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January 2016 Moms
SashaMSmith
member
Natural Labor
SashaMSmith
member
I had an epidural with my first and I hated the back pain that lasted for months after. This time I am wanting to do all natural maybe some IV pain meds but I'm not entirely sure if I'll be able to handle it. Any tips or thoughts. 
Re: Natural Labor
To suggest getting medication or needing a c/s is not a natural way to bring a child into the world is insulting.
DD born 1/24/16
TTC #2 - Jun 2017
BFP on 8/24/17
I also didn't have a hospital birth so may interventions were not available to me.
I'd also consider a doula and/or some natural childbirth classes that teach drug free pain relief techniques. And avoid horror stories from other moms or dwelling on any memories about pain or fear you might have from your own previous labor and birth.
Good luck! I hope your labor turns out how you want it to. I'm also shooting for intervention free this time. I was hoping for it last time and came close but had a couple because twins and not a very natural birth friendly environment. No regrets but hoping for the experience I want this time.
I was very apprehensive about getting an epidural. I wanted to make sure I was in complete control of my body and I knew I'd lose some of that control with an epidural. Plus I wasn't comfortable with the cascade of interventions that is likely to occur.
I was able to give birth without me ds but unfortunately wasn't able to use some of the labor positions I'd wanted to use because my son was so premature so I still didn't have the control over my labor that I'd wanted. This time around I'm looking forward to being able to try different labor positions.
Good luck with your labor. Just remember our bodies were built for this!
I read it twice while preparing for my first, and it helped me immensely. I was 21 and scared out of my mind at the prospect of giving birth without drugs. Slowly I worked my way through it, and then again in my final weeks. Like pp said, it provides a new vocabulary for birth, and allows you to visualize what's going to happen while in labour.
I didn't read it while preparing for the birth of my second, and I felt exposed and unprepared when his labour began. I had both of my children at home, but I can say with certainty that had pain medication been an option with my second, I would have taken it.
If you want to have a fully med and intervention free birth, prepare both your body and more importantly, your mind, well in advance. The better prepared you are, the greater your chance of success.
Lots of things aren't natural. Having your heart removed and replaced isn't natural. Most meds aren't natural. Fortunately, we live in times where our medical system is highly advanced. I think women from the 1800s would think we are insane to go through unnecessary pain. My older female relatives certainly do. And some of us don't have the choice to go med or intervention free, and bristle at the notion that our labors and deliveries are somehow unnatural.
My sister almost had my nephew at home until BIL convinced her otherwise. He spent 5 days in the NICU unexpectedly. She had a textbook pregnancy and never saw it coming. He really WOULD have died if he had been born at home. I truly will never understand taking such a risk.
DD 12/20/99, DS 12/14/12, M/C 9/2014, M/C 1/2015
Lots of things aren't natural. Having your heart removed and replaced isn't natural. Most meds aren't natural. Fortunately, we live in times where our medical system is highly advanced. I think women from the 1800s would think we are insane to go through unnecessary pain. My older female relatives certainly do. And some of us don't have the choice to go med or intervention free, and bristle at the notion that our labors and deliveries are somehow unnatural.
My sister almost had my nephew at home until BIL convinced her otherwise. He spent 5 days in the NICU unexpectedly. She had a textbook pregnancy and never saw it coming. He really WOULD have died if he had been born at home. I truly will never understand taking such a risk.
Calm down. Nobody is "bristling" at anything.
Nobody said natural = bad. (However, I would like to note you're the only person in this thread judging how a woman gives birth). But by definition, having a medicated birth isn't natural.
And easy with the fear mongering. There are plenty of woman who have successful home pregnancies regardless of people like you who "bristle" at them for taking such a risk.
Lots of things aren't natural. Having your heart removed and replaced isn't natural. Most meds aren't natural. Fortunately, we live in times where our medical system is highly advanced. I think women from the 1800s would think we are insane to go through unnecessary pain. My older female relatives certainly do. And some of us don't have the choice to go med or intervention free, and bristle at the notion that our labors and deliveries are somehow unnatural.
My sister almost had my nephew at home until BIL convinced her otherwise. He spent 5 days in the NICU unexpectedly. She had a textbook pregnancy and never saw it coming. He really WOULD have died if he had been born at home. I truly will never understand taking such a risk.
Yes, all those things aren't natural just like having meds administered to you during birth isn't. Your older relatives may think people who opt out are crazy but mine think people who need pain meds to deliver are weak. And guess what? They are all wrong.Pain meds during birth are directly linked with TONS of complications (longer births, higher rate of c-sections, lower breastfeeding rates, newborn lethargy, a million complications for mama...) so deciding to have a natural birth is not simply "choosing to suffer". The fact that so many moms have an epidural the first time and don't want one the second should tell you something.
If a mom chooses to have pain meds because she needs them, she's not less of a mom or a woman, she's not weak, she's asking for what she needs in that moment and no one but her can make that choice because we are not in her shoes and we will never know what she's going through because every birth is different and we all feel pain differently. But she can't say she had a natural childbirth because she didn't.
