Question: Hey i was just wondering the benefits of natural childbirth i still have time to think about what i want to do but i am very afriad of labor and the whole process...Did you have natural childbirth?? Any stories would be helpful thanx! ?
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Answer: Well, it's been 7 months since I gave birth to my dd, so I think I'm ready to talk about the birth now. I was induced for both of my kids. The fist time, the epidural worked perfectly, but the second time, it didn't. I ended up giving birth without any anesthetic. To say it's "painful" doesn't do it justice - but I don't want to freak you out. I'll just say that the pain gets so intense that you 'check out' for a while. However, compared to my first, the recovery was incredibly fast. And to be honest, I felt pretty proud of myself...despite all of the screaming I did. Aaaaanyhoo, one of the things I though of was would it have been easier/slightly less painful if I had known about the breathing techniques? I never took any pre-natal classes for either of my children (fully expecting to have epidurals that worked) so I had no idea how to breathe. I was really freaked out because I wasn't prepared for it, but I wonder how different it could be if you are mentally prepared for it. To end this, I'll just say that if I were going to do it all over again I would definitely get an epidural, but that's just me. The risk of anything going wrong is so small, despite what some groups would have you believe. Good luck with your choice. =
Answer: the epidural was awesome and I'll do it again if i need it. :) I had a perfectly fine recover and no issues with the epi at all. Just didn't like not being able to get up and about after birth - but then again, everyone catered to me. :) =
Answer: Why the hell do you women have to talk about drugs & epidurals? Anyone would think you were a bunch of druggies pushing for a new customer. This poor woman is asking about a NATURAL BIRTH & all your doing is scaring her into feeling like she has to have drugs. angelhdfd DON'T listen to anyone tell you that you need drugs to have a baby, because you don't. If you want a natural birth good on you, you CAN totally do it, our bodies were made to give birth. Taking drugs can hinder the birthing process, leading to interventions & even c-section. I had gas & pethadine with my 1st & it was the worst birthing experience as dd fell asleep due to the pethadine, my labour was slowed down as a result & they had to do tests on her while I was still labouring (NOT FUN). 2nd time around I trusted my body & was able to have a completely natural drug free water birth & ds was 9lb 3oz. Epidurals can greatly diminish your pushing ability & can lead to episiotomy, baby being vacuumed out or even c-section. If you really want a natural birth I recommend reading 'NEW ACTIVE BIRTH' by Janet Balaskas. It helps you understand how & why our bodies are sooo efficient at giving birth & why drugs & doctors have made the birthing process so much harder for women. Just remember Yes it is painful but it is manageable. Goodluck & I hope after you read the book you won't be so fearful of birth. Oh & what WP said about breathing, just breathe big deep breaths while contracting other than that just breathe normally, if you breathe too quick you can hyperventilate & feel a bit dizzy. =
Answer: I forgot to mention that I am preg with #3 & plan on trusting my body again & having another natural birth. It really was a wonderful experience 2nd time around & I bonded quicker with him than I had with dd & I was able to go home within 24hrs because I had recovered so well. (No they didn't make me, I wanted to go home) =
Answer: well E586467 ... I was just giving my OPINION from my own EXPERIENCE that drugs aren't as bad as SOME people make them out to be. To say that no one needs drugs isn't true either, but I'm not going to get into a long debate about drugs vs natural and what's better. Personally, I would LOVE to have a natural child birth but i was induced the first time and dilated so quickly that I had no time to figure out how to deal with it. Anyways....Just as drugs CAN hinder the process, so can NOT taking them when you need them. Some women reach a point where they have labored so long that they tense up or whatever, and labor stalls or doesn't progress and things such as C-Sections and such happen. Case in point, a friend of mine labored for 20 hours NATURALY and still had an epesiotomy AND had the vac. used. So...if you want a natural birth GREAT!!! So do I! Just keep in mind that that there is nothing wrong if you can't handle it and use some sort of drug intervention but if you want to do it natural, great and good for you! I certainly wasn't trying to scare anyone and I resent the fact that some people have to be so rude to those of us whose intent is to share our stories and opinions. =
Answer: fefer1 NOT once did I say that NO ONE needs drugs! Of course drugs have their place & can sometimes prove beneficial, but women should not be made to feel like they can't give birth without them. This woman was asking about NATURAL BIRTH, WP's & your experience with an epi is better suited to someone asking about pain relief. She already said she was scared of the labour process, so how is only hearing about drugs for the PAIN going to help. Yes sometimes things don't go as we plan & drugs & interventions are necessary, but there are soooo many things you can do to help relieve the pain, & women are often NOT told of these options as administering drugs is easier. I am not against women having drugs during labour, but I am against women only talking about how 'painful' it was & scaring others into believing that they won't be able to manage without drugs. =
Answer: angelhdfd I found the best pain relief during my natural labour was water. I used the shower to begin with & when I was towards the end more I hopped in the bath. The warmth of the water is comforting & helps ease back pain. Also you can try aromatherapy (talk to a licensed aromatherapist) & massage is awesome. Also if you feel like being vocal eg moaning, groaning, screaming - go for it, making noise can really help. =
