- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
May 2012 Moms
If hindsight is 20-20 (Also on June board)
What would be the one thing you wish you had known before going into labor/giving birth?
Was there anything you wish you had brought with you to the hospital?
What was the one thing you were glad you DID bring with you that helped you make it though the labor/delivery?
If you could give one piece of advice that you wish someone had told you, especially to a first time mother giving birth, what would it be?
I am being induced on Wednesday morning, I'm a first time mother, and just wanting to hear some experiences. I am planning on a pain med-free birth.
Warning
No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
This discussion has been closed.
Re: If hindsight is 20-20 (Also on June board)
My biggest piece of advice: eat something! Before you go to the hospital and after you give birth no matter how tired you are. I went into labor at 1am , so I last ate at 7pm. DS was born at 6:38 pm and then we had 2 hrs of bonding/ nursing, so it was over 24 hrs since I last ate. DH offered to bring me food, but I didn't feel hungry anymore, just exhausted. Well, when the nurse got me up to clean me and use the bathroom, I ended up fainting. They gave me smelling salts to revive me when I was starting to blackout, but instead of waking up right away, I took one sniff and was out. When I came to, I was shaking and covered with sweat. DH immediately brought me food and while it helped, it took awhile and I couldn't hold DS until I regained my strength. So, eat when you can!
I hired a doula at the last minute for my birth and that was the best thing I could have done. I hadn't totally planned on a med free birth but just wanted to see how long I could go. I ended up getting to 8-9 cm with back labor before I finally gave in and got an epidural. Between the birth of my first dd and this birth though, this experience was much calmer and more like what I hoped due to having the doula there to support us. I also was glad I brought my own pillows and wore my own clothes for most of the labor. Made me feel more calm. Definitely eat something too before you go to the Hospital. You can always request jello or fruit juice even if you get the epidural--I know they let me have some and that helped my energy level when it came time to push. Good luck!!
I can't relate to a med-free labor, I had always planned on getting an epidural and I LOVED it! I actually remember wanting immediately to go again as soon as he was out b/c it was so effortless!
As far as afterwards, I wish I would have had a visitors schedule or had no visitors unless they let me know they were coming or asked. It seemed like someone would leave as another person would come in. Of course they would want to hold the baby or you feel like you have to 'entertain' them, when really either you want to be bonding with baby, resting, practicing breastfeeding, etc.
Also, I loved my nursing tanks. I could wear that with comfy yoga pants, and it was easy to pop the top down to feed him.
I agree with the eating before & after & about the visitors. I was also induced but ended up with a c/s. But be careful with what you decide to eat beforehand. After getting the cervidal (sp?) I was allowed to eat something light & the nurse said they had tomato soup. I declined & happy I did since I ended up getting sick in the OR (ended up eating a trail mix bar from home & a boost drink). And since DD was born at 9:15pm I didn't have to worry about visitors -til the next day- except my mom who was already there & my sister who rushed over.
One thing I wish I would have done was continuously ask how DD was doing & everything before delivery. I ended up with a c/s because her heart rate was dropping after each pitocin-induced contraction. One minute we were going along with the induction (having dilated to a 4) then all of a sudden the doctor came back in saying her heart rate had been dropping for the past hour & needed to do a c/s. Nothing had been said to us about it beforehand. Definitely be prepared for the possibility of a c/s.
And another thing about visitors - both in the hospital & once you get home - make sure YOU know people are coming over & give the ok, not just your DH or whoever else. I'm 3 weeks pp & it still irritates me when either people come by unexpected or DH neglects to tell me (or run it by me) when someone is coming over/asks to come over.
PP mentioned eating something which was the recommendation of my Bradley instructor also, so I did. It came back up with a vengeance though so be careful. My DH still cannot drink blue Gatorade!
My advice Is to go in expecting the worst, especially if you are trying to go pain med free! I expected to be in labor for 24 hours. I was for only 8. That mind set helped me. Also, take everything from the hospital when you leave!!
