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SJ&Beanie810 · June 2013

insertclevername · June 2013

I delivered DS med free. My entire labor was only three hours though. I do remember it being painful but I knew there was an end in sight so I just pushed through it. I will try to go mef free again if the circumstances allow me to.

LittleMommaBlueHen · June 2013

I delivered DS and DD pain med free. Med-free birth is a wonderful experience, but it is also hard work. It's called labor for a reason. If you choose to go med free definitely see if you can find good childbirth classes aimed at the natural birth community. It is definitely worth reading up on relaxation techniques and different laboring positions too. I don't recommend going blindly into a med free birth; preparation is key. I will definitely be going med free again barring any emergencies.

FormerlyKrista555 · June 2013

dhviel:
I had an epidural with my first and went natural with my second. It was a different experience with a different recovery and both had their pros & cons. But it is entirely possible and will provide an excellent birth experience whichever way you choose to go.

Exactly this, except I did have an epidural with my second but it didn't work so I felt everything.

There are pros and cons to each side, and don't let anyone scare you into one way or the other.

I had a good experience when I had an epidural that worked, and I was up and walking around within an hour of giving birth.

I had a good experience when I had an epidural that didn't work, and I was up and walking around within an hour of giving birth.

Good luck in whatever you decide. Either way, it's going to be worth it in the end.

runnergrl6675 · June 2013

Epidural 100 percent again, baby! I was induced last time so that's the only thing I would change, but I have no control over that.
I had an epidural during the labor so I can't compare my experience to PP but the epidural wore off and I felt everything for two hours including delivery The nice part of no epidural was that I could get up right away.

irwinkle · June 2013

It is what you make it and is all mental. I had a wonderful natural birth and will be doing it again. I read Natural Hospital Birth which helped me learn several coping techniques and learn what to ask your hospital for if you are birthing in one. Crowning was the worst part for me and I have several friends who had an epi and still felt that.

RingOfFire11 · June 2013

I had a med-free delivery with DD and really hope to have the opportunity to do it again this time around. I had a great experience!! It took me a little while to find my old birth story but here it is:

https://community.thebump.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/54699128.aspx

valigrl21 · June 2013

I went natural with DD. I had a very quick, intense labor. I went from 3 cms dialated at 9:15 AM when my water broke, to fully dialated ready to push about 11:45/noonish. It was painful. As PP put it, "it's called labor for a reason".

But what helped me a lot was laboring in the bathtub. I tried walking the hallways and a few other techniques but those weren't helping at all. But the bath was magical. If it hadn't helped, I would have gotten an epidural (although, that's assuming the doc would have arrived in time to do it).

I liked pushing w/o meds, I knew exactly when my body wanted/needed me to push. DD was born she scored a 9 and then a 10 on the apgar chart. I was up walking around shortly after.

I think with labor, it's always best to be prepared for any and everything. So with #2, I will have hopes of going natural, but will be prepared for meds and/or c-section, if neccessary.

LimeDrops · June 2013

I toyed with the idea and went to some classes but in the end it's just not for me.

I was so grateful to have my epi in and working when I pushed with my son- while it went fast, he was 10lbs, his shoulder got stuck, and he was "sunny side up" so I had excruciating back labor even with a great epi. I can not imagine what it would have been like without.

I have a lot of respect for women who go natural.

LimeDrops · June 2013

Also, for some reason my tablet won't let me edit properly, I wanted to add that if you have a well placed epi of the right strength you should still be able to feel pressure and know when and how to push. It's not like a spinal block (hopefully

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sugarland726 · June 2013

I'm just going to politely point something out. I don't have birth envy. I don't cry over not delivering my daughter out of my vagina. I don't have birth disappointment. So this isn't me being overly sensitive about my situation. But can we please call what you are asking about a med-free birth as opposed to a natural birth? Because that is truly what you are asking for. Advice and stories on delivering LO without medication. Calling it a natural birth implies that using medication (either Cervadil, Pitocin, an epidural, etc) or having a c-section is unnatural. It's not. It's just medicated to various degrees.