Answer: E586467 as a first time expectant mother, i enjoyed reading your post. I am quite honestly tired of hearing women's 'horrendously painful' birth stories. my mother gave birth to me and my other 3 sublings without the need for any drugs whatsoever and said there is no need to scream during labour. it is the positive natural birth stories that i now focus on because you could literally make yourself scared to death when you hear horror stories, how many drugs you will need and how much you will scream with pain! at the end of the day we all have different pain thresholds, some of us feel we need drugs whereas others don't, so its each to their own at the end of the day. im just glad i heard about your positive natural birth story rather than negative ones! =
Answer: Wow. Sorry if I came across as negative. I really just thought my story was relevant because I have experienced both a drug and drugless birth. I was just being honest. I guess I should have phrased things a bit better. If I may leave you with a better piece of advice: Be prepared for anything. Each birth is as unique as each person, so you never know exactly how it's going to go until you are going through it. You want to try natural? Good for you. Read as much as you can about it - knowledge is power. But learn about the different anesthetics that are available to you as well. If you do find it difficult to manage the pain, don't beat yourself up if you opt to use them. Statistically speaking they are safe for you and your baby and no hospital would give them to you if they weren't. Only you will know the best way to do it at the time. Keep an open mind to all possibilities, even the ones you don't want. My natural experience was completely unexpected, but now my dh and I look back at it and LAUGH. I'm such a wimp when it comes to pain that I wear it on my sleeve like a badge of courage. I'm proud of myself for doing it (even though I didn't have much of a choice). I hope you have a crazy, amazing birth story of your own one day. Good luck. =
Answer: Cat24 I am glad my positive experience has given you some inspiration & hope. How far along are you? It is true that if women ONLY hear negative things about birth & how much it hurts, they will end up having a negative experience themselves because they go into it with fear which in turn causes unnecessary pain. I forgot to mention that keeping upright & forward leaning will not only help shorten the labour but will help ease some of the pain. When a womb contracts, it contracts forward & down. If you are lying down -especially on your back- your womb has to contract much harder to do the same job as it is contracting up & across, which causes each contraction to be unnecessarily more painful. Being upright (walking, kneeling, sitting, squatting) uses gravity to help birth the baby, instead of just your muscles. I recommend reading 'NEW ACTIVE BIRTH' by Janet Balaskas, it really helped me understand the birthing process, the best positions to labour/birth to minimise pain & I no longer had the fear that I did with #1. =
Answer: angel I have given birth all naturally to 4 children. Each delivery was different. I won't tell you it doesn't hurt because it does, but there are natural ways to help reduce the pain and fear is the biggest! Fear of pain can make pain more intense. You need to know the process of birth, have a focus point ( for me my 1st was time. I watched the clock in 15 min periods, 2nd was a spot on the ceiling, 3rd because of no drugs he came so quick a nurse delivered him, 4th I again foccused on time) There are many good things about not using drugs. It is really mind over matter. TO give birth naturally you have to be mentally prepared. Breathing helps, I cussed some to...lol. But the pushing part is what hurts the least. Pushing makes it feel better and I don['t have any horror stories about long pushing because I didn't use meds and feeling the pain will make you want to push more effective and longer and harder. I never pushed more than 12 pushes and that was because it was my 1st. I like the Bradely Method of child birth. I am now ttc num 5 and will not use meds again. I don't regret not using meds. I had all really healthy children, except 3rd was a premie, but shee was 5lbs 15 ozs and came home with me at 48 hours even though she was 7 weeks early she also only had to stay only a few hours in NICU since I chose not to have meds. There are many benefits medically, mentally, and physically. Educate your self find a class and a good support person and You CAN do it! Its only as bad as you think it is. =
Answer: What E said about water is true. I had the hospital bring in these huge baskets of hot towels that were we and they kept placing them on my stomach the presure and warmth helped. Just like the cramps with AF and how hot baths help! =
Answer: Sorry to post back to back but when i made my original post I hadnt read the whole thread. I thought it was much longer. What E also says about standing and such is also true. Gravity helps with the birth and using an epidural all you can do is sit there which takes longer. Its also said to be harder to push with meds especially for first time moms who don;t know exactly how to push. Pushing is less effort with out meds For me sqautting was the best way! But even if you decide to use meds still prepare your self forchild birth incase meds don;t work or wear off to early and you aren;t able to get anymore. sorry so much =
Answer: E i am just over 31 weeks pregnant at the moment so im starting to think about the birth more etc. I am going to go to some ante natal classes to see what they are like and socialise with other mums. I will find that book you suggested and give it a read. i want to be as prepared as i can mentally and then i think it make it better rather than just panicking about how bad the pain will be and how many stitches i might need etc etc. i usually deal with pain mentally anyway and by breathing well as i find its never as bad as you think it is when your mind is at peace. it was good to read mama's advice and stories as well. i know it will be scary because ive not done it before but im going to try and be as positive as possible and not freak out when the pain starts! =
