Q&A with Stacy, who delivered her baby at Hosital Brasilia with Dr Salete Rios. Stacy labored for eight hours with no progress before delivering via Caesarian section.
How do you feel about your birth experience? What would you change and how?
I feel great about my birth experience. I would say it was on par or above the experience I had in the United States. Fortunately for us, Morgan and Phill had already compiled a list of paperwork items that needed to be addressed for our baby, so we didn't muddle through the experience, we knew exactly what to do because of their research and experience.
One thing I would change was my aftercare experience. I did not like that for the aftercare of a c-section, I was prescribed a headache medicine. I found the pain was much more profound and needed more pain relief. My Dra. refused to help, but our Med Unit at the Embassy took care of me when she didn't.
Why did you chose to stay (or go) for your delivery?
I chose to stay here in Brasilia because I did not want to be away from my husband and other baby for the minimum 6 weeks I would have had to, had a chose to give birth in the States.
Why did you chose your doctor/midwife? Were you happy with your choice? Did you feel like you had control over your labor experience?
I chose my doctor, Dra. Salete because of her close location to our house and once I got to know her, I felt very confident in her abilities and felt her love toward our family. I wrote a birth plan out for her and she was bewildered. No one had ever given one to her before. We went through it line by line and she did whatever she could to accomodate me, reminding me that the ultimate decisions would be up to her.
Did you find Brasilia to be a pregnant-friendly place? How so?
Yes I did. Besides all of the other women who were pregnant at the time, I felt like I had a great network of ladies to share with. Brazilian people also adore pregnant women and I was given special attention and consideration whereever I went - the grocery store, the bank, etc.
Describe your labor. Is there anything you would do differently?
I have what is known as cervical stenosis, so every part of me goes into labor, except my cervix, which refuses to open. It happened with both of my deliveries. However badly I wanted to give birth naturally, my body would not cooperate. Dra. Salete knew about my condition, but she also allowed me to labor as long as I wanted as long as the baby and I weren't in danger. When we reached a certain point, hour 8, she suggested that we move towards a c section. In my state of crying as I was wheeled into surgery, she gave me another option to continue labor if I so chose. She was accomodating on every level.
Would you have gone to the hospital sooner? Later?
I went to the hospital when my contractions were 3 minutes apart, figuring there is no way they could force a c section on me at that point. Ends up that they didn't force me, but it was still the only way my baby could be delivered. I would still have gone in at the same time. No reason to sit around the hospital and not be allowed to eat or walk or do whatever I wanted.
How was the treatment of your newborn by the hospital staff?
They treated my new baby beautifully. They also treated me very well. They came in all the time to check on her and me. They bathed her daily.
If you had assistance with breastfeeding, was is useful?
I received a run down in Portuguese on how to do it, by a male nurse, no less. I found his advice very helpful, but my baby was a natural pro.
Thanks for sharing Stacy! I know many women will benefit from hearing about your experience.