DS #1 born 05/25/2012
BFP#2: 06/12/2013 ---- loss
DS #2 born 4/08/2014
BPF#4: 2/1/2016 --- 2/23/2016 suspected molar pregnancy--- 3/15/2016 D&E - diagnosis MM
BFP#5 - 9/22/2016
* formally bornmommy
DH was useless for helping me deal with labor, a doula would have been nice. But, I do not regret my epidural.
I wish I would have known I could request a sign on my door for privacy once in a while. People are constantly coming and going. It is annoying as hell!!!
Nothing I brought with me was important except my iPhone.
Labor sucks. But after its all done, the hormones kick in and you barely remember the pain. It's crazy, but true.
Make a pregnancy ticker
BFP #1: 6/10/11 Natural m/c 6/20/11
BFP #2: 8/30/11 Vanishing Twin diagnosed at 8 weeks, DS born 5/6/12
BFP #3: 5/24/14 stick, baby, stick! Beta 1 (16dpo): 645, Beta 2 (18dpo): 1652
My labor went fine. I had no pain medication and really, there isn't anything I would change. The only thing I needed in labor was water and chapstick. Counter pressure to my lower back was helpful once I was around 4 cm and forward.
The only thing I would change and it wasn't a big deal but kind of embarrassing, is I forgot to use the bathroom once I was admitted (6 cm). 4 hours later when it was time to stare pushing, I was peeing like a race horse (sorry TMI...Actually once you give birth, nothing feels like TMI..Its very animalistic). I did remember once to use the bathroom but I had to wait for the nurse to help me with all the cords and stuff and then I forgot about it.
DS #1 born 05/25/2012
BFP#2: 06/12/2013 ---- loss
DS #2 born 4/08/2014
BPF#4: 2/1/2016 --- 2/23/2016 suspected molar pregnancy--- 3/15/2016 D&E - diagnosis MM
BFP#5 - 9/22/2016
* formally bornmommy
With DS1, I wish I'd been better prepared to tell staff they could kiss it when they were pushing me for interventions and keeping me tied down in bed. I was glad I took PJ pants I wasn't worried about getting ruined... cause they got ruined all right!
With DS2, I wish i'd remembered to pack my dang pants... I went home in PJ pants because I left the yoga pants in the dryer. I'm glad I did the research on a great facility to birth in (a birth center attached to a hospital) and took an excellent natural birthing class because it all helped me have the kind of labor I wanted. Even if interventions had been necessary, I'd have felt like they were REALLY necessary because I believed in my care providers so much.
My natural birth started with my water breaking and ended 8 hours later. It was a fast, crazy experience. I am glad it went so quickly - I didn't have time to think!
What would be the one thing you wish you had known before going into labor/giving birth?That it was going to hurt a lot more than I expected (I remember saying at one point, "Those hypnobirthing people are full of shiit!").
Was there anything you wish you had brought with you to the hospital?I wish that I had my own relaxing music. My water broke 2 weeks early, so I hadn't gotten around to making CD's yet. The whole time I was wishing for my songs.
What was the one thing you were glad you DID bring with you that helped you make it though the labor/delivery? My copy of The Birth Partner, because when the nurse was trying to convince me I needed certain interventions (pitocin, IV, monitoring), I was able to refer back to the marked pages in the book for reminders.
If you could give one piece of advice that you wish someone had told you, especially to a first time mother giving birth, what would it be? Practice your relaxation techniques and give yourself positive affirmations as frequently as possible. If you can really, truly allow yourself to relax and let your body do it's work, things will go much more quickly and comfortably for you.
I am being induced on Wednesday morning, I'm a first time mother, and just wanting to hear some experiences. I am planning on a pain med-free birth.
Ask them to start you on the lowest possible amount of pitocin (assuming that is your induction method), and to try turning it off once your contractions get into a good rhythm to see if you can continue your labor naturally. From what I have heard pitocin can cause contractions to be much more painful, but that they are manageable if the pitocin is administered properly.
Go into this with confidence and odds are you will be able to do it. Just remember that you will forget the pain almost immediately when you have that precious baby in your arms. I know I did!
What would be the one thing you wish you had known before going into labor/giving birth?