Answer: I think it's best to go in with an open mind. Some woman go in wanting so badly to have a natural birth that they feel dissapointed with themselves if they do take something during labor. The way I would be about it is to think ok, I want to go natural but if I end up taking something that's ok too. I had to have a c-section but I had contractions 2-3 minutes apart for ten hours. I was all for an epidural when I was induced with my first. They broke my water right away and they contraction were hellish, just right on top of the other. Since I was induced, I wasn't able to get up from the bed except to pee anyway. This time though, I knew I had to have a c-section so I couldn't get a spinal till it was time for that. Any pain meds I could have had would have to be injected into my IV and would have made me groggy. I was just waiting my turn for my c-section since it wasn't considered an emergency, and since it could have been at any time I didn't want any part of my son's birth to seem fuzzy. That's why I turned them down this time. Getting up and stretching every once in a while really helped becauce my body would get sore if I layed there too long. I would just breathe through the contractions and watched tv in between. I would also watch the numbers on the monitor so I could tell when the contractions peaked and when it was starting to go down. Somehow it seemed relaxing to watch it go up then know the worst was over and I cold start to relax. =
Answer: Cat24 what was suggested to me was at around 34wks onwards is doing ALOT of forward leaning as this encourages bubs to be in the best position for birth & try to avoid any positions where you are slouched backward like a recliner. Also (only if baby is head down) you can do squatting to encourage bubs to move further into your pelvis. I'm glad you're going to a birthing class, it does help & you will also learn about the pros/cons of medications should things not go to plan (I really hope you can have your natural birth, but it doesn't hurt to know just in case). Also make sure anyone that will be at the birth knows your wishes, as what they say & do can make a difference to how you cope. Do you have a doctor or a midwife that will deliver the baby? =
Answer: I delivered all 4 of mine without pain relief...I was induced for my first 3 - high blood pressure, pre-e and then being late...but no pain relief...Because of that history I was on my back to deliver, beacause I had all the monitoring going on...I have quite a decent threshold for pain...But I do focus on something everytime....My husband talking to MY midwife, who is there to deliver My baby!! lol! He chatters on a lot when he's nervous or anxious and it always amuses and in this case distracts me...You do zone out when you're having a contraction ...I like to totally focus in on it and breath through them...it definately takes the edge away...And I find the last couple of contractions uncomfortable but then I know the end is right there...Obviously the head is the sore part, but it brings with it instant relief...No4 was my best and quickest ever...I barely made it to hospital - and was walking the length of the room, went to the sink for some cold water to cool my face , just as a contraction hit me - I'd had my 2 powerful ones just before so I knew it was close, Anyways the contraction hit me and my ds's head was born - into my knickers that my m/wife had insisted I leave on for this very reason - LOL - My m/wife laughed when I said the head was there - but my dh knew me and our labours - always quick - and he came to pull my knickers off (isn't that always the way!) So then it was a game of 'catch the baby' ...It was fantastic he was delivered (fully) from behind and below and passed up to me to hold while dh cut the cord....His birth time was a guesstimate because we were all so caught off guard...( I should mention maybe that I'm in the UK so I'm delivered by just one m/wife and no-one else.... ) But definately walk through the labour , it helps speed it up and obviously you're helping baby with the gravity of moving down...And a standing or crouching birth is really great too....Good luck....Oh and as everyone else says - do keep an open mind, you never know how it will be - even with no4 and my previous experience I leave it open that while I want it drug free if I wnat it , I'd like it to be on hand! And on the screaming part - its not in my nature and I never get beyond a groan or a 'don't touch me now!' ...but again everyone is different...and you do forget the pain so quickly when you have your LO...cliche but true.... =
Answer: Hi angelhdfd, read some home birth stories, they are so powerful and you can find tons of books and internet sites about it. I had a miserable, drug induced (epi and the works) with dd and it was HELL. I decided on a home birth with my 2nd and it was the most beautiful, empowering, healthy experience for all my family. The more you know and understand about your body during this time, the more powerful and in control you will be. Knowledge is power. Sadly most women (including myself at one time) believe in male doctors, big machines and that we can not do it on our own. Good luck!!! =
Answer: thankyou very much for all of ur responses... i'm still debating but ive got awhie to do a lil research! =
Answer: hi E586467. thank you for your advice. i will be trying it out. ive got a breastfeeding class this week for 2 hours! but i don't start my ante natal classes till im about 37 weeks - they leave it pretty late but my midwife has said it is the best time stage to have the classes! I will be having my mum and my hubby at the birth so i will be discussing my wishes with them closer to the time. but i know that with labour you can't plan anything so if i end up feeling like i need some pain relief then i will not feel bad to take it. ive heard having an older female there (who has been through it all before) is a really good help. i will be 32 weeks thursday and will be having another check up with the midwife. i will be having the baby at hospital and the baby will be delivered by a team of midwives!! =
