Moms who went natural with #1, did you/will you with #2?

umdbride · February 2012

I went natural with DS and although I'm glad I did, I think it's making me more nervous about doing so with #2. My labor wasn't too bad - I got in the tub around 4cm and about an hour later I got out and was at 9cm so that really gave me renewed energy that I could do it. But pushing was hard - it took 1.5 hours and I remember being really tired and asking for another way out Stick out tongue Honestly, I'm not sure I'm brave enough for that again!

We're a while away from even TTC #2, but I'm curious if others felt this way and what you all did? Maybe once I'm PG again I'll gain some renewed courage/confidence??

WinesNotWhines · February 2012

Probably. The main reason I didn't want an epidural was because of evidence that it can slow labor (because if you get an epi, you're stuck in bed and can't move around, which is one of the main ways to get labor to progress) and women with epis are more likely to have interventions, including c-sections. I wanted to do everything in my power to avoid a c-section, and that was the driving reason behind wanting to go drug-free. I don't think my opinion on that is going to change. Some people claim c-sections aren't that bad, but I don't think they're comparing it to a complication-free vaginal birth.

It sucks when you're in the middle of it, but it was 8 hours out of my life, and the really bad part only lasted about 4 hours. It's a tiny blip in the grand scheme of things.

LindseyJW · February 2012

absolutely. though i'm sure that will not shock anyone who regularly reads this board!

DCtoLowcountry · February 2012

I had an unmedicated labor with DS1 and I'm planning an unmedicated labor for DS2. My reasons for this that although 3 of the 18 hours of labor were pure hell, my recovery was a cinch, DS1 had a great BF latch, and I felt terrific because I accomplished my goal. It gave me a lot of confidence going into parenting.

My labor with DS, though, was a spontaneous delivery with a head-down baby that progressed well. With different circumstances - induction, longer labor, sunny-side up, etc - I can see asking for pain medication if I felt it would give me a better shot at delivering vaginally.

mcatmay · February 2012

I had an unmedicated birth and was induced with pitocin. They had me on the highest level of pitocin they could go without an OB around ( I delivered with MW). I was absolutely and completely traumatized by my birth experience (the fact that DD had a head circumference in the 98 percentile may not have heped ;-) I did it for all the reasons WnW did. I will absolutely be getting an epidural next time. Every time I think too hard on my L&D, I hyperventilate...the most traumatic was thinking I was killing dd by not pushing correctly (finally got her out after 2 hrs of pushing). Call me a wimp but, even knowing all the research, i'll be going a different road with #2.

WinesNotWhines · February 2012

mcatmay, did you deliver at a birthing center or somewhere where an epidural wasn't an option? Thankfully my labor wasn't too long, but if it had continued at "level 10" for much longer, I think I would've caved.

I've heard that pitocin is a b!tch and I was open to getting drugs if I was given pitocin.

Hey Jellisy · February 2012

With DD I tried for an unmedicated birth, but after 2 hours of pushing, it was clear she was stuck (chin was up) and the doctor gave me the option of forceps or epidural, I chose the latter.

With DS, I was group B Strep positive and had to be hooked up to an IV for four hours. I had progressed really quickly and was in transition when I arrived at the hospital. I had the choice of an epidural so I could wait 4 hours or DS getting shots and blood work for strep. I went with the epidural. My SIL in the same situation went natural and she said the follow-up with lab work for her LO was rather traumatic - I remember from DD and her follow-up tests for jaundice how hard it was.

With both I had easy recoveries and a fairly easy transition to nursing (not having a learning curve with DS made it even easier).

amh_navyblue · February 2012

I had an unmedicated, non-induced labors with both girls. Labor for #2 was MUCH faster than #1, but she was also 10 days past her EDD, so I was glad that something was fast lol. In both cases, because I went past my due date, I had to push my doctors a bit to wait on getting induced (in both cases, an induction was scheduled for the day after I actually gave birth). I do have to admit that as I got closer to the end with #2, I did begin to wonder if I could do it again and there was some anxiety about it...but at the same time both experiences were so empowering, that any anxiety I felt pre-labor was pretty minor. This may sound really silly, but the thing I like about labor pain is that it's pain that is finite and produces something pretty wonderful.

Mrs.Handy · February 2012

I think I will definitely. I arrived at the hospital 9.5 centimeters dilated at 2ish in the morning and thought DS was coming soon.....1 hours of resting and 3 hours of pushing later DS arrived 6:12am. I was exhausted but thrilled to have achieved my goal of going natural. Our doula was so impressed with our MW and her patience while I was pushing. Our MW even said that if I would have had a epidural they would have never let me push for that long.

