Did you always plan on going natural?

Annaeliz84 · January 2013

My DH reminded me of what I used to say before I became pregnant. He remembers me saying that I was going to select a doctor by asking them if they would give me an epidural at 1cm! Knowing what I know now I'm amazed that I ever said that!

I didn't remember saying that (until he reminded me) and I can't remember what made me decide to try for all natural. I'm pretty sure I was already leaning the all natural route because I remember asking about it at my first prenatal appointment and being annoyed by what the doctor said (something about everyone getting an epidural).

It must have been a gradual switch for me. First interest, then a slight inclination followed by some research, and then making the decision and researching everything I can to build my confidence that I can do this! Also, this board really helped me get educated and confident!

So how did it happen for you? Was it something you knew you wanted to do all along and why? If you changed your mind like I did, what changed your mind?

luvmyducks · January 2013

I used to say I didn't eat the apple so give me the drugs!

Honestly, just educating myself on the entire LandD experience changed my mind. And I didn't go into the research looking to be convinced to go natural.

OldGlory · January 2013

I think I've always leaned more towards natural. I never considered a HB until after I met my DH and we discussed it more. Then I researched a lot and decided that on top of a HB I also wanted to do a water birth. So, that's our plan.

annabelle.27 · January 2013

Not at all. For me, I think pregnancy hormones have something to do with it. I swear that being pregnant helps me get my mind around a natural birth.

Before being pregnant, I swore I wanted an elective csection. When I became pregnant, I soon began exploring natural birth and planned one. I ended up with a natural labour but a csection after pushing for three hours. After that experience, I swore I would not bother trying again and would go straight to rcs next time. When becoming pregnant again, all of a sudden I was researching homebirths, which I got.

tokenhoser · January 2013

When my doctor asked me early in my first pregnancy, I said I wanted an epidural. By about 20 weeks, I'd decided to go med-free. There was a lot of reading and self-education that happened in those few months.

love4b · January 2013

My mom had four natural births and I figure that if she can do it, so can I. I also have a deep distrust of hospitals I general. I was born at Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles in December 1980 and I had jaundice. At the time it was routine for babies with jaundice to be given blood transfusions - which my mom had to really fight against. She had read up on natural birth and child care and planned on putting me in the sun instead. They literally told her she was doing irreparable harm to me and made her sign something relieving them of responsibility. She took me home, put me in the sun and thirty some years later I'm fine. In the years after my birth, it started to come to that babies at Cedars born around the time I was born were given blood that was HIV+. There were around 200 babies infected, most of whom have since died. I know this is an extreme case, but when a doctor says that I have to do some intervention for the safety of my baby, I guess I'm just a little more skeptical than most.

Haley.Beth · January 2013

When I was much younger, I used to say I wanted nothing to do with childbirth. l didn't want kids, but if it happened, please, please, cut it out of me! Lol. Then I started nursing school, and became interested in female anatomy. Then I became pregnant with dd (unplanned) and I started hardcore researching the process of pregnancy and birth. I realized how AMAZINGLY COOL our bodies are, and from there I started questioning all the medical interventions that, with me just knowing what I did physiologically, I could already tell you without looking into specific studies, probably did more harm than good. Then I started researching natural birth and all my suspicions were confirmed, and I never turned back.

OrangeGrove · January 2013

minxyglams:
My mom had four natural births and I figure that if she can do it, so can I. I also have a deep distrust of hospitals I general. I was born at Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles in December 1980 and I had jaundice. At the time it was routine for babies with jaundice to be given blood transfusions - which my mom had to really fight against. She had read up on natural birth and child care and planned on putting me in the sun instead. They literally told her she was doing irreparable harm to me and made her sign something relieving them of responsibility. She took me home, put me in the sun and thirty some years later I'm fine. In the years after my birth, it started to come to that babies at Cedars born around the time I was born were given blood that was HIV+. There were around 200 babies infected, most of whom have since died. I know this is an extreme case, but when a doctor says that I have to do some intervention for the safety of my baby, I guess I'm just a little more skeptical than most.