Answer: i was in labour 76 hours with my daughter and i had pethidene, gas and air and the epidural during that time. the drugs actually wore off before i started to push and it was to late to top them up so on my actual birthing notes it says i gave birth naturally. there is no right and wrong way to give birth, its whatever you feel comfortable with. Cat24 i have never heard anyone say you either do or don't have to scream during labour. but whilst having lucy i was actually told to let the sound / scream out as she said i was holding back. but hey everyone's different oh and good luck with the breast feeding class. i look forward to hearing about that. lol =
Answer: For everyone who has had a natural child birth, I have a question. Because of the pain you are going through did you remember the birth? This is my first baby so I am naturally a little scared because of course i have heard only BAD stories and I have never experienced it before. But I am planning on NOT having drugs but if it gets too much I will. But I just want to make sure that I am going to remember my baby being born. I have just heard of people getting so overwhelmed with pain that they pass out or something like that. =
Answer: Cat24 it can help to have another woman there but ONLY if they had a good birth experience themselves. I had my husband, mum & sister there for dd, & as my mum had a horrible birthing experience, her concern & anxieties for me, made my labour much harder. She was forced to labour on her back, than after 8hrs had to have a c-section, so everytime I had a contraction I could feel the negativity from her reaction (obviously remembering her own labour) & it made me tense up which made the pain worse. My mum wanted to take the pain away instead of helping me cope with it, so for me it was a BAD decision having her there. With ds I had my husband, mother-in-law & sister & it was a MUCH different experience. My mother-in-law had very easy labours so was a wonderful support & my sister and husband just seem to know what I wanted & how to help me cope. I felt very free & relaxed with them & I think all the positivity in the room had alot to do with me being able to have a natural water birth. This time I plan on having hubby, my sister & the M-I-L there again. I'm sure as your mum had easy labours she will be a great support & won't portray her own fears onto you. Good luck & I hope everything goes they way you want. =
Answer: newmommi08 YES you remember the birth. Don't listen to all the negativities about birth, & as for passing out because of the pain, I doubt it. During labour your body produces it's own natural pain relief called endorphins. Yes it hurts but it is manageable & it only becomes really intense just before your baby is born. Your focus becomes inward & you seem to go into a tlabouring haze even though you are totally in control mentally & know whats going on around you. You do forget the pain of the labour but you will NEVER forget the birth of your baby. When you labour you produce large amounts of oxytocin, which make your labour progress but also puts you in in that inward labouring haze. Just before bubs is born (just before your fully dialated) that is when it hurts the most but it's good to know if you plan on having a natural birth as it is a focus point. When I got to that point & I thought I couldn't go on (nearly everyone thinks it) I knew the birth was near & I got a new found determination to keep going (naturally). When you are fully dilated you get a surge of adrenalin which snaps you out of the labouring haze & make you want to push the baby out. Trust me you will remember the birth of your baby. =
Answer: lol tracey im not sure how much they can discuss in 2 hours but i will give it a try! are you going to go to any? did you go to ante natal classes when you were expecting your daughter? =
Answer: Cat - nope i never went to antenatel classes with lucy and i didn't breastfeed with her and i have no intention of doing it this time round. it might sound weird to some people but the idea just doesn't appeal to me whatsoever. the hospital are sending me some information on pregnancy physio so i may give that a try - mainly because i have arthritis in my knee (and pretty sure in my hip as well) and it can get bad in summer with the heat and whatnot. =
Answer: Thanks E586467, I am pretty confident that I can do it. I just want to hurry and get the baby out. Anyone have any suggestions on what I can do? I know sex helps. But I am now 37 weeks and I don't think that I can take being miserable anymore! =
Answer: Hi Angel...I think if you know you can even consider it in your mind, you can do it. It is totally mind over matter (unless you know of any potential problems). I went for it luckily, it was extremely fast, but I knew I had a high tolerance for pain. It hurts like you wouldn't believe, don't get me wrong...but if you think you want to do it, the best thing that got me through it was just counting through each contraction. I just kept thinking and knowing that my body was doing exactly what it was supposed to be doing and that it's supposed to hurt and that it's temporary! So I wasn't worried because of that and just took it. I had the nurse asking every time she came in if I wanted an epi and I kept refusing it. She told me I was going to be begging for it later. Then JUST when I did beg for it, I was 10cm's and 1 push later he was out!! I felt great for the most part afterwards, my baby boy was extremely alert and I was just so glad to do it. I wasn't even thinking of the benefits so much as the possible consequences of an epidural. Not sure whey but I was more afraid of the needle going into my spine than the temporary pain I knew I could endure!
