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if you want to try natural try taking a bradley class there really educational and show you wonderful ways to relax and give you and your partner lots of information so if you are overwhelmed, your partner may be able to help you, because bradley teaches you guys to practice pre-labor and learn what best helps you to relax and its NOT breathing a certian way at least not for me. I always relaxed when my partner rubbed my lower back. another girl in the class relaxed when her partner rubbed her feet. One like a shower running on her back. Oh and they give you great exersices to do to help relieve back pain while pregnant. Check out their web site bradleybirth.com oh and I had natural my baby was 9 pounds, my mom had me natural and I was 10 pounds 6 oz and 24 inches long. so I don't think its the size that matters as much as the laboring to get you to the 10 mark. GL

thank you so much...i am worried i wont relax enough to get me to 10 and the pain of pushing will kill me..but i will look at the website.

I was induced and had pitocin and an epidural with my first and had a wonderful experience. I still had pain, but it was managed in a way that I could really enjoy the birth process. I wasn't numb completely and had no problem pushing her out. I had what they call a "walking epidural". Good luck to you in whatever you decide. We all have different pain tollerances and different fears, make sure you do only what you are comfortable with and not what someone is pressuring you to do. As long as the end result is the same, who cares how you get there. If you do decide to go natural then good for you. I personally could never do it. I had enough pain with an epidural that I can't imagine what it would have felt like otherwise. I am now 11 weeks 1 day pregnant and will be induced again at 39 weeks. Last time I was induced 11 days early and my daughter was only 6lbs 8oz and I could barely get her out, my OB had to use the vacuum to avoid a c-section. My OB thinks that if we let this one go past 39 weeks that I may not be able to pass the baby. We want to avoid a c-section if at all possible. Good luck to you!

Picotin, induction, epidurals....you get one intervention (usually unnecessary) and you are in store for a medicated birth of which you have no control. My first dd was a typical horrible, degrading birth of which I had no control, it almost ended in a c section but I admentaly said NO and ended having a vaginal birth thank God. My 2nd I decided to let my body and nature give birth and we had a beautiful, healthy, comfortable and empowering homebirth. Do your research, many hospitals have a c secion rate of above 50%...once you submit to any type of induction the changes of c section sky rocket! Good luck! Trust yourself!

I had all three, and my birth was wonderful and I felt in control the entire time. It all depends on your attitude! Just because one woman had a bad experience, DOES NOT mean that it is wrong, and no one should be made to feel guilty about the method in which they brought their child in to the world. You know who you are and you need to keep your personal opinions to yourself! If a woman wants to go natural, I say good for you that's great. If a woman wants intervention, that is alright too. This forum is not here for you to stroke your own ego! If you would have said, this is what I did and this is why, but if someone wants to do otherwise then I wish you a happy healthy little one, that would have been one thing. But to try to use scare tactics is just tacky. At the end you said, "trust yourself." Yeah right!

mjvdec, how can you be in control with picotin and and epidural...? I mean one controls completely your contractions while the other paralyses (or virtually numbs) you from the belt down, confining you to a bed and to give birth on your back...? Maybe I misunderstood you...?

I had same experience as lunamo and opted for a birth at home with my 2nd. EXCELLENT choice, had a wonderful midwife. Check out these stats, this is what convinced me. w w w naturalbirthandbabycare.com/farm-statistics.html

Franny, Thank you for asking. I had a walking epidural and had enough feeling to control my legs, walk if I wanted to and push properly. Skyeblue, I have much respect for women who can do it with no meds. I am just not one of those women and there are many more like me. More power to you! :o}

Ladies, please don't misunderstand. I am by no means saying that one method is better than another. I just don't like being made to feel like someone thinks my birht plan was made without thought or care for my child. Ofcourse, if my OB would have urged me to go natural due to a problem during labor, I would have, no question. However, that wasn't the case and I was given a choice so I went with what I was most comfortable with. For the record, I was offered a complete epidural and opted for the walking epidural instead after speaking to the anesthesiologist. I hope this clarifys things.

with my daughter i had the epi at 9 and was so numb i didn't know if i was pushing right i pushed for 2 1/2 hours and the dr. had to use the vaccum on her poor head. but the walking epidural sounds good, i will ask my dr. tuesday if he knows if the hospital can do it.

Glad to help.

Hi jazminesmom, that is very similar to what happened with my 1st. I was "forced" into getting an epidural as my labor wasn't progressing to the doctor's conviencience....then because I became immobilized, came the picotin....I was so numb had no idea when I was having a contraction. Then came the constant threat of a c-section, which thank God the midwife (where I live midwives work in hospitals) and I adamently refused...in the end they vacuumed her out, which caused a huge rip! Be confident in yourself! Do your reading and see how much is done to women in hospitals in order to "give birth" when 98% of the time we could have done it ourselves, with patience and understanding. Birth can be the most empowering experience a woman can have if she is confident and encouraged to take charge. Good luck!!!

thanks for the advice...i don't know what i want to do but i am doing reseach and talking it over.