Re-Thinking Natural Birth advice

3222w27thst · March 2013

Im only 8 weeks pregnant and always thought my birth plan was natual birth.

I hear so many odd things about epidurals and were women so supposvly our bodies were made for this.So far i have been so sick and Im wondering If I cant even handle the nasuea kramps n back pain now then how will I be during labor.

Im 2nd guessing not having a epidural and Im not even in my 2nd trimester yet.

I dont have kids yet and dont take kramps or pain very well so I dont know how it will be. All i can think of is to tell them not even to offer me an epidurl.

Any suggestions or tips

Jellyfish42 · March 2013

If you are set on going natural, I would suggest looking into a doula. A doula is a knowledgable, caring labor support that can teach you/ help get through labor and manage pain. Look into it, if your interested, and maybe interview a few in your area.

Also, research. I find that for me, gaining as much knowledge as possible usually helps me to find peace with a decision and keeps me confident. This will be my first, too, when we finally conceive. But, I know I want natural and have already been building the support I know I will need. Good luck. You are strong, much stronger than you think. You can do it!!

A37licia · March 2013

For what reason have you desired a natural birth? That might help you understand current doubts, whether there are fears you can address or whatnot.

I'd recommend getting both sides of the epidural situation - lots of them go great, but lots don't and either add immediate complications or long term complications. In preparing for natural birth myself, it would have been foolish of me to only find "pain-free" childbirth stories and learn about that angle...that's not reality. I had to also read long and difficult and painful stories. Stories of epis in the end, c/s in the end, in addition to the "success" stories. To be fully aware, I had to learn the various "ranges of normal" for what I was choosing. And unfortunately for an epi, the range of normal does include complications and regret, not just peaceful, mostly comfortable childbirth.

I don't opt for epis myself, but I would consider accepting one if I had a very, very long, exhausting labor where my body required the rest and relaxation to help baby get situated. I know I'd be adding risks of a bunch of things at that point, so I'd make the decision very carefully and not because any doctor said I should get it. I add that not because you need people's own opinions on epis, I say that to show I'm not against epis in some situations, though my personal preference is to avoid choosing one.

hollandmama · March 2013

I don't think your pain tolerance will make much of a difference during labor. Labor pain is not like sick or illness pain, it's a kind of pain that you know is caused by muscle exhaustion and it's a pain that will take you somewhere.

I was extremely terrified by going natural med-free, I live in Holland where epidurals are not very common and hospital births are not even covered! So then I had to start my research and I realized that going the truly natural way (I'm speaking about home births even) is safer for babies and mothers when it's a low-risk pregnancy and the baby is not breech.

Don't think too much about the epidural, take it away from your mind, we (western women) tend to associate it directly with a normal childbirth when it should only be used when medically necessary (for surgery or when the baby is in distress).

Read, read, read, that will help you understand what's best for you and your baby... good luck!

aylafsu88 · March 2013

Honestly, do not make any decisions about your birth in the first tri. The first tri is so hard, you are nauseous, sick, tired, emotional and your body feels different. It is really hard to stay positive and make an important decision about birth at that point. Wait until you feel better and can think more clearly. When you feel better you will be able to read up on natural birth and L&D in general. You will be able to focus and make decisions about what is best for you. However, contractions are very different from nausea pains. Nausea is constant and seems to never get better. Contractions build in intensity and then slowly fade away. They also come in waves so you have time to rest and recover in between. IMO contractions were much easier to deal with than the nausea and vomiting in first tri.

cecilyandgautam · March 2013

What you feel in the first trimester is nothing like labor. And I really side eye birth instructors who try to compare labor to other discomforts in life - like if you don't take tylenol when you have a headache, then you're better trained to endure contractions somehow. That's a load of crap, IMO.

Labor is hard work - whether you do it naturally or on meds. You have more options in how to cope if you're med-free and I think it's worth the time & energy to learn as many coping mechanisms as possible and to *practice* them everyday.