Think of it like this. Asking a mom of twins if they are natural is insulting. Her kids aren't artifical robots, are they? What you are truly asking is if her children were the result of fertility meds or if they were conceived without medical assistance.

I am certain you were not saying this meant in the manner I described. I'm just pointing it out so that now you know and you can be more accurate in the future as to what you mean, and less likely to hurt someone's feelings who may have difficulty coming to terms with how their birth went.

SJ&Beanie810 · June 2013

sugarland726:
I'm just going to politely point something out. I don't have birth envy. I don't cry over not delivering my daughter out of my vagina. I don't have birth disappointment. So this isn't me being overly sensitive about my situation. But can we please call what you are asking about a medfree birth as opposed to a natural birth? Because that is truly what you are asking for. Advice and stories on delivering LO without medication. Calling it a natural birth implies that using medication either Cervadil, Pitocin, an epidural, etc or having a csection is unnatural. It's not. It's just medicated to various degrees.
Think of it like this. Asking a mom of twins if they are natural is insulting. Her kids aren't artifical robots, are they? What you are truly asking is if her children were the result of fertility meds or if they were conceived without medical assistance.
I am certain you were not saying this meant in the manner I described. I'm just pointing it out so that now you know and you can be more accurate in the future as to what you mean, and less likely to hurt someone's feelings who may have difficulty coming to terms with hownbsp;their birth went.

I'm sorry! I definitely didn't mean to offend anyone. Next time I'll remember to use the term 'medfree'. Thank you!

AprlShwrs18 · June 2013

SJ&Beanie810:
This will be my second child. With my DD I had an epidural but this time around I am considering no medication, although I am on the fence because I am slightly terrified of the idea lol
I was wondering if anyone would mind sharing their experiences with their natural delivery and if they would be doing it again.
Thanks!

I'm the same boat as you. I had a rough experience with my epi and I'm considering natural this time too. I actually switched hospitals to seek out one that was more natural friendly.

ac1259 · June 2013

Yeah I sort of agree with that. "Naturally" can mean a lot of things. I went into my labor with DD saying I wanted to deliver her "naturally". Now I wound up with an epidural but I'd still say we delivered "naturally"...I pushed her out. Now to answer your original question, I'm really stuck on this. I went in with the totally med free birth idea but in a hospital that is very intervention filled with no other natural birth options within 2 hours, I had a hard time. Because my DD was 4 weeks early, my doctor insisted on fetal monitoring the entire time. That means no walking around- they offered to let me sit on a birthing ball next to a monitor but we never even got to that point. They wouldn't let me in the tub because then they couldn't monitor her. When I asked for my epidural I was like crying to my husband "I'm totally wimping out"..I felt like a total failure.

(Sidenote- since she was 4 weeks early and we both have jobs with long hours, we never made it to any birthing class....I brought the Bradley book I bought with us when I went into labor- Ha!)

So I did wind up taking the epidural and let me tell you..it was wonderful. I didn't really feel anything, when it was time to push I could feel contractions in my right hip. My doctor said I was pushing beautifully for not being able to feel and my daughter was born after 2 hours of pushing with no complications. My doctor spent the next half hour elbow deep in my lady business sewing me up..and let me tell you I'm thrilled that I didn't feel that.

Part of me is still disappointed in myself that I "wimped out"..Part of me says that last time was a great experience and if I have to deliver in the same hospital with the same options, I'll probably take the epidural again. But I think it's a personal decision and everyone's experience is different. I was up walking to the bathroom within an hour as well. The nurse was a little amazed since I could barely feel my legs, but I was! Sorry..that was really long!

jldubb0626 · June 2013

I attempted to get an epi, but by the time the line was ran I was at 10cm and couldn't get it. It wasn't nearly as bad as I thought because once you get to a point where you can do something, pushing counteracts the pain.

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