Being a First Time Mom

miss23denise

This is my first pregnancy and my due date is right around the corner (January) I'm very nervous and I have no idea what to expect with labor. I don't plan to get an epidural and due to have scoliosis (it's really bad) my doctor says I'm better off without it. If anyone else has went thru labor all natural, please tell me your experience? I'm honestly kind of scared.. lol. Also, what should I pack in my hospital bag? I don't want to over/under pack.

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BookitBoo

We've had quite a few of these conversations lately, the search bar should pull them up for you!

I don't have an experience with a non-medicated birth, as my natural birth experience included an epidural and a csection. But I wish you the best of luck with it and I know that plenty of ladies can help you with their experience!


As far as my hospital bag I include:
My pillow
Phone charger
Jammies/nursing bra/granny panties I don't mind tossing
Boppy
Toiletries
Change for vending machine

Books and ink for newborn hand and foot prints

Going home outfit for baby
baby mittens

Mrs_Bennett

My best advice to you I to educate yourself as much as possible about labor and delivery. You absolutely CAN do it without an epidural--women have been having babies since the beginning of time, and most of them have had little or no medical intervention. As a female, your body was made to give birth. All that being said, if you want to go naturally, definitely learn as much as you can. Read birth stories, study the anatomy/physiology of birth, do exercises to strengthen yourself, and get someone supportive to help.
I'm also planning a med-free birth, and one of my favorite books has been Ina May's Guide to Childbirth, which is full of positive natural birth stories. Very empowering! It also discusses different ways to help your body labor and deliver.
If you're interested in natural pain management techniques, the Bradley Method and Hypnobabies are two of the most popular. I'm using Bradley, (book, not the class), and it has been very useful.
If you haven't checked it out yet, visit the Natural Birthing board, and those ladies will very helpful in recommending ways to prepare.
https://forums.thebump.com/categories/natural-birth