STM Question: What will you do the same/different for labor this time around?

LexiT88 · June 2014

Hey STMs! I'm curious as to how your labor went first/second time around and what you plan on doing the same/different this time. (As far as epidurals, pain meds, natural, using a doula, etc)

Irisheyes1247 · June 2014

I've had two med free births and I hope to have a 3rd.

Things I would do differently:

- I'm sorry, I realize everyone has to learn but my vagina is not your learning canvas and I would like the attending to stitch me up if need be.

- I would like to have a mirror, if possible. DD1 was born in the ER and DD2, there just wasn't time. Although maybe I will have the mirror and then be horrified and ask them to move it away, so who knows?

an02102 · June 2014

I will do everything the same, except hope my water doesn't break until lo is full term. I held off on an epidural for awhile but that really was nice.

Ceridwen21 · June 2014

After a very traumatic vaginal delivery with DS (which resulted in very serious health issues for him), this time around I will:

- Start getting non-stress tests/biophysical profiles as of 35 or 37 weeks (meconium and low amniotic fluid was a big problem for me last time - DS was born at 41.5 weeks)

- Be more open to interventions

- Be very open to the idea of a scheduled C-section (DD is currently breech and I have low lying placenta, so unless both issues resolve themselves, that's the route I'll be taking).

- If I do end up giving birth vaginally, I will try to avoid an epidural because I was a very ineffective pusher with it

aliciak316 · June 2014

I would probably do an epidural again unless my labor went A LOT fast then last time. I would labor at home longer and not tell anyone so they weren't waiting in the waiting room even though I asked them not to come up so early. Everything else I would do the same like only having my husband in the room, I didn't want a mirror or anything since I still think it would freak me out and having lots of bonding time with my daughter and husband as a new family.

Bella2425 · June 2014

I would love if my labor was the same. Water broke, went in to labor, got epidural, had baby.

The only things I hope are different is that I don't have to push for 3.5 hours and I will be requesting skin to skin after birth. Last time they just whisked him away, wrapped him up and put him in the baby bed thing. I don't remember holding him hardly at all, but everything was really fuzzy right after he was born. All I wanted was some damn water, I was so thirsty!

lbonga1 · June 2014

I think I'd do pretty everything the same except for making sure we take more pictures right after I deliver. I only have a few pictures of DD right after she was born, and only one or two of us holding her. Everything else went smoothly. My OB had to break my water, and I had an epidural. I took a nap before I started pushing because I was already worn out from not sleeping the prior two nights. It went well, and I only had a very small tear.

Djcieply · June 2014

I'm hoping to go into labor this time instead of having to be induced, I think I could have been able to go without the epi if I wasn't induced. But at the same time I'm nervous to go into labor. I was only in labor for about 5.5 hrs with DS and from what I've read/heard that's pretty quick for a first time labor experience especially for being induced. So now I'm worried I'm going to be giving birth in the car on the way to the hospital if I go into labor.

I was pretty happy with the way my labor/delivery went and I don't think I would really change anything, if I felt I needed and epi again I would get it. I just didn't like how the epi made my legs feel the next day and everytime I went to stand up I felt like I was going to pass out. The nurses said that they notice redheads are affected by the epi anesthesia more than anyone else for whatever reason, they said we randomly like to pass out so they watch us more closely.

babyd143 · June 2014

1. I was induced, so hoping to go in to labor only own.

2. I ended up emergency c-section, so hoping for VBAC.

Those are my hopes, but as long as my son is healthy, I am happy.

LexiT88 · June 2014

Ceridwen21 said:

After a very traumatic vaginal delivery with DS (which resulted in very serious health issues for him), this time around I will:
- Start getting non-stress tests/biophysical profiles as of 35 or 37 weeks (meconium and low amniotic fluid was a big problem for me last time - DS was born at 41.5 weeks)
- Be more open to interventions
- Be very open to the idea of a scheduled C-section (DD is currently breech and I have low lying placenta, so unless both issues resolve themselves, that's the route I'll be taking).
- If I do end up giving birth vaginally, I will try to avoid an epidural because I was a very ineffective pusher with it

That was my problem with an epidural last time. It really slowed my labor down, which I then had to be given pitocin to get things back up and running, and then I ended up pushing for 2 hours because I couldn't feel the bottom half of my body. I think I'm going to attempt to go pain med free this time.

