Choosing a Natural Birth at Bumrungrad: A Smooth and Reassuring Experience

Deciding on which delivery method and choosing the right hospital are important decisions for every expecting mother. Ice shares her experience of giving birth to her first child at Bumrungrad International Hospital to help other mothers who are looking at their delivery options, as well as choosing the right doctor and hospital where they can feel the most confident and reassured.
 

Natural Birth and Choosing the Right Doctor

How was your pregnancy from the beginning?

Overall, it was a smooth experience. I didn't get any severe morning sickness or anything like that, just a bit sleepy during the early stages. At the time, I was working in an office, and usually after lunch, I would get extremely drowsy. When I got home, I would feel exhausted and just want to sleep. I didn't even realize I was pregnant at the time.
 

When you found out you were pregnant, was there a particular childbirth method you were thinking of?

Actually, the first thing I thought about was to just have a safe pregnancy. Since I had never given birth before, I kept asking different people for advice because my main concern was safety.
 

Why were you interested in having a natural birth?

Being a woman, I wanted to experience what my body and reproductive organs were naturally meant to do and wanted to try giving birth naturally. However, if something urgent occurred on the day of delivery, I had no problem with a c-section.
 

What were the most important factors when choosing a hospital and a doctor for your prenatal care?

The most important factor was the doctor. When I talked to people I knew, they all recommended the same doctor. They said that if I wanted a natural birth, I should see Dr. Nopadol (Assoc. Prof. Nopadol Saropala) because of his experience.
I had done my prenatal care at two hospitals: Bumrungrad International Hospital and another hospital where I could use my husband's company benefits. I continued my prenatal care at both hospitals until I was 38 weeks pregnant.
 

What was the reason that made you decide to choose Bumrungrad for your delivery?

When I reached 38 weeks, I went for a prenatal checkup at the other hospital. After the ultrasound, the doctor examined my cervix and told me that I wouldn't be able to give birth naturally because my pelvis was too small and narrow. The doctor recommended a c-section because I was already approaching 40 weeks.
At the time, I completely trusted the doctor — but my husband suggested getting a second opinion, so I went back to see Dr. Nopadol at Bumrungrad.
When I told Dr. Nopadol what happened, the first thing he said was that I was only 38 weeks pregnant and hadn't reached my due date yet. At that stage, my cervix wouldn't have dilated anyway.

He explained it in a way that put me at ease. He said, "I can't guarantee whether you'll be able to give birth naturally — we have to assess the situation on the day of delivery. We can't say in advance that you won't be able to deliver naturally just because your pelvis is narrow. But if you want a natural birth, I'll do everything I can to help."
After speaking with Dr. Nopadol, I immediately felt that he was truly dedicated and willing to spend time with me. That was the last day I received prenatal care at the other hospital. I decided to continue my prenatal care and give birth at Bumrungrad.
 

The Prenatal Care Experience and the Delivery Day

During your prenatal care, how did the doctor and the team help prepare you for childbirth?

The doctor was very calm, which helped me feel less stressed. Between my fourth and seventh months of pregnancy, I had to fly back and forth between Thailand and Abu Dhabi because my husband worked there. So, I also received prenatal care from a doctor there.
That doctor would remind me about various things and tell me to take vitamin supplements. Whenever I returned to see Dr. Nopadol, he would tell me to live normally, don’t spend too much time on social media, let things happen naturally, and not stress myself out. He said I could eat whatever I wanted. We already know what is good for us and what isn't.
All the nurses were also very encouraging. They told me that I could trust Dr. Nopadol because he had extensive experience and has handled so many cases, which reassured me.
 

What was the actual delivery like? Was anything different from your expectations?

My water broke at 2 a.m., so I went straight to the hospital. At first, I had only mild contractions, but when my cervix dilated to about 4 centimeters, the pain became intense. My blood pressure went up and I developed a fever as well.

When Dr. Nopadol came in to check on me, he found that there was meconium in the amniotic fluid. He was a little concerned because several factors made the situation potentially worrying. He told me that he would assess whether I could continue with a natural delivery or whether we needed to switch to a c-section.
At that moment I told him, " Please make the safest decision based on the situation. I'm fine either way."

In the end, I was able to have a natural birth. Dr. Nopadol told me, "Just give me seven minutes when you push." When I started pushing, my baby was born in less than 10 minutes.
The doctor waited until the baby's head had descended as low as possible before telling me to start pushing. Some of my friends had told me that they pushed for hours and became exhausted. But Dr. Nopadol knew exactly when the time was right, so I didn't get too tired. I pushed, and the baby came out almost immediately. I was really impressed with the doctor and the entire nursing team.
 

Was the delivery very painful? How did the doctor help relieve the pain?

I chose to have an epidural, which helped relieve the pain to some extent. However, I could still feel the pain because I only received one dose of the epidural medication. I didn't ask for more because I was afraid that the numbness would result in me not being able to feel anything when it was time to push. The pain became so intense that my blood pressure went up and I developed a fever.
 

Peace of Mind Throughout Delivery and Postpartum Care, Along with Lessons from the Experience

During labor and after delivery, was there anything that made you feel particularly impressed by the medical and nursing team?

The nurses spent plenty of time in my room, taking care of me and offering encouragement. And I was very lucky because there were only two delivery cases on that day. That made me feel quite reassured throughout labor.
After delivery, the care provided by the nursery team was also excellent. When my husband, mother, and I were caring for our baby in the room, we were able to contact the nursery at any time.

Is there anything you'd like to share with other mothers who are preparing for childbirth?

I'd like to tell them to stay relaxed and not stress themselves out. There's no need to spend too much time on social media because other people's experiences don't necessarily mean the same things will happen to you. Everyone's journey is different.
I think going into the delivery room without knowing too much in advance can actually help you feel more at ease. Knowing too much can make you feel even more stressed. It's better to let things happen naturally.
And for any mothers who want to have a natural birth, I wholeheartedly recommend Dr. Nopadol.