2nd + timers for med free birth...

julieb00lie · June 2011

My first natural birth went very smoothly and only lasted 5 hours. But I gotta tell ya....I'm NOT looking forward to those contractions, particularly during the transition period.

I'm trying not to think about it too much b/c I don't want to work myself up.

Of course it's all worth it...that's why I'm doing this way again.

But just curious if anyone else is freaked out about it, even though you already know what to expect.

monkeyqueen · June 2011

I was ridiculously freaked out. I had to repeat the mantra "the baby has to come out, the baby has to come out" or "just go with it, just go with it."

I was more freaked out, because I knew what to expect. But, as it turned out, they were completely different. GL!

nosoup4u · June 2011

Yep. I had the added stress of attempting a VBAC with DS2, so I was also worried I was going to go through an entire labor and pushing, and end up with a c-section anyway.

But it was okay! I had a few nights of practice contractions here and there, and I was soooo worried about the real thing, but when labor actually started, I stopped being worried (though yes, transition was insane and not fun), and was able to just go with it.

LindseyJW · June 2011

totally freaked out, but totally confident and relaxed too. and it turns out my labor was WAAAAY better than the first.

seethesmiles · June 2011

I just kept reminding myself that every labor is different and what I felt and whatever happened the first time may or may not happen again. My second labor was WAY better than the first. Good luck -- you'll be fine.

abell77 · June 2011

I know what you mean. I tell people that with your first you are scared because you don't know what to expect, and that with your second you are scared because you do know what to expect!

I am definitely nervous about enduring the pain all over again, but I keep telling myself that I will be able to draw strength and motivation from the knowledge that I have done this before. My son was posterior and I am really hoping that this lo won't be and that things will be a little easier this time around. Ultimately, my faith in knowing that I am making the healthiest choice possible for myself and my lo is what keeps me going when I get scared.

Good luck to you!

BrideNamedMeg · June 2011

I was a little nervous about doing it again, especially since this one was my first homebirth. My DD's birth was very straightforward - it was hardwork but totally manageable and I was worried that my second birth would be harder. Turns out I was right...DS was bigger, posterior and I went from pushing for 30 mins with DD to 2.5 hours with DS. But even with a harder and more painful second birth I had an awesome experience, I got through it (at home with no interventions) and it gave me even more confidence in my birthing ability

Baby4OT · June 2011

I just had my third med free birth. They were all so different! Try not to worry about it. This labor will likely be different from your last in some way. I did prenatal yoga with my most recent pregnancy and found that, while I didn't do much other prep (we did Bradley classes with the first and reviewed and practiced Bradley exercises with the second), the breathing from yoga really helped me a lot more than I imagined it would during labor. I just did the classes to get some exercise and stretching - I really hadn't planned on the effect it would have on labor.

Jessie*J · June 2011

I'm really nervous this time too. My first labor seemed to go so well and so fast (only a little over 3 hrs of pain) that i'm scared I won't be so "lucky" this time around lol.

My first DD came at 37 weeks and this time around i've been diagnosed with early Pre E ... so my doc is talking early induction because of my blood pressures. I'm a nervous wreck because I want my body to do this on it's own again. Which, you never know, may just so happen with the way my first played out!

terpsfan · June 2011

LindseyJW:
totally freaked out, but totally confident and relaxed too. and it turns out my labor was WAAAAY better than the first.

This was the case for me too. With my first my water broke at the beginning of labor and I remember the contractions hurting really really bad for pretty much the entire time (no pitocin either). I had anxiety and stressed about how painful it was going to be again (but reminding myself that I've done it once, I can do it again and the pain won't kill me). I distinctly remember during my second labor thinking "wow, I can't be that far along as it doesn't really hurt"....I was at 7cm. The HUGE difference between the 2 labors was that my water broke at the beginning of #1 and I had to get it broken at the end of #2...my midwife said that affects the severity of the painful contractions pre-transition.

preppymama · June 2011

i'm freaked out but that's because my first birth was induced for medical concerns for the baby, and i was on pitocin for 28 hours...sooooo, i just keep relieving the med-free, pitocin contractions in my head and praying to God that this childbirth goes a little bit easier.

lazysusan · June 2011

I was really nervous the second time. With my first I was induced because my water had broken. He came quickly with no pain medication, and was born face up. I tore pretty badly. With my second I was a few days past my due date. It was night and day! He was a quick one too, but what a difference without pitocin. It was the labor I wanted, and the recovery was so much quicker. I relive that day often. How empowering!

smilelari · June 2011

Nope. I didn't follow any method last time but I'm doing hypnobabies this time and as cheesy as it sounds, the positive birth affirmations really do work. I really do feel confident that it will be an all around good experience.

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2nd + timers for med free birth...

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