All moms thinking about what kind of birth you want to have

Babycakes77777777 · June 2014

I watched the business of babies Awsome movie it opened my eyes to a lot I things I had never even thought about , it helped me make my mind up about natural birth maybe it will help you too...

YogaSandy · June 2014

I don't think everyone needs to have a natural birth. I haven't seen the movie and I'm Canadian, so our health care is different.

I knew I wanted a medicated birth. No way would I have done it with nothing. I knew this right from the beginning. Nothing would have been able to change my mind, and I wouldn't have changed it. I didn't have an epidural, because they are not available at my rural hospital (I would have gladly taken one). And I am very natural - I teach yoga, cook from scratch, don't eat packaged food etc. The only thing that would have changed my mind would be if the medication would harm my baby. He's fine.

One answer is not right for everyone. If people want to have a natural birth - awesome. If people want to have a medicated birth - awesome.

ETA - I'm a high school teacher. My friend teaches the parenting class. As a favour I went in while still pregnant. She asked me to share my birth plan with the class. I told them there's a bit more, but it's pretty much give me pain killers and get the baby out as quick as possible.

lookame3639 · June 2014

The documentary is very informative but it's also several years old and hospital births/medicated births are very different now. It's very focused on natural births and doesn't give a whole view of birth.

Not to say one kind of birth is better than another but it's very key to keep your birth plan open and flexible. I also suggest researching all your options such as having a hospital birth with a doula, hospitals which allow more contact with your baby and a freer birth expirience, birthing centers ect.

Meether · June 2014

I suggest keeping an open mind too. If you decide you do want to go unmedicated, then do your research. That will be your plan, but remember things don't always go as planned. So don't be disappointed if you end up needing interventions. In many cases they help with the labor. For me I wanted a no epidural birth because I am scared of the spinal. I would have considered it if it was not a spinal. However, I knew if I ever needed an induction, I'd take the epidural. Since it was my first, I had no idea if I would be able to cope with the pain. So I was pretty open to getting it if I was desperate/ found it necessary. It turns out I coped very well, and didn't need the epidural. I forgot about the pain as soon as I held her. For this baby, my plans are pretty much the same. No intervention unless necessary. My tips are to labor as home for as long as you can, stay calm and remember that the pain is temporary.

mysticl · June 2014

YogaSandy said:

I don't think everyone needs to have a natural birth. I haven't seen the movie and I'm Canadian, so our health care is different. I knew I wanted a medicated birth. No way would I have done it with nothing. I knew this right from the beginning. Nothing would have been able to change my mind, and I wouldn't have changed it. I didn't have an epidural, because they are not available at my rural hospital (I would have gladly taken one). And I am very natural - I teach yoga, cook from scratch, don't eat packaged food etc. The only thing that would have changed my mind would be if the medication would harm my baby. He's fine. One answer is not right for everyone. If people want to have a natural birth - awesome. If people want to have a medicated birth - awesome. ETA - I'm a high school teacher. My friend teaches the parenting class. As a favour I went in while still pregnant. She asked me to share my birth plan with the class. I told them there's a bit more, but it's pretty much give me pain killers and get the baby out as quick as possible.

Out of curiosity, if you didn't have an epidural what did you have? That's the only pain relief option that was offered to me and I'm pretty sure it's the only offered to most (maybe all) American women.

YogaSandy · June 2014

mysticl said:

Out of curiosity, if you didn't have an epidural what did you have? That's the only pain relief option that was offered to me and I'm pretty sure it's the only offered to most (maybe all) American women.

I had the gas. I have heard from a friend that she was told in the states they haven't used it in years. I also had something through an IV. I wanna say it was called fentanyl.

YogaSandy · June 2014

I think it's fairly common. We went over it in my prenatal class. But I took the class here, so maybe that part was tailored to what is available here. However, we did discuss epidurals etc in case I chose to go elsewhere or got medivac-ed out.

We did go over pros/cons etc too (not that I even remember them now), but I did make an informed decision on what was right for me (and DS).

Babycakes77777777 · June 2014

I'm lucky that a hospital close by offers natural birth at the hospital so you feel safe and comfortable and the hospital room looks like a hotel it's amazing .Also I have no idea what giving birth is going to feel like so if I change my mind I can have the meds.i just don't want them to induce my labor unless necessary and not just because the dr wants to rush

abbyful · June 2014

Babycakes77777777 said:

I'm lucky that a hospital close by offers natural birth at the hospital so you feel safe and comfortable and the hospital room looks like a hotel it's amazing .Also I have no idea what giving birth is going to feel like so if I change my mind I can have the meds.i just don't want them to induce my labor unless necessary and not just because the dr wants to rush

All hospitals "offer natural birth". Just say no to the epidural and other pain medication; they cannot force it upon you, you have to consent.

kindacrunchy · June 2014

mysticl said:

YogaSandy said:

I don't think everyone needs to have a natural birth. I haven't seen the movie and I'm Canadian, so our health care is different.

