Did anyone use alternative pain mgmt techniques. Meaning no epidural? During our hospital tour they mentioned the gas and some IV pain meds that can be used earlier on. How did that go?
I didn't have an epidural. I planned to go med free, but after 30 hours of back labor, I asked for something in my iv. I was a little wobbly on my feet and had to have someone walk me to the bathroom, but other than that, it was fine. It took enough of the edge off, so I could sleep a bit. I was able to push in any position I wanted, and I could feel where my baby was, as well as the pressure of contractions so I knew when to push.
Edited to add that before I got an iv, counter pressure also worked really well for my back pain.
@lmudra I started my birthing process with fentanol in half dose injections in my IV. It took the edge off for about an hour. Once my water broke that's when I got the epi. They would only give so many does in the IV.
I read the Ina May book. Definitely hippy and out there a bit, especially the birth stories, but I definitely recommend it, and I learned quite a few techniques I'm definitely going to try to use while in labor for relaxing and pushing effectively.
I just checked out "Birth Without Fear" from the library, and I'm looking forward to reading it as well.
Baby #1 was an epidural birth. I hated the needle in the back so much and it was not cool. But it definitely took away the pain. What it didn't take away was the extremely indescribable pressure. I was so uncomfortable with the pressure, I was definitely glad to not have the pain accompanying it. I was in labor for about 16 hours and got the epi about 5 hours in, mostly because I was afraid that it was going to get a lot worse, not because I was just dying from the pain at that point. The crazy pressure set in around hour 8 and I literally closed my eyes at that point to deal with it and didn't open them until she was born. I had to put myself in a bit of a trance to deal! I had no spinal headache. I labored on my side mostly, pushed on my back (wasn't given any other choice).
Baby #2 was med-free and intervention-free. It was very fast - 5 hours from beginning to end, and the first 2 hours were not even bad. So, thank God I was planning med-free because there was no time for pain meds! I can honestly and truly say that my mindset was so dead set on med-free that I never once wished or asked for pain meds. I will go as far as saying that the pain wasn't that horrific, and the pressure was way worse. The "ring of fire" was rough but so so short. And I even received stitches and I don't even recall feeling it - I think the feel good hormones were taking over at that point. I labored again on my side and pushed on my back - this time I did it because it felt right.
I am truly not sure that I could have hours and hours of tough labor and not give in to an epi. And I absolutely will if I feel the need for it in the moment. However, I prefer birth #2 so much to birth #1. I believe that the length of the labor was due to the epi because it slowed down significantly after I got it. I also cannot stand receiving the epidural. There's also research to support why a med-free birth is better for mom and baby and I believe a lot of it, so if I can do it again, I will. My constant prayer is that this one will go down just like #2 so that I don't have to worry about it.
Lastly, the only real prep I did for med/intervention-free was read Ina May's book and it was SO inspirational. As others have said, it's quite crunchy, but I was just so inspired by what the female mind and body can do after reading it, I think it really helped my mindset going into it. The whole idea of this pain being completely different than any other pain you deal with in life, is so true. I remember before I ever had a baby I would get those knife-in-your-side gas cramps every once in a while and I would be like, "I'm dying!! How will I ever give birth??? I could never ever take pain like this for more than like 5 minutes!" and I was so pleased to learn that contraction pain is very different. For me they felt like the strongest period cramps in the world which is very different from take-away-my-breath knife-in-my-stomach pain. Not easy, but not mind-numbing excruciating either.
Sorry for the novel but I was trying to cover everything that's been discussed so far!!
