So I have a theory....

WearingRed · August 2012

I have been thinking back on my labor with my daughter and read labor stories here. And wonder if anyone else's labor preferences correlate to how they feel when sick with a head cold. Aka, when I am sick I want fluid food soup, smoothies and what not I want my mom or husband to take care of me and I hate being alone in bed. I want to stay in a warm shower. And I desperately want physical contact hugs hand holding touch of any kind. These are all what I wanted while I labored with my daughter. This is why I am trying again for natural birth even though I didn't make it last time. And why I believe the Bradley method will work for me. So to my question. Anyone else see a correlation for them? I am wondering about those who did birth training courses and how they worked for them? I'm just curious.

pepomntpat · August 2012

This is what my doula told me. I think it is a reasonable theory. What I want when I am sick is to be left the fvvck alone and that's pretty much what I wanted...and that didn't happen for me since I ended up being transferred to the hospital where you are never alone.

mystrana · August 2012

Well I don't have labor experience, but I know when I'm not feeling well, I like to sleep and have my puppies near me... so I'm not sure how well that'll translate to labor.

But I do think that sounds like a very reasonable theory. In both cases, something is making you uncomfortable and you'll have a natural preference towards what you know will make you feel better.

BakerMommy · August 2012

Interesting theory--I think I'll stock up on chicken soup, smoothie fixings, and jello. I always like to watch Little Women when I'm sick--wonder if that will translate. Smile

Temp76535187505890 · August 2012

I don't know that I necessarily like this when I'm sick but in general I'm not a touchy freely person. I hate to have my hands, arms, back or anything else rubbed and I'm very olfactory sensitive. All which were heightened when in labor. Up until the last hour I was completely alone and it was perfect.

Sawyerplus1 · August 2012

I don't think this theory applies to me very much. When I have a head cold I definitely want drugs to ease my suffering, which is obviously not the case with labor as I have had 3 natural births. I dont really desire much else, like certain foods or touch. I like to be able to sleep when I'm sick, and like DH to touch, rub, massage me at the end of the day. But in labor those things werent important. And I don't like baths in real life, but have had 2 water births.

With DS1 my main coping mechanism was counter pressure on my shoulders by DH. With DD it was vocalizing, ice chips (which I actually found very refreshing in labor). DH wasn't allowed to touch me With DS2 it was just breathing and visualizing, and holding DHs hand. None of those things relate to my experiences when sick.

annabelle.27 · August 2012

No. When I'm sick I generally want to be left alone to sleep and read. When I was in labour I did NOT want to be alone, and pretty much freaked out on my husband when he started to leave my side to grab something for the midwives.

bandwife · August 2012

I think there is a strong correlation between how you labour and how you deal with stress.

If you are someone that wants a lot of people around in trying times, if you want a personal trainer yelling at you to finish a workout, if you like to be the centre of attention, you might want a lot of people at your birth helping you.

If you prefer to deal with stressful events alone or quietly or just with the help of one person, you are probably more likely to labour well with a just one or two people helping you and a very quiet atmosphere.

As a side note, when friends tell me their labour stories they often match their personalities. My friends that tend towards the dramatic and always have a long winded story of drama and intrigue to tell me, have long dramatic labours - at least that's how they tell it.

My friends that are matter of fact about things and tend to just get things done, the type that might tell you much after a trying event that they were dealing with a lot of stress, they tend to have shorter labours and just seem to get it done.

I guess illness is a stressor so that could be a good indication.

aylafsu88 · August 2012

My DH and I took the Bradley courses and loved them. We were able to have a natural intervention free birth! For me the correlation was pretty close. When I am sick I want someone to help me, i.e get me things, make me food, rub my back but I dont need to be overly cuddled and hugged. This is exactly how my birth went! I had my DH and doula pour water over my back ( I had intense back labor) while I labored in the tub and I had them rub my back while I leaned against the wall during contractions. But I did not need hugs and cuddled per say, I needed their presence and support most of all.

Nechie122 · August 2012

Not true for me, mostly because being in labor felt nothing like being sick. When I'm sick, I like to curl up on my couch with a box of tissues, watch mindless TV and moan to whoever will listen. Being in labor felt a lot more purposeful. I had to steel myself for each contraction and it was more like: You can do this! My DH even slept through two hours of my labor. I was just worried about waking him up before it was the "real thing," haha. It was a lot more like how I am when I'm running than when I'm sick.

00jennifer00 · August 2012

bandwife:

I think there is a strong correlation between how you labour and how you deal with stress.

If you are someone that wants a lot of people around in trying times, if you want a personal trainer yelling at you to finish a workout, if you like to be the centre of attention, you might want a lot of people at your birth helping you.

If you prefer to deal with stressful events alone or quietly or just with the help of one person, you are probably more likely to labour well with a just one or two people helping you and a very quiet atmosphere.

As a side note, when friends tell me their labour stories they often match their personalities. My friends that tend towards the dramatic and always have a long winded story of drama and intrigue to tell me, have long dramatic labours - at least that's how they tell it.

My friends that are matter of fact about things and tend to just get things done, the type that might tell you much after a trying event that they were dealing with a lot of stress, they tend to have shorter labours and just seem to get it done.

I guess illness is a stressor so that could be a good indication.

That's really interesting. I'm a DIY freak by accident...if I can make it, why would I buy it? Kwim? And in labor I'm the same way. I was completely out of my element with my first, in the hospital and stuff. It sucked, I had no say in anything and was completely out of control. But with my second, I labored alone for the first hour before waking dh, and then he was with me for the other 3 hours, but I was kind of in my own world. With my third (4 day labor), dh went to work each day, and then on the morning of the birth, he went to work again. I had him come home at like 2:30 finally, and the baby came at 4:30. I just needed him for the really intense part when I needed my hips squeezed (posterior baby with nuchal hand). With my fourth, I let dh know labor started because I needed help setting up my labor area, but then I sent him back to bed. I labored alone until I started pushing (about 4 hours) and called him in to catch.

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