Good luck and keep us posted...when is your due date? =
Answer: Oh, the day I delivered, I did a TON of walking...I believe that definately helps a lot. I had sex the night before too which is supposed to help and it worked for me I guess. Walk, walk, walk! =
Answer: Just reading through all of your posts and putting in my 2 cents....YOU REMEMBER EVERY SECOND OF IT BECAUSE OF THE PAIN!! Every second I remember and not in a bad way whatsoever. I also had the qeustion of whether or not you could pass out from the pain before I gave birth. Seems like a logical possiblity but you won't. Your body 100% takes over at that point. Lamaze didn't do shit for me either!! They didn't even tell you about the one most important part which is the awkward position they ask you to get into right before you're about to push. Had I known, it would've been a bit easier until the nurse yelled at me to stop moving around like a lunatic, put my knees up to my chest, tuck your chin down and PUSH!!!! One thing I learned from the whole thing is just how amazing your body is!! Takes over completely! =
Answer: Did those of you who had natural childbirth like myself, find that first sensation or urge to push, the wildest thing ever?? I'll never forget that. SO incredibly strong!! I just remember it taking me by surprise. I'm pregnant with my 2nd. I'll have 2 boys 10 months apart :) =
Answer: wow - this topic got some people shouting! i'm 19 weeks with my 1st and seeing a midwife and a gynae. planning on a home birth with no drugs but also keeping an open mind... i think people put so much pressure on you to do it the way they did - or however they think is best for you. in the end a healthy baby is what matters most. if i need to have a c sect, so be it... still, read up, get the books and speak to midwives and doulas as well as obgyns. this is your body and your baby. =
Answer: I just have to comment on this one... E586467, I think you were a bit rude. Niether WP, nor ferfer1 told this "poor girl" that she needs to take drugs to have a baby. They were merely giving their stories and opinions... is that not what she was asking for in the first place? As for my own stories and opinions: 1) Not everyone's bodies are "made to give birth." If this were so, please explain why some women have to have c-sections? So many women died before modern medicine because their bodies couldn't push a baby out. 2) The epidural SAVED ME from getting a c-section. I was in labor for so long with my first child, and could not get past 3 cm until they gave me and epidural. Then I went from 3 to 10 in less than an hour, and only pushed for 12 minutes. So how was that hindering a birthing process? 3) I'm not promoting drugs, but I'm AGAINST women bashing other women for telling their own personal stories and offering advice that helped or didn't help them. Childbirth is painful. If somone wants to talk about how painful it was for them, so be it. It's not fair for you to be rude and disrespectful to them for sharing their stories. Angelhdfd, good luck to you in whatever you decide. It is YOUR decision. Just know that it is ok to have your baby natural and with the help of medicine. Like WP said, if epidurals and other "drugs" weren't safe, hospitals wouldn't offer them to you. =
Answer: When I was pregnant with my first I did NOT want pain meds because of all the bad things I had read. I was going all natural. When I got to the hospital and the pain became so intense that I was shaking, I changed my mind. I got the epidural and had a wonderful painless birth. Next time I'm planning on having the epidural also. =
Answer: Okay, sorry to but in, but Rachael H, I think it is just the way E talks or 'sounds' in a post. Merely her personality and she was only sharing her own thoughts and feelings on the whole experience and it seems to me that you are being rude to HER for sharing that. I don't know her from a hole in the wall and E please correct me if I'm wrong, but we ARE all here to share our experiences and I think it was just her way of supporting angels consideration for a natural birth. After all, that is what she was looking for. I read E's response and felt completely the same as I happened to have a very similar experience and share the same feelings about it. I could totally relate to her saying 'everybody feels they can't take it anymore right before they're about to push'. I could totally relate to that and found it true. I appreciated her post and the way she said it because I agree with her, and am happy there are others on here that aren't afraid to offer their honest yet supportive opinions. =
Answer: alirenee86 thanks for the support. You were right I was only upset that women had to come on here & talk about drugs when angelhdfd was asking about a natural birth NOT about drugs. Rachel H OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T read all my posts because she would have read that NOT ONCE did I say that all women don't need drugs & that they do have there place in labour & birth. Rachel H our bodies ARE made to give birth, but of course some women can't & if you bothered to do some research you would know that it wasn't necessarily the birth itself that killed women in the old days rather complications that occurred afterward like hemorrhaging, infections etc. Of course not all women can give birth vaginally, I never said they could so don't put words in my mouth as you obviously didn't read all my posts. Modern medicine has saved lives but if you know anything about how our bodies work, you would also know that doctors practices of putting women on their back to labour & push out a baby, not only make it more painful for the woman but is also more likely to cause complications & end up in a c-section. In your case an epidural was the best thing, but for you to pretty much say that drugs don't hinder the birthing process is very naive & shows you have done NO research of your own. =
