All Natural Birth

kdaugherty4 · May 2014

Sorry if this has been discussed, but I haven't seen it and I'm on here quite a bit. Is anyone else planning on doing an all natural birth at the hospital or has anyone done it before? I am hoping to do it all natural and me and DH are doing a Natural Childbirth 6 week class soon but I was hoping to get advice or find someone on here who is similar that we could support each other.

kaitm22 · May 2014

I am optimistic about going completely med-free. I am hoping to labor in the tub for a while and be able to walk around quite a bit. I am being really positive that I can do it and trying to have the best attitude, although I will admit I should be doing more exercise and research to be prepared. I just feel that my body is made to naturally give birth (hopefully!) I am reading Ina May's Guide to Natural Childbirth.

mcculloughe · May 2014

My husband and I are taking bradley method classes! It is a pretty intense 12 week schedule but lots of good info and ideas to make natural birth easier and mentally prepare

ASecretChord · May 2014

Planning on it, but we'll see. I'm also a FTM, so it may be naïveté speaking. I'm taking a 12-week class, learning the Bradley method and I've hired a doula. But still, I think the epidural will be a game time decision for me and I'm fine with that. My fear is not so much the pain, but the exhaustion. Going through 20+ hours of labor is really going to take endurance.

Jenrileysmom · May 2014

ASecretChord said:

Planning on it, but we'll see. I'm also a FTM, so it may be naïveté speaking. I'm taking a 12-week class, learning the Bradley method and I've hired a doula. But still, I think the epidural will be a game time decision for me and I'm fine with that. My fear is not so much the pain, but the exhaustion. Going through 20+ hours of labor is really going to take endurance.

It really might not take that long. Mine was over in 3 and I keep telling myself that this one should go just as well

Fingers crossed.

rstarrlemaitre · May 2014

Yes that's the plan. We'll be birthing in a birthing center, and using pain management techniques like massage, breathing, jacuzzi, etc.

Nuclearcupcake · May 2014

Yep. I had a med free hospital vbac 18 months ago. I plan on doing the same in august. It was amazing. (I was shopping and didn't elaborate, sorry) I labored in the bath tub until it was time to push and I delivered in the bed. I didn't use any method like hypono babies and I didn't have a doula. I had an awesome support system though. The nurses and dr were amazing and completely supported me. No pressure for drugs or to stay in bed or no one telling me when to push. I had wireless monitors, no IV but I had a line in just incase which was fine.My husband was deployed so I had his parents and his grandma as my coaches and they were awesome. Good luck!!

shevaCC · May 2014

I had a med-free hospital birth with DD approximately 2 years ago. It was a great experience and I'm hoping for something similar this time. I took a natural-birth focused childbirth class, read several books and a ton of birth stories leading up to DD's birth, did pre-natal yoga, and hired a doula.

I really think the things that helped me the most were prior endurance sport training and my doula. Endurance sport training for the mental toughness to keep going and say yes this is difficult, but not impossible and worth it (my labor lasted ~14 hours which is fairly typical for a FTM). My doula did a lot of applying counter pressure during contractions, encouraging me to walk to get things progressing more quickly, and when I started struggling to get through contractions she had a bunch of positions to suggest, tried applying a cold wash cloth to my forehead, and all sorts of things that neither I nor DH would've thought of in the moment, but that helped. I labored in the tub for a small portion of my labor but my hospital makes you get out since they don't do water births.

ungraceful13 · May 2014

My goal with DD was med-free with a doula at a hospital. I ended up getting the epi. I will be attempting med-free again with a doula and will see how it goes.

novameh · May 2014

I had a free birth with DS two years ago. Ah.mazing experience. I think the #1 thing you can do is choose a supportive provider. Be sure to stay active, the better shape you're in the better you can handle labor. Stay at home as long as you can. I promise it's more comfortable there and you're less likely to give into drugs

Write down/post/recite positive affirmations. I took a natural-minded lamaze class and it was crap. The only benefit I got was knowing what to expect in each stage of labor so I knew what was happening was normal. I'm looking into hypnobabies this time.

lookame3639 · May 2014

I'm taking a birthing class this time. I hope it'll help me labor more intensely without using drugs however i know myself and there is a high chance I'll ask for an epidural. I'd like to go as long as possible without one though (mainly because I want a room with a tub and i don't want to be stuck to a machine. I'd also like to try to walk around and use birthing balls ect)

it also depends on how things start with me. I was induced with potocin last time which makes your contractions more intense so if i can go without needing an induction i think that'll help.

