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Natural Birth
Why are you giving birth naturally?
I've been going over and over my reasons for a few weeks now and coming up with even more reasons. Of course, "it's safer for the baby" is a good enough reason for me, and if it weren't safer, all my other reasons would fall. But what, if any, reasons do you have other than that?
I want the birth of my child to be a religious, spiritual, and yes, social event. Not a medical procedure. I don't want to send the message that my normal healthy fertility is something that needs to be treated with medical intervention.
Plus, my mom had five kids naturally and I've definitely been conditioned since childhood to think it's the best way. When I was sixteen and we were at the beach, she told me, while we were in the water together, that giving birth was like that - you could fight it and get pulled under the water, or you could ride the waves.
Anyway, what led to your decision and what reasons have you figured out since then besides the obvious?
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Re: Why are you giving birth naturally?
When I first started researching natural birth it was so I could do anything to avoid a C-Section and then so many benefits started popping up like a bonding experience for me and DH, for him to be involved as much as he could, to be in charge of my body and of course the benefits for my little guy.
When it came down to me in labor for so long and I had started to doubt myself my doula asked me to explain to her what would happen if I received pain meds. I told her that my son would not be protected anymore with my endorphins and I started crying and that was what ultimately what pushed me through. Knowing that I was sacrificing for him.
Ibecause I believe woman are designed to have babies, I want to experience my labor in full and I want to see what my body is capable of. Its only one day out of my life, I think I can deal...hopefully lol.
1. we are built to do this
2. i want to experience birth and feel it will connect me with women all through the history of time
3. i think it is best for my health and my babe's too.
4. i hear it is empowering and want to experience it (redundant but true)
Because pain medication freaks me out.
Because I think I can.
everything in bold holds true for me too (except my mom only had 3 babies). plus i believe my body was designed to birth babies and i believe that birthing my baby through my vagina without pain medication is how nature intended...it's how all mammals were meant to physically separate from their offspring.
I want to experience labor. I want to feel the contractions, feel my body doing what it's supposed to. I don't want to just be lying in a bed numb from the waist down.
My body was designed to give birth so I'm going to give it the chance to do so.
I want to avoid a c-section and all costs and I feel that staying away from induction and the epi is a great way to lower my chances of needing one.
A needle in my spine freaks me out.
I have a hormonal disorder that has led to epilepsy and after years of misdiagnoses and medical treatments that did awful things to me--from making my hair fall out in huge clumps, making me so sick I could hardly stand, to increasing my breast size a full cup in less than a month--I can no longer believe blindly in modern medicine. (The only treatment that has ever helped me and actually prevented seizures and other complications is a cancer treatment method called the Gerson Method; it is an organic, vegan diet involving no medications and it works to cure a variety of conditions. I only use it periodically, because I cannot abide the diet long term, but have always seen dramatic results, including sudden, almost inexplicable fertility.)
This is hard to say without sounding like a hippie, but I believe in nature for its wisdom and its healing abilities. We evolved to deliver our children a certain way and while risk is inherent with birth, I choose to conceive and deliver naturally because I cannot trust my body to chemicals and the questionable expertise of anyone.
I've spoken out about this before, but it greatly irks me that so many people follow their doctors' every recommendation without question. I spent just as many years in school (if not more) as most doctors and, even with constant research, cannot hope to call myself an "expert" in my field. Doctors are just people. They learned from books; they practiced on cadavers; they didn't understand medicine or science inherently. My body understands birth inherently--why wouldn't I want to give birth naturally?
There are other factors that have influenced my decision as well: my mother delivered four children naturally, and with the exception of the last, at home. I was there to see all but my own and found it to be the most amazing, wonderful experience. There is also the part of me that says, if she can do it, I can do it. And, of course, I believe natural birth is best for my baby; we all want to do what is best for our children.
Because this is the way nature intended. If complications arise and I need to be transfered to a hospital then I will cross that bridge when I get there (though I have a plan "B" for that as well).
Because being a mom is the one thing I enjoy the most in life and doing it fully aware and in all my senses must be a magical experience. I definitely cannot wait for that moment.
Because my mom said I could not do it and I want to prove her wrong! She is an OB and has had all her children via scheduled c-sections.
I wanted to avoid C-Section at all costs and I thought the less interventions the more likely that is to happen.
I also wanted a calm, quiet, PRIVATE birth experience for me and DH. So we found a freestanding birthing center and are only having 4 people in the room during birth. Nurse-midwife, Dula, DH, Me.....and then baby of course.
1. It is safest for both baby and myself
2. I want to be up and moving during labor and immediately after
3. I don't want a needle near my spine or a catheter
4. I want to keep my chances of c-section as low as possible
5. I know I can do it. I was able to go med free w/ DS (although I did need pitocin which was no fun) and I can do it again for DD - with the right techniques and support the pain is manageable, and like pp said it doesn't last forever.
