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December 2011 Moms
Tussie Mussie
member
BFP #2 - MC Aug 2012 - D&C w/ complications
Anyone started thinking about birthing methods yet?
Tussie Mussie
member
This has been on my mind a lot recently. I sort of want to consider natural birth or at least minimal intervention, but this being my first pregnancy, I'm not sure what to expect. I don't really have an interest in following one specific method, and would sort of just like to go with the flow when the time comes, but that might be too naive.
Has anyone though about how they want to deliver, or how they've done it in the past?
If you're doing a natural birth, how did you decide that it was right for you?
BFP #2 - MC Aug 2012 - D&C w/ complications
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Anyone started thinking about birthing methods yet?
Yep. I don't want any intervention with narcotic drugs for pain or an epidural. I've always felt very strongly about this, and that's just how my family does it. I'm going with a midwifery practice, and the nurses at the hospital will know not to suggest pain relief through drugs or the epidural because from what I understand, almost every single woman begs for it around transition even they want to deliver without it. That being said - if medical intervention were absolutely necessary, I would listen to my midwife as I trust them to take the path of the least intervention necessary. That being said - I don't care what other moms decide to do. Get an epidural if you want one - I just don't feel that's the right choice for me, and I certainly will not judge someone else for wanting to deliver with more medical intervention than I want.
Have you seen The Business of Being Born? I found it really interesting - and they have a delivery that ends up needing a C-section, so I thought it was more fairly presented than some of the other stuff out there that tries to paint moms who choose epis as horrible moms.
I fully intend to have an epidural, but my friends that have done natural or homebirths have all highly recommended taking Bradley classes.
I've done it both ways ... I had an epi with my son and HAD to go natural with my daughter because my labour went too fast and there wasn't enough time. I am PRAYING that I can get an epi this time. Natural childbirth was not for me and the thought of having to go through that again makes me ill. However, since my last labour was 1hr18mins from the first contraction to her being born I am well aware that this time it may go even quicker. I'm hoping my doctor will agree to induce me just so I actually make it to the hospital considering my daughter was almost born in the car. At this point thats pretty much all I'm hoping for .. to make it to the hospital in time to get the epi!
I'm thinking natural, but it has more to do with my giant fear of needles/bad reactions to anesthesia than anything else. I also would like to be able to move around during labor and be able to use gravity to help things progress. But I also am open to getting some meds if it's deemed medically necessary or if I feel like I really need them.
FWIW, I don't think it's a bad idea to go with the flow or have an open mind-set. I think too many women go in with a specific idea in mind and then are disappointed if things don't turn out the way they planned.
Ella born 12/21/11
All I want to do is try my darndest to go med-free. (I don't like the term natural, I don't see how birth, no matter how it's done can be unnatural)
I had a cocktail of drugs and an Epidural. The first pain killers didn't do jack except make me really loopy and had me hallucinating about bacon. (which I'll admit, there are worse things to hallucinate about). Then the Epi made it hard for me to push right and I ended up pushing for 3 hours, and then I couldn't walk until the next day. Although I will say the no pain until i was 10cm thing was nice. But my boy was born safe and healthy and that is what matters.
This time I'm looking into breathing and relaxation techniques to get me through the hard part, And H is under strict orders to keep me focused on going med free.
I think about this all the time too. I want minimal intervention as well. I discussed pain meds with my DR and she went over all of the symptoms. She suggested no dymerol because of the puking and effects on the baby. There are several choices that sound better. I do not want an epi, but am not going in closed minded.
My mom is a midwife, and that has a lot of influence on my choices, but she is not happy with me having a dr and delivering in a hospital.
BFP #2: 8.31.16 Dx w/ GD @ 28w DD Born @ 36w: 4.21.17
BFP #2 - MC Aug 2012 - D&C w/ complications
BFP 4-19-11. Ezri Ana born on due date, Dec 30 2011!
