Austin Area Birthing Center

It’s official. I switched from my OB to the Austin Area Birthing Center. I am really excited! It was a hard decision. I really like our OB–of which many of you share the same one. He is a great Christian and NFP doctor. But I really don’t like the hospital labor and delivery. It causes me a lot of undue stress (that would probably sound irrational to most of you). The birthing center is so much closer to our home, and the staff have the same birthing goals as we do.

A few weeks ago Adam and I took a tour of the birthing center. The staff was so nice. The midwives that I spoke to and asked our questions were very informative and very helpful. The birthing rooms were POSH! I laughed when we saw the first room because it was like a bed and breakfast room! It was nicer and has better matching furniture than our bedroom! All their medical equipment, if needed, is placed in armours so you never see it unless you need it.  Three of the four birthing rooms have jacuzzi tubs for moms while they are laboring and I suppose if she wants to have a water birth too.   They have procedures in place in case a mom/baby needs to be transported to a hospital, and they said that usually happens when a woman does not progress in her labor.  And the hospital is only a few minutes away across the highway.

My one hesitation in transferring care to the birthing center was my progesterone levels. Having had injections the last three pregnancies, it’s something I’ve considered “standard” for me. I trust NaProTechnology and would trust it and an NFP doctor first and foremost. However, after my last miscarriage, I realized it wasn’t this “magic pill” that was going to make the pregnancy happen.  I also asked one of our Creighton NFP teachers when progesterone is necessary past the first trimester because midwives don’t typically recommend it past the first trimester since the placenta has attached by then and is making the progesterone. This hormone should be monitored closely beyond the first trimester in women with a history of miscarriage, PMS, endometriosis, pre-term labor and infertility. I’m only one for five in this list. The midwives were pretty surprised that a woman my age was even on it and for so long in my previous pregnancies– of course they probably have a very limited view of NaProTechonology.

So my first appointment is next week. Baby G is 11 weeks old today and hopefully we’ll hear the his/her heartbeat then. And hopefully my morning sickness will begin to taper off soon as I get weened off the progesterone.