One thing I wasn’t aware of or really told about was your water breaking. It’s just so freaking much! And it doesn’t end till they come out. So if your water breaks before you really start laboring, it sucks! Just be prepared for that. Although I guess your water breaking as your first sign of laboring is more unlikely than not.
I’m going to piggyback off of @hfooter and add that the whole mucous plug thing wasn’t what I imagined. I lost mine little by little over the span of a few weeks, which I didn’t know was a thing and the first time I lost some of it I got a little freaked out thinking I was going to go into labor. So yeah, you may just lose it a little at a time. The remainder of mine came out when I was changing into my gown at the hospital.
@hfooter Ha, yes! My water broke at 3am, and then I had another gush when I tried to go back to bed. I think it gushed at least 6 times before labor kicked in. I had to change my clothes a couple of times, and maxipads are pretty useless. I agree, I spent the whole day going "no one warned me your wat
It's a little weird to be on the other side of this. I've delivered between 10 and 15 babies (I lost count at some point) and know how awesome it can be on that end. I'm totally all for an epidural and am not scared of pooping at all. I'm pretty sure nearly all the moms I delivered pooped and it was not a big deal. No one even acknowledged it. At least at our hospital, there is a big bag essentially connected to the end of the bed that catches all the fluids (and poop) as necessary, and you are essentially hanging off the end of the bed, so there's nowhere else for it to all go.
My husband on the other hand is pretty freaked out by all of it. He is a doctor as well but got through his time in OB as quickly and with as little hands on experience as he could. His coworkers keep asking if he is going to deliver the baby because a lot of them have done it, but he is taking a hard pass at that. I told him as long as he's in the room, I'm good.
I do kind of want to take a birthing class or something, but it can be hard to convince someone who thinks they know what goes on in a birth (I.e. my husband) to participate. Im hoping I can at least find a class about caring for infants/bringing home baby, as he has zero experience in that so shouldn't have an excuse.
Very interesting hearing everyone else's experiences!
I was in labor from start to finish for almost 68 Hours. It was a wild ride that originally I thought no way in hell could I get through it unmedicated but somehow I did. I originally went to the hospital after 7 hours of labor and timing my contractions but they sent me home. I labored at home basically sitting on the toilet or taking quick baths and showers as those were the only positions I found comfortable. I finally went back to the hospital after I thought my water broke ( It didn't) and had a baby in my arms 20 minutes later. Looking back now I had all the signs of transition ( vomiting, urge to push etc.) but was scared I would get sent home again so waited until what I thought was a sure sign baby was coming (water breaking, which come to find out was just pee). I was fully dilated when I arrived and the Dr. had to manually break my water. After that a few pushes, a poop, an episitomy and a third degree tear later LO was born. I took all the classes and forgot everything I learned once the labor actually started. I relied heavily on my faith to get me through the pain, which definitely was agonizing.
Strangely, I was more worried about blowing a blood vessel in my face/eyes from pushing then pooping on the table. I also could tell exactly when I pooped.
I was originally VERY against H watching what was happening but in the end the nurse needed help holding my other leg up so he watched anyway. Also, no mirrors for me but I regret not watching H cut the cord, seeing the cord, or seeing the placenta. This time I will ask to see all the things except the crotch action.
@F47 I believe they gave me a local before my episiotomy and honestly it wasn't that bad. the worst part was the stitching up which was very uncomfortable. I had the tear though so that probably made the pain much worse.
@bellamy9 The empty womb feeling is insane! I constantly was touching my belly for at least 1 month PP because it felt so strange.
I definitely knew I pooped! I had no meds and I could feel it and then feel them wiping it away. But I'm also one of the moms who, for all the people who say "oh, you won't care at all about modesty," I totally did. The entire time, I was pulling the robe in front to make sure my upper half was covered.
FTM here. Thanks for all the helpful information especially the poop thing (lol) and being mentally prepared for deviation.
I noticed that my Dr. doesn't seem to care about my preferences and is kind of cold. I thought I could live with him but after reading this, I'm hoping to switch to one of the practice's midwives instead.
@hfooter Yes! My water broke, but I guess only partially. It wasn't a full gush, but definitely left a puddle. Then it kept trickling out allllll day. Felt like I was constantly peeing myself.
The only real problem that I encountered besides having to lie down for monitoring, was I had meconium in my water. So they had to suction DD right away, and I wasn't able to delay chord clamping.
Also - while on the topic of birth plans - don’t forget to research and decide on the medical things they do for your baby after birth, (help me here other moms my memory is fuzzy) - I believe my hospital’s default was to do a hep B shot, a vitamin shot to help with blood clotting (in case of injury), and the stuff they put in the corners of the eyes. I waived everything except the vitamin (E?) shot. But you have to tell them if you don’t want something because in my experience the default was to give it.
You can also delay a lot of it so they don’t do it right away. We also declined a bath and waited until a few days after we got home. Here in Texas if you don’t do the eye ointment they call CPS. We waited on the Hep B shot, though.