Me: 36; DH: 38 DD: 7; DS1: 4; DS2 due 6-21-17! **TW** MMC & D&C Aug 2016
Baby #1 was an epidural birth. I hated the needle in the back so much and it was not cool. But it definitely took away the pain. What it didn't take away was the extremely indescribable pressure. I was so uncomfortable with the pressure, I was definitely glad to not have the pain accompanying it. I was in labor for about 16 hours and got the epi about 5 hours in, mostly because I was afraid that it was going to get a lot worse, not because I was just dying from the pain at that point. The crazy pressure set in around hour 8 and I literally closed my eyes at that point to deal with it and didn't open them until she was born. I had to put myself in a bit of a trance to deal! I had no spinal headache. I labored on my side mostly, pushed on my back (wasn't given any other choice).
Baby #2 was med-free and intervention-free. It was very fast - 5 hours from beginning to end, and the first 2 hours were not even bad. So, thank God I was planning med-free because there was no time for pain meds! I can honestly and truly say that my mindset was so dead set on med-free that I never once wished or asked for pain meds. I will go as far as saying that the pain wasn't that horrific, and the pressure was way worse. The "ring of fire" was rough but so so short. And I even received stitches and I don't even recall feeling it - I think the feel good hormones were taking over at that point. I labored again on my side and pushed on my back - this time I did it because it felt right.
I am truly not sure that I could have hours and hours of tough labor and not give in to an epi. And I absolutely will if I feel the need for it in the moment. However, I prefer birth #2 so much to birth #1. I believe that the length of the labor was due to the epi because it slowed down significantly after I got it. I also cannot stand receiving the epidural. There's also research to support why a med-free birth is better for mom and baby and I believe a lot of it, so if I can do it again, I will. My constant prayer is that this one will go down just like #2 so that I don't have to worry about it.
Lastly, the only real prep I did for med/intervention-free was read Ina May's book and it was SO inspirational. As others have said, it's quite crunchy, but I was just so inspired by what the female mind and body can do after reading it, I think it really helped my mindset going into it. The whole idea of this pain being completely different than any other pain you deal with in life, is so true. I remember before I ever had a baby I would get those knife-in-your-side gas cramps every once in a while and I would be like, "I'm dying!! How will I ever give birth??? I could never ever take pain like this for more than like 5 minutes!" and I was so pleased to learn that contraction pain is very different. For me they felt like the strongest period cramps in the world which is very different from take-away-my-breath knife-in-my-stomach pain. Not easy, but not mind-numbing excruciating either.
Sorry for the novel but I was trying to cover everything that's been discussed so far!!
So true. Labor pains are also not consistent, and that is helpful in dealing with the discomfort.
Baby #1 was an epidural birth. I hated the needle in the back so much and it was not cool. But it definitely took away the pain. What it didn't take away was the extremely indescribable pressure. I was so uncomfortable with the pressure, I was definitely glad to not have the pain accompanying it. I was in labor for about 16 hours and got the epi about 5 hours in, mostly because I was afraid that it was going to get a lot worse, not because I was just dying from the pain at that point. The crazy pressure set in around hour 8 and I literally closed my eyes at that point to deal with it and didn't open them until she was born. I had to put myself in a bit of a trance to deal! I had no spinal headache. I labored on my side mostly, pushed on my back (wasn't given any other choice).
Baby #2 was med-free and intervention-free. It was very fast - 5 hours from beginning to end, and the first 2 hours were not even bad. So, thank God I was planning med-free because there was no time for pain meds! I can honestly and truly say that my mindset was so dead set on med-free that I never once wished or asked for pain meds. I will go as far as saying that the pain wasn't that horrific, and the pressure was way worse. The "ring of fire" was rough but so so short. And I even received stitches and I don't even recall feeling it - I think the feel good hormones were taking over at that point. I labored again on my side and pushed on my back - this time I did it because it felt right.
I am truly not sure that I could have hours and hours of tough labor and not give in to an epi. And I absolutely will if I feel the need for it in the moment. However, I prefer birth #2 so much to birth #1. I believe that the length of the labor was due to the epi because it slowed down significantly after I got it. I also cannot stand receiving the epidural. There's also research to support why a med-free birth is better for mom and baby and I believe a lot of it, so if I can do it again, I will. My constant prayer is that this one will go down just like #2 so that I don't have to worry about it.
