Two tricks for turning a breech baby.

Lay an ironing board (closed) with half on the floor and half on the couch. Lay down on it with your head near the floor so that you are at a 45° angle. Next take a flashlight and point it at your the lowest spoty possible in your belly (right above the pubic line) Both of these worked for a few of the moms in my June98 group.

BP and epidurals. When I had both c/s I had a spinal and my BP did drop but they were prepared since I normally have VERY low BP (90/60 but during pregnancy it went up to 110/80) and they just gave me a shot to bring it back up.

Thanks for the advice Janey - I do feel that my body will know what to do which is why I would rather have a natural birth than a caesarian. However my circumstances are such that a caesarian is likely so am getting used to that idea now. I think the most important thing at the end is to have a healthy baby whichever way he comes out!

Hi Christina - I have in fact been lying upside down with a torch on my pubic area but so far no movement - in fact the last time he just seemed to kick at the torch as if to say "get that thing off me"!!

Interesting about the epidurals/spinals and blood pressure though. I wasn't aware of that but I daresay they'll keep an eye on me.

Ramona, they are OOOLD and their teachers were even older, and if you consider that they learned 40 years ago from people who probably learned 40 yars even before...

Nicola, your baby seems smart! My kind of critter!

Nicola, I don't know if you read my birth story that is linked to in the first post of this thread but if you do have to have a scheduled CS, I cannot recommend enough getting pain killers BEFORE the anesthesia wears off. Oh and remember, place a pillow on your belly and hold it there firmly in case you need to cough or laugh as this will help the muscles.

quote:

Originally posted by Cristina:
if you do have to have a scheduled CS, I cannot recommend enough getting pain killers BEFORE the anesthesia wears off.

I second this!!! Also one of those white bandage girdle things with velcro help. When wrapped around the hips, stomach, and back it offers lots of support for coughing, laughing and walking...and squatting down to go to the toilet!
I was able to buy mine in the hospital for about 25 euros.

www.anythingbutdull.blogspot.com

I think this a great topic and I have enjoyed reading the comments and personal experiences but - gosh! - I think I would have been pretty scared to have a baby in Italy had I read this first! My two little boys were born in Rome and it was such a fantastic experience, even better than I think I would have had in the States. My friends back home had a max of 2 ultrasounds per pregnancy. I had one each month during my doctors' visits. It certainly wasn't necessary but it reassured me. My second baby had jaundice and they kept me in the clinic for a week with the baby while he was under the bili lights (in the US, friends in similar situations have been kicked out of the hospital because of higher costs, forced to go home while leaving their newborn). Although I was supposed to express milk the nurses would feed him, I built a good relation with the nurses who would let me come down and nurse him and cuddle him. I roomed in, had a quiet, private room and had a mid-wife who made home visits and helped me start off on the right foot with nursing. I am stepping on a landmine here, but I do not disagree with an emphasis on lower weight gain. Many of my girlfriends in America put on a lot of weight during pregnancy, leading to more difficult labors and post-partum depression when all those pounds didn't come off easily. I agree not to be obsessed about it but I do think it is a doctor's job to point out the risks and ensure you are as healthy as possible throughout your pregnancy. I had two completely natural births with a doctor who I knew had a very low rate of C-sections, so I felt confident he wouldn't "invent" an emergency that I would certainly not have the medical knowledge to dispute in the delivery room. I think that you can have awonderful birth experience in Italy and I highly recommend it to everyone, BUT you have to really do your homework (as many readres have pointed out) and ensure that you and your doctor have the same philosophy. Good luck to all the future moms out there!

Great story Kimberly. Thanks for sharing it.

This is an interesting article out today.

Increase in maternal death with c-section.

Of course, the majority of births go smoothly, but I think the mortality rate hasn't changed because c-sections are on the rise.

http://www.spinningbabies.com/ has a lot more suggestions on how to turn a breech baby.

quote:

Originally posted by Cristina:
My daughter was 19 months old at the time I had my second and she was with me from 8 in the morning until 8 or 9 at night for the two days I was in hospital. Lots of other moms had their kids with them too.

