Went in plan free & went med free?

kmt104 · August 2014

People say if you're not determined to go drug free, you won't. Any STM go into labor without a plan and ended up choosing drug free?

vrj0522 · August 2014

I planned for and had and epi during my first labor but I also heard the same thing and having been through labor I can see why it could be true. If you are not truly set and are prepared to handle the pain, the pain will probably become too much.

pnwlover12 · August 2014

I agree with PP. I really wanted to go med free and ended up with an epi.

I think when you're a ftm, the pain of labor can be seem scary and unmanageable because you don't know what to expect.

Emerald27 · August 2014

If you don't plan any non-medicinal pain management techniques or relaxation techniques in advance, you're likely to fall into the fear-tension-pain cycle that brings more fear, further tension, and intensified pain. Without any planning, I suspect that a med-free birth would be extremely difficult to accomplish.

MorganWP · August 2014

I didnt really have a set plan but I prepared myself to have an epidural and then ended up progressing too quickly so I had no chioce but to go med free.

I also disagree with PPs. I wasnt all that scared last time because I didnt know what to expect. This time I know what to expect so Im terrified. Also again planning for an epidural but I know I can do it without. So Im not gonna be too upset if history repeats itself.

HappyCianci · August 2014

Hmmm, I might fall into this category. I definitely had hopes for a natural birth, but I didn't have a well-developed plan. I didn't want to plan too much, because labor can be so unpredictable. I wasn't one to insist I was going to have a natural birth. But I did!

I practiced deep breathing throughout my pregnancy, but I did it primarily to manage anxiety (non-childbirth-related), and not as labor preparation. I get anxious about a lot of things, but I was never afraid of labor pain. I really deeply believed that my body was doing good, productive things with those contractions. I think that helped a lot. I also got lucky with a fairly short (12 hour) and easy labor... at my first cervical check I was already 9cm dilated.

There are so many variables in childbirth... I'm still wary of planning too much, even though I now want to go naturally even more than I did the first time. I think it's OK to leave your plans open, but if you're fearful about childbirth, it can't hurt to do some meditating or breathing or whatever you can to feel calm and relaxed going into the experience.

lct2008 · August 2014

I didn't really have a plan really. Like I didn't do classes to learn techniques for med free. My only plan was to not get an epidural unless it was needed for an emergency csection and I ended up going med free and with pitocin.

That being said I could definitely see how going in not prepared with some techniques could really make the med free idea fly out the window especially if you have an especially long labor.

mlhw NH · August 2014

Emerald27 said:
If you don't plan any non-medicinal pain management techniques or relaxation techniques in advance, you're likely to fall into the fear-tension-pain cycle that brings more fear, further tension, and intensified pain. Without any planning, I suspect that a med-free birth would be extremely difficult to accomplish.

I agree!

savicke2009 · August 2014

I had no plan with either of my boys and they were completely opposite birth experiences..my first I was induced with pitocin and after 15 hours had an epidural which prevented me from requiring a c section! With my second, I went in again with no plan and had a tiny bit of pitocin to augment, but otherwise no meds whatsoever.. no epidural.. I think I had slightly more of an idea what I was doing and I just kind of went with the flow.. my body was responding well and I was able to go med free.. this time, I think I'll ask for the epi when I get there!

good luck and I dont think you HAVE to have a plan to go med free.. it sounds like you know what you want to do and that was enough for me the aecond time around..go with what feels right for you and baby! Good luck!!

BeanNut · August 2014

No, I'm the opposite of what you're asking. For my first, I had a slight preference to go med-free (mostly because I was unsure about getting the epidural due to its placement in the spine-ick!). We attended a class where we learned breathing techniques (along with a lot of other information about childbirth) but I never practiced them and didn't commit anything to memory. I ended up being induced with pitocin (after my water broke) so after hours of pain and fatigue, I got the epidural and loved it.

For my second, I planned to get the epidural all along but almost didn't have time for it due to a fast labor--I was 7 cm when we got to the hospital and she was born 2 hours later (probably would have been less if they weren't able to place the epi almost right away!).

