Not using a "method"?

MrsNash37212 · June 2011

I'm having a hard time finding a natural birth method that "fits" me. I've eliminated Bradley, Hypnobabies/birthing, and Lamaze. I've hired a great doula and am using a natural-friendly OB, but beyond that, I'm stuck. Do I have to use one or is it possible to go without? Anyone been through similar issues and been successful?

jsabouh · June 2011

I am not really using a method. I mean who knows what will happen or what i will be up for when it is time. My birthing center will have a tub if needed, but maybe I will want a shower and that is available too. I am bring my laptop with music, I have my birthing ball that I am already using daily. BC also has birthing stool and my MW has various herbal remedies for certain things, and massage techniques.

I have never went natural before with the 2 LO's I already have, but I know even from the first part of labor at home and before meds that each was different. with # 1 the hospital made me walk and I was not having it at all, but with #2 I was begging them to let me get up and move around. I've read a lot of birth stories and some women that planned on a water birth didn't like being in the tub and things of that sort. I am hoping that with the choices I will have available that I will find something that helps me a little bit.

Honestly, for me personally I kind of like going with the flow. I wouldn't want to spend so much time trying to follow a certain technique or method and be super frustrated if nothing went that way at all. But that's me.

I hope you find something that works for you and good luck.

sccalla · June 2011

I didn't use one specific method when birthing DS, and I was able to make it through all 36 hours of labor med-free (aside from antibiotics for GBS). I just took what I learned in my childbirth class (no specific method), and any other relaxation tricks I knew and used that to get me through. Oddly enough one of the biggest helps to me was a meditation/focusing activity from a speed reading book (Photoreading).

pinksweetpea2 · June 2011

I didn't use a method. I figured if I surrounded myself with support and knowledge and had access to the water, I would be fine...and I was. I did my own thing.

smilelari · June 2011

I didn't use a method last time and was successful. I took a class taught by an ALACE certified doula and she covered lots of different techniques and suggested books based on what seemed to fit best. I used lots of things I learned from various methods and made it through just fine. Turns out that the Hypnobirthing book was the most helpful, so this time I picked a method and am going with Hypnobabies

bdutton0005 · June 2011

I am not sure if it is true or not but my Dr told me the majority of women he sees that come in with the huge birthing plan and a specific technique are usually the ones that cave. For us we are going to "go with the flow". We have things we would like and such but I also know that for us when we seem to have a plan things never work out how we want them. So it might be best to just take tips and tricks from each one and make your own.

ridesbuttons · June 2011

I didn't use a method, take any classes or read any books about 'natural' labour/delivery.

I talked with people who had done it (my mom, my SsIL, a friend) and got encouragement and advice from them. In the end, labour is something that starts and end, usually inside of one day. In the scope of things, it is not that big a deal.

My 'method' was to count my breaths during each contraction. I would not take more than 20 breaths. In order to accomplish this, I had to really slow and deepen my breathing as the contractions got longer and stronger. But concentrating on slow, deep breathing gave me something to think about aside from the contraction.

My mom told me 2 things (advice from her doc 40 years earlier): you can't tense up if you are exhaling and you cannot fight the contraction: just try and go with it.

Good luck.

iris427 · June 2011

pinksweetpea2:
I didn't use a method. I figured if I surrounded myself with support and knowledge and had access to the water, I would be fine...and I was. I did my own thing.

This. I didn't use a method. I had a great doctor, an experienced doula and a supportive husband. Being able to listen to my body and do what felt right was key to having a natural birth for me. My OB basically sat back and let nature take it's course and that was what I really needed.

cottonlily84 · June 2011

Going with the flow. I was interested in Bradley but I feel my energy will be spent more efficiently finding coping/relaxation techniques that work just for me than trying to remember something from a class. I can't imagine any class being one size fits all. I do think Bradley has one thing going for it and that's practice. I will definitely try to be prepared with whatever methods I might use ahead of time. Soft music, mediation/deep thinking, breathing, reading, etc. Besides who doesn't need some relaxation at 30-40 weeks anyway! I am going to have a birth plan though. It will basically just say no to everything LOL but I feel getting that out of the way upfront will relieve some anxiety too (I hope...)

diamondcks · June 2011

I didn't use a method. Trusting my body worked for me

The midwife that taught my birth class (just talking about birth, not practicing for it) said she sees women feel like they fail if they go into birth wanting to do a certain method and it not working for them, the last thing I wanted to feel in the middle of labor was that I was failing.

katcarls · June 2011

I didn't use a specific method. I just took the standard hospital childbirth class and did a lot of reading on natural birth in general. I also had a great midwife and a supportive husband. I just went with the flow and did what felt right in the moment.

sschwege · June 2011

I have a friend who did prenatal yoga during her pregnancy and just used the breathing (and maybe some of the positions) during her labor. It worked well for her.

superned · June 2011

pinksweetpea2:
I didn't use a method. I figured if I surrounded myself with support and knowledge and had access to the water, I would be fine...and I was. I did my own thing.

I felt the same way, and was successful.

MrsNash37212 · June 2011

Thanks, all. I was getting worried about not having one, but it sounds like maybe that's the best way after all. My doula doesn't favor one method or another, either, so I'm really going to draw on her experience and do what feels right at the time. Thanks again.

tokenhoser · June 2011

My method was hiring a doula and having a doctor that would let me do what I wanted.

I had a lovely successful med-free birth in a hospital. I won't be studying to have my future babies. It seems like a lot of work and money for something I've proven I can do on my own.

eli_and_jeff · June 2011

All the "methods" turned me off. None of them were really a good fit, so we're going with does feel right: Education and Relaxation.

We hired a doula who is also a friend and she's teaching us laboring positions and some relaxation tips as well as guiding us through the anatomy of birth so I know what to expect so I won't freak out. Having her there to remind me in the moment will also be a big comfort. Our main goal is to avoid the Fear-Tension-Pain cycle. I'm also doing all the exercises recommended in You Having a Baby to strengthen my birthing muscles. If you have a doula, you most likely have all the tools you'll need.

Jodi2008 · June 2011

I didn't use a particular method but was able to give birth to DS med-free. I took a general childbirth class offered by the hospital and did a LOT of reading so I knew what to expect and could avoid being totally freaked out or panicked. We also had an awesome doula. I read a bit about Bradley and Hypnobirthing but didn't exactly follow them, I just took away bits and pieces of info that I thought would be useful to me.

novlove11 · June 2011

I don't plan on any one method either. I am mixing and matching different methods to find what fits me & what I think will work for me & my husband.

kattyleigh · June 2011

I never used a method. I am sure there is a higher success rate with studying a method though. This was my second LO though, so I knew what labor would feel like. I just worked through the contractions as my body told me to. I invented my own breathing techniques as it came naturally. DH pushed counterpressure during back labor. I just knew in my head and my heart that I would do it without meds this time. I kept reminding myself that as soon as he was born, the pain would go away. It was all temporary. Furthermore, there is absolutely no way to know how you as a person will react in that much pain, and thus it is tough to study a method (in my opinion). I am more of a go with the flow type of person, so I just listened to my body.

nark · June 2011

I just used the breathing from prenatal yoga class, and went in with a supportive husband and a trust that my body knew what it was doing. Worked for me.