Anyone else thinking about going natural?

momagain25 · September 2009

I slept through my entire labor with my first child and pushed him right out. I do not think I needed an epideral. I am thinking about trying to go natural this time. My husband keeps saying "why???". I don't know. I just at least want to experience the pain for a little while. Am I crazy?

paratender83 · September 2009

negative I'm a wimp and if they could dose me up right thru potty training that would be fine too Wink

taraleffel · September 2009

i unintentionally went natural w/dd, but was fortunate that she was born 1 hr and 46 minutes after my water broke (and intense labor began). I asked for an epidural only to find out i was dialated to 10. the initial labor was EXTREMELY painful, but once i reached 10 and got to the point of pushing it was not that bad. I remember gripping my dh and mom's hands when a contraction would start and then turning to them and saying "wow that was pretty wimpy". Less than 2 pushes and DD was born.

I have a very high pain tolerance, but not sure if i would stick to going natural if i were in labor for a long time.

i don't think you're crazy! and you can always ask for something to dull it at different times throughout delivery as needed and still not be as out of it as an epidural!

Sam78 · September 2009

I went through about 6 hours of labor on pitocin without drugs - not pleasant by any means but doable (after those 6 hours, I got the epi and went through another 10 hours of labor). I think going natural is a good goal, but be willing to modify your game plan if you need to.

ChelseyMiller · September 2009

I am planning for a natural hospital birth. I am seeing a midwife and hiring a doula. I read Ina May's Guide to Childbirth and also the book Pushed which helped to steer me in this direction. I hope all goes well.

rissa06 · September 2009

i unintentionally went natural w/dd, because the epidural wore off with 17 1/2 hours of labor. so, for me . . i'm not sure what I would do again. . it is on my mind, because it was one of the most horrid experiences of my life . .

teach2183 · September 2009

I only had 1 shot of staydol (sp?) with DD. I wanted to go natural, but did end up asking for an epi. When the anesthesiologist arrived (20-30 min later), I was at a 9.5, so too late. I had forgotten that all the books tell you when you don't think you can do it anymore, that's the end. DD was born in 3 pushes. I credit not having the epi to her coming so quickly and being very alert right after she was born. My entire labor from water breaking (no contractions) to delivery was <12hrs. I will go entirely natural this time, so I know I can handle it.

mrsjenni · September 2009

I was induced at exactly 38 weeks with #1 due to pre-e and an obviously huge baby. The pitocin contractions that I felt for 2 hours while waiting for my epi were pure torture. I even said "why would anyone want to go natural??" So there is no way I would want to do that, lol. I could even feel my contractions after my epi. It was horrible, but maybe it was b/c of the pitocin.

Just in case- I had a friend who went natural with #1 b/c she just made it to the hospital. So with #2 she thought she could do it again. She was so wrong. She had a completely different experience and by the time she requested the epi, it was too late.

I'm not trying to discourage you... you can always try it and then ask for it if you need it!

GL

momagain25 · September 2009

I was asleep the entire time because they gave me Statol. That knocked me out the entire 10 hours. It scared my husband because my eyes rolled back and that was it, I was out until I woke up to push.

Court1 · September 2009

Definitely agree with everything prior post is doing if you really want to go natural. I did with ds, and will do it again. I had a doula and read Ina May's book. You've got to know that your body was meant to do this, and really commit to it if it's what you really want. On the other hand, no shame in the drugs. I think there were a couple points in labor when I remember thinking....oh, so this is why the epi would have been nice!

Court1 · September 2009

Oh, and another note. I remember ds's birthday as one of the best experiences of my life, labor and all. Most of my friends who did have drugs remember more pain than the ones who went natural. I think it has something to do with your body's natural chemical reactions that occur when you let them.

missdanib · September 2009

I am. I am such a baby when it comes to pain, but this is something that is really important to me. I am still seeing my OB right now, but will be switching to a midwife for delivery.

Mrs._F · September 2009

I don't think you're crazy, but I'm planning to go natural too, so I guess I'm biased Smile

Women give birth naturally all the time and live to tell the tale. There are a lot of books that you can check out to help you in thinking about your decision - Your Best Birth and The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth are a couple that come to mind.

Everyone can only make the decision that is best for them.