I knew I wanted a medicated birth. No way would I have done it with nothing. I knew this right from the beginning. Nothing would have been able to change my mind, and I wouldn't have changed it. I didn't have an epidural, because they are not available at my rural hospital (I would have gladly taken one). And I am very natural - I teach yoga, cook from scratch, don't eat packaged food etc. The only thing that would have changed my mind would be if the medication would harm my baby. He's fine.

One answer is not right for everyone. If people want to have a natural birth - awesome. If people want to have a medicated birth - awesome.

ETA - I'm a high school teacher. My friend teaches the parenting class. As a favour I went in while still pregnant. She asked me to share my birth plan with the class. I told them there's a bit more, but it's pretty much give me pain killers and get the baby out as quick as possible.

Out of curiosity, if you didn't have an epidural what did you have? That's the only pain relief option that was offered to me and I'm pretty sure it's the only offered to most (maybe all) American women.

That is not true. There are other pain relief options besides an epi. You can get narcotics. Do you research, just because it wasn't offered doesn't mean it's not available.

Babycakes77777777 · June 2014

But you can choose to have the baby in water or any position you like instead of laying down ...it said to be harder this way ..

YogaSandy · June 2014

Again, not that my way is the right way, but everyone told me it was harder laying down and to choose a different position. I did. The contractions I could handle, but it felt like my back was being ripped off with the jaws of life.

They made me lay down to check me and the back pain decreased significantly. Then the bed had these controls that filled like different air pockets for increased back support - amazing (I guess kinda like a sleep number bed, but controls for several different areas).

I spent the rest of the time flat on my back because it felt better. They had bars etc for sitting positions, balls, lots of stuff, but they didn't work for me. And I was adamant about not being on my back completely going in.

LucilleAustero · June 2014

Please do more research. Natural birth is a wonderful option, but you want to get real facts, not facts from Ricki Lake. Not to say that there are not shitty doctors out there, but last time I checked, Ricki Lake did not attend medical school. Not all doctors induce because they want to get home in time for their steak dinner and red wine.

Since you are interested in natural birth, consider looking into Bradley, Lamaze, and Hypnobabies. Also, I found that reading Ina Gaskin's books helpful.

But, just remember that babies do what they want and sometimes it is out of your control. It was for me. I was you, first time around. And I wound up with a c/s; sometimes that happens, you know.

Hoping for a vbac this go around, but I have a little more perspective and won't be so disappointed this go around if I wind up with another c/s.

Babycakes77777777 · June 2014

Thanks everyone no I'm more than happy to receive all the information I can , and because I work so much I barely have time so it's great to get input from actuall moms who have been threw this before! Thanks again I will start researching the info you gave me now

YogaSandy · June 2014

Are you taking a prenatal class? I found that was a really good place to start. My primary care was my NP (until 36 weeks). She rec prenatal and told me she even took them, because it also really helps your partner know what to expect and so you can make informed decisions together. I had never thought if that. I was just going to go on my own, due to when the classes were and my DH's work schedule. Luckily for us, the agency here offered us private classes so he could attend.

He found them so helpful and informative that he highly recommended them to his cousin to go with his FI as well.

mysticl · June 2014

kindacrunchy said:

YogaSandy said:

I don't think everyone needs to have a natural birth. I haven't seen the movie and I'm Canadian, so our health care is different. I knew I wanted a medicated birth. No way would I have done it with nothing. I knew this right from the beginning. Nothing would have been able to change my mind, and I wouldn't have changed it. I didn't have an epidural, because they are not available at my rural hospital (I would have gladly taken one). And I am very natural - I teach yoga, cook from scratch, don't eat packaged food etc. The only thing that would have changed my mind would be if the medication would harm my baby. He's fine. One answer is not right for everyone. If people want to have a natural birth - awesome. If people want to have a medicated birth - awesome. ETA - I'm a high school teacher. My friend teaches the parenting class. As a favour I went in while still pregnant. She asked me to share my birth plan with the class. I told them there's a bit more, but it's pretty much give me pain killers and get the baby out as quick as possible.

Out of curiosity, if you didn't have an epidural what did you have? That's the only pain relief option that was offered to me and I'm pretty sure it's the only offered to most (maybe all) American women.
That is not true. There are other pain relief options besides an epi. You can get narcotics. Do you research, just because it wasn't offered doesn't mean it's not available.

I had narcotics. They were in the epidural. As much as I didn't like the epidural I'd take it over oral or IV narcotics any day.

ConversationFear · June 2014

I want a birth that is pain free, lasts a maximum of 3 hours and results in zero tearing and a spotlessly clean, perfectly healthy Gerber baby.