Lastly, the only real prep I did for med/intervention-free was read Ina May's book and it was SO inspirational. As others have said, it's quite crunchy, but I was just so inspired by what the female mind and body can do after reading it, I think it really helped my mindset going into it. The whole idea of this pain being completely different than any other pain you deal with in life, is so true. I remember before I ever had a baby I would get those knife-in-your-side gas cramps every once in a while and I would be like, "I'm dying!! How will I ever give birth??? I could never ever take pain like this for more than like 5 minutes!" and I was so pleased to learn that contraction pain is very different. For me they felt like the strongest period cramps in the world which is very different from take-away-my-breath knife-in-my-stomach pain. Not easy, but not mind-numbing excruciating either.
Sorry for the novel but I was trying to cover everything that's been discussed so far!!
I totally agree with everything you said. Except the epidural, because I have no experience with it, so I can't really agree. I totally did the eyes closed trance thing with my first too. What's weird is if it wasn't for dh telling me how long I pushed for I would have seriously thought it was only 5 min. It felt so short! I blocked it out or something. And it is a totally different pain. Whenever I get hurt I faint, or at least I feel like I will and am able to stop it. I was so worried I would be fainting all over the place during labor. But I never once felt like I would. I was totally calm and relaxed until transition and then I did the trance thing and I was fine. It felt like It went so fast and then I was holding dd. Im really hoping I do the same thing again this time.
@tjvan Hospitals provide these enormous pads and mesh panties that some people love and some people hate. They are really bulky, but I was glad to have them for the first few days. If you like them in the hospital, you can try to get as many as you can to take home. I wish I had taken more last time. After that, I think most people use big overnight pads until the bleeding lets up. I've seen lots of recommendations for Always Infinity overnights, because they are pretty thin and flexible, but I have found that they don't work that well for me personally. I know some people use depends, so I bought a package of the overnight ones and a package of the silhouette ones to try this time around. Anybody have experience using depends instead of pads after birth?
@tjvan the pads that they provide at the hospital are the worst...really bulky and they don't even have wings. like why do they even make pads without wings these days? What is the point?????? I'll probably use them for the first 12-24 hours (or however long i decide to deal with the ice pack this time) and then switch to my own, which I plan to pack and bring. Once I got home I started using the super overnight pads (forget the exact type but I usually buy Always, so I'm sure it was one of theirs), and/or a pair of the "silhouette" style of Depends (seriously) for the first few weeks. After maybe 2-3 weeks, the flow had slowed to the point where normal period pads were more than sufficient.
I also loved the mesh panties from the hospital and would take them all and hide them in my bag so they'd keep bringing me more. They were comfortable, and I really didn't want to destroy my actual underwear (which is why I bought the Depends in the first place). I'm planning to steal more of those this time as well.
I also read and loved Ina May's guide to childbirth! It's so inspiring. I need to read through it again.
I had a med free birth. The contractions were not that painful until the few right before pushing. I could work through them . I labored the whole time on a birth ball. I pushed in the traditional on your back with legs up position. I felt like it was not productive and once I was in the position vs sitting on the birth ball I could no longer feel my contractions as much. It was hard for me to know when to push or feel like I was doing productive pushes. And even without any epidural I didn't feel like it hurt as much as there was pressure. I could tell the nurse was tugging, massaging or using counter pressure. The doctor (on call doc) gave me an episiotomy without telling me or explaining why. I was not happy to find that out. In the end I only pushed for 27 minutes. It was the most amazing feeling ever to birth him and I was up walking and feeling such a high in no time. The stitches did suck a little but mostly because I just wanted my legs down and to be sitting up snuggling instead of still laying.
I have a new doctor and hospital this time and I'm hoping they will let me push on the birth stool or knees If I want to. I want to labor down standing longer. But I'm also a 2nd time VBAC and they like you to push on your back for some reason.
