Natural Birth
Labour Anxiety
Hey Ladies 
This is my first baby and I am freaking out! I have chosen to do this LA NATUREL but am starting to think back on my choice and think about having drugs! I really do want to be in a tub and have a natural water birth. Please I need some experience and success stories for encouragement!
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Re: Labour Anxiety
I had a wonderful birth experience with my LO.
It was a couple of days of early labour and then around 7 hours of intense active labour.
I'm not going to lie, it was hard work and painful, but because you're busy doing a job I didn't really have time to think about or worry about the pain.
I used the shower and the hot tub for pain relief which was fantastic. I also used nitrous oxide (which I believe isn't available in the US) to take the edge off, but I could have done without it.
I had an easy recovery, and I loved having that immediate skin to skin bonding time with LO.
So I guess, I'm saying, that with the exception of any medical issues, you can totally do this, and that for lack of a better word I enjoyed labour and birth.
Elizabeth 5yrs old Jane 3yrs old
Well, freaking out now isn't going to do you much good. You have a long ways to go and you should start doing your research now. Just like you wouldn't get up off the couch and run a marathon, you don't just jump into labor expecting to go pain med free without any training. Fearing labor is only going to make it harder on you.
With that said, I had a pain-med free birth and I wouldn't have it any other way. It was the most amazing experience and I was so proud of myself for doing something that no one believed I could do. It wasn't easy, but so worth it.
Natural birth in most environments is an uphill battle and the more prepared you are the better. All you can really do at this point is educate yourself and you will most likely find as you do this research that you will feel more and more confident in your decision.
Our bodies are designed to do this. It is pain with purpose. Every woman could do it if she needed to (barring any extreme medical issues of course).
Do some research so you're clear about why you're going natural. Hiring a doula was the best $$ I spent. She helped me clarify my wishes, relay them to my o.b., and was a huge support during the labor. I had a great experience birthing at the hospital, but I also live in a very liberal progressive city. You will want to figure out which hospital is going to support your desires.
I'm not going to sugar coat it, it was the most painful thing I've ever done by a long shot. My baby was huge (9lb4oz), but I did it the way I wanted to and never regretted it, even during the most intense parts of labor. I had almost no tearing b/c my body took the time it needed to stretch and get her out.
99% of the battle is believing you can do it and having a good support system. Make sure that your doctor and your SO or whoever will be with you at the birth understands and supports your desire to go natural.
I had a wonderful med-free birthing experience and I wouldn't have changed it for anything. The really shitty part actually goes pretty quickly (or it did for me anyway). Like my mom (who had 4 natural births) told me, it's really just moment in your life. Our daughter was so alert when she was born - it really reinforced one of the good things about natural birth.
So... get yourself signed up for some classes, or start reading some books. Ina May Gaskin's Guide to Natural Childbirth is a great place to start.
You first need to think of two things - 1) why you want a natural birth and 2) what exactly is making you nervous.
The reasons you want a natural birth can determine how committed you are to it. Some people just want to give it a try, but that might not be enough to pull you through hard labor. If you want a natural labor to give your baby the healthiest birth possible you may be much more determined to stick it out. Regardless of your exact reasons you will need to be well prepared and supported to successfully endure a natural labor and birth.
If the entire labor and delivery is making you nervous it's possible you just need to learn more about it. Keep talking to people, reading, taking classes, touring the hospital and having open conversations with your midwife. If it's specific things bothering you take time to focus on preparing for those. For example if you're afraid of making it through transition then learning more about coping techniques effective during that period and reminding yourself at that point it's almost over can help you relax about it.
You really are only going to gain the confidence you need with more research and practice. Try and find a birthing method that suits you or a doula I think is also another great way to boost your confidence in having a natural birth.
You may have been doing research for the last 8 weeks or so, but I've been doing it for the last 36 and know that there is still a ton of information I never got to. Read as many books as you can, and don't worry you can do it!