Epidurals and Natural Birth

momo214 · April 2014

First to apologize if this has been asked. I'm mobile and have no clue how to search on here.

So I'm a FTM and trying to go without an epidural. I'm not against it, just would rather have the freedom to get up and walk if needed and just to know I can do it without. My mom had me without one and I hope to be strong like her. However I know of it gets to be too much I'm ok with getting it. For those of you ladies planning to go natural or just without an epidural, are you doing anything to prep? My nurse suggested hypnobirthing and I bought a book. I also read Natural Hospital Birth. My hospital is pretty lame, no tubs, no birthing balls, etc. I haven't done Lamaze, Bradley classes or anything besides standard hospital courses. Suggestions?

awc1986 · April 2014

I don't know if the place you've chosen does it, but you can get a mobile epidural. The unit i'm using specialises in them, so it's what i'm having. It's an epidural that doesn't affect your legs, so you can still walk around. The more they top it up, the more mobility you may lose, but it sounds like a good way for me to go, personally. If you think you're interested in having an epidural but don't want to lose mobility, it may be something worth researching if your provider can do them.

momo214 · April 2014

awc1986 said:
I don't know if the place you've chosen does it, but you can get a mobile epidural. The unit i'm using specialises in them, so it's what i'm having. It's an epidural that doesn't affect your legs, so you can still walk around. The more they top it up, the more mobility you may lose, but it sounds like a good way for me to go, personally. If you think you're interested in having an epidural but don't want to lose mobility, it may be something worth researching if your provider can do them.

That's interesting. I will check into this. My goal is to go completely without but I really like this idea in case it does get unbearable. Like a first step towards relief. Thanks for mentioning this.

SMM1986 · April 2014

Honestly, I'm kind of winging it. I went into my 2 previous deliveries knowing I'd get an epidural, this time I would like to go natural; if I can't then that's okay too, so I'm just playing it by ear to see how it goes.
IMO- I think a lot of it depends on your type of labor as well.

momo214 · April 2014

kitchencolors said:

anniemore said:

Lamaze is pretty outdated, a lot of people seem to be into hypnobirthing. You might consider looking into hiring a doula. Some you can hire for just pre-birth coaching or the actual birth, from what I understand.

There are also many books on mindful meditation -- esp for pregnancy. Give Amazon a go and read the reviews. From my perspective, mindful meditative practices will probably be quite similar to all the hypnobirthing stuff.

Re: Lamaze being outdated... the current Lamaze family teaching stuff has essentially zero breathing practice. It's not "he he ho ho" type stuff. We took a Lamaze class and it was awesome, but it wasn't a natural childbirth class. It was just a general childbirth class.

I'm not doing anything in particular. I want to re-read a bunch of Ina May's Guide to Childbirth though, and we took a childbirth refresher since this baby will be born at a different hospital than DD.

Check out the Natural Birth board - there's lots of info there.

Kitchen, was your DD without pain meds? I will definitely check into the natural board. I'm not very good with bumping so I forget there's other boards on here more specialized. I tried Ina May and just didnt seem to connect to her style. A little too hippy for me.

SMM1986 · April 2014

kitchencolors said:
@awc1986 every time you talk about the options available in the UK I get a little bit sad about how shitty our options are in the US. I think it's pretty rare here for a walking epidural to be an option, mostly for liability reasons. UGH.

At least most of us get private rooms?

My hospital *just* renovated to private rooms. I was lucky and I never had to share, but it sucks there was always the concern that I may have to.

awc1986 · April 2014

kitchencolors said:

@awc1986 every time you talk about the options available in the UK I get a little bit sad about how shitty our options are in the US. I think it's pretty rare here for a walking epidural to be an option, mostly for liability reasons. UGH.

At least most of us get private rooms?

Yeah i'm jealous of your private rooms. Most NHS hospitals have shared wards, but you only go on the ward way after delivery. However, because i'm using a midwifery lead unit, they have private rooms available for a fee. My dad has offered to pay that for me, so if one is available i can have my own room and bathroom! I just have to hope that they're not fully booked!