I plan to go med free again this time and hopefully advoid pitocin as well. They gave me some last time to speed up birth and o feel like it was really unnecessary. My whole birth was only 5 hours.
I forgot to mention pads! Im one of those that hates the hospital pads and mesh panties. I bring my own large Hanes granny panties I wear post partum . I can't wear always brand pads because I get the worst diaper rash . They feel like plastic to me. I haven't tried the new infinity though. I like the Kotex brand. I use the heavy flow for a week or so then the ultra thin. I'll probably back my own this time. I also had to use some a&d to help with the rash/chaffing from wearing pads so many weeks.
I love the mesh undies! The hospital pads are nice for when you're there and your bleeding is at its heaviest, but after a few days I switched to the Always infinity pads because they were thinner and still held what I needed them to hold. I hate pads and these were the best thing I found to deal with that uncomfortable feeling.
These are the ones I wore in the hospital and they are the worst! Bulky like a diaper and only have minimal adhesive on the back so they didn't stick to anything. But they were great during the labor process at absorbing ALL the fluids coming out down there. I immediately started using Safeway brand pads when I got home and they've been fine for me.
Apparently the app won't let me post a pic... I'll edit my post when it will.
Add me to the list of hospital pads + mesh undies fans. At least for the first few days. Then big undies up a couple of sizes and Always Infinity for daytimes and then my stash of mesh undies and Always overnights for nighttime. Depends would have been major overkill for the amount of bleeding that I had. It wasn't light, but the pads I had were plenty enough coverage for me. I was done bleeding by about 3 weeks PP.
speaking of pads...pinterest has these homemade pad-cicle things that you should make using i think aloe and putting them in the freezer....anyone do this?
speaking of pads...pinterest has these homemade pad-cicle things that you should make using i think aloe and putting them in the freezer....anyone do this?
I didn't do pad-cicles, but I did do tea diapers. It's just NB dipes saturated with regular black tea and frozen. We make them on our postpartum unit for new moms. They are great for helping with the pain and the caffeine in the tea helps with swelling.
Did anyone use alternative pain mgmt techniques. Meaning no epidural? During our hospital tour they mentioned the gas and some IV pain meds that can be used earlier on. How did that go?
I went no epidural but didnt use gas or IV meds either so I cannot speak to those. I just used breathing, mantras, counterpressure and moved around a lot - wouldnt change it for the world.
This. Take everything you can home! They even gave me these awesome pads that you like snap in half and they become an ice pack maxi. I just used heavy day pads for after I ran out of my hospital supplies.
I had depends and pad-sickles ready. And I didn't use either. Mesh and normal pads were enough for me. I plan on just using what the hospital provides and I've stocked up on postpartum cloth pads for at home. I use regular cloth pads for my period so I'm used to them.
Regarding the alternative meds to an epidural, I had a really long induction and am just not on board to endure pain. I had fentanyl but it only lasted about an hour. I got morphine after that and it was awesome. They did some in my IV and also a shot in my thigh and it provided a lot of relief. I want to say it lasted a good 6 hours.
My hospital pads were literally like puppy pee pads folded in half. So big and ridiculous. I did use those and the mesh underwear in the hospital and thought they served their purpose. Once I went home I switched to Always overnight ones. I only bled for about a week pp, which was great because I really, really hate pads.
I had an epidural and a quick recovery. I felt like I could feel the pressure and when to push. Pushed on my back for about an hour and had about 6 stitches. I can say the one thing that surprised me was how much my whole body hurt when I woke up the next day. I felt like I had been hit by a truck and was particularly strained in my neck and back.
