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March 2017 Moms
nicklesb
member
Natural childbirth?
nicklesb
member
I've always wanted to have a natural childbirth. Anyone else? And by natural I'm just thinking of skipping the drugs. I'm curious about the moms who have done it before and what their sage advice would be?
Re: Natural childbirth?
Me: 37
DH: 36
Married: 08-25-07
DS: 11-20-09
Name change alert: Formerly Lisswastaken
I've had two babies without drugs- one weighed 8lbs 12 oz and the next was 10 lbs 2 oz. I went into labor with them on my own time (always between 41 and 42 weeks). Their birthdays were two of the best days of my life! I'm hoping to have the same type of delivery this time around. I will have the option of pain meds if I change my mind, but I do believe pain-med free childbirth can be an empowering and beautiful experience, if desired. And no judgements to those who don't have the same goals or desires- the great part about childbirth is that we can all do it our own way
Me: 37
DH: 36
Married: 08-25-07
DS: 11-20-09
Name change alert: Formerly Lisswastaken
Me: 37
DH: 36
Married: 08-25-07
DS: 11-20-09
Name change alert: Formerly Lisswastaken
My two cents: it's a mind game. If it's what you really want, and what you have your head set on throughout- you can absolutely do it! Obviously not the same: but I compare it to running--if youre running, your mind starts telling you that you need to stop when you get tired, even though your body is capable of doing it. Your body is fully capable of giving birth on its own-the hard part is just sitting back and allowing the process to take its course.
-I didn't take any classes. It didn't appeal to me, I had this feeling I just didn't need to-i was confident in the process and from reading a few books --ina may gaskin "guide to childbirth" if you haven't gotten it yet is a great one! But a class would be good if you're still unsure about the process and feel it's best for you!
-definitely go into it with an open mind and perspective that a healthy baby is the goal: not un-medicated birth being the goal. It's just step one of the plan if there are no bumps. If you go into it with that being the goal you'll end up with regrets if things change. You are out of control of the big picture. If you have an epidural, if you have a c-section. Those should all be parts of YOUR plan. not just the plan of the big bad hospital that will ruin your experience if they're necessary.
- see medication is a great tool, not just something to fear--Long labor where you have no energy left to give, back labor that feels like there's a jackhammer on your spine, medical induction changes the game... think of it as a tool in your labor tool box that is available to you as you deliver if you should need them to overcome obstacles you didn't expect to face - with or without it: it will be an amazing "natural birth" your body has accomplished. ((Sorry for the super duper long winded response-hopefully a part of it will be useful to someone))
This time around I'm hoping to do med-free. Last time I feel like my water broke prematurely and maybe that's why labor needed to be kick started with Pit. I'm hoping my waters stay in tact longer this time and contractions start first. Also I feel like knowing what contractions feel like for me this time gives me an upper hand mentally.
1. Make a plan about how you will manage labor (hypnobabies, movement, etc) and practice
2. Talk to your midwife/on about when drugs like pitocin or an epidural would be recommended. This way you aren't blindsided if something comes up and you don't have to make decisions on the fly in active labor. (examples: how long do you feel comfortable laboring before getting an epidural? My limit I set myself was 24 hours of "real" labor. I figured if I was still under 8 or 9 cm at that point I would need a nap, knowing I wouldn't sleep after ds was born from nerves and hormones. I also agreed to Pitocin when I was pushing for three hours with little progress. My body was so tired from the induction I just wasn't getting enough oomph. I knew right away as those Pit conractionsgiti had made the right choice.)
3. Learn about inductions and methods. Again, so you aren't blindsided. (I had to be induced: first they used Cervadil to ripen my cervix. Fortunately that plus artificial rupture of membranes sent me into full screaming labor so no Pitocin was needed then.)
4. Teach your birth partner how you need them to support you.
5. Pick a doctor you trust so that if they recommend some intervening you can trust that it's something you need and not just convenience
6. I really recommend the book Husband Coached Childbirth. Even if you don't do the Bradley method, thr info is great. Knowing what we happening during those terrible contractions helped me to feel in control in spite of the intensity of the feelings.
7. Coping strategies I used in back labor: SHOWERS, hot packs on back between contractions and pushing on my back by partner during contractions, praying, raising the entire hospital bed as high as it would go and leaning forward on it while standing on the floor, talking to my baby and visualizing him, silence (lol) All of the music I brought was totally useless in helping me.