We do have some pretty good maternity perks here BUT apparently the UK has the worst pre-natal care in Europe, so i can't imagine how good it is on the continent.

cynthiarene · April 2014

I'm doing a five-class series that combines childbirth education with the Lamaze book and hypnobirthing techniques. The Lamaze book is GREAT to learn about natural childbirth and to get informed on standard interventions, when they make sense, and how to avoid them if you prefer. It is the best book I've read so far, but I'm not sure if it is available outside of a class. The hypnobirthing was something I was not interested in at first, probably because of the name - but it's really just meditative techniques. I find it very useful so far, but I feel like I do need to practice with my husband if it's going to be useful. We are using a doula, which I know isn't for everyone, but it gives me a lot more confidence shooting for that natural birth. (Who knows if I'll end up with an epidural at some point, but I'm going to at least delay as long as possible.) I hope my rambling is a bit helpful!

motoLyn · April 2014

Will they allow you to bring your own birth ball? I'm bringing my birth ball (exercise ball) with me to the birthing center. If you can get your hands on Bradley Method Natural Child Birth I would suggest that. DH and I went through the class and read the book, its more geared towards husband coaching but the purpose is for your husband to help guide you through the pain and contractions.

Amazon Link to Book

Kaylee524 · April 2014

kitchencolors said:

@awc1986 every time you talk about the options available in the UK I get a little bit sad about how shitty our options are in the US. I think it's pretty rare here for a walking epidural to be an option, mostly for liability reasons. UGH.

At least most of us get private rooms?

Yup, according to our childbirth classes, most hospitals don't offer it because they have to have an anesthesiologist on the L&D floor 24/7 - not just in the hospital but actually on the floor. We live in a moderately-sized city, and only one hospital here does the "light" epidural, and even then, they won't let you walk around for liability reasons. There are definitely some questions that you want to ask if it's something you're interested in!

Empireceo · April 2014

Ina May is a good one and so is Birthing From Within.

momo214 · April 2014

Great advice ladies. I have lots of books to check out this weekend. Good thing DH is away at a bachelor party all weekend so ill have a quiet house to read up and relax. I'm hoping the mental prep I've been doing like @jennish11‌ said pays off. I know that's what I did before getting pepper sprayed at the academy and I breezed through that! Plus some ladies said it was worse than childbirth. We'll see about that. Loving all these recommendations. Thanks!!

LindsayB0505 · April 2014

With my daughter I wanted a med free brith. I was lucky that I was fully dilated within about 1/2 hour of arriving at the hospital (waiting it out at home and my water broke at home - contractions weren't overly painful until after my water broke). I know I said "I don't think I can do this drug free" and if I had been offered would have taken the drugs. But my husband knew it wasn't what I wanted so he kept trying to kind of change the subject and hold me off. Once I started pushing it wasn't really an issue any more. Again, I was "lucky" because my labor was so fast. I think it would be different if you were in labor for hours and hours and hours.

My advice: tell your husband/doctor/etc not to offer you drugs and to try to distract you and hold you off for as long as possible if you are saying that you really want them.

Lild09 · April 2014

If you have a birth partner that will be there they can use tons of different methods that are talked about in the birth partner...it was recommended by our midwife and the doula that did our class. My DH is reading it and he knows I want to go natural so I'm relying on him and my midwives to help push me through the tough times when I want to break down!

yogasailmomma · April 2014

Check out Mindful Birthing by Nancy Bardacke or the big book of birth by Erica Lyon, both have been very informative for me and offer two different but educated perspectives!

spacepotatoes · April 2014

The walking epidural is not very common in North America. My hospital includes it in their brochure on pain management but when asked about it, they say it's not actually available here.

I've been reading Ina May's Guide to Child Birth. I agree that it is very empowering and has some great suggestions for relaxing during labour and various techniques to try to get through contractions. I also started reading Husband-Coached Child Birth by Robert Bradley. I was actually interested in the Bradley Method and that's the only book on it that the library had, but it does contain the main ideas behind Bradley.