I just used Always overnights with wings. My bleeding was like a heavy period for about a week and the tapered off to nothing at all by 2.5 weeks. The other benefit to thicker than normal pads is that in the first 2-3 days bladder control was not super great and I was peeing very very often. I peed myself just from turning on the sink twice. I was super glad to have very absorbent pads. I didnt make padsicles but did line my pad with tucks for a few days. I wasnt really sore and didnt have tearing but I did get a few hemroids from pushing and the tucks helped with the itching and swelling. I also did sitz baths and that helped too. So glamorous.
I guess I'm in the minority and loved the hospital pads. I agree they should have wings but I just paired them with black underwear to be safe. I was not a fan of the mesh underwear.
I also loved the little squirt bottle they have at the hospital. I took mine home because I still was not in any kind of condition to begin wiping before I went home.
@lmudra My old OB was a "natural birthing specialist" so he encouraged me to go Med free for several hours before offering a shot of something in my thigh that did nothing for me. I forget what the name of it was but it was supposed to make me not care about the pain as much. I survived another 1.5 hours and then got the epidural. Worth every goddamn penny!! I ended up having about 2 hours to go before I had to start pushing. I did push for over 2 hours but everything was better when I had the epi!
I've missed the window for an epidural both times- but without it I still didn't feel the stitches as they were getting done. I agree with someone else who said you're just so jazzed up on adrenaline- it's pretty crazy. Totally loved those giant pads though. I took so so many home from the hospital.
Whatever you do, make sure you eat BEFORE you get to the hospital!!! I didn't think about it and ended up being in labor for 21 hours and not eating for 29 hours (besides a stupid jello cup and ice cup). They wouldnt let me eat once I got there (had I known I was going to be in labor that long I would have made my husband sneak me in some food, ha.) I was absolutely starving once I was finally able to eat.
My water broke at 845 am, got to the hospital around 11am, IV and pitocin started at 1230pm (because of course I had absolutely no contractions since my water broke), epidural by 730pm , finally ready to push at 5am. Only pushed for 30 min, and he pretty much shot out, so it literally took my doctor about 20 minutes straight of stitching (she said it was a bad 2nd degree). I seriously though my body was ripping in half with the contractions from the pitocin, even though I was only at 3 1/2,they went ahead and gave me the epidural. Seriously went from excrutiating pain to nothing. I only felt a little pressure while delivering, no actual pain. The stitches afterward were another story....those dang things hurt for weeks...
Had my 32 week check up today. ***TW***We had a talk about how I was group B strep positive last time, got meds in time, but DS still ended up in the NICU with a possible connection to my Group B strep.
I also had a fast labor with DS. Based on all that OB said thay IF I make it to 39 weeks (he kept saying IF) that they would induce me to help control all that. Trying to wrap my head around it all. DS was completely natural labor 5 days early, so new game plan. I know every labor is different but still it threw me a little.
Me: 34 DH: 35 Married: July 2009 BFP: November 2012 after 2 years of TTC DS born August 2013 Diagnosed with PCOS April 2016 3 months of trigger shot with timed intercourse BFN x3 First IUI: 9/17/16 BFP: 9/30/16 EDD: 6/11/17
@kahlan82 That is my super fear this time around. I'm positive as well and have quick labors. I will say, I got "induced" with DS, and I was put on the lowest amount of pitocin and they broke my water and it was very similar to my first uninduced birth with DD.
@berg I'm a little obsessed. I used to live within walking distance and was legitimately bummed when we moved for that reason. So. Lame.
Date related tidbit--- I haven't torn into them yet, but I found a couple of bags organic dried dates at TJ Maxx today to start munching on in a few weeks.
@kahlan82@CurlyMommy416, that damn GBS test is the source of all of my stress right now. I was positive for all others, I know that can change, but I'm stressing over it so much. I have pretty quick labors, but never have gone into labor on my own. However, I've been diagnosed with polyhydraminos (too much fluid) and I'm at a higher risk for my water breaking on its own now. Luckily I live a few miles from the hospital.
