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crunchy moms - let's get positive! positive!

elizalegselizalegs member
in Natural Birth
So I made the error of stopping work prior to my due date since it seemed like bebe was on his/her way. Now everything has gotten much more still/quiet. I find myself spending wayyyyy too much time on the March 2015 board  - also tried my local Houston board - and I am just annoyed with myself for getting preoccupied with birth stories. Seems like so many mamas who a month ago were talking about a natural birth are posting with their very predictable stories about the cascade of interventions they experienced, much to their surprise. I'm not surprised - my day job is that of a researcher who specialized in maternal health and specifically the prostaglandins involved in the birthing process... guess I am just missing the fulfillment of my job and maybe I need to start a knitting project, but I have been getting sooo upset reading these stories. This whole pregnancy I have felt pretty even-keel hormonally but now I am realizing I may be a tad more emotional than I realized!  (click on the March 2015 discussion about cytotec to induce labor if you want to see what I mean...)

I would just love to hear some good crunchy birth stories right now as I anticipate our home birth, as sort of a palette cleanser...
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Re: crunchy moms - let's get positive! positive!

  • Linds1083Linds1083 member
    I'd stop reading birth stories unless you know they are natural. Sounds like you know a lot, and don't need to be discouraged right before you have your baby. I remember feeling the same way while waiting for my daughter to be born about 18 months ago. I had so many people tell me I'd never be able to go natural. It's tough to hear prior to giving birth and not helpful at all. Sounds like you are all set up. You will do great!!

    My daughter was born at a birthing center in Sept 2013. I ended up pushing for a long time (4 hours) and delivered her vaginally without meds even though she was a hand presentation. It was tough work, but totally do-able. I hope to do it again in about 2 months when I'm due. Well, hopefully not a hand presentation again, but I'd like to be drug-free. Her birth was one of the best memories of my life :)
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  • KateLouiseKateLouise member
    I've had two great natural births. Both had a gradual build up to active labour.

    DD1 was 7 hours active. 1 1/2 hrs pushing, 9 lbs 2 stitches, and DD2 was 2 hours active labour, around 5 contractions pushing,10 lbs 2 oz no stitches (and Dh caught her on the bathroom floor).

    I'm hoping this upcoming birth will be another uncomplicated birth. I can truly say I love giving birth.
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    Elizabeth 5yrs old Jane 3yrs old
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  • elizalegselizalegs member
    Linds1083 said:

    I'd stop reading birth stories unless you know they are natural. Sounds like you know a lot, and don't need to be discouraged right before you have your baby. I remember feeling the same way while waiting for my daughter to be born about 18 months ago. I had so many people tell me I'd never be able to go natural. It's tough to hear prior to giving birth and not helpful at all. Sounds like you are all set up. You will do great!!


    My daughter was born at a birthing center in Sept 2013. I ended up pushing for a long time (4 hours) and delivered her vaginally without meds even though she was a hand presentation. It was tough work, but totally do-able. I hope to do it again in about 2 months when I'm due. Well, hopefully not a hand presentation again, but I'd like to be drug-free. Her birth was one of the best memories of my life :)
    good advice, i definitely need to stay awayyyyy from the month board. unfortunately this one isn't as active! your birth sounds amazing - here's to NO hands at the next one ;)
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  • gingerlime44gingerlime44 member
    Google "positive birth" and you'll come up with all kinds of good stuff straight away!

    tellmeagoodbirthstory.com/
    www.positivebirthstories.com/
    www.positivebirthmovement.org/

    Proud mom of two boys - July 2010 and November 2013
    Hypnosis made my births painless and drug-free! Check out my website to learn more: www.pickinglimes.com

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  • ABeautifulMindABeautifulMind member
    I've had two great natural births. Both had a gradual build up to active labour.

    DD1 was 7 hours active. 1 1/2 hrs pushing, 9 lbs 2 stitches, and DD2 was 2 hours active labour, around 5 contractions pushing,10 lbs 2 oz no stitches (and Dh caught her on the bathroom floor).