Answer: Ok, Doctor E586467, you obviously need to go back and re-read your own posts. And, FYI I did read all your posts. You said quote, "angelhdfd DON'T listen to anyone tell you that you need drugs to have a baby, because you don't." Hmm.... they didn't tell her she "needs" to take drugs... You also said, "Taking drugs can hinder the birthing process, leading to interventions & even c-section." (And, you call me naive for saying it doesn't?????) You DO some research, instead of just reading a book (New Active Birth... or whatever)... you're speaking from your own personal experience, and I think that's a little narrow-minded of you. If drugs "hindered" the birthing process, doctors wouldn't give them... and that's not rocket science. You also said (in the same post), "our bodies ARE made to give birth" and "Of course not all women can give birth vaginally" ... I think that's two different contradicting phrases, don't you think? You don't have to tell me that women died because of infections and hemorrhaging... please, I'm not that stupid. All, I said was that women died because they COULD NOT push out a baby (i.e. baby was too big, or the woman's body couldn't handle it) because NOT everyone's body can birth a baby... you do some research. And, I never put "words in your mouth" but I do believe YOU did when you were being so rude to WP and ferfer1's mouths... I think you need to do the research... =
Answer: E586467, this might sound crazy, and you might think I'm a complete weirdo... but I just want to apologize and not argue with you. I posted that comment above (probably like an hour ago.. or something like that) and I know I can't take it back now, but I think we're just reall moody pregnant women, and we shouldn't be doing this. It's not going to solve anything. I hope you don't read the last comment I posted, but if you do and write back, that's ok. I totally understand. I just want to apologize now, and I hope you forgive me. I guess we all have our own opinions and we're not going to change each other's minds. I really wish I wouldn't have said anything to begin with now. So, again, I'm sorry. I just don't want to argue with anyone, because we are supposed to be supporting each other. :) =
Answer: Rachel H you said 'If drugs "hindered" the birthing process, doctors wouldn't give them' do you even know ANYTHING about the drugs that are given or are you just wanting to cause an argument? It is well documented that doctors give medication everyday that is later discovered as not being good for us. As for the doctor comment I have never claimed to be of medical profession but funny you should mention it because I get nearly ALL my information from medical encyclopedias (My best friend is a doctor - go figure) NOT from the book 'New Active Birth'. I only recommended that book as it is perfect reading for those who wish to have a natural birth. If you had bothered to look up the physical aspects of birth you would understand why I said our bodies are made to give birth, instead of once again jumping the gun. Of course there are certain circumstances why women can't give birth vaginally - narrow pelvis, very large baby, placental problems etc, but my comment was not contradictory as I was referring to the physical aspect of birth & not all the could be problems that might occur. Next time I will make sure to explain myself better for those like you who like to twist words to cause an argument. As for my comment "angelhdfd DON'T listen to anyone tell you that you need drugs to have a baby, because you don't." ok maybe I should have rephrased that a little different, but I meant 'anyone' as in friends & family, not doctors should they advise it for medical reasons. The reason I came across sooo rude to begin with was because angelhdfd was asking about 'NATURAL BIRTH' & instead the first 2 posts talked about drugs (even if it did wear off) & pain. Of course birth hurts but their posts were better suited to alot of the other posts on here asking about pain relief experiences. I don't have anything against women who use drugs during labour as each of us has our own pain threshold, but I do have something against women who make birth seem sooooo painful & scary that other women think drugs is the ONLY way to cope with the pain. =
Answer: Ok Rachel H now I will apologise, I didn't refresh before I posted my response so I never saw your apology & as for the moody comment I completely agree lol. That might be part of the reason for my abruptness in the first post. Anyway thanks for the apology & I guess I should apologise to WP & ferfer1 for being a tad rude. =
Answer: Ok, great... so we're all better? lol Dang pregnancy hormones! :) =
Answer: Okay, okay...Rachael and E you are both cracking me up at this point...Yes, I think the pregnancy hormones can be responsible at this point, and I don't think ANY of us can argue that :)
Happy hormones ladies!! =