If an intervention isn't medically necessary, why get it?
And, I'd like to prove to myself that this is something I can do.
1- It is healthier for my baby for numerous reasons (hormones, endorphins, avoiding toxins)
2- I don't want a needle anywhere near my spine.
3- I don't want to be given drugs that can slow down my contractions (well, see #1)
4- Because of the economic impact. Although I have medical insurance, I know that a C-section, or even an uncomplicated medicated birth (epi, pit, etc) costs a heck of a lot more than a natural birth. One of the gazillion reasons that healthcare costs too much in this country.
5- Because I don't want any drugs that can affect nursing (again, see #1)
6- Because unnecessary interventions are not always what is best. There is a reason that the maternal and infant mortality rate is too high in this country. (allergic reactions to mom or baby, errors made by medical staff, the removal of immature infants, bleeding is more common operatively, etc, etc, etc)
7- Because my mom gave birth to all 8lb 12oz of me naturally, so I am sure I can do it, too!
i have given birth once. i wanted it to be natural but there were other circumstances involving my son's life expectancy that made everything a little more stressed and intense. when i went into labor 4 weeks early i was surprised and a little sad b/c i knew once it was over, my son would most likely be over too. it was several days of contractions keeping me awake. by the time i was considered to be in active labor i was so tired. i hadn't really been eating those days at home or at least not enough. i ended up succumbing to an epidural on saturday at around 1 in the afternoon and my son was born shortly before 6 in the evening. the epidural had worn off by the time i was pushing because i could feel to push which is exactly what i wanted. the epidural did allow me to sleep for an hour or so which in retrospect was needed for me to be able to push. even still when i was pushing i was exhausted. had my labor not lasted so long i know that i would have done it without the epidural. now that i have done it once i have no doubt that i can do it again.
my reasons are probably no different than others. it makes more sense to me. i know my body and i know what i am capable of doing. in addition to all of the health benefits to myself and my baby, i think there is an empowering aspect to giving birth that only enhances women. i think that women lose out on something when they don't give birth naturally. i am sure that statement will be taken the wrong way by many but i don't retract it. obviously, i am not saying births that are medicated are not miraculous and special and unique, because that simply isn't true. all births truly are amazing and what a gift it is to be a woman and to be responsible for such an amazing act. that said, i think on a purely selfish level natural birth empowers women and to some degree reminds them that they can do just about anything they put their minds to. the mainstream medical system convincing women that birth is horrifyingly painful and needs constant observation and more than likely intervention by medical professionals is robbing women of their natural right.
maybe some women feel empowered giving birth regardless of medication. for me, there was nothing empowering about be stuck in a bed with a catheter, iv, and blood pressure cuff constantly monitoring me. it was the complete opposite of what i wanted and i had to battle to keep it at bay as long as i did.
- Because my body was designed to do this. My mom gave birth 3 times without meds so why couldn't I as well?
- Because I hate needles.
- Because I didn't want anything that might lead to an unnecessary c-section.
- Because I didn't want to give my baby medications that might have hurt him in utero.
- Because I wanted to bond with my baby immediately and not have anything hamper that experience.
- Because I wanted to be successful at breastfeeding and I believe medications can make it more difficult.
- Because depression runs in my family and I was willing to endure pain for a faster and easier recovery that might prevent getting PPD.
I am planning on having a VBAC. Based on my research, epidurals have the potential to slow labor down. A slowed labor will increase my risk of a repeat c-section. At first, I just wanted to put off getting an epidural for as long as possible. But once I started doing more research, I realized that I might as well set the bar higher for myself and just plan on not getting an epidural at all.
Also, my epidural with DD was not a great experience. For some reason, I could feel my catheter up until my c-section and it caused me a lot of misery. I would have much rather dealt with back labor than dealt with an annoyingly painful catheter.
I had an epi with DD and it was a terrible experience start to finish.
ETA: there are other reasons. I want the challenge, I want to let my body do what it was meant to do this, I want the best start I can get at nursing, I don't want to put drugs in me and the baby. But having had the epidural and knowing how awful it was for me..nail in the coffin. I could never do it again.
2 beautiful children
proud mommy!
because I don't trust medicines and doctors for the most part. I don't feel that they have my best interests, and my baby's best interests at heart. I feel that they do what they want to for insurance reasons, profit reasons, to avoid malpractice lawsuits.
Because I had planned a natural birth with DD, but complications landed me in the hospital. My experience - especially the epi - made for an unhappy experience.