All this to say, yes, I agree with PP's who said a natural birth would be very hard to accomplish without serious planning and commitment. And even if you aren't 100% sure about a med-free birth, take the time to learn some breathing and pain management techniques because you never know what your experience will be!

MsMacual · August 2014

HappyCianci said:

Hmmm, I might fall into this category. I definitely had hopes for a natural birth, but I didn't have a well-developed plan. I didn't want to plan too much, because labor can be so unpredictable. I wasn't one to insist I was going to have a natural birth. But I did!

I practiced deep breathing throughout my pregnancy, but I did it primarily to manage anxiety (non-childbirth-related), and not as labor preparation. I get anxious about a lot of things, but I was never afraid of labor pain. I really deeply believed that my body was doing good, productive things with those contractions. I think that helped a lot. I also got lucky with a fairly short (12 hour) and easy labor... at my first cervical check I was already 9cm dilated.

There are so many variables in childbirth... I'm still wary of planning too much, even though I now want to go naturally even more than I did the first time. I think it's OK to leave your plans open, but if you're fearful about childbirth, it can't hurt to do some meditating or breathing or whatever you can to feel calm and relaxed going into the experience.

I had a simliar experience to HappyCianci and completely agree with her comments. I planned on med free/low intervention and did pretty well laboring at home for about 4 hours. I said to my husband in the car on the way to the hospital (it was 25ish min away with no traffic) that I wanted an epi. I was 10 cm when I was checked 30 min after arriving at the hospital so the epi was no longer an option. I pushed for 4 hours and had our son with a vacuum assist. So med free, but not entirely low intervention. This time around, I'm preparing for the same and know that I'll go med free simply b/c I've done it before and know that I can do it (as I would say- giving birth without drugs is mind over matter). I do agree that the more prepared you are for a med free birth, the more likely you will be to succeed. I use a midwife group and was careful to choose a hospital both times that is supportive of natural birth and breastfeeding. I've made it known to my midwives that I do not want to use pain meds and would prefer not to have an IV unless necessary. The rest really is on me and my level of metal preparedness. I really like and highly recommend Ina May Gaskin's childbirth book. The first half is birth stories and I've found that reading natural birth stories has helped me prepare mentally. I also am doing yoga and seeing a Webster chiro to hopefully help my body maintain a position that will be more conducive to giving birth.

Eastie156 · August 2014

This bothers me OP. I was determined to go med-free and had such long contractions that I couldn't recover from each one and had to have an epi at just over 9 cm dilated. It made me feel terrible and I beat myself up over it. As long as you get through labor, why does it matter which way you choose? This can be a touchy subject for a lot of moms.

kmt104 · August 2014

Eastie156 said:
This bothers me OP. I was determined to go med-free and had such long contractions that I couldn't recover from each one and had to have an epi at just over 9 cm dilated. It made me feel terrible and I beat myself up over it. As long as you get through labor, why does it matter which way you choose? This can be a touchy subject for a lot of moms.

@Eastie156‌ I was just asking for experiences, since I myself plan on a epi but in the back of my mind wonder if I'll be able to manage without one. You ask why does it matter? It doesn't matter.. Every experience is different, I was just curious if some women go in thinking it's not that bad and go med free. Sorry I offended you

kmt104 · August 2014

@Eastie156‌ also, I was asking about people who went in without a plan and chose med free.. Not people who went in with a plan then changed their mind for whatever reason.

Eastie156 · August 2014

kmt104 said:

This bothers me OP. I was determined to go med-free and had such long contractions that I couldn't recover from each one and had to have an epi at just over 9 cm dilated. It made me feel terrible and I beat myself up over it. As long as you get through labor, why does it matter which way you choose? This can be a touchy subject for a lot of moms.
@Eastie156‌ I was just asking for experiences, since I myself plan on a epi but in the back of my mind wonder if I'll be able to manage without one. You ask why does it matter? It doesn't matter.. Every experience is different, I was just curious if some women go in thinking it's not that bad and go med free. Sorry I offended you

@kmt104 you didn't offend me, believe me. From personal experience, this question tends to be a hot button topic. More so among STM's, but still. It's a very personal decision, it's right up there with to BF or not to BF.

