Can I do this? 32w and considering natural birth.
Hi ladies,
So my entire pregnancy my OB has told me that I will most likely have to have a c-section due to the way my pelvis is shaped and baby being breech since week 8. I was checked today and baby is head down and I'll probably be able to labor naturally. When she asked me if I wanted an epidural my immediate response was YES. I don't handle pain well. But the more I thought about it, and reading all the positive natural birth stories, and being able to get up and move around during labor really appeals to me. But now I feel like so late into my pregnancy I don't have time to prepare. I don't have a doula, I haven't taken bradley classes. Do any of you have any recommendations on how to prepare myself so late into the game to at least try for a natural birth? I've been drinking RRL tea and doing yoga throughout the pregnancy, as well as reading about a med free birth.
Thank you!
Re: Can I do this? 32w and considering natural birth.
First off try to remember that our bodies are designed to do this. IMO, it sounds like they instilled some fear into you right from the start. Babies can be breech right up until birth, there was no reason to even mention a "breech" baby at 8 weeks. How is that even possible? Babies are are all over the place until they run out of room and settle in and even then they can still turn.
About your pelvis shape, I would question that and demand she explain exactly what she means.
I reccommend Ina May's book too as well as watching the Business of Being Born. That movie was so helpful for me because I actually got to see positive birth experiences, without hospital interventions. I had no idea women could give birth so calmly and joyfully! Good luck to you!
Yeah, I have to roll my eyes at a doctor telling you the baby is "breech" at 8 weeks. At the 8-week ultrasounds I've had, the baby is the size of a gummy bear and it flips around all over the place. There's no need to turn head-down until much later in the pregnancy.
Pelvic shape and size is really hard to determine from manual examination. Did they do x-rays on you? I didn't think so!
I believe that you can do it, but you should read up ASAP and watch some videos. I would be concerned about your doctor's support, given the fearmongering that she seems to have done from the get-go.
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If it's what you want, sure you can.
I just had a natural birth one week ago with my first and didn't take any classes. My husband and I both read Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way and recommend it highly. It was helpful, and my labor process really happened in the way described in the book, which focuses on the woman's emotional response to the progression of labor. We thought it was great preparation.
One thing that I disagreed with that this method discussed was the concept of a "painless" birth. I think that's a bunch of hooey. Honestly, I didn't think it was nearly as bad as people make it out to be, but there's no way I would call it painless, and I never expected it to be. I think if it's really important to you to have a natural birth, the pain is manageable.
Best of luck to you in deciding what's the right choice for your birth.
I also think it would be helpful to rent some videos on natural birth - either from the library or Blockbuster or something...our class on natural birth had us watch dozens - probably 40 or so - births so that we could prepare. I think you can also find them online...
It does hurt like H! But it is really great to try and find choose the most comfortable position and be able to move around right after bay comes! GL! Let us know what you choose!
of course you can do it! given your doctor's concerns about your pelvis, you may feel more comfortable giving birth in a hospital in case something goes awry.
since you only have a few more weeks to prepare, you need to really surround yourself with positive stories of natural birth and psych yourself up for it. i too recommend ina may's books, especially spiritual midwifery, which is so empowering and positive.
when i was preparing for my natural birth, i also read a lot of unassisted birth stories online. although my homebirth was attended by a CNM, i really drew strength from stories of women who did it all by themselves and had healthy babies and positive birth experiences.