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Austin Babies
Med-Free Moms-to-Be
DH and I are hoping for a med-free birth, so we've decided to take the Hypnobabies course. Our class (starting in January) has a few openings left, so I thought I'd pass on the info. If you're interested, Hypnobabies has a fantastic FAQ page on their site. Our instructor is Marianne Calvanese (drmacal@sbcglobal.net).
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Med-Free Moms-to-Be
GL to you! I tried med free. Soon as I was just getting a handle on breathing and focusing.....DD's heartrate began dropping and dropping w/ every contraction. I ended up with the opposite end of the spectrum a full spinal and c-section.
Goes to show me that dd had her own plan that didn't jive w/ mine.
Good for you! Having your husband on board is essential - sounds like you're both on the same page :-)
We did Bradley instead of Hypnobabies and had a wonderful experience. The birth of our daughter was a lot of work but it was amazing.
Best of luck!
DH wants it because I want it.
Also, I am fully aware that things can change in an instant. However, if I am able I want to go med-free.
I keep coming back in here
I know this isn't my pregnancy or my post and I'm overly sensitive but I don't understand what it is about finding out that someone is going for a med-free birth that inspires other women to share their not-so-terrific birth stories?
I was plagued by that my entire pregnancy and it was very upsetting. Why not be supportive instead of sharing worst case scenarios, esp since the OP was just sharing a PSA about a class and not asking for feedback?
::stepping off of soapbox, kind of embarassed for being so touchy on someone else's behalf::
Thank you!!! I thought maybe I was being overly sensitive about it, too. Med-free isn't for everyone and that's perfectly fine. But don't poo-poo on my hopes that I might be able to have one. July's response was perfect--med-free isn't for me, but good for you for trying what you want to do.
::Froggi also steps off her soap box::
I was hoping I didn't step on your toes
(again) by interjecting! I'm clearly still harboring resentment from all of the flack I caught from my friends/family regarding my daughter's birth 
There was actually a section in our Bradley class on how to manage negativity and it helped a lot. I bet your HB instructor talks about it too!
Bubble, I'm sure my family is going to give me all SORTS of strange looks when I tell them I'm going to use medical hypnosis as a pain management technique. So this is just good preparation, I guess! lol
I think HB lists the topics discussed at each class on their website, so I should check out the managing negativity stuff.
Thank you for your support by the way and congrats on your med-free birth.
I wanted a med-free birth and you know what? I had the most wonderful, amazing, and empowering med-free experience of my life! It was intense but not incredibly painful and it never even crossed my mind to ask for drugs. I took the Hypnobirthing class but I was still afraid I wouldn't be able to handle it (because of all the nay-sayers and negative comments), but I was so wrong.
So yes, you can plan for and have an incredible med-free birth experience. Feel free to call me up any time you need any natural birth encouragement because I think we all need to hear POSITIVE things.
Go, Froggi!!
I am also planning a med-free birth and am so excited about it! I start my Bradley classes January 9 and love the birthing center and the midwifes I am working with.
My family and friends think I am totally insane... But I'm used to hearing it so it does not bother me too much anymore.
More power to you froggi, we are close in due dates, I'll be your preggo support for med free!
Ugh...ladies...I can't speak for anyone else here...but I think you're being overly sensitive. Personally, I was just saying I wanted it but it didn't happen. I never said it wouldn't happen for you. I never said it wasn't the way to go. I said I wanted it and it didn't happen. Period. Nothing more. Nothing to read into it. I promise!
I'm all for doing things without taking meds whenever you can (I personally haven't taken more than an aspirin in years...and I only do that about once every 3-4 months, if that). For me though...I just couldn't do it anymore during labor. My labor was very similar to m_and_m's (with respect to length, etc.) and I just didn't have it in me like she did.
On the DH thing: I was trying to make you smile! Clearly that was a complete failure. I'm sorry!
I didn't intend for this to turn into a med-free support thread. I think Bubble said it all when she asked why do folks feel the need to say, "well I wanted med-free, but couldn't do it" in a simple PSA post about a class. I wasn't looking for advice/support/etc.
But a HUGE thank you to the supportive ladies (Spidey, I'll totally be your med-free PG buddy!). It is nice to hear when you get a lot of crazy looks and nay-sayers.
I don't really know anything about hypnobirthing, but this post reminded me a story my advisor just told me not too long ago. Apparently back in the day, he had done something to his nose (broke it maybe?) and needed to have surgery. Somehow he got to talking to one of the docs about this new thing where they were trying to hypnotize patients instead of using general anasthesia. He went for it - turns out he was very susceptible to hypnosis - and had the surgery while he was fully awake and everything turned out great! I might be getting some details wrong, but I was awe-struck by the whole story. He said he didn't feel a thing and got to see the whole procedure.
That was almost completely off-topic. Sorry.
Why is "I wanted med-free but couldn't do it" not supportive? I said I wanted it! I thought that WAS supportive. I didn't say, "are you crazy, no way, etc., etc." And I didn't say how I was in labor for X hours and it was the worst pain in my life, etc. etc. either (which I agree is a bit much). And I just looked and neither did anyone else in this thred. Not one single person.