My Ovulation Chart
I am an OB nurse in a hospital. I know too much. I am planning another med-free, intervention-free homebirth because that is what I believe is the "best" way to have a baby for the health of all involved (not necessarily homebirth but intervention free). I will deliver in a hospital and agree to interventions if I become high-risk or they become necessary...but I did it 3 years ago without issue and anticipate the same this time.
If you want to entertain the idea of going natural, do lots of reading about positive birth stories. Surround yourself with information about bith- especially natural childbirth. Know what interventions you are willing to accept and why you are willing to accept them. Go into your labor informed. I don't think open-mind= uninformed. Do your research and believe in your body. You can do it!!!
I took Bradley method classes last time and plan to do hypnobirthing this time, It is so helpful to surround yourself with like-minded people when you are preparing for your birth. Good luck!
I am planning on getting an epi. I have no desire to have med-free birth (I agree with the PP, I don't like the term natural because to me, childbirth is natural in whatever form).
My OB flat out told me not to necessarily worry about a birthing plan because everything can change at the last minute. She also told me that she will respect my decision if I wished to go med-free but she told me not to make a decision until I was in the moment because I had no idea how my body would react to labor.
My OB is very cool and not really big on C-sections unless they are absolutely necessary so I am going to allow her to walk me through this seeing as I have never done this before.
So long as I don't have to get a helicopter to the hospital and an emergency c-section I'll be happy! That's my birth plan this time round....
Seriously though, I want to have an intervention free birth, I would love a home birth but it's really recommended I be in hospital for a VBAC so we'll probably do that if we can make it in time.
I've never done a birthing plan or anything, because it never goes according to plan. I photograph births for a living and can definitely tell you that people do beg for epidurals at the end --because it's really painful!
I've done it wihtout an epi and with an epi and will gladly take the epi again! Natural birth hurts like heck! I love sharing my last birth video b/c it seriously is the best advocate for epidurals, lol.
My goal is to have a healthy baby with as little pain as possible. So I plan on getting the epi as soon as possible and trying to enjoy the process as much as I can.
I really admire all the ladies on here who are going natural, I don't think I could ever do that!
DD 8/28/2014
DD 5/24/2016, stillborn at 40 weeks
I went into labor wanting no interventions. My mom had nine kids all natural and I figured if my mom could do it 9 times, I should be able to handle one. I knew I really did not want the epidural, especially after learning with an epidural comes a catheter, and that was something I didn't want. I also have a serious fainting issue when it comes to needles (as in I pass out the majority of the time and have seizures when I faint), so I figured avoiding that issue would be good.
All that being said, my water broke around midnight when I went to bed and by 11 am I was exhausted from being up since the morning before. I asked for some demerol (or whatever pain med they use), so I could try to sleep. I got a shot in the thigh and some put in my IV- it made me a little loopy, but I was actually able to sleep for the next 4 hours and I woke up because I felt the need to push. My son was born 45 minutes later.
I honestly thought the worst part of labor and delivery was the final pushes to get the kid out and I think you feel that with an epi. They call it the ring of fire and that is the perfect description. My advice is do lots of research on different birthing methods, find one that works for you, and tell whoever will be in the room with you what you do and do not want. I took a lamaze class and they focused on breathing and massaging which helped me tremendously.
I'm definitely getting an epidural, but I never thought about it wearing off before I start pushing! That would be bad lol. I'm going to have to see how long I can take the pain before I get an epidural, so I'm confident it won't wear off too early.
I really hate to see this, you say you're not judging but this comes off as very judgmental. If she wants to have the baby without drugs that is her choice, some women have had great experiences with it - painful but great. I am a stick-a-needle-in-my-back kind of girl myself but I don't want to make someone feel defensive about how they choose to birth their baby.
OP, I've heard good things about the Bradly and Hypno method. There is no right way to have a baby, but doing what you are comfortable with is the most important thing. I would agree with some of the other ladies who have said to go in with a game plan but don't be married to it, so many things can change on D-day.
