Born at United Hospital in St.Paul, MN | A Preview of a First Baby’s Unmedicated Birth Story in Photographs

Birth Location: Mother Baby Center at United Hospital

Doula Support: Gather Birth Cooperative

Birth Photography: Gather Birth Cooperative

Planning for an unmedicated labor and birth requires unique kind of preparation. Planning an unmedicated birth in a hospital requires something extra, on top of childbirth education, unpacking your personal understanding of pain and coping, physical preparation for your body. You have to choose the right provider and hospital.

Not every provider in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and the greater Twin Cities area has the same understanding and experience with physiologic birth. Not every midwife or OB has the same risk tolerance or professional opinion around common topics that pop up, like going past your due date, laboring at home after your water has broken, and more. Choosing the right provider is everything, but so is choosing the right hospital.

If you’re planning an unmedicated hospital birth, make sure the hospital you pick has a culture that isn’t just tolerant of unmedicated birth, but experienced in and excited about it. If your hospital doesn’t see many unmedicated births, it means your nurses likely haven’t either. It doesn’t mean they aren’t tremendous nurses, they just may not have the experience to support you fully in the birth you hope for.

This family made all the right choices, their baby was on board with the plan, and they had the unmedicated birth they prepared for. And their team was on board the entire time. Talking through timing of Group B Strep (GBS) medication, monitoring with a doppler while they labored in the tub. Their midwife even used this family’s small night light as the only source of light while they pushed. When you have a team that is use to these accommodations, they’re unflappable.

Wishing you the birth of your dreams!

xoxo,

Gina + The Gather Birth team