We took the regular prenatal classes too but our local health unit and hospital do promote labouring at home as long as possible and choosing meds rather than just being given meds, so our classes did include pain management strategies and breathing techniques.

Beyond that, I echo the suggestion to look into mindful meditation. I'm planning to try the Circle + Bloom one for natural birth because I've had success with C+B in the past and know that it works for me.

If your hospital will let you bring your own things, an exercise ball would be good, a heating pad, and tennis balls as well are worth considering.

cnbean · April 2014

Another thing to consider is what alternative pain meds could you get? I know that when I had DS they gave me morphine when I first came it to help me relax/sleep. It might be possible to get something to take the edge off but not have to go directly to an epidural.

lavendergiraffes · April 2014

Ina May & Bradley book
We hired a doula
And I second (or third?) the natural birth board. Awesome, helpful ladies. :-)

JessElam · April 2014

I had an epi with my first but am choosing med free this time. I have been taking prenatal yoga, attended a birthing class taught by my yoga instructor who is also a licensed doula. We discussed and practiced pain management techniques to help through the stages of labor, meditation and breathing techniques. It was extremely helpful for me and DH. We have also hired a doula to help through labor.

jfletcher3113 · April 2014

I have taken birthing classes at my hospital, read a couple books (Ina May Gaskin's Guide to Childbirth and Homebirth at the Hospital by Stacey Kerr). I also like the website, Birthing Without Fear.

I practiced yoga for years before getting pregnant, but included a prenatal class into my practice at about 20 weeks.

My husband and I also practice various relaxation methods and have a lot of dialogue about his role in the process, what he needs to remind me to do, etc. We are bringing an exercise ball, bathing suits for the shower and my peppermint and lavender essential oils.

The biggest thing moms I have talked to who have gone natural tell me is to prepare mentally and really research your options and know what you want so you can be firm on things when you need to be. Not to say that some women don't wing it (I know of one who completely winged it and it turned out great.)

You can do it, mama!

momo214 · April 2014

I'm so jealous of all the DH support y'all have. Not that mine is not supportive but I know he doubts how I/he will handle labor and I know he's terrified. Just watching the labor video at the hospital he was hyperventilating. He doesn't handle stress well, hates reading, and hasn't done much prepping for how labor will be for me and how to help. I think he's still in baby denial. Even if we talk about my wants/needs he starts to shut down out of anxiety. In fact I had a mini meltdown the other night thinking about labor and how he is going to be with me in the heat of contractions. I know it's only bc he hates to see me hurt. Now I have my best friend on stand by as a back up support person to jump in if needed. I think the hypo and meditation y'all suggested will be my best bet unless I can get DH on board and read a book within 6 weeks.

glowworm0166 · April 2014

I didn't do anything to prep (besides reading up on the things that could happen during birth and thinking about what I would want to do in those situations and I did take a 3 session birth/baby care class but it wasn't specific for non-medicated births) the first time around and had my son after 15.5 hrs without an epidural. I went into it with the attitude of "lets see if I can do this but I'm not going to be crushed if I can't." I have a few medical conditions that would have increased the liklihood of dropped blood pressure and possible c-section if I got the epidural, which is why I wanted to try without. Using that experience as a guide I would like to have a dula this time around but don't want to pay for one so I'm going to try to have a similar experience this time around. I would talk to your partner and explain that you will need support during labor. When I was feeling like there was no way I could do it, my husband would (quietly - I think he may have been slightly scared of me) remind me of all the reasons I had given him of why I had wanted to go non-medicated. I didn't get up and move much, even though I could have, because of the pain. I tried the birthing ball but the lack of back support was an issue. I ended up laboring almost the whole time in a chair next to the hospital bed. This time I'd like to try to walk a bit more and move around to see if that would speed anything up. When I hit "transition" and the contractions were beyond painful I insisted that I be checked because if I wasn't at least 7 cm I was going to get the epi. I was 8 cm at that point and then I knew I could do it. I did keep reminding myself of two things throughout the labor that I think were helpful 1: there are women all over this world who don't have access to give birth in hospitals with pain relieving drugs and if they can do it, I can do it and 2: it's just one day; I kept imagining holding my son the very next day and trying to think about what he would look like.