Valancyy · May 2014

I had a med-free birth with my 2nd. My labor did go extremely fast, though. I wouldn't have been able to get any meds even if I wanted them. I gave birth about 1 hour after getting to the hospital, it seemed like as soon as I walked into the delivery room I was ready to push.

The first time around I got some IV meds.

My first 2 births were in a hospital. This time I'm hoping to deliver at the birth center located inside a hospital. The birth center doesn't allow epidurals. I'm not really doing anything to prepare, but hope to go med-free again. What helped mange my pain previously was moving around a lot. Laying still was the worst (and almost impossible). I remember kind of rocking/swaying through contractions during transition. I hope I have a fairly fast labor again.

OkieMama · May 2014

I am planning to go med-free this time. It was also my plan last time, but I was 2 weeks late and had to be induced, so after laboring with Pitocin for 15 hours and still being at a 4 (I had been at a 2 for weeks)- I caved and got the epidural- I just needed rest.
This time MH and I are taking Bradley classes and I am praying this baby will be in position to get things going on her own. (DS was posterior, I think that's why I had contractions for nearly a month with little/no progress).

lburkey21 · May 2014

I plan to go med-free as well. I plan to do a water birth, have hired a doula and I think we're planning to take childbirth classes with her as well. the hostpital we've chosen has the lowest c-section rate in the city and am totally loving our midwife group so far. I feel confident that we've put all the pieces in place to have a successful med-free birth, as long as the little one cooperates and isn't in any danger.

happylady07 · May 2014

I had a pain med free birth with my first, but I wouldn't call it a "natural birth" as I was induced. Had to stay in bed on monitors and that was no fun at all, hoping to go into labor on my own this time and have a more natural delivery on my body's terms.

I planned on going med free and my husband and mom were a great support/reminder of my wishes when I hit transition. This time I'm hiring a doula as well.

FrodaBaggins · May 2014

I'm certainly hoping for a med/intervention-free birth. My OB is getting more supportive as the weeks go on and the hospital definitely is - they have great jacuzzi style tubs in the rooms, birthing balls, let you bring in flameless candles and turn the lights down, etc. We're also taking the hospital's Lamaze class and studying Hypnobirthing. I'm working out/getting exercise/doing mild strength training, meditating, etc.

HOWEVER: baby is currently still breech and I am fully aware that this could have an impact on what happens with this birth. We still have a while for him to turn, though, so I'm optimistic! I am also a FTM so I don't want to hang my hopes up too high because I have no idea what to expect, and I don't want to be disappointed with any aspect of this birth as long as the end result is happy healthy baby and happy healthy mom.

mhbraymer · May 2014

I went med free with ds. But I labored at home and my ils home till I was 10cm. I'm planning another med free birth but plan on leaving sooner this time.

mdarmetko · May 2014

zoegirlTX said:

just FYI, most people say med and/or intervention free....natural is slightly condescending

Ditto PP. I chose a midwife group instead of ObGyn, hired a doula, am taking a hypnobabies class, the MW group is at a progressive hospital with birth balls, tubs, etc. I"m working out & staying in shape & know what I can expect and want L&D to be like. I'll try to labor at home as long as possible, but all this is based on having no other complications.

This exactly.

kareik01 · May 2014

I'm really hoping to have an all-natural (or at least mostly natural) birth. I'm thinking I'll be accepting of regular pain meds, but I don't want an epidural if at all possible, and I absolutely refuse to be induced unless there is a true medical need.

However, also a FTM. I've never been through this and just hope my determination at labor time is as strong as it is now! I keep telling myself that women never used to have an option besides natural births, and they all did it, so why can't I?

Plus I also have a slight ambition to prove to H that I can do it. He and my family have always thought of me as a "wuss" I think so I'm determined to show them differently!

