So it's probably a little early for this but I'm throwing it out here anyway, just for fun.
I know at the end of the day, all we care about is coming home safely with our baby, BUT, what's your basic plan for labor?
GTKY: Birth Plan 99 votes
I'll be having a c-section
I really really want a birth without pain meds (or homebirth)
I'd like no pain meds but I'm open
Just give me an epidural already!
Re: GTKY: Birth Plan
Part of me feels a little selfish just going in planning on an epidural bc of the possible risk involved but the other part of me just wants that amazing experience again! Ah...
J18 December Siggy Challenge: Christmas Movies
DD2: 9/12/13
Baby #3: Due January 2018
I use Hypnobabies! http://www.hypnobabies-store.com/link.cgi?affiliateID=472
J18 December Siggy Challenge: Christmas Movies!
EDD: 1/6/2018
Eva Jane: 7/23/2014
DS2: Jan. 2016
DS3: Dec. 2017
Baby #4 on the way!
with twins I will be starting with an epidural and may possibly have a C-section depending on the positioning of baby B...
Born via emergency c-section - 8lb, 19.75 in, 100% stubborn BFP Chart
8 cycles of unmedicated trying = BFP!! - EDD 1/10/18
*Waiting for Baby Eags 2.0*;
Looking back on it, I wish that I knew how soon he would be coming. With this birth, I'm going to try to go without the meds now that I know what the stages are like, but I won't be afraid to give in either.
Jan 18 December Siggy Challenge: Christmas Movies
That said, I do want to give a non-medicated* birth a shot. Mostly to know what it's like and because I know my body labors like a breeze. But if there's a reason to get an intervention, I'll certainly consider it.
(* So, aside time: very opposed to use the "natural" when one means "without medication." No one's birth is unnatural, which is what that implies. They're not having a sea monster, they're just using more medical intervention than existed in the past.)
We started out planning an unmedicated hypnobabies birth at a freestanding birth center. Then we had to switch to a hospital birth because of our son's diagnosis. Then I never went into labor, so I had to be induced. Then I had an epidural so I could sleep after 30 hours of labor. Then I had an emergency c-section because of a placental abruption.
It's not a vacation; it's a medical situation. You can't reliably plan this stuff.
But in a perfect world, I'll spontaneously go into labor, use nitrous oxide for pain management, and have a successful VBAC.
That being said, I will hopefully be delivering in a hospital and will labor med free as long as my body will let me. I'll get an epidural if/when I need it.
1. Enjoy nitrous oxide at some point (that stuff made my first labor pretty awesome!).
2. Baby comes out of my body.
3. We go home.
4. Neither one of us devlops complications and dies.
If I can follow this birth plan, I'll be a happy mama!
July'16 BMB May Siggy Challenge - Star Wars:
I'm a FTM and haven't researched all the possibilities for labor yet so I appreciate everyone who is sharing their experiences. Where do y'all recommend looking for information on the different medication possibilities with labor. Some people mentioned nitrous oxide and I haven't heard of that.
So far all I know is that I don't want to be cut but I've heard I really won't have a choice and may not know it happened till afterwards.
I didn't have an epidural with either of my deliveries, although with my second I felt like I needed one. By the time I felt like I couldn't do it anymore, she was born in less than 5 minutes. The upside to no epidural for me is the 'no needle in the spine' which is really scary to me. And of course the recovery. I felt fantastic afterwards. I got my IV out quickly and got to shower about 2 hours after she was born. Maybe those benefits aren't worth the pain but I had really fast labors and I was glad to avoid any of the potential risks of an epidural. I haven't put much thought into a birth plan for this one. The thought of giving birth again is kind of ugggggg, at least I will get my baby then.
DD also had to have an internal heart rate monitor. Everytime I had a big contraction her heart rate decelerated. The nurse explained to me what they wanted to do and that they would attach it to her head. But I still had to give them permission to do so.
I got a lot of info at my birthing class. The lady even showed us all the medical interventions that were possible. So I knew what the internal heart rate monitor was and wasn't afraid for them to do it.
Hope that helps you.
Eta: sorry don't want to freak you out. I just wish I was vocal but I was so ready for the baby to come out I would have agreed to anything. And for me the episiotomy really wasn't bad at all. Regular ibuprofen after delivery was more than enough to handle it.
DS2: Jan. 2016
DS3: Dec. 2017
Baby #4 on the way!