Jillzy86 · April 2014

It sounds like you would be a perfect person to have a Doula. You should ask your Dr. or hospital if they recommend anyone.

tjkdlhb · April 2014

mollynicole214 said:

I'm so jealous of all the DH support y'all have. Not that mine is not supportive but I know he doubts how I/he will handle labor and I know he's terrified. Just watching the labor video at the hospital he was hyperventilating. He doesn't handle stress well, hates reading, and hasn't done much prepping for how labor will be for me and how to help. I think he's still in baby denial. Even if we talk about my wants/needs he starts to shut down out of anxiety. In fact I had a mini meltdown the other night thinking about labor and how he is going to be with me in the heat of contractions. I know it's only bc he hates to see me hurt. Now I have my best friend on stand by as a back up support person to jump in if needed. I think the hypo and meditation y'all suggested will be my best bet unless I can get DH on board and read a book within 6 weeks.

This was my husband prior to baby #1. He has terrible hospital anxiety and freaked out over the idea of me doing even the glucose test.

Fast forward to labour, and he was a pro. I have no idea what changed, but I had envisioned him passed out in a chair, but he was amazing. That said, suggestions from PPs of a doula and your having a friend come to be a support person are good ideas!

miniray · April 2014

I think your best bet would be to hire a doula. I hired one this time around and feel much more confident and prepared for childbirth (compared to how panicked I was for my first). Ina May's guide to childbirth is an aweskme book and maybe look into hypnobirthing. Good luck!

momo214 · April 2014

For those of you that recommend doulas and have hired one, what has been the going rate? I know it varies from place to place but just to have an idea. When I've googled I've seen anywhere from $300 to $800 and don't think that was current. I'm super thrifty and we're moving so lots of expenses. That price tag makes me cringe even though I know I would likely appreciate having one. I'm at the point of luxury vs. necessity so not sure where a doula will fall in those categories. I really wish they just came with the hospital for free!!

cindythelou · April 2014

I hired a doula, I have an exercise ball that I sit on at home, I'm experimenting with essential oils to see which ones make me feel calm and rejuvenated, I watch a lot of natural birth you tube videos, I read Ina May Gaskin's Guide to Childbirth, and I'm taking all the vitamins and supplements recommended by my midwife (EPO starting at 37 weeks, RRL, vitamin d, prenatal, alfalfa) Just trying to get myself in the right state of mind and unafraid.

lavendergiraffes · April 2014

@mollynicole214‌ ours is $550 but I've heard it can be twice as much in a bigger city. With all that she does for us I'm surprised it isn't more!

britab · April 2014

mollynicole214 said:

For those of you that recommend doulas and have hired one, what has been the going rate? I know it varies from place to place but just to have an idea. When I've googled I've seen anywhere from $300 to $800 and don't think that was current. I'm super thrifty and we're moving so lots of expenses. That price tag makes me cringe even though I know I would likely appreciate having one. I'm at the point of luxury vs. necessity so not sure where a doula will fall in those categories. I really wish they just came with the hospital for free!!

We live near the Twin Cities and about $800 is the going rate. We're thrifty too and that money could go toward me staying home with baby an extra 1-2 weeks, so I'd prefer that. One local hospital has them on call for $50 but of course, I'm not delivering there.

limechiffon · April 2014

@millynicole214 - I am in Chicago and I found prices ranged $400-1500. 1500 was for very experienced through an agency. But, I have a friend who used someone who was starting out, she paid $275 (this was 4 years ago), and she was very happy with her services ... actually much happier than another friend who paid $900 for her experienced doula.

FWIW I found mine on doulamatch.net, and I had a pretty good response rate with that site. If you are on the fence I would say just call a few, everyone I spoke with was pretty low pressure and happy to answer general questions.

Epidurals and Natural Birth

Re: Epidurals and Natural Birth

Welcomed our rainbow baby 5/20/2014! It's a girl!

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