I went overboard with buying these massive pads that I never used. Apparently I thought I'd be gushing blood for weeks. Not the case. This time I will hold off stocking up and just gauge how my flow is and go from there.
I went overboard with buying these massive pads that I never used. Apparently I thought I'd be gushing blood for weeks. Not the case. This time I will hold off stocking up and just gauge how my flow is and go from there.
I still have a lot of my stash from last time! So different for everyone.
@CurlyMommy416@Stankonia2014. I don't even know if I am GBS+ yet but because DS had issues I will automatically get the antibiotics. Had to call my mom today who is coming down from Canada to be here and advised she may want to come a week earlier then she had planned.
I went in knowing things can and will change/be different each time but to actually hear it..... Although, it is nice to have a plan in place.
Curlymommy- Is your doctor already planning to induce you earlier than 40 weeks too?
Stankonia- we are 2 miles from our hospital too, which makes me feel better. Adding too much fluid to the mix would definitely add to the stress.
Me: 34 DH: 35 Married: July 2009 BFP: November 2012 after 2 years of TTC DS born August 2013 Diagnosed with PCOS April 2016 3 months of trigger shot with timed intercourse BFN x3 First IUI: 9/17/16 BFP: 9/30/16 EDD: 6/11/17
@kahlan82 Yes I'll get induced at 39 weeks because of my gbs+ plus fast labor. Sending positive vibes for you to be negative or for your water to stay nice and cozy where it belongs @Stankonia2014 !
I'm curious to see what will happen if I'm GBS+ again this time! I was with DS and I had a short (induced) labor of less than 5 hours. My old OB was kind of induction happy so it will be interesting to see what this one does.
On the giant pad topic: pushing against the catheter (required because I had an epidural) did damage to my ability to hold my pee in the beginning. Between the gushing blood and the pee issue, giant pads AND depends were a must for me. I liked depends because I could tear off the sides and didn't need to worry about pulling them down in time to pee. I wore depends for the first couple of weeks. At that point i switched to regular underwear and took out stock in overnight pads. I had bleeding like heavy flow days for a month.
I think I mentioned it before, but i also swore/swear by using a toilet sprayer! My lady bits were super tender and spraying them while i peed offered a ton of relief!! The hospital will give you a spray bottle for this purpose, but the sprayer worked better for me.
This thread is so helpful!! Especially with the whole pads vs. depends debate! I think I may stick up on some Always Overnights and oversized underwear... and if I like what the hospital provides I'll stock up there too lol. Thank you ladies!!
Re: The Great Labor Thread
I didn't have an epidural. I planned to go med free, but after 30 hours of back labor, I asked for something in my iv. I was a little wobbly on my feet and had to have someone walk me to the bathroom, but other than that, it was fine. It took enough of the edge off, so I could sleep a bit. I was able to push in any position I wanted, and I could feel where my baby was, as well as the pressure of contractions so I knew when to push.
Edited to add that before I got an iv, counter pressure also worked really well for my back pain.
I just checked out "Birth Without Fear" from the library, and I'm looking forward to reading it as well.
Baby #2 was med-free and intervention-free. It was very fast - 5 hours from beginning to end, and the first 2 hours were not even bad. So, thank God I was planning med-free because there was no time for pain meds! I can honestly and truly say that my mindset was so dead set on med-free that I never once wished or asked for pain meds. I will go as far as saying that the pain wasn't that horrific, and the pressure was way worse. The "ring of fire" was rough but so so short. And I even received stitches and I don't even recall feeling it - I think the feel good hormones were taking over at that point. I labored again on my side and pushed on my back - this time I did it because it felt right.
I am truly not sure that I could have hours and hours of tough labor and not give in to an epi. And I absolutely will if I feel the need for it in the moment. However, I prefer birth #2 so much to birth #1. I believe that the length of the labor was due to the epi because it slowed down significantly after I got it. I also cannot stand receiving the epidural. There's also research to support why a med-free birth is better for mom and baby and I believe a lot of it, so if I can do it again, I will. My constant prayer is that this one will go down just like #2 so that I don't have to worry about it.