I really hope my hospital has a tub I can use and are accepting of me wanting to walk around or use a birthing ball. We don't go to the hospital for class/visit until June 7th, so I hope to learn more then!

cblakin · May 2014

im open to meds if i want them in the moment, but preparing for a med free birth. i am going through a midwife center that has special suites at my hospital and a free doula for each mom (very excited about that). The suites each have a tub to labor in as well as different props (birthing chair/bar, birthing balls, etc) and the nurses/midwives are very good about supporting the mom's decisions in terms of interventions and meds.

during my labor and delivery rotation, i was at a more rural hospital and a woman had a birth plan 10 pages long.. the baby went into fetal distress and the mom freaked out because it didn't follow her birth plan even though she really did need an intervention. it was a mess. so i think it's key to accept what happens and not beat yourself up if you do decide on meds or need an intervention or whatever.

to prepare, i'm doing hypnobabies and some prenatal yoga when i can fit it in (why are the classes always on sunday!?!?) as well as reading ina may's book that pp mentioned. I also think its all about the mindset and the confidence. at the very least this preparation is making me a lot less fearful of childbirth which obviously is a huge benefit not only for august but just for the pregnancy in general. even if i end up with meds and a cesarean, prepping this way has been really great for my mental health so far.

GinnyJ2012 · May 2014

I am all about having an epidural, but took a class when I was pregnant last time because I wanted to labor for a while before getting my epidural. I'm a huge fan of a labor tub though! I used it before getting my epi and it felt amazing.

Also my epidural wore off before pushing so taking the class was good for use. DH was able to help me breath and handle the pain of delivery. Having the epi during labor allowed me to rest and nap and save all my energy for pushing.

BabyM82714 · May 2014

I really would like to be not for sure med free....but I would like to avoid the epidural. I am open to the local drugs if need be and then the epi if I feel I need it. But I would prefer nothing. I am a FTM and am not taking any extended courses and do not have a doula. I am going to start researching online and really ask questions during our birthing class. I'd love to labor in a tub and use a birthing ball so I need to make sure that my hospital has this option. Otherwise I will stay at home until it's time to go to the hospital in my own bathtub. But currently little babe is now breech and although I'm assured she has time to flip I'm afraid she won't and I'll has to have C section... but we shall see.

summerfunxo · May 2014

I am also planning for a med free birth:) My mom and MIL both had all of us naturally so their advice is really reassuring! I've read tons of birth stories, even watched a few youtube vids lol. Also I can't stand the thought of an epidural, I just can't do it.

noycela · May 2014

Had a med-free birth with DS and that's the plan this time too. We have a doula, which I can't recommend enough, and I'm doing hypnobabies this time.

Don't say it's naive to think you can have a med-free birth -- your body was made to give birth.

kcm3 · May 2014

I did natural childbirth before and that is what I will do again this time barring any complications. The absolute biggest tip I have for FTM's is seriously consider having a doula. Even if your provider is accepting and supportive, if they are not there for your first few hours of labor (my midwife was there immediately, but my first child was with an OB that didn't come until you were at 7cm) and you are relying only on the hospital nursing staff it can be very difficult to manage on your own. In my experience, nursing staff is often very skeptical of natural childbirth and can make it challenging if you don't have an advocate. Good luck, Moms. I can honestly say natural childbirth is one of the most challenging, but beautiful and amazing experiences you can have.

Cat&S · May 2014

My only real birth plan is to have a healthy baby. But, I would like to go med free if possible. My hospital and nurses are med free friendly, and labor tubs are available. I've done a lot of reading, but I'm not taking classes or hiring a doula. I'm just going to go with what I feel in the moment, and if I get to the point where I need an epi, fine. Or a c/s if the situation calls for it.

Unknown · May 2014

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stephviz · May 2014

The plan for us is to go med free as well. 12 week Bradley classes don't work with B's work hours or patience (and I don't agree with all of the components) but between the reading and research, we figured out what works for both of us.

I've been able to experience a lot of live animal births at my job, and call me crazy, but it's been super reassuring for me

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