    I'm hoping this upcoming birth will be another uncomplicated birth. I can truly say I love giving birth.
    This!!!  My first was so quiet and peaceful at home, I absolutely loved my pregnancy, labor and delivery.  People think I'm nuts, but women who experience births like I did totally get it.  I can only hope my second is the same way.  

    I was in active labor for 5 hours.  I was at home in the shower until my midwife arrived.  Once she arrived she listened to me during contractions and determined that I was ready to get in the birthing tub.  I labored in there for about 4 hrs.  Honestly I was totally unaware of the midwife and her assistant unless they talked to me (which they rarely did).  My husband sat on the couch next to the birthing tub and held my hands and gave me food/coconut water when I asked for it.  That was all I needed him to do at that point. I did have some music on and no lights, candles only.  I got out of the tub to push and use the birthing stool (I just felt the need to get out of the water, I have no idea why). I was totally in "labor land" and oblivious to anything going on around me until I was ready to push.   I pushed for a 1/2 hr and required 2 stitches. My daughter was 8 lbs. 9 oz.  After her arrival she nursed immediately, we had breakfast and my midwives tucked us into bed as a family while they cleaned up.  4 or 5 hours later we got around to calling our families to let them know baby had arrived.

    Like I said, I LOVED my labor and birth. I can't imagine it getting any better but I definitely hope it's on par with the first!  Good luck, momma.  Surround yourself with positive stories and people.  Labor and delivery can be magical.



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  • Sunshine4020Sunshine4020 member
    @abeautifulmind that sounds SO amazing. <3<3<3  Such an inspiration.
    BabyFruit Ticker
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  • ABeautifulMindABeautifulMind member
    Sunshine4020 said:

    @abeautifulmind that sounds SO amazing. <3<3<3  Such an inspiration.


    So happy to hear that!  :-)

    I actually just jumped on here to report my son was born on May 2nd at home as well.  This labor was SO fast.  I had my first contraction at 12:30AM and knew immediately I was in active labor.  There was no doubt in my mind.  My contractions were immediately 5 minutes apart and by the time my H called our MW they were 3 minutes apart.  I labored on my bed while my H set up the birthing tub. My water broke at that time.   My MW arrived about 30 minutes after he called her.  By the time the tub was set up and filled it I was dealing with contractions 2 minutes apart and I could NOT wait to get in the tub.  I labored in there for about an hour, pushed for 3 minutes and my little dude was born!  I was on my knees so he was immediately placed on my back and I had a "birth pause" where I got to take a good look at him once I was pulled back into reality.   Everything was much more lucid with this labor.  I definitely felt much more pain this time around.  Though he was a big boy, 9 lb. 11 oz so that may have had something to do with it.  Again, my MW made us breakfast and tucked us into bed to snuggle like family while she and her assistant cleaned up our house.  It was really amazing.  I hope you ladies are able to have great experiences like I did.  I really think birth is amazing and feel so grateful that I was able to have such an amazing experience again this time around!

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  • IrisApricityIrisApricity member
    edited May 2015
    I'm kind of late for the OP but I'd love to share. When I was pregnant I mostly kept our plan to myself because I got so much negativity. I felt like everyone I told would give me this look like I was so naive and had no idea because I had not yet gone through it. It's so nice to be on the other side of the coin so I can share freely. 

    Our first child, a little girl, was born in February in a beautiful home birth. I wouldn't change a thing and like others, I can honestly say I love giving birth! I hated being pregnant, but I would give birth again today if I could. We didn't have the smoothest delivery - I dilated quickly but she descended slowly. But I never felt like I was in unbearable pain, it was just muscles working hard. My labor pattern was actually pretty unusual, and my midwifes told me it was one of the more intense patterns they have seen. It started with a backache lasting 1 minute 5 minutes apart and peaked with contractions lasting about 2 minutes with only 15 seconds between them for hours on end during the pushing phase, but I seriously don't think it was that bad. I had zero tearing. She was born into her daddy's hands and treated so tenderly by our entire birth team. I wouldn't change a thing and can't wait to do it again!
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