New Here: Second child, First time going natural

beanbot2002

Hello ladies! I'm new here, having recently found out that we are expecting our second child. SO and I are over the moon with excitement. With my DS (who is now almost 10) I was very young and naive and felt very pressured by my doctors back then to go along with induction and all of the monitoring, drugs, pokes, and needles that went along with that. As it turned out, it was not the labor and delivery experience that I truly wanted.

This time, we are going to go natural with a CNM at a birth center in our area. We went last night for the 'orientation' meeting and tour and it was wonderful. We are so excited to take this journey and finally have the experience we've always dreamed of.

I hope to learn lots from the ladies that have gone natural already.

Thanks!

wifeofadam

Welcome and congrats.  I had an epi with #1 and ended up going natural with #2 and even having a HB with #3.  My natural birth experiences have been wonderful.  My epi birth was still very special in many ways, but I definitely prefer NB for many reasons.  I hope you get the birth you want!

Jcrab

My DS was a very necessary Cesarian for multiple reasons and I just had my HBAC Friday. It was an amazing empowering experience and I learned so much from Hypnobirthing classes and even just stalking this board. Do what you can to prepare now, the time goes quickly but it is all worth it. GL!

beanbot2002

Thank you, both!

I don't want to make it seem like my birth with my DS wasn't special. It was, because regardless of being scared, I ended up with my son in my arms in the end. And no matter what, that makes it special, right? I just felt like the doctors didn't really listen to me, my wants, my fears, etc. They just pushed things on me, and being naive, I allowed it. I feel a thousand times more empowered this time around and I'm hoping and praying that I can make it and birth naturally.

I've heard only a little about Hypnobirthing. I'm interested in learning more about it, as well as Bradley. I'm glad I'm here, because I was in my Kindle library and there are several hypnobirthing books there. Is there one, in particular, that you'd recommend? Also, other than Ina May's Guide to Birthing, are there any other books geared towards NB that you would recommend for a first time NBer?

Thank you so much!

Jcrab

Hypnobirthing by Marie Mongan and anything Ina May Gaskin are highly recommended. My hypnobirthing skills worked so well I didn't even realize I was in transition and the midwife almost didn't make it in time! It is the method recommends by my MW so we went with the book and class. My only other advice is you have to be comfortable in your birthing environment - I did great with my home birth but not sure it would have gone so well in the hospital. 

KateLouise

Welcome and congratulations on your pregnancy. The ladies here are a wealth of knowledge and support.

 

beanbot2002

Thanks! Yeah, we are birthing at the birth center run by the midwife practice we're using. We went for the orientation and tour on Tuesday and I'm so excited about birthing there, that I've been giddy ever since. I can barely contain myself. They have a full size kitchen (it really is like a home) and encourage you to bring family along to cook for you and be with you. So, my mom and I were talking and if all goes as planned, she and I are going to make tortillas and chorizo con juevos while I labor. Or, she'll cook and I'll labor

Thank you for the book and class recommendation. I'm going to download that to my kindle account and look for the class providers in our area. I'm guessing if they're anything like the Bradley classes in our area (in that they only take 5 couples at a time and seem to fill up quickly) that I'll need to look into booking soon for later on in our pregnancy.

 

BlackVelvetSky

I'm the same way.  If I knew then what I knew now, I never would have allowed my first birth to go as it did.  If it weren't four years later, I'd sue the hospital over a few things that happened.  I'm going with a CNM at the natural birthing center here, and I am so excited.  Here's to us having wonderful, natural births.  Good luck!