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Natural Birth
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Anyone with a Natural Birth--not by choice? Please come in!
[Deleted User]
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Hi all! I was wondering if there are any Mamas here who went through natural childbirth, not as their first choice?
I have Congenital Scoliosis, with two metal rods in my back, and I was told recently by my anesthesiologist that an epidural would have more than 60% failure rate on me, which to me means I cannot have one. The anesthesiologist says it probably would not be worth trying.
I have never considered natural childbirth...It just wasn't something that I was interested in. But looking at the options I have now--which include IV meds (something I haven't fully researched but as of this point am not interested in--doesn't seem worth it) natural birth may be one of my only options.
I'm interested in hearing your stories of going through natural childbirth when it WASN'T your first choice!
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Re: Anyone with a Natural Birth--not by choice? Please come in!
Natural childbirth is my first choice.
I want to tell you about a natural pain killer your body makes called endorphines.
" Endorphins (or 'endogenous opiates') are natural opiate-like substances, similar to morphine and heroin, but not as potent. They are manufactured by our bodies in the presence of pain and act as a natural analgesic. There is some evidence to suggest that the pregnant woman's body starts to produce more endorphins just prior to labour."
https://www.birth.com.au/The-pain-of-labour/Endorphin-release
From personal experience I found my natural endorphins better than a half dose of Stadol.
I am sure there are lot stories of women who asked for a epidural too late (like at 8 or 9 cms). Perhaps they will post soon.
Birth is safe as life gets - Harriette Hartigan
I found this story using Google:
https://www.ovparent.com/page/content.detail/id/507022/One-Mom-s-Birth-Story.html?nav=5064
February 3, 2012
About a month ago, I gave birth to my third baby. This birth was dramatically different from my previous two. I had epidurals with the first two and planned the same for the third. Planned.
With my first, my water broke at home a month before my due date. Labor was about 18 hours. I had an epidural. Pushing was frightening because of baby's heart rate fluctuations. After pushing for two hours, I had a vacuum extraction to avoid a C-section.
With my second, I made it to term. My water broke at home. I had an epidural and a fantastic, easy birth. I labored for about 12 hours and pushed for 15 minutes.
This third baby had different plans!
On a Tuesday morning, I had a visit with the obstetrician. She said I had only dilated maybe a half-centimeter in the past week. We scheduled an induction for the following Tuesday but she thought I would go into labor before then. All that day, I had mild contractions, about seven to 10 minutes apart. I had a feeling that this was "the day."
By midnight, I decided that the contractions were close enough (6 minutes apart) and reasonably strong for me to go to the hospital. I grabbed a quick shower and we loaded into the car (my husband, my mom and me) and drove the five minutes to the hospital.
And here's where things get interesting.
My "plan" was to labor for a bit and get the needed antibiotics for group B strep then get the epidural as soon as I could. I just needed to get one bag of fluids first. I was just 3 centimeters dilated, so waiting an hour shouldn't be a big deal. Shouldn't.
My contractions got really intense really quickly. I had such a hard time getting up to use the bathroom that I was checked again after being there 45 minutes and I was 5 centimeters dilated, but the baby was still high. At every turn, I let the nurses and my physician's assistant know that I wanted an epidural ASAP.
After that 5-centimeter check, all I remember is Mom talking me through breathing while my husband pressed on my back. Then my water broke and I felt like pushing right away. I was checked again and assured that I was still 5 centimeters. They said the amount of amniotic fluid looked great.
Now the anesthesiologist was called. Contractions were every one to two minutes apart. I could breathe through most, though there was a lot of grunting and moaning and some screaming. I felt very much out of control.
It took 30 minutes for the anesthesiologist to arrive. I was checked and cleared to get an epidural at 7 centimeters.
Contractions were now less than a minute apart. I COULDN'T sit still or sit up straight. I felt like I was sitting on baby's head. Between that and a contraction that didn't let up that had me screaming that I couldn't hold back from pushing, I got moved to my back and pronounced complete at 10 centimeters just three minutes later.
The doctor was called. I couldn't keep from pushing. Within two contractions, my baby was out! The PA caught. Baby arrived at 2:42 a.m. The doc didn't make it until it was time for stitches. Baby Fletcher was screaming and peeing everywhere - the picture of health, 6 pounds and 18.75 inches long.
