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ReIntro: Natural for #2 after High Intervention Birth for #1

catsinawindowcatsinawindow member
in Natural Birth

Hello ladies!  I posted a bit during my last pregnancy with DS, and lurked a lot in the meantime.  We just found out this week that I am PG with #2, so I'll (hopefully) be on here more as I plan for an unmedicated birth.

** Warning for ladies who only reading positive birth experiences, I will discuss my high intervention birth in this post** 

With DS, I planned to have an unmedicated birth, educated myself accordingly, and everything went swimmingly until week 39 when I developed Pre-Eclampsia. I had to be induced for the PreE, and very long story short I ended up with a high intervention birth including Magnesium Sulfate and Pitocin drips, an epidural for a reason other than pain management, more than 3 hours of pushing, a vacuum attempt, followed by a forceps delivery, and a very difficult recovery.  My full birth story is here:  https://media.community.thenest.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/52718655.aspx if anyone is interested.

I had a difficult time both physically and emotionally recovering from my birth, and I'm both excited and nervous to do this whole thing again!   Having experienced a high-intervention birth, I am even more resolved to work towards the unmedicated birth I was unable to have with DS.  I feel like I learned a lot from my first birth experience and am making appropriate changes because of this.

For instance, I learned that I do not advocate well for myself during labor, so I'm going with MWs in a stand-alone birth center assuming that I remain low-risk during this pregnancy. I think having my care providers "on my side" for an un-medicated birth will make a big difference.

Also, I recognize that I am at increased risk of developing PreE again because I had it once.  I also feel like I know a lot more about what a PreE induction entails and can make more informed decisions to have the safest, best birth I can under those less-than-ideal circumstances.

I also recognize that PreE is usually a disease of first time moms and the odds are in my favor that I won't develop it again!  I'm more than 30 lbs lighter than when I got PG with DS, and am researching ways that I might be able to prevent PreE in this pregnancy.

I love reading all the positive, med-free birth stories on this board, particularly from moms who had less than ideal first births.  I look forward to hanging around here for the next 8 months!


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BFP#2:  EDD 2/11/14, MMC confirmed 7/15/13 (growth stopped at 6 weeks), D&C @ 12 weeks 7/25/13

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Re: ReIntro: Natural for #2 after High Intervention Birth for #1

  • TallulahsmomTallulahsmom member
    I have been reading a lot about hypnobirthing with this pregnancy. I am considering taking the courses. The book I am reading now talks about natural ways to start labor if medically necessary. It had a whole list of options to try. I have found the books very helpful.
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  • Birdies08Birdies08 member

    It sounds like you're doing an amazing job to prepare for a new birth and a new story! Good for you :)

    I know someone who had a similar experience- she was induced for another medical reason and ended up with a million interventions. Well, she recently delivered her second baby peacefully, at home, in the water. It was beautiful.

    I don't know where you are, but in my area the local birth community has a class/support group for people who are preparing for birth after having a less than positive previous experience. If you were interested, that might be something to look for.

    It really sounds, though, like you know how to make this different. GL & congratulations!

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  • PepperBugPepperBug member
    I hope your second delivery goes much smoother for you! I had a similar delivery with my first. My biggest concerns going into my second delivery were permanent damage from retearing and recovery time. I wanted more than anything to be able to enjoy my newborn without significant pain for months on end. So I planned a natural birth for my second but worried that it may not work out due to recurring Preeclampsia. Also, if baby got stuck again, I planned a csection instead of forceps if an emergency arose again.

    After nine months of worrying about it, I had the most amazing, quick, natural delivery! My blood pressure went up around 36 weeks but stayed low enough that induction wasn't needed. And my entire labor was 5...no IV, no epidural and only a small tear that really only required a stitch for cosmetic reasons! My advice would be to find a really supportive doctor. Mine felt so bad about what happened to me the first time around and kept telling me at every appointment that I deserved an amazing birth experience this time around!
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  • robyn2201robyn2201 member

    imagemaymomNY:
    I don't know if it's true or not, but the Brewer diet is supposedly good for preventing pre e. Good luck!

    I was just going to mention this. Congratulations and GL! 

    Ivy: July 2010  |  Stella: Dec 2012  |  BFP#3: MMC at 11Wk's, July 2017 | Wyatt: April 2019 | BFP#5: Twin Girls due Sept 2020

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  • catsinawindowcatsinawindow member
    imagePepperBug:
    I hope your second delivery goes much smoother for you! I had a similar delivery with my first. My biggest concerns going into my second delivery were permanent damage from retearing and recovery time. I wanted more than anything to be able to enjoy my newborn without significant pain for months on end. So I planned a natural birth for my second but worried that it may not work out due to recurring Preeclampsia. Also, if baby got stuck again, I planned a csection instead of forceps if an emergency arose again. After nine months of worrying about it, I had the most amazing, quick, natural delivery! My blood pressure went up around 36 weeks but stayed low enough that induction wasn't needed. And my entire labor was 5...no IV, no epidural and only a small tear that really only required a stitch for cosmetic reasons! My advice would be to find a really supportive doctor. Mine felt so bad about what happened to me the first time around and kept telling me at every appointment that I deserved an amazing birth experience this time around!
    Wow, it does sound like we had similar experiences from a PreE induction to a forceps birth. I know what you mean about debating if a C-section would have been better than the forceps birth. It sounds like you and I had similar experiences with recovery (I was still in significant pain everyday until probably 12 weeks PP) and often thought that even a C-section recovery would have likely been easier. At least having delivered vaginally, I am able to birth at the birth center (they don't do VBAC). It's great to hear how good your subsequent experience was. I hope my BP stays low so I don't risk out of the birth center, but even if I do it's nice to hear that you had such a positive hospital birth experience. Thanks for the encouraging words!


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    BFP#2:  EDD 2/11/14, MMC confirmed 7/15/13 (growth stopped at 6 weeks), D&C @ 12 weeks 7/25/13

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  • catsinawindowcatsinawindow member

    Regarding the Brewer's diet, I have read about it, but all the research I've seen on the Brewer's diet shows no benefit for either BP or PreE.  I do plan to ask my MW about it, but in general, I'm a fan of research-based practices so I'm not sure that I'll plan to follow this diet.


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    BFP#2:  EDD 2/11/14, MMC confirmed 7/15/13 (growth stopped at 6 weeks), D&C @ 12 weeks 7/25/13

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