That said, sometimes an epidural can assist in a vaginal birth - if you've been laboring for 30 hours and your put all your energy into the first 24 of them and don't have much left to give towards the pushing, then an epi might help you get some sleep so you can push more effectively when the time comes. The practice with the highest vaginal birth rate & highest natural birth rate in my metro area offers their patients epidurals after 24 hours of labor. Most of their patients deliver before the 24th hour, some decline at the 24th and keep going, but for those who are completely exhausted, the epidural can save them from a c-section.

So work hard during this pregnancy so you can cope without expending a ton of energy when labor comes. Plan to endure a 20-30 hour labor as a FTM and thank the Lord if your's is shorter. If you end up with an epidural after 24 hours, still be proud of how hard you worked and know that your work only continues.

JCWhitey · March 2013

You're 8 weeks. Give it time! When I was in my 8th week I was telling H that I was so miserable that I wanted to be "one and done". Now I'm 20 and feel amazing and told him I wouldn't mind a few more. Things change. Also, the idea of "pain" is different for everyone. What you experience *may* be too much pain for you. But if you learn to manage it you may not find the experience to be that "painful". My mom claims that she didn't experience pain in labor, just discomfort. But she also has a high pain tolerance.

Either way you go, educate yourself on breathing techniques and other management techniques. I know of at least three women who had epis but it either didn't take it all (one) or it only took on one side and they felt everything on the other (two).

wouldntitbenice · March 2013

On a scale of 1 to 10 I felt like a 2 for my whole first, and much of my second trimester. Into my third trimester I've figured out the food issues, and my body feels so much better.

You have lots of time, just read, watch documentaries, and try to get familiar with what you options are. You will likely feel the whole range from ill to excellent at various points during your pregnancy.

CDMay2006 · March 2013

I'm still in first tri, too, so i don't have much more experience than you, but... i plan a natural (birth center) birth and i look at it this way: your first tri is sickness for weeks on end, and while it's worth it, the pay off is months away. Labor and delivery is a day or two and as soon as it's over you have your LO. So while it will still take physical and mental/emotional preparation, it isn't day after day of feeling like crap and the reward is much bigger/more immediate.

3222w27thst · March 2013

If I would have wanted spell check i would have done it myself. Dont mess with a pregnant women. So keep the smart remarks to yourself. Thanks

[Deleted User] · March 2013

aylafsu88:
Honestly, do not make any decisions about your birth in the first tri. The first tri is so hard, you are nauseous, sick, tired, emotional and your body feels different. It is really hard to stay positive and make an important decision about birth at that point.

This. Wait, read, and figure it out later.

And I might get flamed a little for this, but, the nice thing about 2013 in North America is that you have a choice. Med-free isn't for everyone. If you do some research on both options and decide that med-free it isn't for you, it's not that big of a deal.

[Deleted User] · March 2013

3222w27thst:
If I would have wanted spell check i would have done it myself. Dont mess with a pregnant women. So keep the smart remarks to yourself. Thanks

Oh.

Yeah...good luck.

katiebenes · March 2013

3222w27thst:
If I would have wanted spell check i would have done it myself. Dont mess with a pregnant women. So keep the smart remarks to yourself. Thanks

I was about to give advice, then I saw this. Try not being rude to people who are helping you. you didn't even say thank you to everyone else, just a smart remark yourself. Pregnancy does NOT give you the right to be rude when someone gave you sound advice and pointed out a misspelled word... She wasn't rude about it.

She even related to you, said she had a low pain tolerance and was fine.

katiebenes · March 2013

3222w27thst:
If I would have wanted spell check i would have done it myself. Dont mess with a pregnant women. So keep the smart remarks to yourself. Thanks

I was about to give advice, then I saw this. Try not being rude to people who are helping you. you didn't even say thank you to everyone else, just a smart remark yourself. Pregnancy does NOT give you the right to be rude when someone gave you sound advice and pointed out a misspelled word... She wasn't rude about it.

She even related to you, said she had a low pain tolerance and was fine.

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