Eastie156 · August 2014

kmt104 said:

@Eastie156‌ also, I was asking about people who went in without a plan and chose med free.. Not people who went in with a plan then changed their mind for whatever reason.

@kmt104, you wrote "People say if your not determined to go drug free, you won't" This insinuates you have some type of plan, whether written or not. It's also very judgey-pants, whether you meant it that way or not.

kmt104 · August 2014

@Eastie156‌ You seem to be the only one who thinks I'm judging anyone.

Eastie156 · August 2014

Or maybe no one has read the thread. But seriously, just letting you know it's a touchy subject, that's all.

Eastie156 · August 2014

Also, I'll say that I had plenty of relaxation techniques ready. It's not just about "frame of mind". It's about reality of the situation. That's why I hate these types of posts. They are judgemental, whether you realize it or not.

kmt104 · August 2014

Eastie156 said:
Also, I'll say that I had plenty of relaxation techniques ready. It's not just about "frame of mind". It's about reality of the situation. That's why I hate these types of posts. They are judgemental, whether you realize it or not.

I don't think there's anything wrong with choosing medication and you shouldn't feel ashamed of needing it.. There's a threshold for everyone, and I don't think people judge a woman who end up needing it... It's your birth, no
one else's so it doesn't matter what what people think. Like I said, I plan on drugs.. Maybe I'll understand where you're coming from more once I've gone through it. (I stalled at 3cm and had a CS and will be trying for a VBAC this time)

ariel06 · August 2014

Eastie156 said:

Also, I'll say that I had plenty of relaxation techniques ready. It's not just about "frame of mind". It's about reality of the situation. That's why I hate these types of posts. They are judgemental, whether you realize it or not.

And everyone's labor experiences are so different! I have a couple friends, who from the point their contractions started to the point they deliver, was less than four hours. I pushed for longer than four hours.

I know people who are/were really upset over their birth experience went because they were planning for a med-free delivery and ended up with a c/s.

For me, the most important thing was feeling empowered/ like I had control over my labor (for DS2). I didn't have a written out birth plan, but I did take the time to educate myself on my options. My doctors, nurses, and DH knew that, as long as it was medically safe, I wanted to be given my options, and be allowed to make the choices that I felt were best. I had a very long/difficult delivery, but I feel really positive about how it went because the medical staff helped me make the choices that were right for me. I am hoping I will feel the same after this delivery.

Emerald27 · August 2014

I don't think OP's question was judgmental at all! She's never been in labor before and of course knows that there are an enormous range of experiences, but she just wonders how often women don't prepare for a natural childbirth but have one anyway. That doesn't express a judgment for or against med-free birth at all!

It's a good question, kind of similar to "if I want a med-free birth, how important is it for me to take a natural birthing method class?"

I think you may be reading more into the OP's post than is really there, @Eastie156.

raynes · August 2014

The situation you describe in the OP sounds a lot like my first birth. I went in open to whatever, hoping to labour for a while without drugs. I don't know if it was just my particular labour, or if I just wasn't able to relax enough between contractions to let them really work, but after 12 or so hours of labour, a good bit of it w/ minute long contractions ever 2 minutes I got the epi.

Eventually they needed forces to get DS out.

This time I'm hoping to go into things more prepared for a med free birth.

Eastie156 · August 2014

Emerald27 said:

I don't think OP's question was judgmental at all! She's never been in labor before and of course knows that there are an enormous range of experiences, but she just wonders how often women don't prepare for a natural childbirth but have one anyway. That doesn't express a judgment for or against med-free birth at all! It's a good question, kind of similar to "if I want a med-free birth, how important is it for me to take a natural birthing method class?" I think you may be reading more into the OP's post than is really there, @Eastie156.

I read it as her saying that if you haven't decided, you won't go natural. As a STM, I've seen a lot of judgment on other boards about going med-free or not. It becomes such a stigma and I hate having these discussions. If she meant it without judgment, great. But I wasn't reading it quite that way.

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