I'm sorry if I upset you, really. But I think you may be reading a bit into it. It would be like me saying that all of the people that say, "good for you" are saying the people who didn't go med-free were less of a mother because they didn't. That's absurd! Of course no one means that when they say "good for you" or "way to go." But if you start to read into what people say...you can interpret it in many different ways.
Okay...I have been reading this thred over and over again...and I think I figured out why I upset you. It was b/c I was trying to give support, but you weren't looking for support...and the support I gave wasn't interpretted as such. Ugh! That's why I don't post sometimes. You can read things WAY too many different ways.
I really am sorry! I really was trying to give you support (by saying I wanted med-free) and then make you laugh (hince my LOL behind my comment). Apparently it backfired big-time.
I couldn't agree more Lilrunner!
What she is expressing is that a large portion of women do want to be med free and it just doesn't end up that way. That's reality. It makes no sense to pretend it doesn't. My own story included.
Women share their stories good or bad because that's what we do best! Tell stories! Take it as advice, take it as therapy for the person telling but don't just frown upon someone because they are telling you something you don't want to hear, even if you didn't ask to hear it.
Especially on a public message board!
I know I'm overly sensitive about this. ?I'm pretty sure I mentioned that a couple times in my original post :P
I get what you're saying about message boards/telling stories/therapy/advice but try to look at it from the other side. ?MCurban posted today about feeling anxious about her pregnancy. ?Everyone chimed in with encouraging thoughts and vibes. ?The last time I checked no one said anything about having that same feeling and things turning out differently. ?That's reality too, right? ?Why is that any different?
That's cause everyone likes me more. Bwahahahaha! I am TOTALLY kidding. I loves me some froggi.
I get what you're saying here. It would have crushed me if people spoke their truth and told me, "Yep, I felt that way, too...and we lost our baby at x weeks." I know it happens- that's why I'm a bit nervous. Sometimes we just need to be lifted up, huh?
lilrunner- (and please don't take this as a personal attack...cause it's not), I think, like with anything, if you hear enough people say..."Yeah- I tried that...didn't work," you just get tired of it. I'm sure you're not the first to mention to froggi (or anyone else trying to go med-free) that it was something they wanted and it just didn't happen. And- you probably won't be the last.
I don't equate getting an epidural with having a miscarriage. Of course it would be impolite and unwise to share in that context unless specifically asked to do so. One is a decision and the other more or less an act of nature... anyway, it's just not the same thing.
There is no issue on which any of us will ever tread more lighty on that the life of child or loved one. I don't think we need to treat every issue with the same "kid gloves."
Not that anyone ever listens, reads or cares about my posts.....but just to jump in late on this one since I am having some insomnia tonight.
In today's society the idea is that you go in and have the drugs, have the birth and are good to go. When a woman choosing a natural birth the amount of cackles and "good luck with that one" or "yeah, did not work for me" are very, very, very discouraging because most of having a drug free birth is power over your mind. That is why so many woman are afraid to even try because they are so psyched out that the pain will be too much. Then there is the guilt factor when ever one mom chooses to do something that is not the norm or not what another mom picked for her child----we all tend to get defensive about our decisions. Much like Taytee said we share our stories because that is what we do, however, when sharing your story you have to factor in some else's place in life. Just like when you are super excited at your first BFP and you meet someone who is a bitter mom and tells your how your life is ruined forever---it is like thanks for that one.
Anyway--I took Bradley Classes which to me helped me be the biggest patient advocate for my health and actually understand the birthing process, complications and when or when not to intervene. Just knowing the proper questions to ask is very, very empowering.
Now, back to drug free birth--in my class we were the only hospital birth because everyone else fears that you get strapped down and drugged up the moment you set foot in a hospital (not the case at NAMC for the record). For me the people who were negative were totally psyching me out and I eventually just got rude about it. I was not and am not an idiot---obviously I can't control it all and things happen in the delivery room. However, if you have a fully naturally progressing delivery ---doing it drug free is much, much easier than you think. It is the fear of pain and the naysayers that keep you down. So, that is the issue w/ being negative towards women trying to have a drug free birth----is understanding that they are in a mental battle with themselves over societal training that birthing is horrible when I agree with MandM that is can be such a wonderful and rewarding experience (even in a hospital)
Jumping off my soap box since it has nothing to do w/ the topic at hand other than me wanting to add why it can be perceived as insensitive to share you negative med-free attempt with another mom who is going to try med free.
Okay, this has gotten WAY off course. All the OP was intended to do was say "hey, there's a class I'm taking, if you're interested there are still spots open." Done.
But for the record moms who are attempting a med-free birth do get a TON of "yeah, good luck with that..." or "I tried and it didn't work for me..." which is incredibly discouraging. This board is wildly supportive 99% of the time, so when we feel pulled down it is unexpected and we probably get our panties in a bunch over it more than you would in a "normal" situation. Not saying you need to censor yourself, just explaining our reaction.
Okay I'm really done now. Jeez.