WOW, light at the end of the tunnel.
Cristina, were you in a private room? I read your blog on your pregnancy but can't remember if you shared the room with other women. Because this may have an influence on the hospitals decision. Although here they tell me that they do not allow kids to visit because they can touch things and get bacteria and make themselves sick and that this was a national rule, not just here in Naples. Anyway thanks for the good news & fingers crossed I will ask my gyno in a couple of weeks time.

When a friend of mine gave birth 4 months ago in Torino, I went to visit her several times. She was in a public hospital with 6 beds, 4 were occupied and when visiting hours came around one family, which had 3 kids plus the new arrival crowded around the new mom. Kids were definitely allowed in this hospital.

quote:

Originally posted by Delina:
Sydney, will you be having your second child in the same hospital as the first one? - I suppose so since you had a good experience. Can you tell me the name of the Neapolitan hospital which encourages natural childbirth I'm very interested. Is it private?

Hi Delina,
Yes, in the same hospital because my gynaecologist works there and if I change hospitals I have the chance of losing him also and I don't want that. Besides they were very competent and as they say "better the devil you know than the devil you don't"
The hospital is called Villa Bettania Ospedale Evangelista at Ponticelli. I know the neighbourhood is not that nice but all you have to worry about is the hospital. It used to be a private clinic years ago but is now a public hospital and very well equipped. A private room is given upon availability. Don't be too concerned about hospitals having private because there is a private clinic at the Vomero where my H's cousin had triplets. They paid a stack of money and each triplet was sent by ambulance to 3 different hospitals around naples for special care because there were problems during delivery. I hear the clinic is not very well equipped. Apparently, the reputation is not as great as seems. Private does not always mean BETTER!! At Villa Bettania, the only costs I incurred were my monthly visits to my gynaecologist.
Hope this helps.

Quoting format edited only. a.T.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: AliceTwain,

Sydney, bringing small children in most areas of the hospital is not a particularly good idea for completley different reasons. Despite al, hospitals are not the most hygienic of places. There's a whole lot of people being sick at the same time, and a child could easily catch something. Besides, a not particularly behaved child may disturb the patients, or grab some of those nice "red and yellow candies" and pop them in his or her mouth, you know what I mean.
Now, maternity wards are usually the most healthy of all the hospital areas since the peopel who are there are not usually sick: on the contrary they are in particular state of health, they are new mothers! Obviously, they must still behave a bit since mothers need to rest after giving birth, but when a mother happens to have a small child, the child will often be allowed to stay with her.
No rule was ever made, at least in modern times, against chldren being banned from hospitals. I do not know whoever told you that children may spread disease in a hospital (when it's actually true the opposite), but I guess it was an older person. This attitude of thinking about children as dirty (Uhm, they can become pretty badly stained, muddy and dusty, but nothing that a good wash with soap and hot water can't solve!), unhealthy, contagious seems the heritage of something very old.

Also, notice that only very old hospitals have HUGE shared rooms. Newer hospitals, or hospitals that have been remodeled, mostly have 2-3 bed rooms: a small enough companuy not to disturb you while providing someone to chat with.

Also, Villa Betania is an evangelical hospital funded by the Waldenses and Evangelic churches of Italy (plus others). Despite my general disliking for religion as a pratice (let's say that I do not relate much), I must say that the Italian reformed churches tend to do a great job with hospitals etc. I really support them! (Also with my money: each year all Italian taxpayers, including foreign citizens working in Italy, must pick one Church to give the 0.8% of their taxes, I always assign my money to the Waldenses and suggest everybody to do the same because they really do a great job not just for Italian protestants: for everybody.)
Since this hospital has a pact with the SSN (convenzione), you can use it as a regular public facility, including for visits and exams.

Thanks for the info Sydney. It's really reassuring hearing about your experience.
I have heard that being a private ospedale doesn't always mean being better. I can't believe they sent the triplets to 3 different hospitals. Bless them.
I'm quite sure it's more important to have good doctors rather than a nice room. That said if we could have both....!

quote:

each year all Italian taxpayers, including foreign citizens working in Italy, must pick one Church to give the 0.8% of their taxes, I always assign my money to the Waldenses)

Didn't know this... I'll make sure I do this. But how do I do it ?

