1 - how far along are you? 20 weeks today 2 - where are you giving birth? (hospital/birthing center/home/other?) birthing center at a hospital 3 - have you given birth before? If so, were you able to do so med-free? FTM 4 - why does a med-free plan A feel like the right choice to you? In theory, my body should know how to do this, so unless there is a really good reason, I would like to try to do it without meds. I think I have a pretty high tolerance for pain, so my plan is to go as long as I can without anything. The birthing center has labor tubs, which I think will help a lot. I am really hoping to avoid an epidural, but am more open to other forms of pain meds if I can't handle it anymore. I am looking forward to our birthing class to learn more about other pain management techniques (correct way to breath through the pain, helpful body positions, etc).
1 - how far along are you? 17 weeks, almost 18 2 - where are you giving birth? (hospital/birthing center/home/other?) hospital. I would love a home birth but it scares me a little and DH is not on board. not a candidate for a birthing center due to vbac. but I am likely going to have a doula again. 3 - have you given birth before? If so, were you able to do so med-free? yes, twice, never med free. DD1 was a whole big traumatic thing. DD2 I tried to go med free but I am grateful for the epidural because 12 hours of continuous front/back labor is torture. I had to have CFM so using the tub or shower was not an option and I started panicking around 6 cm and I couldn't hold myself up anymore (squatting). but my doula was great at offering suggestions to continue to stimulate oxytocin release once I got the epidural so my labor didn't stall. 4 - why does a med-free plan A feel like the right choice to you? I am totally grateful there are pain meds available but there are risks to every procedure. It took 45 min to place the epidural with DD2 and I had a sore spot in my back for 4 months afterward where they placed it. epidurals can stall labor and I don't want to go down that cascade of intervention if I can tough it out. my plan is to labor at home in my jet tub as long as possible and do my best at the hospital again. if I hit a wall, i'll take the epidural again. panic releases catecholamines which can also stall labor, so if I can't handle it, the epidural could benefit. but I also think if I can keep calm, I can manage the pain, even if I have back labor again. we will see.
FYI, birthing with out meds doesn't really have much to do with personal pain tolerance ... I'm a huge sissy and whine about the littliest things. I was told with my first I'd beg for an epidural. Honestly, the pain never got to a place that I felt like I couldn't handle it, even though it was hard work. With labor pain it's more about learning to relax and allow labor to progress. Pain (in labor) isn't the same as pain from an injury though it can turn into that.... Pain in labor is caused by muscles working hard... It can become harder when factors like improper positioning of baby (or mom), not allowing muscles to work the way they are intended (being tense) or variables like being tired, being forced to deliver in contrary to what your body needs or fear and tension. Personally, I'd much rather be in intermittant labor specific pain (what comprises most labor) than deal with loss of control of my body... Or I'd rather put up with large amounts of intense temporary pain just to feel totally normal moments later (like crowning). Quite literally, I feel like a million bucks the MOMENT that baby is out. All that said, I wouldn't worry about your personal pain tolerance so much as you do about learning to relax.
1- 19weeks 2 - giving birth at a hospital 3- I have given birth before and the original goal was med free but ended up with an emergency c-section at 28 weeks due to pre-e and lost heart rate. So trying for a vbac! 4- my first birth I wanted Med free because it just seemed right. Why have unnecessary medical interventions when so many women have done it naturally? Now with my 2nd, and after seeing the effects on DS of every drug they pumped into my body with pre-e, it's even more important to me. Granted if I get pre-e again I don't have as much of choice to not get some of the Meds but the idea that these things are harmless to baby is incorrect. The BP Meds they gave me significantly lowered his Heart rate and BP so they had to give him other Meds and caffeine to get it back up. Being on magnesium for 4 days meant they couldn't feed him for a week Bc his bowels were running too slow to digest anythinf. Who knows what te effects of an epidural and pit added to any of that. So hoping we can make it though this time! And just like last time, if ore-e occurs again I will be trying pain-med free again
For those of you that have had med free births before, did you tear? And if so did they numb you before stitching you up? I always remembered my mother saying that with my brother that the epidural wore off when they were stitching her up and she felt everything. I am hoping to deliver med free but they have to numb it before they stitch me up
@ve304856 Yes. I tore a fairly good amount with my 1st (I recall a 2nd degree tear) and slightly with my 4th (she was biggest)... Both times they stitched me and numbed the area up good... It was not painful at all. Still not a totally awesome thing, because they stretch your vagina and look to inspect it and that sucks... but the stitches are not painful.
I tore- but it was kinda my fault haha. I gave a BIG push at the end (Even though I knew you were just supposed to kinda "breathe it out") whoops. I think it was a 2nd degree?
