Any second time moms NOT preparing for labor?

runnerbikergirl · September 2014

With my first, I took several birth classes, read every book I could find, and was uber prepared for the birth..,,only to have a 40 hour (unmedicated) labor that ended in a c-section due to her bad position to come out. This time, I'd like to try for a VBAC (assuming the baby is positioned well) but if I learned anything the first time, it is that labor is out of my control and my instincts for breathing/moving will kick in. I'm feeling unmotivated to prepare this time. Any STMs in the same boat?

JennaRaek · September 2014

Nope. I read a lot the first time around, but DH and I never took a class of any kind. Totally winging it again. Did it once, I can do it again.

CandEChicago · September 2014

runnerbikergirl said:
With my first, I took several birth classes, read every book I could find, and was uber prepared for the birth..,,only to have a 40 hour (unmedicated) labor that ended in a c-section due to her bad position to come out. This time, I'd like to try for a VBAC (assuming the baby is positioned well) but if I learned anything the first time, it is that labor is out of my control and my instincts for breathing/moving will kick in. I'm feeling unmotivated to prepare this time. Any STMs in the same boat?

chicorojo · September 2014

Yeah i'm not doing anything special.

Manateearmz · September 2014

Not a thing. I took classes for my first and found it to be a waste of money. She came out how she was going to come out.

jayellekay · September 2014

Yeeeeahhhh. I feel so behind this pregnancy. I spent the first tri and first half of second tri waiting for something to go wrong...and it didn't, so here I am, completely unprepared and planning a natural labor again. Eeeek! Last time, I spent a lot of time reading and meditating and just getting in the right frame of mind. This time, I've done NOTHING, with no plans to remedy that anytime soon. Guess I'll be winging it this time!

MaineMama · September 2014

4th Csection here, the only thing I'm planning is what I want for my "celebration meal" after she is born. Our hospital provides a "new parents date" meal from a local resteraunt

leoandethansmom · September 2014

I didn't for DS and I'm not this time either. I don't think anything could have prepared me for that 28 hours and even knowing what I felt last time still provides zero comfort this time around. It'll happen, it's going to hurt, and then I won't sleep for about 4 months.

riansmommie · September 2014

This is my third time and I've never taken a single class. I trust my body to do what it needs to do. I'm just mentally preparing myself for a long labor. 1st was 36.5 hours, 2nd was just over 17 hours.

OhMySpawn · September 2014

I'm with ya- I took Bradley classes and read all the books last time and had grand ideas. 7 hours of Pit later, I got an epidural. She finally arrived after 30 hrs of labor and 3 hrs of pushing. This time I'm not wasting my time with classes or books. I'm just going to go with the flow. If I think I can do it without drugs? Yay. If I want an epidural and sleep? Yay.

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Kmm1023 · September 2014

The only class I plan on taking is on breast feeding I didn't bf dd so I will be a newbie! Plus having a repeat csection

nopegoat · September 2014

I haven't taken a class or really read up on labor with any of my 3.

AllTheTeaInChina · September 2014

I took a general birth class last time and lurked the Natural Birth board here. I kinda winged it. I don't plan on doing anything this time.

bowlwoman · September 2014

Third time here. I took classes with DD1, didn't do anything for DD2, and not planning anything for this one. We did take the girls to a sibling class to get them started preparing for a new baby in the house, but other than that, nada.

I'm honestly more worried about how the girls will handle the new baby than the actual birth. This pregnancy is progressing very much like my first two, so unless something new comes up at the end (pre-e, HBP, c-sec) that I didn't experience before, I'm not too worried about it.

brittandjp · September 2014

I took classes and read a few books last time around. I had a wonderful birth story and am *hoping* for the same time again. There's no need to take another class or read another book to prepare for labor or another newborn.

I am, however, reading Love & Logic..but that's for DD, not the new babe.

abcmom12 · September 2014

Never took a class, but read a lot for DD #1. Now with this one, I'm just going to stay home as long as a can before heading to L&D so I can drink, take a shower, and wear underwear until I must go bare

JunkieBrewster · September 2014

Only taking the sibling class.

nesenotes · September 2014

I'm having a RCS so there is nothing to prep for.

Jessie333 · September 2014

I took classes and read everything I could get my hands on with dd. This time, I'm not doing anything. I did it once, I figure I can do it again. Not to mention I took the classes less than 2 years ago.

bowlwoman · September 2014

Actually, I take that back. We've babysat a couple of times for friends that have infants, so it was a good refresher for us to get back in the groove.

VMac1984 · September 2014

Other than preparing physically, I'm not really doing much. I took a class the first time around and, although I'm glad I had the knowledge, it didn't end up being overly helpful for me.

AnonnAni · September 2014

Not doing anything. *shrugs*

colliebabe · September 2014

I never read The Guide to Childbirth before and a lot of people have recommended it, so I'm reading that. That's about it.

soulcupcake · September 2014

danisgossipgirl said:

Not planning on it. Might do some light reading to psych myself up down the road. Might make my H give me some back rubs as part of "Bradley relaxation practice" haha.

This. I still have some of the Hypnobabies scripts I used during my second pregnancy, but I don't foresee committing to the actual program itself again. I may listen to some in the coming weeks to get in that "birth mode," but that's about it. Since my midwife is confident I'll get my waterbirth, that is my plan for this time, and we'll do our best to prepare in advance.

AngelSong76 · September 2014

Nope, second c-section here. We almost got kicked out of our birthing class the first time around. We just couldn't take the "visualization" stuff seriously. I would have been terrible at unmedicated labor.