Laura22703 · June 2014

Ummmm I would prefer some big fat pain meds!! My last labor, 11 years ago...was a horrible experience and I would like to be able to enjoy it a little more this time around.

alexgenie · June 2014

I'm a FTM and I'm fairly optimistic about giving birth vaginally. Some of you STMs might laugh, and that's ok.
I have a pretty high pain tolerance and although I know that no pain I've experienced so far will come close to giving birth, I think as long as I stay positive, visualise the kind of birthing experience I want and avoid the negative people then I'll be ok. I'm hoping to only use gas for pain relief and I visualise using gravity as a tool to push baby out, rather than laying on my back etc.
Side note, I know I sound a bit hippy dippy but I'm actually the most matter-of-fact, black and white person you'll ever meet.

abbyful · June 2014

alexgenie said:
I'm a FTM and I'm fairly optimistic about giving birth vaginally. Some of you STMs might laugh, and that's ok.
I have a pretty high pain tolerance and although I know that no pain I've experienced so far will come close to giving birth, I think as long as I stay positive, visualise the kind of birthing experience I want and avoid the negative people then I'll be ok. I'm hoping to only use gas for pain relief and I visualise using gravity as a tool to push baby out, rather than laying on my back etc.
Side note, I know I sound a bit hippy dippy but I'm actually the most matter-of-fact, black and white person you'll ever meet.

Why would people laugh about giving birth vaginally? Most women want to give birth vaginally, it's quicker recovery for mom and (in most cases) better for the baby.

If you want a natural, i.e. drug-free birth, I highly suggest Bradley Method classes. I think they were a huge factor for me being successful at having a natural birth.

And don't tell many people you're planning a natural birth, you'll just be faced with a bunch of naysayers.

alexgenie · June 2014

@abbyful‌, I meant more that people would laugh at my optimism of having a fairly med-free vaginal birth. I just imagined STMs being like "you don't know what you're in for!"
I'm definitely looking in to classes etc and have done tonnes of research, so I don't feel like I'll be going in to it blindly

.
Naysayers... Don't you just hate them

Nuclearcupcake · June 2014

alexgenie said:
@abbyful‌, I meant more that people would laugh at my optimism of having a fairly med-free vaginal birth. I just imagined STMs being like "you don't know what you're in for!"
I'm definitely looking in to classes etc and have done tonnes of research, so I don't feel like I'll be going in to it blindly .
Naysayers... Don't you just hate them

I had a med free birth, not once have I said "you don't know what you're in for"

best of luck in having the birth you want. If you change your mind in the process that's cool too and don't be to hard on yourself. Having a baby is hardcore, no matter the method in which it happens.

MMason12 · June 2014

theresat858 said:

aragosta said:

I think the movie has good information but is incredibly biased. It had an agenda. As long as you go into it knowing that then yeah I think you can get some good stuff out of it.

This.

This times two!

udenbyjj · June 2014

I also watched that movie when I was prego with my first and thought it was fantastic. BUT, my OB works with Midwives and with my previous health issues, it would have been unsafe and dangerous for me to have a natural labor at home and knowing what happened with my sons heart rate during my labor, I needed a hospital. It's good for some, not for others. I wanted an epidural, I needed a doctor, and a hospital. I had preeclampsia as well.

I didn't want a C section and let my OB know my opinions on that, I had a detailed L&D plan that my OB and I went over a couple times. I had a vaginal birth to a healthy baby.

cranberrycove06 · June 2014

I was very adamant about having an intervention free birth. Unfortunately that didn't happen. I got induced. I made it 24 hours without any meds and then was forced to get a epidural. I had stalled labor and a host of other terrible care, but should have had a c section. I also got a huge shot of fentanyl at the end. I remember very little of a very traumatic birth, which is a blessing. This time I'm getting a c section. It's safer for me and baby. My suggestions are to study all about the birth you want and all about the worst case scenario you are thinking. I wish I would have prepared more so I knew what kind of bad decisions my midwife was making so her c section rate wasn't impacted. She would have rather both of us died than increase her rates. But that's neither here nor there. I did the Bradley method and Lamaze. They were both very helpful. Good luck.

abbyful · June 2014

cranberrycove06 said:
I was very adamant about having an intervention free birth. Unfortunately that didn't happen. I got induced. I made it 24 hours without any meds and then was forced to get a epidural. I had stalled labor and a host of other terrible care, but should have had a c section. I also got a huge shot of fentanyl at the end. I remember very little of a very traumatic birth, which is a blessing. This time I'm getting a c section. It's safer for me and baby. My suggestions are to study all about the birth you want and all about the worst case scenario you are thinking. I wish I would have prepared more so I knew what kind of bad decisions my midwife was making so her c section rate wasn't impacted. She would have rather both of us died than increase her rates. But that's neither here nor there. I did the Bradley method and Lamaze. They were both very helpful. Good luck.

WTF?! Is there somebody you can report her to, like a medical licensing board or something? That's messed up.

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