Diagnosed with Anti little c antibodies. DS1 7.11.11 - Anaemia and Jaundice. 10 days in the NICU, 1 exchange transfusion and 4 blood transfusions. DS2 29.8.13 - Anaemia 7 days in the NICU and 1 exchange transfusion. Both are now happy and healthy.there's a little button you can press to increase your dose. And to poster above who asked if you feel the ripping w/ an epi, I didn't feel any ring of fire or burning or really anything. I didnt even feel the head come out. It was awesome!
When I plan too much I end up disappointed! I am going to go with the flow, see how I handle labor & birth. I may end up getting an epi, but I do handle pain well... so I may not.
This also applies to breastfeeding... so many women get so down on themselves if they can't breastfeed because they've ALWAYS planned on it. I'm not buying ANY supplies or making a sure decision until I see how it goes.
Breastfeeding and pregnant!
BFP #2 - MC Aug 2012 - D&C w/ complications
Like I said, I don't really care what other people do, each person has to choose what works for them. I was only sharing my view about it. I wouldn't go through something extremely painful without meds. I know millions of other women did it without drugs. I am not one of them. Thats all...
DH and I are going to do all natural (as long as there aren't any emergencies or what have you.) I had a spinal once for foot surgery and HATED every minute of it. I would've much rather just dealt with the pain. I have a pretty high pain tolerance. I had a co-worker who had her two boys all natural and was very optimistic and had only positive things to say about it. I have the same doctor as she had. In a sick sort of way, DH and I anticipate the challenge of preparing ourselves for and having a natural birth! I wouldn't do it if I didn't think he'd be great help in the delivery room to get me through it. I decided I wanted to give it a try after doing some research.
My baby is two!!! Baby girl 9/17/09
My other baby is still a baby! Baby Boy 11-30-11
I hope to go med-free/minimal interventions. I ended up induced last time due to some failed tests (just bad timing, it turns out) and made it through the pitocin until caving at transition. I got an epi which worked for all of about a half hour, leaving me hurting and now not able to get up
It was kind of a disappointment.
I really think that it's important to do some prep, esp if you want to try to avoid drugs. I don't think success is likely if you don't have some pain-management strategies in mind or if you don't know what to expect. I think support is also super important- someone to tell you that you can do it or give you non-med suggestions (I think that this is a big part of why I "failed", and why I really think a doula is a great idea). I agree with reading positive birth stories (ex Ina May) and also birth history for a framework to understand how we got to the ideas about birth and interventions we commonly use (both Pushed and Birth: the Surprising History of how we're Born are great!).
Also, with regards to a PP, meds given in labor DO effect the kid. They have their place and obviously I don't think that they're the devil, but meds have side effects that are not worth it to many people. Narcotics especially (less alert, BF issues) but epi often slows fetal heart rate, making getting the kid out more urgent increasing need for pit or c-sections; pit's harder more frequent contractions give mom and baby less chance to recover, etc.
My ideal birth would be a med-free VBAC. I aimed for med-free with DS but he didn't cooperate.
I made the decision to try go med-free after watching The Business of Being Born. What an eye-opener! I took Bradley classes to prepare for birth & they were great. My instructor allows past students to come to a few classes to refresh themselves during subsequent pregnancies so that's what I'm going to do.
After a lot of reading & internet reseach (with more to come) I think that if my body goes into labor naturally (it didn't the first time around) I will really try for the VBAC but if I have to be induced again, I will go for a RCS. The odds go way down for a sucessful VBAC if you have to be induced & I don't want another 22 hours of labor (2 pushing) to happen just to be wheeled into the OR again.
Now I'm crying
My epidural failed with DD so this time I'm planning on a working epidural, I was nothing like you were in this video, I think smiling was the last thing on my mind. Having done it natural I know I can do it again, I'd just rather not.