I think everyone should prepare themselves for having the kind of birth experience that they want, and doing all the research you can about it ahead of time makes it more likely. As a first time mom, I don't know how I will deal with the pain and intensity of my planned natural birth, but knowing what all of my options are and setting up the best support system has been what I am focusing on. I've read some of the Bradley Method books, plan to start some of the hypnobabies courses soon, and have a supportive midwife and labor helpers lined up. Going into it with a clear idea of what you want and skills to help you achieve it is what I'm aiming for. Best of luck to you!
I'd like to point out, as someone planning a home birth, the statement that 'you never understand taking the risk' of having a baby at home is clearly stating that you think your way of doing things is the right way and other people's way of doing it is wrong/bad/dangerous, where as the original poster did not say anything obviously derogatory in her post.
This book is another fabulous resource for pregnancy. It's less about the labor process but great for everything that comes up between now and then.
Edited to clarify
I love that ladies get to choose and prepare for a natural childbirth. I've had friends that have done it and it's an amazing experience. I had planned an all natural water birth with my first daughter, but we ended up in the hospital with a c/s (that saved both of our lives). I think it's important to prepare for the idea that you might need some intervention, and that's okay. Prepare for the experience you want, but always have a backup plan is my advise.
Side note: also read Ina's book. It was great.
It was and still is a civil discussion. Myself and previous posters were just stating that the judgment of another's moms choice is best kept to yourself.
Sheesh, people, don't get your panties in a twist. I realize we've had a calm board lately, but let's not get all worked up over this. I'm sorry if my post offended you - it truly wasn't meant that way. I just offered my opinion in my typical style - direct.
I'm not fear mongering. There are risk to home births, just like there are risks to births with pain meds involved. I was simply stating MY opinion that I will never understand taking that particular risk. Again, this is through the lens of my experience with pregnancies that were textbook and births that were not (my nephew's, my daughter's, and my son's). Just because I don't understand it doesn't mean I think women are stupid or crazy for doing it, which is why I didn't say that in my comment. I didn't judge anyone, I simply offered a different point of view.
I prefer the terms "intervention-free birth" or "med-free" birth or "home birth," which are terms the doctors and nurses in my area use. I've never heard them say "natural," probably because some women do take offense to the implication of not choosing those options. It's similar to when women say moms who choose formula are using "artificial milk" (no, really, this is a thing...just wait until the BF/formula debates begin). I mean, yes, technically it's artificial milk, but it can be a little upsetting for some women.
At the end of the day, they're just words and just semantics, really .
DD 12/20/99, DS 12/14/12, M/C 9/2014, M/C 1/2015
DD 12/20/99, DS 12/14/12, M/C 9/2014, M/C 1/2015
I DID say that I love that ladies get to choose the birth they want. Home, water, epidural, and c/s. Never said any was bad, just that discussing intervention is smart for any natural birth.
Edit to add: I realize you were talking about another posters comment, but quoted mine. She was sharing an experience and her own opinion about natural birth. It's an opinion.
I think the touchiness some posters showed in this thread comes from a place where people tend to judge for how you couldn't or didn't want to do it or brag about how they did it the "natural med free way". I know that wasn't the intention of this original post, but it does strike a chord with me as I'm especially sensitive because of my experience.
I've gone over the whole thing in my head a million times, if only I did this, or if only I didn't do that maybe I would have been able to bring my child into the world on my own. And seeing people post things like "you can do it our bodies were made for this etc etc" while this isn't the intention I always tend to think, what's wrong with me/my body if I couldn't?
I'm hoping for a VBAC this time around and I think trying to go pain free will help me to be more in tune with my body and hopefully I will have the birthing experience I want. However, a lot of things are out of my control, namely how big the baby is measuring.
I don't think about often, most days I don't beat myself up about it, and I'm simply thankful for my beautiful girl and the fact that my recovery went so well, just posts like this, while not intended to at all, make me a little down about the whole thing in general.
Sorry if this was a downer.
We all try to do our best for us and our babies! There is no right or wrong, just right/wrong for me, once I got pieces of information from different sources and I think that's what a community like ours is all about.
PS: sorry for spelling / grammar mistakes: english is - as you can imagine - not my mother language! ;-)
I know having a birth go other than how you planned is hard, especially because it's processed while also battling a sea of post partum hormones, exhaustion, and caring for a new human. While I really wanted to avoid interventions last time, small issues with my early twin delivery prevented that, which wasn't a big deal to me, but my twins were then taken away from me immediately for a few hours, which was. That's such a trivial complaint compared to things other moms face, but even that was hard for me to cope with. I can only imagine what emotional wounds can be caused by more serious issues. (My mom had a scary birth and emergency c with me and she still mentions it 31 years later)
I applaud you for trying for a VBAC this time. Again, I apologize for my words hurting you. They were meant as support and encouragement for moms in my boat, but I understand how they could hurt people with different pasts. While most births can be without interventions if desired, some can't and it's not the mom's fault when medical interventions are needed. And thank god for the medical technology that saves the moms and babies (including me) when nature doesn't work right.
I'll be thinking of you and hoping everything turns out as you hope it will.
Med free, but I did what I needed to do with my son and plan to do the same this time.