**Stever**

carladillon

I was really impressed with how well your labor went, with going natural.  I plan to go natural as well - can you tell me if you and DH took any particular classes for natural birth (i.e. hospital sponsored, lamaze, books)?  Also - what comfort techiques you and DH used during the labor?  DH and I had our first childbirth prep class - just a general overview type of class - and at first DH was kind freaked out when he saw the actual birth video.  I reassured him he could do this - that we both could, and I would just need him to help keep me focused.  I'm actually not scared about the labor part - I know it will be painful, but I feel confident I can manage it.  Your labor sounded like it went so well - I'd love it if you could share some more details about how you and DH made it through!

Thanks in advance!

Carla

stever

Hey Carla!

We just took the Lamaze class offered by our hospital. I'm lucky in that DH wasn't spooked by the films or our actual birth, and I was totally dependent on his coaching during the whole thing, so I recommend working on your DH's squeemishness beforehand. 

As far as managing it, I'm not sure I can offer any advice besides taking it one contraction at a time. When we were first admitted I was asked about my pain threshold and said I could handle quite a lot as long as it didn't last forever. At the time I meant it to be about the duration of labor, but it ended up being about the contractions. 

I guess every girl's different about how she manages the pain, what position's best to help get through it, and I found what worked best for me was just to lay on my side with my eyes closed, only to open them to give DH the hint that a contraction was starting and I needed him to count.

My water was broken at 5 cm and I was told I had until 8 cm to get an epi. Next thing I knew I was at 10 so an epi was out of the question. I would say that if you make it that far you won't care about the epi anyway, but in my case that would be a lie.  I wouldn't go back and get one, but the pain felt when you're using the contractions to help push the baby out is a heck of a lot more severe than the pain when you're trying to manage it. That said, even though I was pushing for nearly 3 hours and it hurt like a mf'er, it really did fly by and was totally worth it when I felt my boy come out- even though I ended up needing anesthesia for the surgery to, um, clean me out. 

I hope that's detailed enough. Sorry if it doesn't make a ton of sense, but I'm still trying to learn how to function with a severe lack of sleep.

HTH and good luck!

carladillon

Thanks, Heather - that's very helpful.  We'll be taking the hospital offered natural birth class - I don't know what method that is, but I would venture to guess it's Lamaze.  I'll continue to work on DH - I think because he had no frame of reference as far as birth went it freaked him out (he's not at all comfortable around blood, etc.).  But, after we talked about it, I told him that is just a small part of it and he doesn't need to look if he doesn't want to - but I know when it's time, he'll want to.  It's different when it's your own little one.  He was tearing up just from watching the videos - he's so sentimental!  But - we have a very good balance that when I'm stressed or feeling small, he jumps in and is the stable one - and vice versa.  So, I know he'll be able to do it....I think the hardest part for him will be seeing me in pain and not being able to take the pain away.

Love Mikey's picture btw - what a cutie!

Thanks again!

stever

carladillon:

Love Mikey's picture btw - what a cutie!

Thanks again!

Thank you!!!!