OMG - how terrifying! I'm an '81 baby born with jaundice in LA too - but at St. Joseph's they just had me in goggles in the "tanning bed" (as we call it in our family). I too feel uneasy about the immediacy with which Western doctors want to employ drastic interventions.

bornmommy · January 2013

I never thought about it until I was pregnant. When I became pregnant, I knew I wanted to go natural.

danuli8 · January 2013

I started off kinda neutral, but the more I read, the more I realized that medical intervention is WAY over the top for most pregnancies and a natural birth would be the best thing for both my recovery and my baby's health.

A friend of mine gave birth to her first baby about 3 weeks ago. She was induced 3 or 4 days before her due date because she had to get back to work in mid-January. Of course, her body wasn't ready, the induction didn't take, she was on Cervidil followed by an entire day of Pit and never got past 2 cm, and bam, C-section. Given the situation, not surprising, but just sad. I haven't said a word to her about it, but I feel so sad that she missed out on what could have been a really great experience. Now if she gets pregnant with #2 down the road she will probably just get another c/s.

I fired my OB because she refused my request for delayed cord clamping, and am now seeing a CNM. I don't quite feel up for a home birth but wish we had a birthing center nearby--the closest one is 1 hr 15 min away, and that is just further than I want to ride while in labor. So I'm going to a hospital, but it is fairly NB friendly and has 2 tub rooms, one of which will be mine.

abell77 · January 2013

Before I was pg, I used to always think I would say, "give me the drugs, please!" But it honestly felt like a switch flipped the moment I knew I was pg. There is so much focus on what is going into your body (no coffee, etc.) that I really started to think about it more. Plus right after I found out I was pg I had friend who had a natural birth and I was able to ask her questions. She loaned me her Bradley books and after that I basically decided that was the way to go for me.

clariknittist · January 2013

I always knew I wanted to go natural - I never even considered the drugs. My mom had done it for all 3 of us, and I've always distrusted western medicine and the system we find ourselves in. When I was diagnosed with GD, my first worry was of course for the health of my baby, and the second was whether or not I could still have my natural birth. I did have to stand my ground when I got to the hospital - surprisingly, not because of the GD but because of my water having broken - but was able to go med-free and it was absolutely worth it. I felt so exhilarated after the birth and recovery was a breeze, which meant I got to fully enjoy those first few precious moments with our little one. I highly recommend it to anyone who asks my opinion on it, but I don't offer it if it isn't asked - I got enough unsolicited "advice" when I was pregnant, thank you very much!

RMama2012 · January 2013

Like the PP, my mom had 4 natural births so I knew I could. Honestly, I think she ingrained it in my head that natural was the only way. I always thought it was the ideal way but wasn't sure I could do it. During my pregnancy, I read and prepared myself as much as possible. I'm also a 1st generation American whose grandparents had babies at home with a couple neighboring women so while I am grateful for all that science and the medical world has to offer in the case of a true emergency, I do feel that in most cases it's not necessary. My grandmother had her 5th birth at home by herself.

sthomas1222 · January 2013

When I got my back tattoo I researched to make sure that I could still get an epidural. But I hadn't thought much about birth back then. I just wanted to make an informed choice before I put something so permanent on me. But I knew once we seriously started talking about kids that I wanted a natural birth, I wanted to avoid a C/S at all cost. And after my L&D rotation during RN school and having the nurse tell me you could figure out which moms had pitocin just by the screams, that stuck with me. Idk if that nurse was being sarcastic or not but you can definitely tell which moms are on pitocin by just looking at the monitors. The contractions don't look the same as those without.

mlrafiki · January 2013

My mom used to sing the praises of "the drugs" that she had during my and my sister's births. It's only recently that I've started to understand that probably the only reason she needed those drugs (I believe she's referring to an epidural) was because she was stuck in an uncomfortable bed in an uncomfortable room where she was unsupported and terrified for nearly a full day.

Honestly, though, I never thought about natural birth as an option because I ASSUMED that most births were natural! I had never heard of Pitocin, had no idea how common epidurals and c-sections were, or any of the other interventions that have become policy these days.

A couple of years ago, when the documentary "Babies" came out, Netflix recommended The Business of Being Born as a similar movie. Since then, I've done further research and come to recognize the negative effects of many interventions in the birth stories of friends and family. By the 5th month of this, my first pregnancy, I had decided I wanted a natural birth, and getting a doula has given me the confidence that I can do it.