Answer: alright. this is my third pregnancy and im going to try for natural childbirth, funny though cause none of the CHILDbirth classes are for women WITH children...weird. Any way to get down to the bottom of things, statistically...more complications occur WITH medication. Breastfeeding problems etc.. Examples...My first....epidural...pushed so hard due to the fact I couldnt feel crap I tore myself a beautiful HERNIA!!! Doc I suppose was in a major hurry cause he kept yelling at me to hurry up and push...BAD idea!!! You NOT running a race to see who can pop out the baby fastest and when your numb your basing your "pushing" urge on someone else's opinion as to when you should push. Second child, was induced and had epidural, asked for a reduced dose so I could feel something...nope not crap!!!! Guess what I got out of that? A Vaginal hematoma!!! Had to have surgery and be hospitalised for over a week. First had an episiotomy the size of texas, second one just a small snip..funny though had I been given the chance to push GRADUALLY like your supposed to I probably wouldnt have needed the snip the second time around!! Your NOT supposed to labor on your back, its not natural but where do they put you? In a bed....on your back!!! So here is my advice....try it naturally...I mean really its only a few hours of your life your going to be in pain. I've felt more pain for days for a ruptured appendix. Yes, it will hurt but really...its not all that bad. Its not constant and Transition which is where the major pain occurs only lasts about 15 mins to 1 hour...now you can do that right? Look it up. My first was too drugged up to latch properly and the second due to the lessened amount of drugs practically climbed up to my boob!!! Breathe...Dont listen to what anyone but yourself tells you. My mother thinks I'm stupid for wanting a natural birth but after the horror of my medicated births I think I owe it to myself to try something I WANT to do rather than what everyone else keeps telling me to do. BTW Dont listen to any docs who are on the golf course when they get called or nurses who think they know it all. EDUCATE yourself so you can tell them to go you know where when they try to make you push too much or too fast. And last but not least... the dreaded "ring of fire"...well its your body's way of telling you to STOP pushing and wait a moment for the nerves to go numb. Look it up its all there!!! Dont let anyone tell you to push when you dont need to!! good luck! =
Answer: Oh and one more thing...if natural childbirth was so bad dont you think women would stop having kids after they popped out the first one? =
Answer: hey all... I just thought I would tell you of my experiences. I have three children and I am 35.4 weeks pregnant with baby number four. I have had all of my children naturally with no drug intervention. I, too, had a focus point whether it be a spot on the wall or I also used a mental picture in my head of a river - I know it probably sounds weird but I could tune everyone and everything out and just focus on 'this river' I had in my head and it worked! I never had to have an episotomy and my recovery was pretty darn fast. I plan on having this baby natural too but if drug intervention is necessary then so be it. So that's my two cents. Good luck to you. =
Answer: disco love...were your subsequent births faster/easier for the most part? I'm pregnant with number 2. My first was 4 hours total with one push and he was out. Easy. I focused on counting through the contractions because they're all temporary and if you count, you know you're counting down until it subsides...that worked for me a lot. That was my total focus was counting on how long it was until it would be over. I want to have a natural birth in the hospital again with this one and am hoping it's even faster/easier! I reccomend natural birth if you're healthy and your pregnancy is going as it should be according to your doctor. Our bodies ARE made for this. Of course there are complications that make anything other than a natural childbirth necessary, but it's been going on since the very beginning of time and before drugs were ever invented. I'm a small narrow hipped girl that had every reason to think it wouldn't work naturally and I had the confidence to do it and did it naturally with flying colors. Good luck to you and count through your contractions...it's all temporary! Pushing for me, by the way, was the easiest part. Don't ask me why or how, but I don't remember that hurting one bit. Just wanted the baby the heck out of there. =
Answer: I think its awesome that you're considering going natural. I'm 34 weeks with my first. People say I'm crazy for wanting to do it natural.
I view it like a marathon or event. Its mentally and physically difficult but when you cross the finishline its pure acheivement and elation mixed with sheer exhaustion.
I told my support group not to be afraid when they see me in pain. I asked them to give me encouragement and tell me things like, "You can do it. Don't give up and we're here for you!" I want the freedom to squat, kneel or move around in what ever way my body deems right for the moment.
Don't be fearful because the majority of women tell you to be. It is your experience and yours alone. Make it how you want it.
I believe it is a process that shouldn't be so horrible in one's mind. Pain in its various forms usually has a purpose but doesn't always denote inferiority.
