Diann C asked:


I decided early on in my pregnancy that I wanted to have a natural childbirth. If I can avoid pain medication, labor inducing drugs, etc I want to do so.
I have a general distrust of doctors, hospitals and medical equipment and that’s part of it, but I also want to be a part of the childbirth experience. I hope that makes sense.
So far, the doctor is acting like he is humoring me. I told him I wanted a natural childbirth and I wanted to try a water birth and he brushed it off and said that he would have an anesthesiologist around “just in case” because I would “want an epidural in the end anyway”
I don’t know why this is making me so angry, I guess it’s my body and I **** being told what I’m going to do during childbirth. My doctor barely knows me (I was forced to change insurance plans about 6 months into my pregnancy) and there is no trust there.
How can I make him listen? Is there another way of stating things to make him take me seriously?
I should add that I have given birth before (stillborn in the 6th month, but I still believe that counts as childbirth), am physically fit and have studied martial arts for almost 15 years. I know how to conserve and effectively use energies and how to meditate through pain.
I don’t mind having someone there to do an epidural if they really want to be there, but I don’t want them pressuring me to do it. If I need it, I’ll ask.