? for moms who have had med-free labors

MWoodside

What advice would you give to those of us planning med-free births?  TIA.

MsMoseley

you should post this on 0-3 board...you will get more replies.

mrstarawalsh

Don't scream. Seriously just don't do it. I went through labor but not the pushing stage with my first. The contrations really aren't *that* bad. you need to hold your energy in and breathe through them, relax into them. If you scream  you let your energy out and you can't breathe or relax.

Alexandra*sMom

I can't say I went med free, but I had 2 failed epidurals....

So, take whatever with you to the hopital that calms you.  A blanket, a CD, know that you probably won't be able to eat or drink though.  With DD1 I could walk around the entire time.  DD2 I was strapped to the bed pretty much.  That said, my experience w/ #2 went smoother and quicker than w/ #1.

allyandpat2010

Take a birthing class and learn how to breath correctly through your contractions. I lucked out and the nurse who was on duty and with me the whole time was the wonderful nurse who taught my classes. She kept me sane and breathing.

 

I'm going epi thris time though. My labor was  soo long cause I couldnt relax enough to dialate.

teach2183

For me, when it got so bad that I asked for an epi, I was nearly done.  I didn't get the epi because 20-30min after I asked (when the anesthesiologist showed up), I was at a 9.5.  So when you think you can't do it anymore, it's probably the end.

MWoodside

thanks ladies. I did post this on 0-3 also so I'll RP once I get responses for anyone who is interested.

maryenap

I've had one of each.  My first I had an epideral, and I didn't like it.  I was young and scared so I got it.  The second time around, I went without and I felt more in control and present.  My best advice is to take it one contraction at a time, listen to your heart, if you need meds, you need them.  It's NO reflection on you, do what's best for you at that time!  If you get your heart set on one thing, and fate has another plan for you, go with it.  You'll never know what you need until you go through it.  GL

julyjennifer

I had a med free labor/birth with my DD.  It was hard work, but doable.  Kind of like a major athletic event.  Helps if you prepare yourself and "train" for it, and pace yourself like it is a marathon. 

Take a non-hospital birthing class.  We took the Bradley classes (Bradley Method of Natural Childbirth) and loooved it. 

Hire a doula.  Invaluable.

Labor at home for as long as possible.  We left home for the hospital about 10 hours after I woke up in the night with real contractions.  We headed there because I had a bulging bag of waters, and it looked like there was meconium in the waters.  We had a doula and she came to our house while I was laboring and it was a big help to have someone knowledgeable to help me not freak out that the bag was the cord.

When we got to the hospital, I was fully dilated.  (the nurse was like "I can't find her cervix." and I asked my doula "I don't have a cervix?" you're kind of in a funny place mentally when you're in labor.)  I pushed for 3+ hours b/c DD was mostly sunnyside up so it took awhile, and it was HARD WORK.

But at no time did the concept of meds even occur to me.

A few minutes after she was born, I was totally like "that wasn't so bad.  I would totally do that again." And my DH told me later that he thought "are you kidding me?  I thought your face was going to explode!"

GL!

stellahav

Have a support person who is very supportive of your decision and knows why it's important to you (whatever that reason might be).  Husband thought I was nuts, but knew I wanted to do it.  When he could tell I was having trouble, he helped me push through.

And yes, it hurts.  Doesn't make you a bad mom if you take something.