My labor was 13 hours total from the time I first started feeling contractions until he was in my arms. I was 11 days past due and fortunate to have a group of doctors who were very supportive of my choice to wait for my body to go into labor naturally. I found out that there is a 50% c-section rate for women who are induced after 41 weeks-- I was seriously considering induction at 41 weeks but when my doctor let me know that was the statistic, I decided to wait it out.
My advice would be read, read, read! I immersed myself in books and read tons and tons of birth stories online of women who had unmedicated births. I really think all the birth stories helped more than anything, because it helped me to know what to expect. The mindset is more important than anything-- to truly believe that this is something your body was made to do. Recognizing that each contraction has an end, and taking advantage of the minutes (or seconds) in between. It's important not to fight the contractions, either-- to view them as necessary-- they are what dilate your cervix. "The pain has a purpose" was a mantra I had throughout the whole thing. Instead of clenching up during painful contractions, I focused on keeping my jaw relaxed which helped me to keep my body relaxed, and I would say the word "open" instead of yelling. I will day that there was a definite point where I started to panic a little about actually having to push this baby out of me-- but drugs never even crossed my mind. Instead, I started having irrational thoughts that maybe a c-section would be better, maybe I should demand they just take me to the OR right now, lol! But the pushing was not painful for me at all. It was HARD, but it wasn't painful. And I did have a second degree tear, but by that point my body was flooded with endorphins and I didn't feel it at all. I did type out my birth story afterward, because I never wanted to forget any of the details, and I would be happy to share it with anyone who is interested because I know how much it helped me to read them during my preparation. ❤️
...random thought: I'm excited to hear all these birth stories we'll be experiencing and sharing in just a few more months!
When I asked my doula how she would Guage if when I might really need/want meds she said that if I ever asked for the drugs between a contraction it would be a major indicator. Pretty much she explained that what ever laboring moms say during a contraction is just coping.. that rang true for me. Between contractions I mostly never wanted drugs. Not like I didn't consider it lol.but like I said I REALLY wanted a med free birth which remained my motivation.
Now that being said don't be afraid of meds. I always said before labor i wanted med free but I would do whatever was necessary for safe delivery. I didn't realize before labor that I was actually afraid of ANY interventions. I had it stuck in my head that one intervention led to another led to another etc.
I stalled twice each time for over 3 hours. Once at 6cm at the birthing center, my water had not broke.yet and the midwife kept bringing up breaking my water I was super opposed but thano filly finally caved and there was meconium in the fluid.
Then at the hospital I stalled again at 9cm
Thank you to @kjd291 for using the example of running... I used to be a marathoner and ultramarathoner, so I can really relate to that. I hadn't been running much over the last year or so, but have been running 5k distances a few times / week for the last few months as a I reminder that it is a mental game. I feel really connected to Baby during these runs and am letting the Baby know we are in this together and we'll push through these workouts, labor, and life together. Sorry, I digressed ....
Thanks Ladies!!! Looking forward to *hearing* more of your thoughts and experiences!
It is actually literally coaching your wife through labor, which I would have HATED. I needed a silent room, lol. But it was so informative about what happens during labor.
I'm hoping I won't need to be induced this time and hoping for a completely med free birth but I was still very happy with my first experience. I didn't prepare myself with breathing classes or anything, my mindset was not to think about labour at all until it comes and take things naturally and wing it as it went. I think I will go into it the same way this time, only goal would be to bring a healthy baby of course but preferably no meds and absolutely no Epidural. (No epi because of my fear of increasing my chances of tearing/ complications etc.)
I think key is your support system. Because halfway through I was really saying I think I wanted the epi and all the drugs. My SO reminded me of what I had originally wanted and it put me back on track and helped me to really focus and realize that I was almost through it.
Goal is healthy baby & healthy mom.
Samantha - 4/5/2017
All of your advice, memories and even book recommendations are reassuring. A friend told me that here labor tends to be unmedicated by default. I always thought it would be amazing to go unmedicated but also I am a big ol baby when it comes to pain. Also is my physical condition going to work against me? Can I train my body (and mind) in the next 20+ weeks to do it?
I was in the play BIRTH a couple of years ago and one of the characters had a mantra "my body rocks!" that she and her doula repeated throughout the delivery process. I guess I have to find my happy thought too!
I have been enjoying mama natural too
baby #4 due March '17!