How are you "planning"/hoping to giving birth?

ClaireBear90 · January 2016

Time for a poll (or several... I feel a poll craze coming on). For the sake of clarity, "natural" in this case means vaginally without any pain meds or interventions. I've included gas as an option because I know that's a thing across the pond.

Hopefully I didn't miss any other major ways of laboring and birthing!

skruhmin · January 2016

I've done both unmedicated and medicated so I know I can do either. I will go as long as I can without but I'm not opposed.

cmerribury · January 2016

I know myself and my tolerance for pain and I wasn't able to feel "in control" until I calmed down last time. Meds were what helped me feel calm.

blueeyedrose86 · January 2016

Med free a second time. I'm really hoping the labor tub at my hospital will help with some of the pain.

ehowa499 · January 2016

I'm hoping for natural. I had no epidural last time but had some pain meds for my hip. Hip pain totally overshadowed all other pain during my delivery.

Checca23 · January 2016

I have a history of preterm labor. If I go into labor before 37 weeks then a VBAC if she decides to cook longer then I will have a c-section.

kitteh81 · January 2016

If I can have another birth like the last one, except without the giant hulk baby and maybe a more normal sized 7 pounder instead, I'd be thrilled. I've become such an huge fan of the whole waterbirth thing, it was just such a great experience.

Synnovus · January 2016

I'll probably start out with out any meds and then just see how thing goes, but probably will end up using acupuncture, heatpads, gas and maybe get the epi if labour is dragging out and I'm getting exhausted (like it did when I had DS). However, there is a slight possibility that we won't have any to watch DS. In that case DH will stay with DS and I'll go alone. If so I'll def get the epi right away!

Eta: I'll use a tub for a while as well if possible

ceds07 · January 2016

In a hospital with drugs! Getting to the hospital with enough time for an epidural is really the only "plan" I have this time.

Melodyags · January 2016

I'm having a scheduled medically necessary csection. Not what I wanted but it that's the way it goes sometimes.

ClaireBear90 · January 2016

kitteh81 said:

If I can have another birth like the last one, except without the giant hulk baby and maybe a more normal sized 7 pounder instead, I'd be thrilled. I've become such an huge fan of the whole waterbirth thing, it was just such a great experience.

Haha, I'm with you . . . PLEASE not another giant baby!

Did you deliver in the water? How was pushing/how long did you have to push? I had to get out partway through pushing (he had shoulder dystocia and he was posterior, midwife was concerned about me delivering in the water). I'd really like to stay in the water if possible this time, but if I'm pushing for two hours and baby gets stuck again... births are impossible to plan, aren't they?

kitteh81 · January 2016

I did birth her into the water, I think pushing stage was around 45 minutes to an hour if I recall correctly. I remember being shocked by the intensity of the spontaneous urge to push, because I didn't wait for that before starting to push with my first (possibly part of why I ended up pushing over 3 hours with her.) But even with the intense spontaneous pushing, I had to work so hard to get her out! An ultrasound 2 days before had her weighing in around 7 lbs 12 oz, so I wasn't expecting a 9 lb 10 ozer!

My first was posterior, but 7 lbs 12 oz, and birthing a Sunnyside-up baby is no joke! Add shoulder dystocia on top of it and I don't blame them for having you get out! How big was your baby?

I'd love to birth into the water again, but even if it's not possible I think laboring in water makes a huge difference in pain management. I've heard it called the midwives' epidural, and I would definitely agree (full disclosure--I've never had a real epidural.)

skruhmin · January 2016

@kitteh81 I will say that with DS2 I got in the water too soon and it stalled my labor for a few hours. So there's definitely a timing thing you have to be conscious of. With him being 9.1, it was no joke. Here's to this one being like his oldest brother at 6.15.

smount2011 · January 2016

one word... DRUGS!!!

Cowboycorgi · January 2016

I chose natural but open to drugs, but we are planning on a water birth if all goes well. If I can't handle laboring in water then I will be open to drugs, just going to try this first. Luckily the hospital we are delivering in have a labor/delivery tub in each room with the option to use the delivery pool (larger tub) if available. This makes it really easy to decide in the heat of the moment what works for me and baby without having to pre-register for a special room.

2goofykids · January 2016

I'm gonna try and hold out till further along in labor and opt for a spinal block instead of an epidural. I know I'll almost certainly get drugs of some sort, but I would just prefer my body doing its thing first.

Parker16772 · January 2016

Planned c-section since I had a c-section with DS1.

jenniferamcooper · January 2016

VBAC if I spontaneously go into labour before 41+2, otherwise scheduled c-section. I had placental failure last pregnancy at 41+3/4(my husband and I can't remember my original due date!) and I'll be monitored past 40 weeks daily but I live a short walk from the hospital so it's NBD.

As for VBAC I'll be holding off drugs, hopefully will get to hang out in the birthing tub. If it's a long process and I'm in intense I'm not opposed to epi but would like to try other options first.

smushi · January 2016

I was hoping to burp the baby out.