They numbed me, I didn't feel a thing....
The thing that actually hurt after was at some point the stitches gave away and the healing on that HURT, but that didn't have anything to do with being med free.... I also have this awesome "flap" down there now that the doc refused to take responsibility for. I can't remember the nurses ever checking them (I didn't know they were supposed to), though they claimed they did later (pretty sure I'd remember someone getting down and in there to check them!). So make sure your stitches are in place when u leave the hospital!! It was really emotionally tough on me with all the hormones and feeling like my body was ruined.... everything is fine now but just another example to be all over your own care.....
Re: Med-Free Check-In 7/14
20 weeks today
2 - where are you giving birth? (hospital/birthing center/home/other?)
birthing center at a hospital
3 - have you given birth before? If so, were you able to do so med-free?
FTM
4 - why does a med-free plan A feel like the right choice to you?
In theory, my body should know how to do this, so unless there is a really good reason, I would like to try to do it without meds. I think I have a pretty high tolerance for pain, so my plan is to go as long as I can without anything. The birthing center has labor tubs, which I think will help a lot. I am really hoping to avoid an epidural, but am more open to other forms of pain meds if I can't handle it anymore. I am looking forward to our birthing class to learn more about other pain management techniques (correct way to breath through the pain, helpful body positions, etc).
DD- 11/2016
17 weeks, almost 18
2 - where are you giving birth? (hospital/birthing center/home/other?)
hospital. I would love a home birth but it scares me a little and DH is not on board. not a candidate for a birthing center due to vbac. but I am likely going to have a doula again.
3 - have you given birth before? If so, were you able to do so med-free?
yes, twice, never med free. DD1 was a whole big traumatic thing. DD2 I tried to go med free but I am grateful for the epidural because 12 hours of continuous front/back labor is torture. I had to have CFM so using the tub or shower was not an option and I started panicking around 6 cm and I couldn't hold myself up anymore (squatting). but my doula was great at offering suggestions to continue to stimulate oxytocin release once I got the epidural so my labor didn't stall.
4 - why does a med-free plan A feel like the right choice to you?
I am totally grateful there are pain meds available but there are risks to every procedure. It took 45 min to place the epidural with DD2 and I had a sore spot in my back for 4 months afterward where they placed it. epidurals can stall labor and I don't want to go down that cascade of intervention if I can tough it out. my plan is to labor at home in my jet tub as long as possible and do my best at the hospital again. if I hit a wall, i'll take the epidural again. panic releases catecholamines which can also stall labor, so if I can't handle it, the epidural could benefit. but I also think if I can keep calm, I can manage the pain, even if I have back labor again. we will see.
My Wedding Bio!
All that said, I wouldn't worry about your personal pain tolerance so much as you do about learning to relax.
Due December 27th with baby #7
2 - giving birth at a hospital
3- I have given birth before and the original goal was med free but ended up with an emergency c-section at 28 weeks due to pre-e and lost heart rate. So trying for a vbac!
4- my first birth I wanted Med free because it just seemed right. Why have unnecessary medical interventions when so many women have done it naturally? Now with my 2nd, and after seeing the effects on DS of every drug they pumped into my body with pre-e, it's even more important to me. Granted if I get pre-e again I don't have as much of choice to not get some of the Meds but the idea that these things are harmless to baby is incorrect. The BP Meds they gave me significantly lowered his Heart rate and BP so they had to give him other Meds and caffeine to get it back up. Being on magnesium for 4 days meant they couldn't feed him for a week Bc his bowels were running too slow to digest anythinf. Who knows what te effects of an epidural and pit added to any of that. So hoping we can make it though this time! And just like last time, if ore-e occurs again I will be trying pain-med free again
@ve304856
Yes. I tore a fairly good amount with my 1st (I recall a 2nd degree tear) and slightly with my 4th (she was biggest)... Both times they stitched me and numbed the area up good... It was not painful at all. Still not a totally awesome thing, because they stretch your vagina and look to inspect it and that sucks... but the stitches are not painful.
Due December 27th with baby #7
They numbed me, I didn't feel a thing....
The thing that actually hurt after was at some point the stitches gave away and the healing on that HURT, but that didn't have anything to do with being med free.... I also have this awesome "flap" down there now that the doc refused to take responsibility for. I can't remember the nurses ever checking them (I didn't know they were supposed to), though they claimed they did later (pretty sure I'd remember someone getting down and in there to check them!). So make sure your stitches are in place when u leave the hospital!! It was really emotionally tough on me with all the hormones and feeling like my body was ruined.... everything is fine now but just another example to be all over your own care.....
She was 8lb 6oz