Hi! I'm 24 weeks pregnant with my first baby and usually just post in my birth month, October! I have always thought I would get an epidural but the last couple of days I have been thinking about going all natural! Just wanting some opinions from others who have went through the whole process! Thanks!
Re: Opinions please!
I had a natural birth in a hospital, using Bradley Method (read the books, didn't have a chance to take classes) with husband as coach and a midwife attending. Was an AWESOME experience. Labored at home till transition, and was fully dilated when I got to hospital. Apparently I'm not supposed to wait that long this time :-) My husband was glad when the midwife said that, because he doesn't want to have a "my wife delivered in the car" story to tell :-)
As PP said, definitely prepare, read, take classes, etc. and be well informed. Best route to natural is stay home as long as possible (if you are going to deliver at a hospital). Ironically, I've found that women who deliver naturally generally have much less traumatic and painful birth stories to share than women who had interventions. Not always, but seems to me consistently so. I'd recommend Bradley Method (husband-coached childbirth)--or if your SO isn't up for it, consider hiring a doula. Also, pretty much anything by Ina May Gaskin is great. Crunchy, hippy stuff, but if you can look past that stuff (which always makes my DH chuckle) good stuff.
I have no prior birth story, but am preparing through educating myself, using a midwifery practice and a doula also.
Good luck!
I just wanted to say that I've had two natural births (the first in a hospital) and I wouldn't choose to do it anyway.
Yeah it hurts, yeah it's hard work, but like pp said it's just an amazing thing to do. I can truly say that I LOVE giving birth.
I also agree with pp to get informed, stay home as long as you can, and make sure you have supportive people with you!
Best wishes, oh and welcome :-)
Elizabeth 5yrs old Jane 3yrs old