Birthing class...first experience.

[sammipher]

Well last night was our first experience with birthing class. It was basically an introduction. We got to tour the labor and del. floor....all the things we should know when we think we are in labor...what happens when we get checked in...and of course a nice video to watch on birth. So after class I told hubby this is what I have come to a dec. on....I want my baby so much..but, I don't want to go through labor...so I begain to think of a plan to skip it..maybe slipping my OBGYN some $ under the table to be knocked out? ..just kidding...I finally realized last night how exactly the baby comes out and it was nerve racking ....the video showed parts that the discovery channel usually blurs out...the woman was crying getting the epidural, which I am getting, and she didn't look as happy as what the doc told me I would be come time of the del....the epidural didn't look like it was working. Then to top it all off they went over the "rare" side effects of epidurals...that just put me in a better mood. Then they pass out the dialation tray. The one that shows what you will look like when you are "__this much dialated"...I think this put most of the mothers in shock..but, got ohs and ahs out of the dads. Then the teacher says that the hardest part of the daddy's job that day will be keeping the ice chips filled...so hubby (both of us joking of course) says see I do have a hard job...I told him unless his body makes those ice chips itself and he spits them out of some small hole in his body I am not impressed. So as I have stated before after watching the video the pictures I have in my mind are the following:
vaginal del.: a watermelon coming out of someones nose.
C-section: The ending of braveheart.
But, seriously the class was very informative. I did feel less nervous after knowing what exactly will be going on...what rooms I would be in...and esp. the look on security in the nursery. I wondered about the I.v...they do offer numbing medicine before they put it in (I had that at surgery so that is a piece of cake)...no enema!!! woohoo!!! two people told me I had to have one....they did say having the epidural go in was less painful than a contraction...I know this is a bit of a boring thread..but I was just curious if anyone else has went or planning on going to a birthing class...and what they have learned that they didnt know before they went.

 

[Neenie1]

I'll be going to a refresher course because firstborn was emergency c/s, and this time around I am aiming for VBAC (Vaginal Birth after Caesarean)

I will say I did have a spinal block aneasthetic, (which is put in at around the same place as an epidural, down an inch or so further I think) I don't remember the spinal block hurting, never had epidural, so don't know if they feel different going in or not. I do remember it was a sharp quick pain, sort of like having an injection.

 

[Ruhama]

I'm due on the same day as you sammipher, but I just got the biggest bellylaugh when I read this quote:

vaginal del.: a watermelon coming out of someones nose.
C-section: The ending of braveheart.

I wish you all the best. Wish me some too, I'm going for an unmedicated birth.

 

[sammipher]

I'll be going to a refresher course because firstborn was emergency c/s, and this time around I am aiming for VBAC (Vaginal Birth after Caesarean)

I will say I did have a spinal block aneasthetic, (which is put in at around the same place as an epidural, down an inch or so further I think) I don't remember the spinal block hurting, never had epidural, so don't know if they feel different going in or not. I do remember it was a sharp quick pain, sort of like having an injection.

Thank you for posting that It gives me comfort...I was curious as to what a epidural felt like..so maybe it is similar as a spinal block...Though I am scared of the epidural...I know that it is a short pain that can help me feel less of a very long pain...labor I know I will not be totally comfortable..but, anything helps.

 

[sammipher]

I'm due on the same day as you sammipher, but I just got the biggest bellylaugh when I read this quote:



I wish you all the best. Wish me some too, I'm going for an unmedicated birth.

WOW! Natural...I do admire you girl. I have weighed both and decided the epidural was the best to go with me. But, next week I am attending the breathing techniques class and it's really for those that are going natural. I just wanna be prepared in case I do change my mind or in case I don't make it to the hospital in time(I know that is very unlikely), I am doubting I change my mind...but you never can tell what will happen...they told us that we can have pain management after we are dialated to 4...I weighed all the possibilites...the stadol/phenagran cocktail threw the IV leaves the baby sleepy and not very good for them when they are born cause if they are sleepy they can't do all the things they are suppose to do like crying alot to open their lungs..that scared me...and they said after you are dialated to 8 there is no pain management avail at all..unless you already had your epidural in place of course...so many options these days...every dec. I make worries me...cause I worry about her...I just thank the Lord the two things I can count on that day is the Lord being there and my hubby...with that combo where can I go wrong....so as of right now I will be an epidural girl...though I have to admit those "Rare" side effects they showed me were a little worry some and isn't it funny my OBGYN never mentioned any bad side effects...just the good ones. MANY MANY MANY BLESSINGS ON YOUR PREGNANCY AND THE ARRIVAL OF YOUR LITTLE ONE..AS WELL AS GOING NATURAL, I hope your special day goes smoothly

 

[Ruhama]

Well... don't say you admire me till after I successfully survive the thing. Very good chance I might change my mind mid-labor.