BH
just wanted to add my two cents regarding epidural, they are readily available in major Italian cities, many women I know here in Rome take epidurals. To the person who asked about the effects, epidural is a procedure and does have side effects, like head-aches and even temporary paralysis (my friend was paralyzed for three weeks) often the baby is a bit out of it as an after effect from the anestesia and takes longer to latch on, you can search the internet for more information. There are also many alternative treatments out there that help one live with the pain, there's hypnotherapy, there's acupuncture which can be done during labor (i really want to do it this time around but can't afford to), water-birth or at least showers if water birth is not an option...

Here is a website that gives some more detail on the risks associated with epidurals for those who are interested
http://www.healing-arts.org/mehl-madrona/mmepidural.htm
I don't mean to scare anyone who is pregnant, I'll try to find a site with positive birth experiences and post that too.

Here are some positive birth stories
http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-ppunmedbir

This message has been edited. Last edited by: erin,

quote:

Originally posted by Delina:
Didn't know this... I'll make sure I do this. But how do I do it ?

it's quite simple: if you are sending in a Unico or similar, you can sign a box on one of the pages, if you are an employee with a contratto di lavoro subordinato you get each year a 201 module, one section of which can be used the same way (ask your employer for details). You can also fill out a further section to donate a similar tiny amount of money to various scientific research groups or charities: pick a charity that in your opinion deserves it (my mom gives her money to Vidas: catholic but very good charity that provides medical and human support to terminal patients, I give them to the Prato CSN ) and look up their IVA number. Just add the number in the box and sign.

23 days until I'm due! I visited the hospital again yesterday, to speak with one of the "midwives" that spoke a bit of English. She was wonderful! She explained the entire process to me, and when I asked if an epidural will be an option she said No. It's a public hospital, and they can not afford them. So, I asked what other kinds of pain relief do they have - for during or after - and she explained nothing. They don't give anything for pain. She told me about 2 other hospitals in the Region (Verona) who do have epidurals/pain options. I will be going to check one of those out this week.

Also, I asked about being able to walk around, change positions, etc. during labor, and she said they have one doctor (out of just a few at the hospital) that insists a woman stays in bed, on her back. I didn't like that answer either.

Also, an hour after the baby is born (and stays with the Mom the whole hour), the baby is taken to the nursey and placed in an incubator/warmer for 5-6 hours. If the baby is hungry during that time, they give the baby some sugar water in a bottle. I don't like either of these procedures (incubator if nothing is wrong with the baby and giving sugar water rather than getting me to nurse).

I know everyone keeps saying you have to research, ask questions, etc., for each hospital, but it's not that easy. My Italian is not that good, so I have to bring someone with me, and even then, the people at the hospital are not that open/willing to "chat." I kept getting responses like "we know what we're doing here, you will be fine." While I understand they are professionals and they certainly do know what they are doing, this is my first baby, and I'd like to know what to expect too! It's a very fine line during the tours/research at the hospitals to get information without the staff thinking we're questioning their ability. (The one midwife I spoke with yesterday was an expection - she was wonderful!)

The other hospital that I'll visit this week does not have facilities if there would be a problem with the baby. As others have posted here, they will transport the baby to another hospital (the one I've already visited) for care.

So - wish me luck at the other hospital visit!

Good luck with the birth AJ! My 2nd baby is due on 1 January.
I know it is difficult when you have to decide between a hospital where you think your feelings and requests about the birth will be taken into account and another where you know that they have a special baby care unit if necessary. I think you are doing the right thing visiting the other hospital and then making your mind up.
Don't worry if you do decide on going to where you feel more at ease with the actual birth as you being relaxed is very important.
There was a special baby care unit at the hospital where I gave birth and my son was there for two weeks after I gave birth. However, he still had to be taken to visits at other hospitals during that time as some specialised treatment or examinations are shared between hospitals.
What I'm trying to say is that it is very difficult to find all the assistance you need in one hospital so you often need to decide which you think is best. One thing you'll learn about being a mother is that you always worry about doing the best thing and will probably blame yourself if you think things could have gone better (Welocme to motherhood). Having said that, just go with your instincts as the mother is usually right!