If you go natural have faith in yourself like the woman have for centuries. I wish you the best. =
Answer: Jlips I posted very early in this post. You can read up and see if story if you wish. You are very close to delivery and if you don't mind I would like to tell that your attitude is terrific for wanting a natural birth. When people are wishy washy about meds and natural most opt out for meds. Because natural is painful you have to act as there is noooooo other choice (unless an emergency happens). But be very prepared. See there is a book called Rediscovering Birth by Sheila Kitzinger. It is about the history of how women once and now give birth from women all over the world. Sounds a little boring but reading it makes a lot of sense why people view natural birth as soo hard. You know if your foot is broken it isn't supposed to be like that it becomes a medical condition. ANything abnormal becomes medical. Over the course of some years very close minded men began to think that pregnancy and birth was something unnatural and when doctors took over a lot of women began dieing from childbirth however medicine has come a long way in our country but in others it hasn't and women still die regularly. Chidbirth is something very nomal and personally I believe ANY and all women could do it naturally with the right amount of support. I strongly believe doulas are a very wonderful thing to have and for my next birth for number 5 I will use a doula. So keep foccussed and you can do it! =
Answer: Jlips i think similar to yourself. I too am 34 weeks with my first and want to have a go at it naturally. the problem is that its all too easy for women to tell other women of their 'horrific' birth stories, so it instills fear and dread in a woman before she gives birth. you hear much more about the negatives of birth than the positives and as a result it has a bad affect on new mothers waiting to give birth! everybody knows its painful and its not easy but i'd personally rather go into it with a positive attitude rather than a negative one. the amount of times ive heard women say 'are you scared of the birth' - i honestly don't know what answer they want to hear!! at the end of the day a baby has to come out one way or the other, and if it was so incredibly painful then the human race would no longer be in existence. at the moment the UK is more overpopulated than it has ever been!! =
Answer: Hi ladies. Let me give you my advice. I am an OB nurse specializing in Labor & Delivery. I get these questions everyday. I can honestly say I have seen women go through L & D and be as cool as a cucumber throughout the whole thing and I have seen women jump on the bed and scream "Get this thing out of me". Every birth experience is different, including my own. I did the first one natural and had an epidural with the second one. Natural childbirth is very difficult and you have to be in complete control to handle it. The cervix is a muscle, when you get a contraction you have to be able to relax to allow the cervix to dilate. If you tense up your body, your cervix gets tense as well and does not dilate. The amount of pain a person can handle depends on quite a few things. The person, the position of the baby, the size of the baby, the size of your pelvis, whether it is spontaneous labor or induced labor with pitocin. Also, the length of your labor, you need to understand for every hour you are in labor it is tough on your body. For example if you are in labor for 12 hours it is as if you have been working out at the gym for the past 12 hours, labor is hard work. Just keep an open mind and be open to all of your options. Just know that if you do not go the natural route it does not make you a failure. Childbirth hurts like h*#l, and anyone who does it with or without pain meds is a hero and in the end you all get the same outcome, a beautiful baby to call your own. Best of luck to all of you. =
Answer: Thanks OBNurse...well said! Do you know of or have seen women with their 2nd labor have an eaier time? My first was very fast and furious but as easy as I think it could really get. I'm praying for the same. Did it without an epi and would like to do it again. Are the contractions the same, easier or more difficult typically with your second? =
Answer: Hi alirenee86,
Yes I have seen a second labor go quick but I have also experienced it taking longer first hand. My first L&D was 3.5 hours with no epi., my second L&D was 10.5 hours. After 8 hours of labor I got the epidural and glad I did. Every L&D is different. Best of luck to you. Just remember to keep an open mind. =
Answer: Mama4andmore & Cat 24, it was nice to hear your thoughts. It is so interesting to see the differences in cultural beliefs affect child birthing. I don't necessarily agree with western medical's view of L & B. For example, episiotomies are one of the most common procedures done in the US. Many times such procedures are done for convience for the medical staff-which I don't appreciate it. Research suggests that if you have your baby during busy hospital hours, there are increased chances of undergoing obstetric Intervention-how sad.
Anyways, I'm excited to have a water birth in a birthing center. Oddly enough Im looking forward to birthing even the pain. I suppose being a very mindful person, the implications and meaning of being the vessel that gives life to another is...powerful and humbling. =
Answer: Have you ever heard about Acupressure? I was reading this site maternity-acupressure dot com but I am not sure about it but maybe helps as it really says to induce labor naturally. =
Answer: I have seen people use acupuncture twice to try and induce labor without result. But that is not to say that it doesn't work, just keep your chin up. =
Answer: Hi bab18 I used acupressure to try bring on ds & found it caused alot of braxton hicks but didn't cause me to go into labour. I think it is like any other natural method of trying to induce, it will only work if your body is ready for labour anyway. It doesn't hurt to try but don't be too disappointed if it doesn't work. Goodluck. =
Answer: I got an epidural with my first. As soon as he did it I knew something was wrong, I started feeling numb in my hands, my neck...then I just passed out. The next thing I remember is someone yelling "Elena, breathe!!" and a bunch of doctors in the room, my dh crying...then I passed out again. Turned out that he messed up my epidural, so my whole body got affected by it instead of just the bottom half, my blood pressure dropped (which affects the baby). If you notice, you hear a lot about the epidural making your blood pressure drop. I woke up from it when it wore off - I was under it for about an hour. After that I had to go without it, I was about 6 cm dilated at that point. I had to be on oxygen, blood pressure meds and they also put a catheter in to collect your urine (from which you might later on get urinary tract infections). So from then on I went without any pain relief, and yes, it does hurt like hell. The transition hurts, the pushing stage hurts (the pushing relieves the pain of contractions), it all hurts, lol. I'm 36 weeks prego with #2 and am going to try my best NOT to request an epidural, but keeping my options open. =
Answer: Sasha - I had an epidural with my first and it had a similar effect on me - I kept losing consciousness, my blood pressure dropped a lot and then the emergency doctors had to be called out. With my second I knew I didn't want an epidural even though the contractions hurt so much so I went for a water birth. I'd recommend that, contractions still hurt loads but its much nicer though I think you are right to keep your options open. You can have gas and air with water birth but thats it and have to be 5cm dilated before you go in the water. Good luck! =