As for the epi, I was under the impression that they numb the area a little first with topical anesthesia before poking you with the epi so that all you feel is a bit of pressure. If you feel a prick, I'm wondering if they aren't administering that first numbing. See if you can ask for that so it won't hurt so much. In the cases of my friends who've had it, they all say it just felt like pressure back there.

An added afterthought - about the breathing - if you can master some relaxation techniques even if it isn't hurting, you can speed up your delivery because when your muscles tighten up in response to contractions it prolongs the process and exhausts the uterus. The more you relax, the easiest it does its job.

 

[Neenie1]

Well... don't say you admire me till after I successfully survive the thing. Very good chance I might change my mind mid-labor.

As for the epi, I was under the impression that they numb the area a little first with topical anesthesia before poking you with the epi so that all you feel is a bit of pressure. If you feel a prick, I'm wondering if they aren't administering that first numbing. See if you can ask for that so it won't hurt so much. In the cases of my friends who've had it, they all say it just felt like pressure back there.

An added afterthought - about the breathing - if you can master some relaxation techniques even if it isn't hurting, you can speed up your delivery because when your muscles tighten up in response to contractions it prolongs the process and exhausts the uterus. The more you relax, the easiest it does its job.

I vaguely remember they did numb the area with ice first, but all I did feel was a slight prick, nothing painful at all really. Just don't look at that needle before they put it in.


Sammipher, why are you having an epidural? Wouldn't it be safer to see how you go on gas and air first, or maybe even pethidine or something like that? Do you have to have an epi for medical reasons.


I don't think I am allowed to have an epidural in VBAC, because apparently you won't be able to feel the scar rupture (not too sure if that is true though, haven't asked my doc about it, but I am only 22 weeks)

 

[Ruhama]

I bet it is true, you can't even feel contractions if you have an epi and they have to tell you when to push.

 

[jazzbird]

vaginal del.: a watermelon coming out of someones nose.
C-section: The ending of braveheart.

That is so funny. And while the watermelon comparison may certainly seem apt, just remember that God designed certain parts of our body to expand and stretch - we've got a lot of elasticity down there! No matter how hard we try, a watermelon is just not going to fit through our nose, but God designed our bodies for the purpose of having babies pass through them. Our bodies are not defunct - they work.

And I second what Ruhama said about preparing yourself with breathing. You have to relax or it may seem like you are trying to push a watermelon through your nose.

Best of luck to you in the rest of your pregnancy. I'm sure you will do great!

 

[katelyn]

Our childbirth class just got over today. We took a Bradley childbirth class for natural childbirth. Our hospital does offer a six-week course, but since we knew we wanted a natural birth we chose to go with the privately taught Bradley class. It's a 12 week course covering topics like exercise, nutrition, how to be a good coach (for the husbands), labor stages and positions that work well, relaxation techniques, writing a birth plan, unexpected situations and how to stay healthy and low risk. We really enjoyed our class and feel like we learned a lot from it.

 

[sammipher]

I vaguely remember they did numb the area with ice first, but all I did feel was a slight prick, nothing painful at all really. Just don't look at that needle before they put it in.


Sammipher, why are you having an epidural? Wouldn't it be safer to see how you go on gas and air first, or maybe even pethidine or something like that? Do you have to have an epi for medical reasons.


I don't think I am allowed to have an epidural in VBAC, because apparently you won't be able to feel the scar rupture (not too sure if that is true though, haven't asked my doc about it, but I am only 22 weeks)

I am having an epidural cause I want pain management during labor...I have weighed this carefully...read books, talked to those who have went natural and medicated, and I have talked to my OBGYN about it and decided an epi is the best for me. I am nervous cause this is my first child...I want to be aware of what is going on. I know my pain tolerance and trust me I will need meds...I dont want the iv drugs cause they can only give you that til you are 8 cm dialated...actually they dont give you anything here after eight even the epi...then its all natural from there cause of the baby needing to be awake and alert when born so it can cry and get those lungs a going. I havent heard of gas here...I dont think they offer that at our hospital. The epi is safe for mother and child...esp. the baby...it has no effects on the baby...its my first time...I want to be comfortable and alert..yes I know that it could mean longer labor...but believe it or not that is not too common with epis..but still possible...Im comfortable with my choice...never can tell I may change my mind before then, but as of right now its going to be a medicated birth...it also depends on the rash on my lower back that is due to an allergy..if it does not clear or spreads higher they want give me an epi and I will have to go natural They are not allowed to give you an epi if you have a rash in that area...so we'll see how things go.

 

[jazzbird]

...it also depends on the rash on my lower back that is due to an allergy..if it does not clear or spreads higher they want give me an epi and I will have to go natural They are not allowed to give you an epi if you have a rash in that area...so we'll see how things go.

Wow, that must be unnerving to be planning for the drugs, but with the possibility of going natural. I would suggest that you become as informed about natural childbirth as you possibly can because if for some reason you aren't able to have the epi, you need something to fall back on. You can pm me if you want any suggestions on reading material. I just said a prayer that God will take away your rash so you can have the kind of birth you want.