I'm so thankful for this board for providing so much information and support!

Mrs E in Oregon · January 2013

I didn't know I could have a baby at home or what a birthing center was yet when I agreed I would go into the hospital only after it felt too late to have an epidural. I thought they were required because I had only heard of births with drugs.

From the age of 16, taking sex ed in high school, I had a problem with the idea that you are told to live a drug free life and that you have to eat healthy and exercise to have a healthy pregnancy and baby. Then at 4cm dilated I'm supposed to through that out the window and get all these drugs? Adult logic at it's finest.

It was really eye opening to discover The Business of Being Born documentary and find women that had delivered outside of the hospital on purpose. I never really changed my mind but as I learned more and more I liked what I was learning. I feel I have grown and become more educated, never really changed my mind.

aylafsu88 · January 2013

I always wanted a natural birth even before I became pregnant. I am terrified of needles and unwanted interventions so going natural was the only option for me. I figured that women have been having babies for thousands of year without medication so I could do it. H was supportive and by my side through it all. I had an amazing birth and it was the most empowering experience.

Mrs.AmyDylan · January 2013

I can remember being certain I wanted to be drugged and handed the baby when it was all over.

My view shifted when we dealt with infertility. We went to hell and back with tons of interventions to get pregnant. I believe that is part of what swung the pendulum the other way on NB. I lost the "fun" of getting pregnant the old fashioned way, so I wanted to have an authentic experience on the pregnancy and birth side. I was also really freaked out at the idea of being paralyzed from the waist down with an epi.

Taking the Bradley classes really gave me the confidence to do it naturally. We also switched to a birthing center, which was amazing. It made me so much more relaxed knowing that I wouldn't have to fight for what I wanted. I also got the water birth I really wanted! Oh, and the MW offered me an ibuprofen when it was all over.

MrsBigTime · January 2013

I used to say I would have an epidural as soon as I walked into the hospital, but really, that's what I felt like I was supposed to say.

I don't remember specifically what made me change my mind, but I was inspired by a natural birth story (the specifics of which I have completely forgotten) and I thought "if I could do that I would be so bad a*s!" Ha! Then, I randomly saw Kourtney Kardashian's birth on TV one night at the gym (I'm so embarrassed to admit this...) and when she reached down and pulled her baby out something sparked in me and I knew I wanted a low intervention birth when my time came. I literally only saw that specific part of KK's labor, so I don't even know if she had a natural delivery or not, but it inspired me nonetheless

I was never adamantly opposed to an epidural, but I wanted to keep the mindset that pregnancy and child birth were something women were created to do and I wanted to allow my body to do what it was supposed to do without anyone mucking with it's plan.

I did get my natural birth (full story in my blog, if you want to read it) but you best believe I was internally cursing at my stupid natural plan and begging for anything that would get help get that baby out of me! Ha!

I'm super proud that I was able to do such a feat, and it was by far the most amazing, beautiful experience of my entire life, but I now have a bit of wisdom and wouldn't fault anyone for choosing drugs. If I learned anything from my birth experience it's that 1. I am stronger and more capable than I ever gave myself credit for, and 2. labor is freaking hard! Whatever decision a woman makes for her is absolutely the right one and no one should feel guilty or ashamed by whatever path they take to safely deliver their baby.

nosoup4u · January 2013

I had no opinions about med-free birth before I got pregnant. One of my sisters had her first kid about a year before I got pregnant, and her experience really opened my eyes about what the modern US maternity care system is (lots of panicked providers, c/s at the drop of a hat, etc.). I came at med-free birth from the angle that the research supports more physiological birth. I ended up with a c/s the first time (and one that could have possibly been prevented, sigh), and planned and achieved a med-free VBAC the second time around.

PrimRoseMama · January 2013

I always planned on going med-free. I am thankful that my plans worked out.

CoffeeBeanFiend91 · January 2013

I've never planned on having a medicated pregnancy. I don't like putting chemicals in my body to begin with, and it wasn't going to be any different giving birth. I confirmed my beliefs as a premed student when we were learning about everything that could happen with an epidural.

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