It was painful and it did suck and I definitely dreamed of an epidural at times, but I'm happy with the result and will definitely try for a med-free birth again. I'm hoping to be able to convince DH to go with a birthing center the second time around but we'll see.

LindseyJW · February 2012

just in case you haven't noticed...check out the Natural Birth Board

<====

tomandcourt · February 2012

I definitely want to go natural again. I'm glad I did it, and had a fairly good experience . . . well, scratch that. I think I could have had a good experience had I not been in a hospital with some of their arbitrary restrictions. But my labor was short and I only pushed about 10 minutes.

So next time I am planning a homebirth.

LindseyJW · February 2012

tomandcourt:
I definitely want to go natural again. I'm glad I did it, and had a fairly good experience . . . well, scratch that. I think I could have had a good experience had I not been in a hospital with some of their arbitrary restrictions. But my labor was short and I only pushed about 10 minutes.
So next time I am planning a homebirth.

woot! happy to answer any questions you have along the way!

umdbride · February 2012

Thanks ladies! I had similar reasons to Wines for going natural, plus the benefit of quick recovery and hopefully easier time BF. Recovery was great but BF was not easy.

I'm definitely happy with my decision with DS - my midwives were absolutely wonderful and hospital experience was also good. You guys did remind me how short a time the pain actually is compared to everything else - early labor was fast, the tub was magical, and the 1.5 hrs of pushing (which is what I'm dreading the most) is really nothing in the big scheme of things.

Lindsey - thanks for reminding me about the natural board, I'll have to check it out eventually. I'm a little scared of the national boards, like they'd yell at me for even considering not going natural again Embarrassed

preissless1 · February 2012

I haven't read all the responses, but my goal was to go w/o an epi, totally natural. However, when my water broke 2 weeks before my EDD, there was meconium, I was only 1cm, and my labor wasn't picking up, so they gave me pitocin. I lasted on pitocin for about 3 hours, and then I asked for an analgesic. It wasn't my ideal, but I didn't get the epi, which was most important to me. I think that had I not gotten the pitocin, I would have progressed at a more natural pace and I would have been able use the tools I had been training with (Hypnobirthing) to work with my body. Even though I had the analgesic (Stadol) and it made me pretty much out of it, I could still feel most everything, and I was able to continue with my hypnobirthing breathing and relaxation techniques, and DH continued coaching me through the entire time.

mcatmay · February 2012

WinesNotWhines:
mcatmay, did you deliver at a birthing center or somewhere where an epidural wasn't an option? Thankfully my labor wasn't too long, but if it had continued at "level 10" for much longer, I think I would've caved.

I've heard that pitocin is a b!tch and I was open to getting drugs if I was given pitocin.

Wines, I delivered at shady grove with a MW so an epidural was absolutely an option. I asked. Several times when I would know if I needed an epidural bc I didn't think I could last much longer. Each time my MW replied that the baby would be born in the next ten minutes, I wasfine, I didn't need an epi. This went on for three hours. While the MW was amazing at staying with me and encouraging me, I felt like she pushed her agenda, not mine. Later, she told me she knew I was fine bc I 'never cursed at her or screamed bloody murder'. The other MW who checked on me the next day, when she found me in tears over 'how weak I had been' (I felt like such a. Failure at the whole thing...I would have never gotten through it without DH focusing me over and over again), was a bit angry at how far I had been pushed and explained to me why inductions are so different than natural labor. It helped somewhat but it was all less than ideal.

suecadence · February 2012

I was induced and had a super long labor (36 hours) so I did have the epi. I do hope to go natural with #2.

pixieprincss · February 2012

We heartily prepared for a med-free, low-intervention birth with DS (Bradley classes and homework, loads of reading,etc.). At 55 hours into labor, some interventions (including an epidural) became medically advisable due to some extenuating circumstances. While an unmedicated birth wasn't in the cards for DS, I am still a firm believer in "natural birth" and it is something be something we'd strive for with each pregnancy.

umdbride · February 2012

mcatmay:
WinesNotWhines:
mcatmay, did you deliver at a birthing center or somewhere where an epidural wasn't an option? Thankfully my labor wasn't too long, but if it had continued at "level 10" for much longer, I think I would've caved.