Total time in labor - two and one-half hours.
- - -
Looking back:
- I was so focused on getting to the epidural that I wasn't focused on the task at hand - getting through each contraction to the end result of birth. I think I may have handled some of the contractions better if I had thought from the start that I may not get pain relief.
- I was terrified of pushing without pain meds. TERRIFIED. I didn't realize that the worst was over during transition while they attempted the epidural (the only thing they accomplished was sterilizing the skin on my back). I didn't realize that the pain I felt while pushing was the baby's head! The pushing was actually quite a relief.
- If I had changed positions, I would have probably been pushing an hour sooner because as soon as I sat up, I went complete.
- The feeling of relief as the head and then body came out was unbelievable.
- - -
Recovery and final thoughts
The recovery has been awesome. Almost immediately, the memory of the depth of pain was gone. I know it was there but it doesn't seem so bad now.
Within an hour, I was walking around (they gave me a narcotic in my IV after delivering for stitches and such. After napping and waking at 7 a.m., I was ready to go home. Baby was super alert and has been an awesome nurser. He is so content as well - he hardly cries (at least for now).
I feel empowered and part of an elite "club" of mothers who have given birth without pain meds.
My husband was GREAT. He was there with counter pressure on my back. He ran for a nurse each time I felt I had to push. He even cut the cord! He is quite squeamish, but he held his own.
We aren't even THINKING about any future children right now, but, I would definitely consider an unmedicated birth again. I love that now I know I have yet another option. I will definitely prepare for it, though! I wish I had known breathing techniques and the stages of labor better this time around.
Birth is safe as life gets - Harriette Hartigan
Hi there
I went med-free on purpose with my son and plan to again, so I can't answer the main point of your post. But I wanted to share that you might find some comfort in reading Ina May's Guide to Childbirth, and doing some sort of childbirth prep- I'll be ordering Hypnobabies home study CDs (you can get them used on ebay) and am really excited about it- it basically uses hypnosis/deep relaxation as a form of pain relief.
Also, if you have access to a tub/shower during labor you may find it helpful. I pretty much spent my whole labor in water and it was AMAZING.
The ladies on this board are very helpful so if you have more questions don't hesitate to ask.
Loss #6 2014 Loss #7 (chemical) 2014
~DS Born! 2009~
~DD Born! 2013~
Well hello! Nice to see a familiar face. I have been thinking a lot about getting some books (I'm a big book nerd) and I do plan to take a general childbirth class. I'm not sure if I have access to a tub or shower (I have Kaiser) but I will definitely be looking into it! I commend you mamas who have willingly done the med-free thing--I'm not gonna lie, I'm pretty scared out of my wits!
Well if you're a big book nerd (me too!) then arm yourself with lots of books on the subject. I started out kind of scared too, but the more I read and more videos I watched (try youtube) the better I felt. I'd try to narrow down what you're so scared about. Is it the pain? Obviously there are some ladies who have pain free births, but I think mostly no matter how the baby comes out (vaginal, c-section, med-free, etc) there's probably going to be some pain involved. Even ladies that get epidurals or pain relief usually have to have some contractions first. If it's pain, think about other ways to relieve the pain- water, counterpressure, moving, hypnosis, deep breathing, laughing, etc. If it's not the pain that you're scared of, what is it? Being out of control? Not knowing what to do? No matter what it is, there's an answer on what you can do to make yourself less scared. It'll be fine, I promise
Loss #6 2014 Loss #7 (chemical) 2014
~DS Born! 2009~
~DD Born! 2013~
I'm not quite in the same sitution as you.
I went into my first birth not wanting any pain relief but being open to nitrous oxide gas. I really liked the nitrous oxide on the day but afterwards I felt like I could have managed without it.
With DD2 I went into it again being open to nitrous oxide. I ended up being sent home from the hospital and then because I completely misread the situation I delivered DD2 on the bathroom floor at home with DH catching her, so completely drug free.
Both births were great experiences in their own way. yes hard work and yes painful, but great experiences none the less, much like I imagine running a marathon would be a great experience.
Good luck with your birth.
Elizabeth 5yrs old Jane 3yrs old