I kid, I kid.

ClaireBear90 · January 2016

@kitteh81 9 pounds 8 oz, I feel your pain! But no bones broken for him and only a tiny tear for me so it could have been much, much worse.

bbrianax · January 2016

I really don't want an epidural but am open to pain meds, however with my low-ish pain tolerance I think that I'll end up getting the epidural. We'll see.

cmerribury · January 2016

smushi said:

I was hoping to burp the baby out.

I kid, I kid.

Totally made me think of the Ron Weasley slug incident (for which I halfheartedly attempted to find a gif, but gave up rather quickly).

jess9802 · January 2016

I'm planning on an induction with an epidural around 39 weeks, just like last time, though given his estimated head size I'm hoping I go into labor spontaneously a wee bit earlier....

parenthood4 · January 2016

Med free is the plan. Had an epidural with my first and med free with my second. Both were fine but I'd prefer to go med free as long as nothing unexpected occurs!

heatherlyn114 · January 2016

Elective csection! And I am not ashamed!

Lisa6083 · January 2016

I totally plan on an epidural this time, especially since baby is already estimated at 5 lbs with almost 7 weeks left. But it depends. Last time, they let a student do it, and they messed it up. I felt almost everything, and had a horrific headache for weeks after because they punctured my dura. This time, the expert is doing it, or I won't have it done at all. The headache ruined my time home with my son. I am hoping for a better experience this time.

ClaireBear90 · January 2016

Lisa6083 said:

I totally plan on an epidural this time, especially since baby is already estimated at 5 lbs with almost 7 weeks left. But it depends. Last time, they let a student do it, and they messed it up. I felt almost everything, and had a horrific headache for weeks after because they punctured my dura. This time, the expert is doing it, or I won't have it done at all. The headache ruined my time home with my son. I am hoping for a better experience this time.

Ugh! That sounds awful.

As painful as it is, being able to "feel everything" is actually incredibly helpful when you're having a big baby, as is being able to move around. DS probably would have been a c-section or at the very least an assisted delivery if I had been numbed and not able to feel what I needed to do to get him unstuck.

But of course, don't base your epidural decision off of what size the scans say.

My friend just had a little 7 pounder and she was also told weeks beforehand that he was already "huge" at 5 pounds. Such a joke, those scans... I don't know why doctors even tell ladies these things and get them freaked out over nothing!

LuckyCookie80 · January 2016

Planning to go as long as I can stand med free but certainly want to be advised when the cut off is for an epidural as I will probably elect for one. DD 3/18 - I was advised baby is breech right now so a c-section may be the result. Dr. didn't seem concerned this early as baby can still turn around, but makes me worry when I read a lot of others are already head down.

arcanejinx · January 2016

I'm kinda between the "I hope for natural" and "no meds unless absolutely necessary" I chose the first though. I don't want interventions but I understand it may be necessary, but I am preparing myself for pain. I have a high pain threshold because medication and me do not mix. I metabolize medication really really fast-I start involuntarily shaking. I require high doses of all medication (not just pain meds) as my body burns through them so fast, so even if an epidural does work I doubt it would work for long, and it's not something I wish to experience anyways.

I hope my body decides to take after my mom and have 3 hours between start of active labor and baby. Her sisters all ended up with C-sections and few had some serious complications-one is still with severe abdominal pain 16 years after due to rare issues, so I'm terrified of them. I really don't want one but I will elect to have one if my baby is in distress.

meg_2006 · January 2016

Got an epidural with DS because I wanted a nap lol. Turns out I labored faster with the epidural, the nurses said I probably tensed up with my contractions before. I'm grateful I took the meds, DS was 9 lbs 4 oz. and had to be wrangled out. DH's family has a history of huge babies (he was 11 lb 4 oz himself) so I don't have much hope that this one's going to be anywhere in the normal range. Everything went well in delivery, I have no regrets...so drugs again it is!

GraciesMom189 · January 2016

I will be induced at 39 weeks (hopefully no cervidil or pitocin) for a trial of labor and attempt a VBAC in a VBAC friendly hospital 2 hours from my hometown. I will be getting an epidural when my pain is too much. I had an OP baby last go around which I know contributed to a bit more discomfort. Oh but that epidural was a wonderful relief. Good luck to all of you going natural but if you find yourself in more pain than you can handle, I highly recommend it!!

amyid · January 2016

Had hoped to have a v. Delivery with meds but after spending the last month in hospital and having a huge unexpected abdominal surgery (13" incision) 3 weeks ago due to the growing baby aggravating scar tissue from an appendix removal 12 yrs ago I really don't know how things will play out now.. I've been referred to "high risk" doctors who have promised to try and deliver baby number one by regular delivery and only go for a c section if medically my only option... After barely recovering from this surgery a week or so before my labour I think I'd be devastated to end up having a section and another abdominal surgery to heal from but at this point as long as our baby arrives safe and healthy, that's going to have to be the way.. Positivity is the name of the game !