Madelyns early arrival and tips!!

jeannej86 · February 2012

Was crazy and is way too long to type out now. She's perfect and healthy (thank God!) but it was scary for awhile.

Some tips I have!

Check for hemherroids ASAP! If you have them you'll want to let the nurse know so she can get the cream for you.

All of my complications came from a LEEP procedure I had 6 years ago. This was laser vaporization of cervical cells. Not only did I bleed excessively before during and after labor, but I had trouble dilating because she couldn't fight her way through the scar tissue. If you've had a LEEP procedure let them know, be prepared for LOTS of blood and a very long labor hopefully this won't be the case with you, but I'm trying to prepare you.) just be sure to at least ask your doc about it.

Get an epi. I was set on doing natural and the epidural was the best decision I've ever made.

Donr be afraid to tell guests to wait in the hall if you are breastfeeding. I caught myself saying "oh I'll feed her after this person leaves" but another would walk right in! The door of visitors never closes so force it closed yourself.

Good luck!!!! You all will do great and you'll love finally meeting your LO!!

lindsayandjamie · February 2012

Congrats on your healthy LO. Sorry to hear your previous LEEP resulted in complications.

Can I say though that as far as your 'tips, 'get an epi' is ridiculous advice. What worked for you and your circumstances and what may be best for someone else who wants to go natural is not dependent. A blanket statement of 'get an epi' is not a tip, it's a personal preference that worked for you in this labour. As someone who has prepared for 6 months for a med-free birth, I find that tidbit incredibly unhelpful.

nmdeskins · February 2012

lindsayandjamie:

Congrats on your healthy LO. Sorry to hear your previous LEEP resulted in complications.

Can I say though that as far as your 'tips, 'get an epi' is ridiculous advice. What worked for you and your circumstances and what may be best for someone else who wants to go natural is not dependent. A blanket statement of 'get an epi' is not a tip, it's a personal preference that worked for you in this labour. As someone who has prepared for 6 months for a med-free birth, I find that tidbit incredibly unhelpful.

This. Although I am happy that you received the delivery you wanted with an epidural, I for one don't take this as very sound advice.

I went natural with our first daughter with absolutely no pain medications and plan on doing it with our second in just a couple of weeks. Going natural was the best choice for me and I hope it proves to be this time around as well.

I just don't think that telling women (especially FTM's) to get an epidural is very kosher. Just because it worked for you, doesn't mean it's what everyone wants.... Just a thought on putting out "advice" for mom's out there who really don't know what to expect.

Mrs_Est11.11.06 · February 2012

Congrats. One more tip.... Make sure DH is not always entertaining the guest he needs his sleep too.

jeannej86 · February 2012

nmdeskins:
lindsayandjamie:

Congrats on your healthy LO. Sorry to hear your previous LEEP resulted in complications.

Can I say though that as far as your 'tips, 'get an epi' is ridiculous advice. What worked for you and your circumstances and what may be best for someone else who wants to go natural is not dependent. A blanket statement of 'get an epi' is not a tip, it's a personal preference that worked for you in this labour. As someone who has prepared for 6 months for a med-free birth, I find that tidbit incredibly unhelpful.

This. Although I am happy that you received the delivery you wanted with an epidural, I for one don't take this as very sound advice.

I went natural with our first daughter with absolutely no pain medications and plan on doing it with our second in just a couple of weeks. Going natural was the best choice for me and I hope it proves to be this time around as well.

O I just don't think that telling women (especially FTM's) to get an epidural is very kosher. Just because it worked for you, doesn't mean it's what everyone wants.... Just a thought on putting out "advice" for mom's out there who really don't know what to expect.

Previous posters:

Im proud of your decisions to go med-free and I understand you don't have the benefiting of knowing my full birth story. That said: I dont think it is "kosher" to censor others posts. That is a tip, it's my tip and I wish someone had given it to me.

We are all intelligent women and capable of "filtering" advice to our personal beliefs and situations. Some women, such as yourselves will choose to ignore it -which is perfectly fine.

But someone out there is not going to experience the ideal birth. I experienced contractions for 9 hours with zero pain meds (not even ib profen). Because of the severe bleeding and blod clots the size of softbaIlls I was not free to move and adjust my body to ease the pain. When I found out I was only 3 centimeters I had a complete breakdown. It took my husband an hour to convince me I was NOT a failure or any less of a woman for accepting pain meds. I was furious with myself and felt like such a quitter.

Perhaps I should have said: no one will think less of you if you don't do it pain free, but I doubt you would have appreciated that either. Stay strong in your decision, but some woman out there is going to read this and appreciate the tip.

