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3rd Trimester
If you plan on having natural childbirth
Do you think that you could have a natural childbirth without the assistance of the proper skills and techniques a class could provide?
At this point, unless a miracle happens I don't have any current options. I signed up for two seperate Bradley Method classes, which both got canceled due to low enrollment. 
I am really upset because I have my heart set on a natural childbirth. However, I don't know if I could do it without learning the proper skills/techniques. I don't do well in panic situations. It's not that I consider childbirth one, but since I have never experienced it, and I won't know what is going on with my body- I might panic.
The instructor's advice: read the three books on Bradley or possibly hire a doula, which ranges from $200-$800.
I have contacted other instructors, who haven't gotten back to me. Do you have any advice or do you think I could do it with a little reading and practice on my own?
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Re: If you plan on having natural childbirth
I think everyone's ability to cope with pain is different. I planned on an epi with my first and it completely failed. Labor was defiently much more painful than I anticipated and if I had gone in there planning on going natural without any preparation I would have failed.
This time I am hoping to go without meds and have hired a doula. I am confident that things will go better this time.
I think if you do a lot of reading and have a dh who is also informed and supportive you could do it.
We took Bradley classes and we are so glad we did. Although I can say that I was dead set on a natural birth from before then and had learned a lot about it before the classes even started. I highly recommend reading as many books as you can, the 3 books for the class are a great way to start, I VERY highly recommend Ina May's Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin. It has a lot of wonderful birth stories and the information is priceless, not to mention she is so empowering.
Read, read, read!!! And talk to as many natural birth advocates as possible! If you have any questions, feel free to ask me as I am all for it.
My DH just told me to telly ou to make sure to get your husband as on board as you are and everytime you learn something, tell him about it. Have him read the same books you are reading, do it together. That is so important.
I'll sell you my hypnobabies program that I never got around to registering or using!
My sister had 4 babies naturally without ANY classes at all. She said it's all up to having a good nurse and a good mindset. Breathing through contrax. Didn't work for me and my first!!!
I was in the same boat up until yesterday, now I think I've finally got a class, so keep trying! I also got these two books on recommendation from a friend that just had her baby last weekend using the Bradley Method.
This one is really helpful in learning the relaxation techniques and even has exercises that you can do on your own. https://www.amazon.com/Natural-Childbirth-Bradley-Way-Revised/dp/0452276594
I just started reading this one, but it seems to have a lot of good information https://www.amazon.com/Husband-Coached-Childbirth-Fifth-Bradley-Natural/dp/055338516X
Good luck!
♥ The Blog ♥
I think going into it with any knowledge is better than nothing, so if buying a book or perusing websites will help, all the better. I'm taking a basic hospital childbirth class because it's the only thing in our area. No lamaze or Bradley within an hour, and even that one instructor charges $350. We can't afford that.
I don't think it has to be one or the other. If you get to the hospital and after a while you find that what you learned on your own is just not cutting it, then you can get the epi if you want. I don't think it makes you less of a person if you simply can't handle the pain without meds. I plan to go drug free as long as possible - which I hope is the entire time - but I'm also realistic about it. If I have back labor, or a super long labor, I may need something to take the edge off. But I will TRY to go all natural which to me is better than just walking in going "give me drugs". (No offense to anyone planning that approach!)
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Mes Petit Choux
I can't go back to yesterday - because I was a different person then. ~ Alice
I had the same experience as LoveBryce.
My 1st was a failed epidural and it was awful. I felt out of control and had no idea what to do.
Then again, I went without the epi with my 2nd and managed. It sucked, but I managed.
This time, I'm hiring a doula because I know I need the extra support and help. I am terrified to give birth again and I know I need a little extra help to get me through it.
Do you do/understand yoga? The breathing and relaxation techniques?
To me yoga is the same. I'd recomend buying a DVD off amazon or something like that. I bet someone on thebump could recomend a good DVD.
Our doula recommended the following books:
Ina May 's Guide to Natural Childbirth
Birthing from Within
Gentle Birth Choices
The Thinking Woman's Guide To A Better Birth
If you can't afford a doula, volunteer doula programs exist in some cities.
I had my first naturally following the Bradley method. I did have a class, but after 4 of the 12 weeks, dropped out (basically before any of the good skills) because the instructor was a little nutso in my opinion and completely anti-medical attention (ie hospitals, obs, etc). I read the books and practiced the skills described in the book. I had a hospital birth, was induced and hooked up to IV due to GBS, but stayed away from the epi or anyother pain killers and did great in my opinion. 6 hours of labor, including 1 hour of pushing. I didn't exactly follow any of the method, but it helped prepare me for what to expect.