I always think to back to this one woman I used to work with who had an unplanned pregnancy and was totally freaked out and scared about giving birth. She was like "Can I have my epidural before the first contraction please??" When she went to the hospital in labor, she was too early and they sent her home. By the time she came back, she was so far along, there was no point in the epidural she wanted. I saw her the day after she had the baby and (while of course she said the pain was intense) she was feeling great and said "I feel like I can do anything now!" So I always kind of think to myself - If she could do it... Smile

TiffanyClark · September 2009

With DD i got an epi and slept until it was time to push, didnt feel anything. With DS i got an epi and it didnt work and it was too late to give me another one, i felt EVERYTHING!!! It was very painful! I am just going to wait and see how painful it is for this one and decide then.

bonnin507 · September 2009

I guess I don't know much about midwives. What's the benefit of going w/ a midwife over an OB if you're thinking of going natural?

lildevil968 · September 2009

The thought is there, unless I have back labor again, then that thought is out the window!

hellomynameisfabulous · September 2009

I admire anyone who wants to go natural, but I'm not going to kid myself. I would like the drugs and lots of 'em. I have watched too many birth shows where the mom is all rosy about going natural in the beginning, and by the time she hits the delivery room she is screaming for the drugs. I don't want that to be me. If I am able, I want the epi!

Mrs._F · September 2009

bonnin507:
I guess I don't know much about midwives. What's the benefit of going w/ a midwife over an OB if you're thinking of going natural?

If you think of it as what doctors vs midwives specialize in - midwives specialize in natural birth, and doctors specialize in the opposite. There certainly are plenty of doctors who will support you in a natural birth, but there are also many who will not.

Many doctors don't have a lot of training and/or experience with natural birth - like different coping methods and any plans that deviate from being on your back in hospital bed hooked up to an IV and monitors. Midwives approach birth as a natural process that may need medical interventions in the case of any complications, where doctors approach birth as a more medicalized process and are more likely to turn to interventions, when some would argue they are not necessary.

gypsywitch · September 2009

I'm undecided. I'm having a VBAC this time and the thought is there b/c I keep thinking " If i get an epi what if my uterus bursts( unlikely) and I don't feel it b/c I'm numb ane then me adn my baby die??"

Completely irrational adn unlikely but I can't help it!! SO, I'm considering it. When it gets closer to that point I'll ask my doc what he reccomends in my situation.

urbanwifey · September 2009

I didn't ever go into labor with my son and I ended up with a botched induction that included a chest x-ray, a SARS acusation made by a 76 year old anesthesiologist and a botched c-section that I'm stilled pissed about. If I could have gone natural I would. I'll try to again but I'm not holding my breath.

Do it for me!

missdanib · September 2009

bonnin507:
I guess I don't know much about midwives. What's the benefit of going w/ a midwife over an OB if you're thinking of going natural?

Midwives tend to favor natural childbirth and help to coach you through labor in a natural way. Very often OB's will administer pitocin to speed up the contractions and labor, pitocin contractions are just about unbearable and almost everyone who has it needs an epi to deal with the pain. Midwives will let you labor at a natural pace, and if things are slowing down they will more often than not suggest natural ways to improve the labor process like walking, moving positions etc. Also, most OB's keep you in bed with a fetal monitor on and and IV so there is limited motion allowed. Midwives tend to check the fetal heartbeat with a dopplar and IV only when absolutley necessary. All in all, midwives just tend to have a more natural approach and believe that your body knows what to do.

PicturePrfect · September 2009

Um no thanks. I'm in the give me all you got boat. I'm such a wimp.

CoastieWife08 · September 2009

lildevil968:
The thought is there, unless I have back labor again, then that thought is out the window!

Ditto.

I prepared myself for a drug-free birth. Then back labor hit and DD was sunny-side up. I needed the epidural to bring my pain level down and my blood pressure to stabilize. I don't want an epi this time around, but I'll do what I have to when the time comes.

(btw: the term "natural birth" ticks me off. birth with drugs isn't un-natural, it is just a natural birth with drugs)

dstar · September 2009

I would like to go natural but I am not opposed to the drugs if it gets really bad.

chris27 · September 2009

After having two babies with epis (one easy like you and one with very hard labor) HECK NO!

AJflowers · September 2009

I am, Dh doesn't get to decide. But, if he had some information worth hearing about the subject I would totally listen to what he has to say.

Alexandra*sMom · September 2009

I have had 2 bad experiences w/ epi's, so I plan to go natural.

taraleffel · September 2009

Mrs._F:

bonnin507:
I guess I don't know much about midwives. What's the benefit of going w/ a midwife over an OB if you're thinking of going natural?

If you think of it as what doctors vs midwives specialize in - midwives specialize in natural birth, and doctors specialize in the opposite. There certainly are plenty of doctors who will support you in a natural birth, but there are also many who will not.

Many doctors don't have a lot of training and/or experience with natural birth - like different coping methods and any plans that deviate from being on your back in hospital bed hooked up to an IV and monitors. Midwives approach birth as a natural process that may need medical interventions in the case of any complications, where doctors approach birth as a more medicalized process and are more likely to turn to interventions, when some would argue they are not necessary.

true or not, my experience w/dd involved very little to zero time w/the dr. the majority was spent with nurses, who had a variety of tricks, compassion and options. they were absolutely fantastic and well-trained. However, Cleveland does have amazing medical options!