Appreciating all of the feed back ladies!

rockychryslerb2010 · June 2014

After a less than stellar c-section experience, I'm hoping to VBAC. If we end up with another c-section, I'm asking for an approach that is documented in the video below. Thankfully, there was nothing health-wise wrong with our c-section, it was just a cold experience, where I felt like I was treated like just another surgery and not a mom about to welcome a child into this world.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5RIcaK98Yg

Mrs.Leah.Maria · June 2014

Going for a 4th med-free birth with the same MW and hospital as #2 & #3 with a birth photographer.

With DS2 I had a wonderful Hypnobirth experience, with DD I was induced with Cervadil.

I'm going to hopefully have another birth experience like DS2.

suitern · June 2014

DS's labor was scary, traumatic, and not something I remember fondly. This time I am hoping to go med free, we hired a doula, we are delivering with a midwife, and hoping to avoid forceps, and an episiotomy! Of course, if any of the above need to change-then so be it...but this is what I would like to do vs. last time going in with just a get the baby out of me thought. I think the strength of the epidural last time really prevented me from moving to change positions at all to push and I couldn't feel ANYTHING, not even pressure-so the 3.5 hour push fest was awful. Hoping to avoid that too...

LTMama · June 2014

I loved my birth experience, except the part where it was way too early and DD had to be whisked off to the NICU after we'd only gotten to hold her for a few minutes. Hopefully this little dude will be full term, so I can do skin-to-skin right away and try to nurse him.

Otherwise I loved it - water broke, started contractions, had epidural, went to sleep, woke up 10cm, pushed 3 times, flying baby

kaleb87 · June 2014

I would really really like to avoid an episiotomy if at all possible, I know it is kind of out of my hands though. Also, this is easier said than done but I don't want to push so hard this time. Sounds totally crazy I know, but I got dd out with only 4 pushes. However I busted a bunch of blood vessels in my face and even in my eyes. I looked absolutely horrible. It took forever for my face and eyes to look better.
Then this is totally random, but I am going to refuse letting them put my IV in my wrist. I am right handed and it was in my right wrist so everytime I would hold dd it was in the way and even hurt a little.
Other than those random things I hope to have another med free natural delivery.

amom2four · June 2014

Hopefully I can avoid induction this time but we will see what happens. This guy is measuring small so far so that decision will be made down the road. Next I am not letting those anesthesiologists touch me unless it is to knock me out completely. They hit veins and bone trying to put epidural in with dd and then only one leg was numb and in trying to even out the dosage I was given two additional doses and had a numb leg that finally started to tingle at 48 hrs pp with electrical feeling shocks in my back for months. No thank you. Otherwise I love my doctor and minus the epidural issue I had the best delivery and fastest recovery last time.

chardonnay24 · June 2014

I was induced and had an epidural last time. I'm hoping to avoid induction and go med free this time. I'm also seeing a midwife instead of an OB.

T&HLove · June 2014

Planning to do everything differently. Let labor start on it's own, med free, intervention free.

peanutbuttervibes · June 2014

Labor went really well last time, hoping to duplicate that! Only thing different this time is that we will be alone and leaving a lot earlier since I have heard the second time can be quicker than the first.

MrsKasel10 · June 2014

kshayes0315 I also am doing hypnobabies for a VBA2C. Good luck to you!

teenybean · June 2014

My first was a emergency C due to fetal distress, but I labored at home until 6cm without knowing I was that far along.

2nd was vacuum assisted VBAC due to the squirt being transverse, despite 3.5 hours of pushing, it only took half a pull and he rotated and popped out, wish we had vacuumed sooner lol. I had to go right away cause my bag broke at home and for some reason was GBS positive that time around. I was hurting and nervous I'd get a C anyhoo so I walked into the hospital at 4 cm, broken bag and got an epidural.

Hoping to go drug and C free this time, but the only real goal is safe delivery.

emmylu30 · June 2014

I was happy with my delivery last time but think this time I will go to hospital sooner. Last time I went when 7 cm dilated and wish I would have gotten epidural sooner so I could have rested more before pushing. I also want to avoid an episiotomy and LO being vacuumed out. I think I will not push the button for additional epidural medicine this time since I think it may have stalled my contractions last time. I asked my OB about avoiding an episiotomy last week and she said that's up to my vagina however typically subsequent deliveries need episiotomies less since a baby has already been through there and stretched it out a bit.

ve304856 · June 2014

I plan on doing everything the same. I got an epi last time and it was amazing. I would like to try and see with a mirror this time around. Other than that I had a great birth experience last time and want the same this time.

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STM Question: What will you do the same/different for labor this time around?

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