We will likely try to get a hospital tour at some point because we're doing it at a different hospital this time, but that's it.

Cheekers2010 · September 2014

Yup. Not really doing anything except meeting with my doula. Because I am a doula, I know the basics and I also know that all the preparation in the world doesn't mean you'll want to use any of what you prepare. Also I had a very long and traumatic first labor despite all my knowledge and experience.

JRod13 · September 2014

Didn't do anything with DS, not doing anything with 2.0. We'll just see how it goes- it's nearly impossible to plan this kind of thing for real.

erien · September 2014

I thought it was more important for my DH to attend the classes the first time around. He needed to know what was in store as guys dont talk about birth stories the way women do:-) We arent doing any refresher course this time. We quickly learned last time labor isnt always "textbook" and the nurses will coach you through it.

Heidig14 · September 2014

This is my first and I am not preparing.

bowlwoman · September 2014

In terms of after the baby's born, I will probably read a refresher of the Happiest Baby on the Block and take a gander at a chart that lists what color/consistency of baby poop matches which condiment on my fridge. But other than that I'm more or less good to go.

vintagejjane · September 2014

I'm not doing anything to prepare for this one. DH and I might go through a refresher check list of what helped last time, but I'm not worried.

amieeyoung · September 2014

I didn't take any classes last year, and don't plan on it this time. I had researched and had it planned to a T--- and guess what almost none of that plan worked out. I don't see the point in a detailed plan- good to know if you want to try and go natural, use medicine, could have a c-section (so pack an extra outfit/nightgown and undies) etc but no real plan. Going to try for a VBAC see how it goes.

I will tour the hospital since it is a different one that last time.

marriedinaugust · September 2014

I took Bradley classes and read a ton of books last time and felt really prepared. And I was as much as I could be. This time I have skimmed a few books and will review our Bradley workbook and do some of the exercises but that's about it. If rather spend my time shopping for cute baby stuff!

bowlwoman · September 2014

amieeyoung said:

I didn't take any classes last year, and don't plan on it this time. I had researched and had it planned to a T--- and guess what almost none of that plan worked out. I don't see the point in a detailed plan- good to know if you want to try and go natural, use medicine, could have a c-section (so pack an extra outfit/nightgown and undies) etc but no real plan. Going to try for a VBAC see how it goes.

I will tour the hospital since it is a different one that last time.

I only did a birth plan with DD1. And most of it went out the window anyway.

I don't know of any STM+ who do a birth plan, honestly. I think it's a good exercise for your first, though, even if going in you are told my others that you'll most likely not get everything you want. Some people do stick to it, and it's good to have a directive in place. Plus, it gets you thinking in the direction of babies and how best to prepare when you have no direct experience yourself.

RayRay007 · September 2014

Yeah pretty much in the same boat. Last time I took a 8wk course, read a dozens books, had a MW and discussed birth at length with her, only to end up with an emergency cs without ever having laboured. So much for prepping. This time we are taking a refresher course but that's about it. I pulled out one of my books but found myself skimming through it because either I felt I already knew it or I just wasn't that interested. Plus, having twins, things are even more up in the air so I will need to be really flexible.

soulcupcake · September 2014

bowlwoman said:

amieeyoung said:

I didn't take any classes last year, and don't plan on it this time. I had researched and had it planned to a T--- and guess what almost none of that plan worked out. I don't see the point in a detailed plan- good to know if you want to try and go natural, use medicine, could have a c-section (so pack an extra outfit/nightgown and undies) etc but no real plan. Going to try for a VBAC see how it goes.

I will tour the hospital since it is a different one that last time.

I only did a birth plan with DD1. And most of it went out the window anyway.

I don't know of any STM+ who do a birth plan, honestly. I think it's a good exercise for your first, though, even if going in you are told my others that you'll most likely not get everything you want. Some people do stick to it, and it's good to have a directive in place. Plus, it gets you thinking in the direction of babies and how best to prepare when you have no direct experience yourself.

I didn't have any sort of plan with my first. I was pretty "I'll see how it goes" and had an idea of what to expect per other people's experiences and what's considered average. A birth plan was a foreign concept to me 10 years ago.

But I definitely had one with my second. Homebirth was my first choice, but it wasn't an option due to there not being any practicing homebirth midwives in the area at the time. So I planned for a med-free hospital birth. I definitely had a birth plan in place, and everything on it was followed by the staff without question. The on call midwife was very pro-natural birth, and the nursing staff were intrigued and excited.

No real "plan" with my third as I planned a homebirth, and that setting is naturally low on interventions. I did have to prepare for a UC due to my midwife living an hour away. I planned for a waterbirth last time, and I desired a certain atmosphere (music) during labor. I wanted to munch on cookies and goodies, too. The smell of cookies baking... yum! So my plan was to munch on treats, eat, be merry, hop in the birth tub once "labor" started and pop out a baby soon after.

That is my plan this time, but baby being born in the tub instead of on my bed.

Eora3 · September 2014

I am having a RCS. So my planning includes: writing up my birth plan (mostly post delivery preferences for me and baby but also my preferences for emergency situations), updating my living will, packing my hospital bag, and organizing child care for my older two boys.

SeahorseMama · September 2014

I'm having a RCS so no planning here.

AngelSong76 · September 2014

My biggest plan is what I'm going to eat the night before the c-section and what to eat as soon as I can eat again after it.

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