Getting a bit nervous...anyone up for reassuring the new kid?

ateal2490

The closer my due date gets, the more its freaking me out.

I keep trying to remind myself why I have decided to steer away from intervention and medication but my brain is a little frazzled.

 

So, hopefully this can be a "reasons to keep your eye on the prize" thread...

 

Reassurance, anyone? 

CTri17

I never realized on the board that we have the same due date

 

Really you will do great, Natural birth is an AWESOME experience (I think) for everyone involved. It is totally worth it. Keep preparing and know that if you get in the zone, you'll do great! 

JNoelleE

I just learned in my NB class that if your baby gets into the posterior position during labor, (sunny side up, their back to your back) that it makes the position of the head on the cervix different so you can stop dilating, which means you will have contraction after contraction with no improvement. What they do for you if  this happens is have you get into an all fours position on hands and knees which helps the baby turn. It's proven very effective. This happened to my sister when she was in labor, she had an epidural, so she could not get into this position. Her labor was 21 hours, and the baby wasnt able to turn, and it resulted in a c-section.

Being stuck in a laying down position in a bed unable to move, can really affect how the baby comes and fits down into the pelvis. No epidural= no being stuck in a lame position that can affect your labor! That encourages me right there.

kaeti_su

Once you have you pain med-free birth, all the naysayers will have to shut their traps. It's a nice perk  :-)

KateLouise

The recovery is much faster, and for my births neither labour got too much to handle.

Sure there were moments where I thought I might be dying, but I never actually wanted the drugs. It wasn't a matter of me being tough, but rather I never thought, "that's it I'm done I have to have drugs."

I loved giving birth and have fabulous med-free births with both my girls. 

Good luck with your birth. 

 

reederah

I had a natural birth and it was by far the best experience of my life. I wouldn't tell DH this, but it trumped my wedding day haha. You have SO much more awareness over your body and can use all the pain when it comes time to push your LO out. It is so amazing, I'm so excited to get pregnant and be able to give birth this away again. The best advice I got before going into it was to relax EVERYTHING during your contractions... let them work for you and help dilate you. And secondly, just focus on that LO being born and put into your arms during each contraction... you can do it! Good luck!

JFH2010

If nothing else, just keep your recovery in mind! Your body will go through less trauma if you're able to follow its cues. Less trauma = no need for all that "crotch care" junk that I stocked up on ahead of time! Your post-partum self will be eternally grateful.

crystalmeyer08

I sent you a PM!

ateal2490

crystalmeyer08:

I sent you a PM!

 

Replied!

 

And you ladies would have made amazing husbands-you know exactly what to say to make me feel better I'll just have to read this over once a week until the time comes, lol.  

PansyPants

My husband claims I was higher than a kite from all the natural endorphin's. He was a bad teenager and was into things that I wouldn't have approved of if we'd known each other in high school. He said that if anyone tried to get that high they'd kill themselves long before they got there.

So just keep in mind that your body is it's own medicine cabinet that will dispense whatever you need to get through the next contraction.

RockyMtnMama

Best days of my life were giving birth (2 kids with unmedicated births). 

I won't say it isn't hard...I mean they do call it labor, but the labor is so worth the effort and your body knows when to give you breaks and when to keep going.  Surround yourself with support (husband, doula, girlfriends, midwives, great nurses, etc.) and you will find it even easier.

You can do it!

happylady07

While I didn't have my perfect birth, I strongly believe in my situation, had I had an epidural I would have been sectioned.  My son had some major heart decels just as I became fully dilated, and had I not had the extreme urge to push and gotten him out quickly, things could have gotten even hairier than they did.  One of the first things I remember saying after my son was born was "at least I didn't have a c-section".  Despite the few necessary interventions that made my recovery less than fun, I still will tell anyone who asks- without a doubt, I do not regret not having an epidural.   

Plus- now it's the best possible motivation for everything!  Whenever I am feeling like I can't do something, I think to myself, "you gave birth to an 8 1/2 lb baby with no pain meds, you can do this!"   

ShenekaSoloman

Try picking up some good reads to support you through as well.  I read Ina May's Guide to Natural Childbirth and just picked up Birthing from Within too.  They will help you to feel better as you learn more as well. Good luck!