JenJH923 · February 2012

I agree with all of your advice, especially the epidural one! Although I ended up with a c-section(epidural not optional there ! lol) I did labor for a while first. I got the epidural as soon as the contractions got bad and then I felt great. I was able to rest, laugh, and actually enjoy being in labor.

Mar5195 · February 2012

Ainslie325:

FWIW, I can't speak for the OP, but I read her sentiment on the epidural as, "don't beat yourself up for having an epidural. Though it's not what you might have envisioned, it may facilitate a better birth experience than your particular situation would have allowed without it."

SO much about mothering (starting with pregnancy, then labor and delivery) is a matter of personal preference, people have very strong opinions about their own preferences, and you're all correct in saying that what may be best for one woman and family might not be best for another. I think that saying "give yourself permission to have an epidural if you feel you need it" is different from saying "everyone should have an epidural." I know that her original post read more like the latter than the former, but I can appreciate the sentiment in letting others know that it's okay to change plans. It doesn't make you less of a woman, less tough, more of a wimp, etc.

Perhaps she could have been more clear, but I think the intention here was a good one.

I couldn't agree with this more! We are all intelligent women who are going to make the very best decisions for us and our families.

I really took from her post that because of her LEEP she wasn't in a position to go natural. And I think if some random Mama with LEEP happened to stumble on this post they would have been informed that an EPI might be in their best interest. And maybe they could use this info to form their own decision.

I know I've googled random preggo stuff and found old messages boards with great info to my current issue/problem.

FormerlyKrista555 · February 2012

lindsayandjamie:

Congrats on your healthy LO. Sorry to hear your previous LEEP resulted in complications.

Can I say though that as far as your 'tips, 'get an epi' is ridiculous advice. What worked for you and your circumstances and what may be best for someone else who wants to go natural is not dependent. A blanket statement of 'get an epi' is not a tip, it's a personal preference that worked for you in this labour. As someone who has prepared for 6 months for a med-free birth, I find that tidbit incredibly unhelpful.

Yeah, I agree with this. Most women who choose not to get an epidural have made that decision and prepared for it before labor.

And I am planning on having an epidural just like I did with my last labor.

FormerlyKrista555 · February 2012

jeannej86:
nmdeskins:
lindsayandjamie:

Congrats on your healthy LO. Sorry to hear your previous LEEP resulted in complications.

Can I say though that as far as your 'tips, 'get an epi' is ridiculous advice. What worked for you and your circumstances and what may be best for someone else who wants to go natural is not dependent. A blanket statement of 'get an epi' is not a tip, it's a personal preference that worked for you in this labour. As someone who has prepared for 6 months for a med-free birth, I find that tidbit incredibly unhelpful.

   This. Although I am happy that you received the delivery you wanted with an epidural, I for one don't take this as very sound advice.

   I went natural with our first daughter with absolutely no pain medications and plan on doing it with our second in just a couple of weeks. Going natural was the best choice for me and I hope it proves to be this time around as well.

O I just don't think that telling women (especially FTM's) to get an epidural is very kosher. Just because it worked for you, doesn't mean it's what everyone wants.... Just a thought on putting out "advice" for mom's out there who really don't know what to expect.

Previous posters:

Im proud of your decisions to go med-free and I understand you don't have the benefiting of knowing my full birth story. That said: I dont think it is "kosher" to censor others posts. That is a tip, it's my tip and I wish someone had given it to me.

We are all intelligent women and capable of "filtering" advice to our personal beliefs and situations. Some women, such as yourselves will choose to ignore it -which is perfectly fine.

But someone out there is not going to experience the ideal birth. I experienced contractions for 9 hours with zero pain meds (not even ib profen). Because of the severe bleeding and blod clots the size of softbaIlls I was not free to move and adjust my body to ease the pain. When I found out I was only 3 centimeters I had a complete breakdown. It took my husband an hour to convince me I was NOT a failure or any less of a woman for accepting pain meds. I was furious with myself and felt like such a quitter.

Perhaps I should have said: no one will think less of you if you don't do it pain free, but I doubt you would have appreciated that either. Stay strong in your decision, but some woman  out there is going to read this and appreciate the tip.

Perhaps it was your wording in the original post. You simply made the tip "Get an epidural" without any further explanation.

Maybe a better way to say it would be: "if you are planning a natural birth, be prepared. For me, getting an epidural was a good thing, and I am so glad I did it. Don't feel like a failure if you do end up getting one. The important thing is that you have a healthy baby."

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Madelyns early arrival and tips!!

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