BeanLooWeen · September 2009

HECK NO! Thank goodness I had an epi with DS- loooong labor and pushed for 2 1/2 hours. I was able to rest through all the contractions and was able to save my energy for the pushing. I said going in that I would see how long I could go natural and that lasted 30 minutes. I say see how long you can go and don't feel guilty about having an epidural. There is no shame.

Jennicap · September 2009

Its my plan, I will labor in water and then my midwife will allow me to push in any position I want. If you want to do this you need DH to support you and you need your doctors/midwife and hospital to support you. good luck!

CTL2005 · September 2009

Well I can tell you if you slept through labor it is going to be ridiculously different going natural. I did entirely med-free births with both my two kids and I love it...but it takes a certain level of commitment.

CTL2005 · September 2009

Court1:
Oh, and another note. I remember ds's birthday as one of the best experiences of my life, labor and all. Most of my friends who did have drugs remember more pain than the ones who went natural. I think it has something to do with your body's natural chemical reactions that occur when you let them.

Totally agree with this.

Mrs.Beasly · September 2009

Nah, I don't think you are. I went natural with my first and plan to do the same again.

mrs.w0706 · September 2009

I went natural with DS and plan to again this time. But I totally repspect those that go for the epidural. You're still preforming a mirical and whether you want to do it with or without some help... more power to ya.

WGsMommyAdventure · September 2009

I plan on going natural. I've had epidurals for knee surgeries and I just didn't like the way it made me feel.

2blondes26 · September 2009

I'm going all out natural. I already have a midwife and want a homebirth. It's perfectly safe for women who are low risk, which is about 95% of pregnancies. I totally agree with a PP that said that women who use drugs remember more pain. The medical world wants to make childbirth routine and everyone should know that each pregnancy is different. No wonder why the US has increased rates of C-sections, especially at 4PM and 11PM.(exactly the time doctors want to go home after a long day). I'm very excited to go with a midwife and let my body do what comes naturally. To each their own. Good luck with deciding what's right for you!

bakedlaurabean · September 2009

I'm am going to try to go drug-free, but I'm not opposed to an epi. My mom had two really easy births, so I'm hoping that passes on to me! She says they are like really bad menstrual cramps and when you think you can't take it anymore, it's over.

thomas&lynn · September 2009

I have a vaginal no-epi/no meds birth with #1 and want to be able to get to the hospital this time early enough to have an epi. I still hope for a vaginal birth but the meds are totally something that sounds good to me.

jacquelinethorne · September 2009

I prepared to go drug free with #1, but after a few hours of pitocin I was begging for the epi and I have never regretted it. I got an epi with #2 as well and with both I went from about a 4 to 10 in a matter of minutes once my body was relaxed by the medication. I plan to have one with #3 as well. I will not, however, let them give me Nubain again. They put a half dose of it in my iv with #2 because the lidocaine in the epi made me itchy. It made me feel totally drunk and out of it. I was a zombie until it wore off, and all along, all they would have had to do to help the itching was give me some benadryl. I say more power to you if you want to go natural, but keep your options open so you don't end up being disappointed in yourself if you change your mind mid labor.

BelleIsa · September 2009

A good documentary to watch is The Business of Being Born. It's a little biased towards natural childbirth, but I think the point of it is to show you options, to tell you that your body knows what its doing, and that in the rest of the world, most babies are delivered by midwives and have a low c-section rate. If the rest of the world doesn't need 1 in 4 c-sections, why does the states? I think it makes you realize that doctors and hospitals may not have YOUR best interest at heart.

Ina May is interviewed and she says that only one is every 150 births at her birth centre need medical intervention.

That said, my mom had two very high risk births (my brother and I burst her placenta at 32 weeks so they needed to get us out and fast, they knocked her out completely for both births), and I may be in the same situation.

A 'natural' experience may not be in the cards for me.

whitsim · September 2009

For the first twelve out of my twenty-seven hours of labor, I didn't have any pain meds whatsoever. I guess I felt like, if my mom did it with me, I should be able to do it with my daughter. However, as the hours progressed right along with the terrible pain, I realized that this was not a time for any "I am woman, hear me roar" moments! I began to figure out that there was no need for me to suffer through birthing pain martyrdom: what was most important was the birth of my healthy, beautiful baby.

Oh course, your post specifically said that you "want to experience the pain for a little while"...What I have to say to this is be careful what you wish for! Do what you want, but realize that it hurts like a you-know-what! Have fun...

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