Lastly, the only real prep I did for med/intervention-free was read Ina May's book and it was SO inspirational. As others have said, it's quite crunchy, but I was just so inspired by what the female mind and body can do after reading it, I think it really helped my mindset going into it. The whole idea of this pain being completely different than any other pain you deal with in life, is so true. I remember before I ever had a baby I would get those knife-in-your-side gas cramps every once in a while and I would be like, "I'm dying!! How will I ever give birth??? I could never ever take pain like this for more than like 5 minutes!" and I was so pleased to learn that contraction pain is very different. For me they felt like the strongest period cramps in the world which is very different from take-away-my-breath knife-in-my-stomach pain. Not easy, but not mind-numbing excruciating either.
Sorry for the novel but I was trying to cover everything that's been discussed so far!!
Me: 36; DH: 38
DD: 7; DS1: 4; DS2 due 6-21-17!
**TW**
MMC & D&C Aug 2016
So true. Labor pains are also not consistent, and that is helpful in dealing with the discomfort.
And it is a totally different pain. Whenever I get hurt I faint, or at least I feel like I will and am able to stop it. I was so worried I would be fainting all over the place during labor. But I never once felt like I would. I was totally calm and relaxed until transition and then I did the trance thing and I was fine. It felt like It went so fast and then I was holding dd.
Im really hoping I do the same thing again this time.
@tjvan the pads that they provide at the hospital are the worst...really bulky and they don't even have wings. like why do they even make pads without wings these days? What is the point?????? I'll probably use them for the first 12-24 hours (or however long i decide to deal with the ice pack this time) and then switch to my own, which I plan to pack and bring. Once I got home I started using the super overnight pads (forget the exact type but I usually buy Always, so I'm sure it was one of theirs), and/or a pair of the "silhouette" style of Depends (seriously) for the first few weeks. After maybe 2-3 weeks, the flow had slowed to the point where normal period pads were more than sufficient.
I also loved the mesh panties from the hospital and would take them all and hide them in my bag so they'd keep bringing me more. They were comfortable, and I really didn't want to destroy my actual underwear (which is why I bought the Depends in the first place). I'm planning to steal more of those this time as well.
I had a med free birth. The contractions were not that painful until the few right before pushing. I could work through them . I labored the whole time on a birth ball. I pushed in the traditional on your back with legs up position. I felt like it was not productive and once I was in the position vs sitting on the birth ball I could no longer feel my contractions as much. It was hard for me to know when to push or feel like I was doing productive pushes. And even without any epidural I didn't feel like it hurt as much as there was pressure. I could tell the nurse was tugging, massaging or using counter pressure. The doctor (on call doc) gave me an episiotomy without telling me or explaining why. I was not happy to find that out. In the end I only pushed for 27 minutes. It was the most amazing feeling ever to birth him and I was up walking and feeling such a high in no time. The stitches did suck a little but mostly because I just wanted my legs down and to be sitting up snuggling instead of still laying.
I have a new doctor and hospital this time and I'm hoping they will let me push on the birth stool or knees If I want to. I want to labor down standing longer. But I'm also a 2nd time VBAC and they like you to push on your back for some reason.
I plan to go med free again this time and hopefully advoid pitocin as well. They gave me some
last time to speed up birth and o feel like it was really unnecessary. My whole birth was only 5 hours.
one of those that hates the hospital pads and mesh panties. I bring my own large Hanes granny panties I wear post partum . I can't wear always brand pads because I get the worst diaper rash . They feel like plastic to me. I haven't tried the new infinity though. I like the Kotex brand. I use the heavy flow for a week or so then the ultra thin. I'll probably back my own this time. I also had to use some a&d to help with the rash/chaffing from wearing pads so many weeks.
