat an eye at our cosleeping arrangement (he basically didn’t leave my arms for two days), and they respected our wishes in terms of what to do or not to do to baby, and got us out as early as policy allowed.

I do think birth centers are the happy medium here. I wish every hospital had a birth centers, kind of like the rehab places that hospitals own which are near the main facility but not part of it. A birth center near the hospital for quick transfers when necessary.