Sorry for the triple post, I’m just catching up. My water didn’t break until I started pushing, which I think is kind of uncommon. It got all over my OB, and she had to change clothes before I could start pushing again
Water breaking before contract start apparently only happens in 10% of births, so a vast majority of people are either expecting it or already at the hospital when it happens.
With DD1 my water broke right after I was admitted, when I was about 6cm. With DD2 it broke on the triage table when the nurse went to write up my discharge papers because 2 minutes earlier I was not dilated at all (I went to the hospital because I had a bloody show that morning that freaked me out, and my dr says if you have blood more than spotting that late, to go to L&D). But I was at the hospital both times.
I think my water broke when I was around 7cm and in hard labor. I could feel it though since it felt like I popped a water balloon but I’d been in labor at least 9 hours or so at that point.
Also I was very concerned about getting an episiotomy but the practice I go to is very against them and thinks they make women tear worse. Obviously I don’t know if that’s true, but something to consider and research.
I would definitely ask your doctor about episiotomies. When I asked my OB, she said it’s extremely rare that they would do them because it's not evidence based, but I know some doctors still do it routinely. The fact is, some doctors stay on top of research, and others just do things the way they always have and never want to change,
I started feeling like I had to push and the OB broke my water when he came in. The one nurse was raising the bed up for him and just as he was saying “not too high” it broke and almost splashed in his face haha that nurse got the stink eye from him!
My doc will give you a little snip in a spot that you are already starting to tear to help things along, but they won't do an episiotomy unless absolutely necessary.
The situations where an episiotomy are medically indicated are sooo few. They make women tear worse and are harder to heal and repair. Your body will tear if it needs to, it won’t need help.
And since tearing isnt even a given or necessary, why start off with it?
Theres the old example of taking me a piece of cloth. If you just try to rip it, it’ll maybe tear a little bit and it’ll be jagged (aka natural tear and easier to repair). If you give that material a snip and then pull on it? Riiiiiip it’ll go right through. And you don’t want a rip in your vagina to go straight through lol.
I would avoid going to a doc where an episiotomy the norm. I don’t believe they are nesecary at all.
If you are wanting a unmedicated birth I urge you to go with a midwife. That’s just my opinion. I still want an epidermal but I want everything else as least invasive as possible and feel you’re most likely going to get that with a midwife over a MD. My few friends who went with an MD (most have midwives out here) ended up with a c-section and from what they said it seemed more like it was because it was more convenient for the doc...
Yes this! Exactly the example I was thinking but you explained it so much better!
The situations where an episiotomy are medically indicated are sooo few. They make women tear worse and are harder to heal and repair. Your body will tear if it needs to, it won’t need help.
And since tearing isnt even a given or necessary, why start off with it?
Theres the old example of taking me a piece of cloth. If you just try to rip it, it’ll maybe tear a little bit and it’ll be jagged (aka natural tear and easier to repair). If you give that material a snip and then pull on it? Riiiiiip it’ll go right through. And you don’t want a rip in your vagina to go straight through lol.
Water breaking before contract start apparently only happens in 10% of births, so a vast majority of people are either expecting it or already at the hospital when it happens.
With DD1 my water broke right after I was admitted, when I was about 6cm. With DD2 it broke on the triage table when the nurse went to write up my discharge papers because 2 minutes earlier I was not dilated at all (I went to the hospital because I had a bloody show that morning that freaked me out, and my dr says if you have blood more than spotting that late, to go to L&D). But I was at the hospital both times.
Interesting if that percentage is true! My water broke before anything else so I guess I’m in that 10%
My doc will give you a little snip in a spot that you are already starting to tear to help things along, but they won't do an episiotomy unless absolutely necessary.
This. I got a tiny snip but didn’t have very many stitches and wasn’t sore at all. I also definitely pooped.
So when I was pregnant with DS1 I went into preterm labor at 32 weeks. They were able to stop it and he stayed in until 39w but because of the preterm labor I ALWAYS thought I was in labor after that. One time I had a cart full of stuff at Target and felt warm liquid dripping down my legs and was like OMG IT'S GO TIME. I left my cart, got home, exH and I rushed to the hospital. Nope, no labor. Not amniotic fluid. I peed my pants in Target.
I know this has nothing to do with low intervention births but something above prompted that memory. Ah, the joys of pregnancy.
This was mentioned earlier but I had no idea you would feel like your innards would fall out your bum for a few weeks after. Lol the Midwife told be after before standing your butt will be sore, and I was in my head thinking vag and thought we'll yeah I just gave birth, then I stood up and out loud said OMG you meant my actual butt! Haha I walked around carrying my butt, such a weird feeling.
For the mirror, as I'm pushing my Midwife ask if I want a mirror and I'm like sure why not. Then they fumble around to find it and can't. I look down " never mind I can see the baby crowning now" lol she just laughed. I don't think that is common, but I had a small bump and hunched over anyways when pushing.
The placenta felt like heaven. It was so warm and soft and soothing. I told the midwife that was so nice what was it? Lol I wanted more. Then she informed me it was the after birth. Haha can't get a second round of that without another labor.