My opinion, for what it matters, is to take a regular lamaze class at the hospital to be familiar with the process and read the natural childbirth books. As long as you and your partners are prepared and your doctor is on board you should be fine. Besides, you neverknow how hard or easy labor will be for you. If you really want natural, you can do it!
I feel so confident in the birth process now that we've hired a doula. She cost us $500, but seriously she's already gone above and beyond - totally worth the 500. She hasnt even talked to me about the breathing part, which she says is critical - helps so much. She will be with me thru each contraction, helping me to focus, breathe, ect. She is also a trained lactation consultant so i feel much better about breastfeeding already and she has provided me with a tonne of information. Links to websites, articles, let me borrow books, talked with DH and about different options we have, ect. I would definetly recommend a doula if you can. She already helped me avoid an unneccessary induction on Monday. If it wasnt for her, i would have blindly gone into it - and i am SOOOO glad i didnt.
Whatever you end up doing, GL! Apparently the nurses at the hospitals are, for the most part, wonderful.
I'm not going to classes, and I plan on having a natural childbirth. I am doing a waterbirth, which I am hoping will help. I am reading a hypnobirthing book, I am a yoga practitioner, and I may download Hypnobabies' day-of tracks.
Take yoga classes. The breathing techniques learned there are priceless. I told my dr. that I wasn't taking classes, and that I wanted to do the hyno-birth thing, and he said that he had seen amazing things with that.
One of the most important parts of the Bradley classes is regular practice of the skills from the books and from the classes. Another key component is having your significant other very involved in what you are doing; practicing these skills with you or along side you. If you have these two things going for you, I think you are well on you are well on your way! Best wishes.
We did it....without a class. We read and practiced the Bradley Method and LOVED IT!!! LOVED LOVED LOVED..
Well, to be totally honest, we made it 30.5 hours of HARD labor (with Pitocin) before giving in and getting meds. 2.5 hours and 3 pushes later we gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. In my book I did really really great and the only thing that got me through it all was my AMAZING husband and the Bradley practice! I was proud of the fact that I survived that long without drugs. Pitocin does something crazy to you.
If you are willing to work at home with your partner you can do it too! Good luck!
DD was healthy, alert and breastfed immediately with an epidural. The midwives said I would have most likely ended up emergency c-section without my epi so although my plan was for natural I'm glad that things ended up the way the did. Gotta love 26 hours of labor
I think it is very important to be as prepared as possible if you are going for a natural childbirth. We are fortunate that we found a class that is geared toward it and also a good doula. I think in your case, a doula might be a good investment.
Bummer about the classes getting cancelled!
I most def recommend the books. I am reading them in conjunction with our Bradley class and they give you all of the exercises and relaxation techniques we cover in the class.
Do you have any provisional teachers in your area? Our instructor is provisional and she's fabulous.
I have several friends that wanted to go natural without taking classes and none of them were able to do it. Now, that being said, I don't know if you actually need to go to a class but I think you should educate yourself. People listed some really good books and I think you and your DH should read them and practice them together. I'm planning to go natural and we took a Birthing from Within class and a HypnoBirthing class. We didn't do Bradley bc we couldn't find a class that fit our schedule. Anyway, we learned a tremendous amount from both classes and now I feel way more prepared. That being said, I think we could have taken only one class and read some books and been just as prepared.
I would strongly recommend a doula. Yes it may cost $500 but what is $500 when you consider that you will likely give birth once or twice in your entire life. A doula can have a big impact on your ability to get thru birth without drugs or a c-section.
As for the nurses providing help....that really depends on the hospital. not all hospitals are supportive of natural childbirth so you really need to make sure they hospital you are going to is on-board with that and that they have nurses trained and experienced in natural childbirth. I learned late in the game that at my hospital, 98% of all births are via epidural. I ended up switching mid-wives so that I could go to a hospital that caters to women who want an unmedicated birth.
So, my two cents....read read read! Get a doula! Best of luck to you.....you can do it!
I know I am a little late replying but I have been told over and over by many people that nothing can replace the practice that should be done before birth. My MW, doula, and others who have given birth naturally have told me that practicing breathing techniques and relaxation are key.
I totally second the prenatal yoga, buy the Hypnobirthintg book and use the CDs to relax with, read many books, and HIRE A DOULA. Ours has been awesome so far and I know that it will be worth every single penny. We are petitioning our insurance to cover the cost of our doula in the case that I am able to avoid an epi and c-section which will end up costing everyone much less if we can avoid these. Oh and I loved Ina May's Guide to Natural Childbirth. Amazing stories. I believe that you can do it!