I've heard that pitocin is a b!tch and I was open to getting drugs if I was given pitocin.
Wines, I delivered at shady grove with a MW so an epidural was absolutely an option. I asked. Several times when I would know if I needed an epidural bc I didn't think I could last much longer. Each time my MW replied that the baby would be born in the next ten minutes, I wasfine, I didn't need an epi. This went on for three hours. While the MW was amazing at staying with me and encouraging me, I felt like she pushed her agenda, not mine. Later, she told me she knew I was fine bc I 'never cursed at her or screamed bloody murder'. The other MW who checked on me the next day, when she found me in tears over 'how weak I had been' (I felt like such a. Failure at the whole thing...I would have never gotten through it without DH focusing me over and over again), was a bit angry at how far I had been pushed and explained to me why inductions are so different than natural labor. It helped somewhat but it was all less than ideal.

That is really awful - I am so sorry you had such an experience! My big caveat was that if I was induced I would get an epidural, I've heard those contractions are so much harder. I am wondering if you would share the MW you had? I'm going to send you a PM if that's ok. I also delivered at SG and likely would again and I don't think there are that many MWs that deliver there.

ch ch ch chia · February 2012

I did not go natural... but had a sunny side up baby, and was pitocin induced. It was a b!tch even with drugs! LOL

I know, this is not really contributing to answering your question.

JKM416 · February 2012

WinesNotWhines:

The main reason I didn't want an epidural was because of evidence that it can slow labor (because if you get an epi, you're stuck in bed and can't move around, which is one of the main ways to get labor to progress) and women with epis are more likely to have interventions, including c-sections. I wanted to do everything in my power to avoid a c-section, and that was the driving reason behind wanting to go drug-free. I don't think my opinion on that is going to change. Some people claim c-sections aren't that bad, but I don't think they're comparing it to a complication-free vaginal birth.

It sucks when you're in the middle of it, but it was 8 hours out of my life, and the really bad part only lasted about 4 hours. It's a tiny blip in the grand scheme of things.

All of this. And the threat of a catheter scared the heck out of me! With #3, I figured that "copping out" and getting an epi for the first time would be lame, so I was committed to going med-free. I knew that in the long run I'd be glad I did. But I wasn't really excited at the thought Stick out tongue Labor and delivery isn't what I'd call fun.

I didn't prepare with DD to go med-free (I was induced), and with DS1 I was still open to an epi. With DS2, I was committed from day one to going med-free, so I never let thoughts of "maybe an epi..." creep in. That really helped. While I did get anxious at times thinking about the birth, I could visualize it better because I already had a plan in place.

The transition and pushing stages are so much about what's going on in your head. With DS2, I was in a good "space" and more confident - and I knowing how awesome I'd feel afterward carried me through. Having gone through it before, it's easier to focus on the end rather than what you're going through in the moment...or at least the fact that what you're going through in the moment is temporary! I knew what each stage felt like and so I could appreciate my progress and roughly anticipate how much longer I had. That reassurance might carry you through when things get difficult at the end. Perhaps some hypnobirthing techniques would also help? Keep in mind that odds are the pushing won't take as long the second time around, and you'll also probably be better at it.

Baby4OT · February 2012

All three of my deliveries were med-free. DD1 was induced with pitocin, but otherwise med-free and the other two were completely natural. All the same reasons that Wines listed were my reasons too. If pushing was the hardest part, you could always consider other pushing positions for next time.

bh2720 · February 2012

mcatmay:
WinesNotWhines:
mcatmay, did you deliver at a birthing center or somewhere where an epidural wasn't an option? Thankfully my labor wasn't too long, but if it had continued at "level 10" for much longer, I think I would've caved.

I've heard that pitocin is a b!tch and I was open to getting drugs if I was given pitocin.
Wines, I delivered at shady grove with a MW so an epidural was absolutely an option. I asked. Several times when I would know if I needed an epidural bc I didn't think I could last much longer. Each time my MW replied that the baby would be born in the next ten minutes, I wasfine, I didn't need an epi. This went on for three hours. While the MW was amazing at staying with me and encouraging me, I felt like she pushed her agenda, not mine. Later, she told me she knew I was fine bc I 'never cursed at her or screamed bloody murder'. The other MW who checked on me the next day, when she found me in tears over 'how weak I had been' (I felt like such a. Failure at the whole thing...I would have never gotten through it without DH focusing me over and over again), was a bit angry at how far I had been pushed and explained to me why inductions are so different than natural labor. It helped somewhat but it was all less than ideal.

omfg...that is awful. truly horrible.

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