Okay, so this is my second pregnancy. Last time I choose into an epidural and had it at a 7. I really got a feel for labor, but at the time I was super scared of actually going full natural. This time I'm completely considering it! What does everyone think? It is scary, but is it really as bad is you believe? What are good tips for deciding if it is right for you? What are things that worked and didn't work? Also, last time I had an episiotomy that was almost the full cut, (sorry TMI) I'm worried that I'll need one again, I'm a very petite person... How does that work without being numb... I really would rather not tear! Thanks!
Re: Natural birth
2nd FET 6/14/2013 - BPF!!! -
1st Beta: 1046!!!!! - 2nd Beta: 2754!!!!!
First u/s 7/11/2013 - TWINS!!! 120 and 124 heartbeats
Second u/s 7/29/2013 - wiggley babies! 178 and 184 heartbeats!
Third u/s 9/9/2013 - 157 and 161 heartbeats ... a BOY and a GIRL!!!! Cervix on the "shorter side" (3-3.3) - going to check again in 2 weeks.
Fourth u/s 9/23/2013 - Baby A = 157 Baby B = 150 heartbeat. Cervix now 2.3-2.6 ... being referred to a MFM
MFM Appointment 9/26/2013 = Both babies healthy, cervix now measuring at 4 - Playing tricks on me ... will follow up in 2 weeks.
Cervical check 10/7 with regular OB - 2.1cm --- going BACK to the MFM armed with ultrasound pictures from my OB of my cervix. *sigh*
MFM Appointment 10/8 - confirmed my cervix at 2.1cm - putting me on Progesterone for a week.
MFM Appointment 10/17 - Cervix unchanged! Keeping me on Progesterone - followup 10/29
">
Everett Alan James (3lbs8oz) and Eliana Lee (3lbs7oz) born 12/28/13 at 30w6d!
Proud Cloth Diapering, Babywearing Mommy to Desmond (5.30.2011) and Evangeline (2.26.2014)
Loving wife, best friend and teammate to Babywearing Daddy, Kelly (7.27.2000)
Volunteer Babywearing Educator at Babywearing International of South Central Pennsylvania
I think this is all good signs of natural birth going fast! I love labor and delivery as well, to me it was amazing and beautiful, and yes painful as well, but it was my favorite thing last time! If I can stay in the tub most of the time I think it would be awesome!
Good Luck!
My Pregnancy/Parenting BLOG TTC since 5/2011, BFP #1 12/3/11, M/C 12/7/11 @ 4wks 2d. Began seeing RE Sep 2012. October 2012 Metformin 1500 mg= ovulation on CD34 BFP#2 11/14/12 9DPO, EDD 7/26/13, DX Gestational Diabetes @14 wks, our angel born sleeping 3/24/13 @ 22wks 2d. BFP #3 7/4/13 8DPO EDD 3/22/14, DX Gestational Diabetes @14 wks. started insulin @16 wks. Our rainbow, born 3/19/14 @ 39wks 6d., we're so in love!
I did a lot of research and weighed the pros and cons and decided to use the Bradley method. I had a fantastic experience. I really think it was because I was prepared. I knew what was normal and when medical interventions were needed. I also chose a very pro med-free birth provider who was fantastic.
I labored at home almost the whole time with constant check-ins with my midwife and showed up at the hospital at 10 cm. I was there for less than a 1/2 hour before he was born. I had a tiny tear that was my fault because I pushed when the midwife told me to slow down. Recovery was super easy.
We are seriously considering a home birth this time around.
My advice to everyone who is pregnant is to educate yourself. You don't have to go med-free, but it really helps to know what your body is going through and what is normal and what is cause for concern and interventions.
Along came DD, my freight train who arrived minutes after I darkened the hospital doors. No drugs, no stirrups, no DH, no sanity on my part at all. I lost my head, birthing classes be damned. I remember laying there screaming and thinking to myself, "Oooohh, so THAT'S what the ring of fire feels like." I had another episiotomy with DD. I had no idea I'd been cut until they told me they needed to stitch me back up. They cut my vag with scissors and I hadn't even felt it - that's how much pain I was in. Since I needed stitches, I had to be numbed in my nether regions. I felt every single stick of that needle, and then felt the needle and thread when the doc got too close to the edge of the numbed area. Recovery sucked and was slow and painful.
I would opt for an epidural in a heartbeat to avoid that experience again. I know not everyone has a hard time like I did, but I'm literally terrified to give birth again and there's no way I'll go sans epi if I have the choice! I do, however, have a good friend who had very similar birthing experiences and she much preferred her natural L & D to her her medicated one.
BFP#3 10/29/13! Beta#1 at 4w5d - 2141, beta#2 at 5w1d - 7651! U/S 11/21/13 showed baby measuring 2 days ahead with a heartbeat of 127 bmp!
I can't brag and don't feel that proud of myself, and this is why: if I could have received my meds after 8/9 cm I more than likely would have caved. 0-8 cm was a cake walk... It hurt, there's no denying that, but I remember thinking "this can't be what women get so worked up about, can it?" Then it got bad, fast. Contractions came one of top of another. I would barely get past a peak and a new one was starting up. I was checked, 8cm. I swear I could see the doctor's head exiting the room when my body starting pushing on it's own. We called the doctor back in, he checked and I had already hit 10cm so I pushed. If that point of labor had lasted any longer I would have begged for an epi. I'm glad I didn't have time though, because in the end I did it natural as I wanted.
The biggest reason I wanted to go natural was because I wanted the entire experience. I wanted to feel what was happening to my body, and I wanted to be fully alert during the delivery and when I held her first.
My best advice is to remember the light at the end of the tunnel. "One contraction down," "soon I will see my baby," "and this pain is for a good cause" were all thoughts that kept me strong.
Good luck!
If you are set on it, a doula is a GREAT way to help you. Even if you get an epidural, the doula is worth the $$.
I had a natural birth with my son not really by choice. More because the a-hole doctor that was on wouldn't bother to check me because she "didn't think I could be that far along".
On that note by husband told me I was similar to his psych patients. I was totally naked and would not keep monitors on me and such. It was great!
With that said as soon as I pushed him out I was ready to get up!
It hurt, but it was barable. I however progressed quickly and didn't require an induction which I think makes a huge difference. I plan to have the same type of labour again, if possible.
That being said, it hurts like hell, I blacked out twice from the pain, and I would never do it again. I'm very glad that I experienced it as it should be once, but I called in advance for my second and made sure my ob had the "happy dr" waiting in my room for me. I wa torn, then cut (still talking sans meds) and they wouldn't even let me hold the baby unassisted once she was born bc I was sooo exhausted and shaking from the trauma of 26 hours of labor. Not trying to scare you, just giving my experience. I encourage everyone to do it once. But nothing anyone says will prepare you for it. Good luck!
Thank you for all the advice, I'm pretty set on using an OB and being in a hospital, but I'm now really considering delivery in water! I know a doula too so I'll look into that! If you have more comments feel free. I just wanted to say thanks for everything so far, it has been great! I think my sweet husband is getting a bit freaked out about the natural part though haha