Apparently the app won't let me post a pic... I'll edit my post when it will.
Depends would have been major overkill for the amount of bleeding that I had. It wasn't light, but the pads I had were plenty enough coverage for me. I was done bleeding by about 3 weeks PP.
Me: 29 DH: 35
Married: 9/29/12
DS #1: 3/8/15Me: 29 DH: 35
Married: 9/29/12
DS #1: 3/8/15My hospital pads were literally like puppy pee pads folded in half. So big and ridiculous. I did use those and the mesh underwear in the hospital and thought they served their purpose. Once I went home I switched to Always overnight ones. I only bled for about a week pp, which was great because I really, really hate pads.
I had an epidural and a quick recovery. I felt like I could feel the pressure and when to push. Pushed on my back for about an hour and had about 6 stitches. I can say the one thing that surprised me was how much my whole body hurt when I woke up the next day. I felt like I had been hit by a truck and was particularly strained in my neck and back.
I didnt make padsicles but did line my pad with tucks for a few days. I wasnt really sore and didnt have tearing but I did get a few hemroids from pushing and the tucks helped with the itching and swelling. I also did sitz baths and that helped too.
So glamorous.
I also loved the little squirt bottle they have at the hospital. I took mine home because I still was not in any kind of condition to begin wiping before I went home.
@lmudra My old OB was a "natural birthing specialist" so he encouraged me to go Med free for several hours before offering a shot of something in my thigh that did nothing for me. I forget what the name of it was but it was supposed to make me not care about the pain as much. I survived another 1.5 hours and then got the epidural. Worth every goddamn penny!! I ended up having about 2 hours to go before I had to start pushing. I did push for over 2 hours but everything was better when I had the epi!
My water broke at 845 am, got to the hospital around 11am, IV and pitocin started at 1230pm (because of course I had absolutely no contractions since my water broke), epidural by 730pm , finally ready to push at 5am. Only pushed for 30 min, and he pretty much shot out, so it literally took my doctor about 20 minutes straight of stitching (she said it was a bad 2nd degree). I seriously though my body was ripping in half with the contractions from the pitocin, even though I was only at 3 1/2,they went ahead and gave me the epidural. Seriously went from excrutiating pain to nothing. I only felt a little pressure while delivering, no actual pain. The stitches afterward were another story....those dang things hurt for weeks...
I also had a fast labor with DS. Based on all that OB said thay IF I make it to 39 weeks (he kept saying IF) that they would induce me to help control all that. Trying to wrap my head around it all. DS was completely natural labor 5 days early, so new game plan. I know every labor is different but still it threw me a little.
Me: 34 DH: 35
Married: July 2009
BFP: November 2012 after 2 years of TTC DS born August 2013
Diagnosed with PCOS April 2016
3 months of trigger shot with timed intercourse BFN x3
First IUI: 9/17/16 BFP: 9/30/16 EDD: 6/11/17
Date related tidbit--- I haven't torn into them yet, but I found a couple of bags organic dried dates at TJ Maxx today to start munching on in a few weeks.
flow is and go from there.
I went in knowing things can and will change/be different each time but to actually hear it..... Although, it is nice to have a plan in place.
Curlymommy- Is your doctor already planning to induce you earlier than 40 weeks too?
Stankonia- we are 2 miles from our hospital too, which makes me feel better. Adding too much fluid to the mix would definitely add to the stress.
Me: 34 DH: 35
Married: July 2009
BFP: November 2012 after 2 years of TTC DS born August 2013
Diagnosed with PCOS April 2016
3 months of trigger shot with timed intercourse BFN x3
First IUI: 9/17/16 BFP: 9/30/16 EDD: 6/11/17
I think I mentioned it before, but i also swore/swear by using a toilet sprayer! My lady bits were super tender and spraying them while i peed offered a ton of relief!! The hospital will give you a spray bottle for this purpose, but the sprayer worked better for me.