This exactly!!
quite simply because we can do it naturally and as cliche as it sounds "our bodies were meant to do it". I really believe that barring some crazy complication that will need serious medical intervention, we can all do it.
Epidurals are a fairly recent medical development and you don't need a spinal injection that numbs you from the legs down to give birth.
http://balletandbabies.blogspot.com
A lot of what everyone else said. My body conceived this baby easily without modern medicine's help. My body has carried this baby completely healthfully with no complications and no need for intervention. Why wouldn't I trust my body to give birth the same way?
The more I researched labor and the birthing process, the more going natural just made sense. My body was made to do this, and by interfering in the process with drugs and unnecessary intervention, I feel like I am only going to make things more painful, prolonged, more stressful, and worse off for both me and baby in the end.
I am going to rock this birth, ad I can't wait.
1) My first birth was full of interventions that were unnecessary and it was a complete NIGHTMARE.
2) I am afraid of needles and the thought of one being anywhere near my spine is ridiculously terrifying.
3) I want to have control over my birth experience as much as possible and I can't do that if I'm drugged.
4) Less chance of the infamous cascade of interventions!
This is probably going to be a mini-vent session. Apologies...
The Obvious reason: I absolutely DO NOT want to have another c/s. Worst experience and recovery of my life. Going natural feels like the best option for VBAC.
Other reasons:
This time I want to play a more active role in my labor. Regardless of the outcome, at least I will know that I made informed decisions without being coerced. Hope that answers your questions. Thanks for allowing me to vent!
EDIT: It seriously felt like I was living "The Business of Being Born" the entire time. Even DH made the same comment afterwards.
~Sweet Girl *8/18/08* c-section ~ Sweet Boy *12/2/10* VBAC ~ Sweet Boy *8/14/12* VBAC~
VBAC Birth Story 2VBAC Birth Story
1. I think I can go natural, so why not? It makes sense to go with the least invasive method.
2. Easier recovery time.
3. I want to be able to move around and try different positions during labor and pushing. You can't really do that with an epidural. I've also heard that epis lead to more c-sections, and I want to avoid a c-section at all costs.
Ugh- So sad about your baby boy! I'm so sorry. However, Congrats on your pregnancy now!
anymore its just who i am and what i'd do. i can't imagine giving birth in a hospital, much less all drugged up.
but early in round 1 it was based off of a terrifiying fear of large needles & strong dislike of hspitals...and as i told my bradley class. i had done enough drugs in my lifetime. Childbirth didn't seem like an appropriate time to pick up the habit again. :P
For all of the above reasons. And because my body rocks!
Why not?
It's where I am starting from and what I am preparing to do. I refuse to be afraid of childbirth, rather just ride the wave.
I looked at your ticker and saw that you are so close...YOU TOTALLY WILL ROCK THIS BIRTH! You've got the exact mindset that you need at this point! Excitement, anticipation, eagerness...no fear!
I gave (and planning on #2) birth naturally because I strongly believe that pregnancy is not an illness to be "managed" or "treated". Just let me do what I need to do, and if I need help, I will ask.
Many rational reasons that make sense on paper as many others have stated. But the big one for me was when I admitted that it is going to be a traumatic experience (although wonderful) and thought about what is going to help me most to get through it.
For me I know I will feel more comfortable at home in my own surroundings, being allowed to move and sway, hold/hug my hubbie, and have the same care provider (MW) the whole time. I can't stomach the idea of the craziness of the hospital, not seeing the dr until the end, the sterile surroundings, and being confined, no thank you. HTH.
Ditto to everything.
This was by far the best post and respons(es) I've read to date. THANK YOU to all the wonderful women who responded. You've put to words all the ways I've felt about natural childbirth, but have never been able to express.
Yes! this. and I've always wanted to. Best of luck to you!
So beautifully said!
I believe that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me and that He will give me sufficient grace to get through birthing this gift from Him. I don't trust doctors or medicines. I believe that we are naturally equipped with everything we need and we have to allow our bodies the best environment to do what it knows to do. I want us to be alert and have the best chance at breastfeeding.
We weren't really planning for this baby, she's a surprise, but the next one I do plan to have a home birth.
1) I just always assumed I would. I can't really explain why. Growing up I didn't realize there were other ways. Then when I worked for an OB/MW practice and got to hear 3 years of birth stories from various types of births, I realized the natural mamas were always the happiest.
2) I have Lupus. The last 7 years of my life have been doctors, meds, meds, docs, emergency rooms, etc. I feel like everything I do is at the suggestion of someone with an MD after their name. I don't want them dictating my babys' birth as well.
3) Parenting is going to be the hardest thing I've ever done and I feel like this is a step toward strengthening myself, both emotionally and physically, for that job.