How unpredictable it would be - even for an induction. I wasn't favorable, and so we had this 2-3 day plan for induction. I sent my husband home and changed my plans for medications on the basis on that plan and the advice that I got from my doctor. I ended up delivering about anhour after I was supposed to have started Pitocin, lol. Labor went fast, I just needed a nudge. Ended up sleeping through it (thanks to Ambien, IV narcotics and an epidural - none of which I'd planned on but took in order to rest for the following day).
Was there anything you wish you had brought with you to the hospital?
No. If anything, I overpacked. Never used most of what we brought for entertainment or labor and stayed in a hospital gown until I got dressed for discharge. Wait - I might have wanted my pillow. But that's it.
What was the one thing you were glad you DID bring with you that helped you make it though the labor/delivery?
My laptop kept me entertained. Nice to have that.
If you could give one piece of advice that you wish someone had told you, especially to a first time mother giving birth, what would it be?
Dear God, rest. I was so spun up about breastfeeding and trying to make it work (didn't for us) that I stayed up most of the time I was in the hospital trying to watch her cues so I could get her latched. I wish I'd sent her to the nursery - they would have brought her to me if she was hungry.
Oh, and I would call around the family so that you have some idea who is planning to visit. We live 3-4 hours from our family and didn't expect anyone to come, which made it surprising when we had several visitors that we didn't expect. Everyone was very polite about giving us space, but I hadn't showered and was tired and uncomfortable trying to feed (and bleeding all over the place, etc). I think I would have done things differently if I'd known to expect visitors.
I am being induced on Wednesday morning, I'm a first time mother, and just wanting to hear some experiences. I am planning on a pain med-free birth.
Good luck!
Gabriel Ross - August 24, 2009 * Vivienne Rose - May 1, 2012
My Blog
I was planning on a med free birth as well and ended up having to get pitocin (sp?) to speed along the contractions... which ultimately led to an epidural because my contractions were much more frequent and intense. I was not as strong as I had originally thought. I had to come to terms with that in the delivery room.
So, my advice to you... Keep an open mind. Just go in with a "general" plan on what you want to happen. But if it doesn't happen that way... just go with the flow. The most important thing is to do what is best for you and for baby.
Good luck!
What would be the one thing you wish you had known before going into labor/giving birth? AFTER YOU GIVE BIRTH MED-FREE, THE PAIN IS NOT OVER, AS I HAVE HEARD MANY NATURAL BIRTH ADVOCATES TELL ME. IT STILL HURTS DOWN THERE, AND THEN A NURSE COMES IN AND PUSHES ON YOUR STOMACH. THAT HURTS SOOOO BAD. I WAS LITERALLY YELLING WHILE THEY WERE DOING IT. AND THEY DON'T EVEN TELL YOU WHAT THEY ARE DOING OR EXPLAIN HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO HURT.
Was there anything you wish you had brought with you to the hospital? i BROUGHT EVERYTHING I NEEDED. I LOVED MY YOGA BALL, I LOVED MY BIG FLUFFY TOWEL, AND I LOVED HAVING MY OWN BEAUTIFUL NURSING GOWNS FOR BEFORE AND AFTER THE BIRTH.
What was the one thing you were glad you DID bring with you that helped you make it though the labor/delivery? SEE ABOVE. OH, AND I LOOOOVED THE SHOWER WITH REMOVABLE SHOWER HEAD POINTED AT MY BELLY.
If you could give one piece of advice that you wish someone had told you, especially to a first time mother giving birth, what would it be? ONLY HAVE THOSE YOU ARE REALLY COMFORTABLE WITH BE PRESENT AT THE BIRTH. AND DO WHAT COMES NATURAL TO YOU TO GET THROUGH THE PAIN. I WAS SPEAKING ABSOLUTE NONSENSE, PACING IN THE BATHROOM LIKE A CRAZY PERSON, AND PUNCHING PILLOWS. SILLY....BUT IT HELPED ME MAKE IT THROUGH COMPLETELY 100% MED-FREE, AND FOR THAT I AM ONE PROUD MAMMA.