We delayed the eye rub until after first nurse. And passed on hep shot but got vitamin k due to bruising.
My advice is to educate yourself on all possible scenarios. 7 months into my first pregnancy, I found out I needed to schedule a c-section due to vasa previa and placenta prévia. I came to terms with it and then the morning of my delivery, I found out my platelet count was low so I needed to be put under anesthesia for the c-section. My husband wasn't able to be in the room and I have no recollection of most of the day. Most importantly though, all went well and I delivered a healthy baby boy.
This time around, I am eligible for vaginal delivery and would take all the drugs but I'm not going to get my heart set on a certain experience just in case. I wish all of us safe deliveries and healthy babies as that is what matters in the end
Re: Let’s talk Low Intervention/Unmedicated Births
My husband on the other hand is pretty freaked out by all of it. He is a doctor as well but got through his time in OB as quickly and with as little hands on experience as he could. His coworkers keep asking if he is going to deliver the baby because a lot of them have done it, but he is taking a hard pass at that. I told him as long as he's in the room, I'm good.
I do kind of want to take a birthing class or something, but it can be hard to convince someone who thinks they know what goes on in a birth (I.e. my husband) to participate. Im hoping I can at least find a class about caring for infants/bringing home baby, as he has zero experience in that so shouldn't have an excuse.
Very interesting hearing everyone else's experiences!
Strangely, I was more worried about blowing a blood vessel in my face/eyes from pushing then pooping on the table. I also could tell exactly when I pooped.
I was originally VERY against H watching what was happening but in the end the nurse needed help holding my other leg up so he watched anyway. Also, no mirrors for me but I regret not watching H cut the cord, seeing the cord, or seeing the placenta. This time I will ask to see all the things except the crotch action.
@F47 I believe they gave me a local before my episiotomy and honestly it wasn't that bad. the worst part was the stitching up which was very uncomfortable. I had the tear though so that probably made the pain much worse.
@bellamy9 The empty womb feeling is insane! I constantly was touching my belly for at least 1 month PP because it felt so strange.
edit: words
I definitely knew I pooped! I had no meds and I could feel it and then feel them wiping it away. But I'm also one of the moms who, for all the people who say "oh, you won't care at all about modesty," I totally did. The entire time, I was pulling the robe in front to make sure my upper half was covered.
I noticed that my Dr. doesn't seem to care about my preferences and is kind of cold. I thought I could live with him but after reading this, I'm hoping to switch to one of the practice's midwives instead.
ETA Words.
The only real problem that I encountered besides having to lie down for monitoring, was I had meconium in my water. So they had to suction DD right away, and I wasn't able to delay chord clamping.
With DD1 my water broke right after I was admitted, when I was about 6cm. With DD2 it broke on the triage table when the nurse went to write up my discharge papers because 2 minutes earlier I was not dilated at all (I went to the hospital because I had a bloody show that morning that freaked me out, and my dr says if you have blood more than spotting that late, to go to L&D). But I was at the hospital both times.
Also I was very concerned about getting an episiotomy but the practice I go to is very against them and thinks they make women tear worse. Obviously I don’t know if that’s true, but something to consider and research.
she said it’s extremely rare that they would do them because it's not evidence based, but I know some doctors still do it routinely. The fact is, some doctors stay on top of research,
and others just do things the way they always have and never want to change,
And since tearing isnt even a given or necessary, why start off with it?
Theres the old example of taking me a piece of cloth. If you just try to rip it, it’ll maybe tear a little bit and it’ll be jagged (aka natural tear and easier to repair). If you give that material a snip and then pull on it? Riiiiiip it’ll go right through. And you don’t want a rip in your vagina to go straight through lol.
11/18/16 missed m/c 9w1
08/03/17 no hb 8w
If you are wanting a unmedicated birth I urge you to go with a midwife. That’s just my opinion. I still want an epidermal but I want everything else as least invasive as possible and feel you’re most likely going to get that with a midwife over a MD. My few friends who went with an MD (most have midwives out here) ended up with a c-section and from what they said it seemed more like it was because it was more convenient for the doc...
I know this has nothing to do with low intervention births but something above prompted that memory. Ah, the joys of pregnancy.
August 18 Siggy Challenge: April Showers
For the mirror, as I'm pushing my Midwife ask if I want a mirror and I'm like sure why not. Then they fumble around to find it and can't. I look down " never mind I can see the baby crowning now" lol she just laughed. I don't think that is common, but I had a small bump and hunched over anyways when pushing.
The placenta felt like heaven. It was so warm and soft and soothing. I told the midwife that was so nice what was it? Lol I wanted more. Then she informed me it was the after birth. Haha can't get a second round of that without another labor.
We delayed the eye rub until after first nurse. And passed on hep shot but got vitamin k due to bruising.
Hello from Detroit!
This time around, I am eligible for vaginal delivery and would take all the drugs but I'm not going to get my heart set on a certain experience just in case. I wish all of us safe deliveries and healthy babies as that is what matters in the end