hynobirthing... What the heck?!

[Knight]

We have some friends that recently had their third child. She had planned on having an epidural. Knowing that her labors have been typically short in the past her husband told the hospital staff that she needed the epidural immediately. They didn't listen.

She delivered in three hours. The epidural kicked in after the baby was born.

Notice to hospital staff: Listen to your patients.

 

[straightforward]

With my first son we went to lamaze. Everything sounded great and I really studied all of it. We packed the whole bag and dragged it to the hospital when the time came. We only used one thing out of the whole bag....a paper bag because I started hyperventalating (sp?)...the one thing I thought was really stupid to have!!! I did use the breathing techniques...but my husband (at the time...without a drink in his hand...which was rare! now ex) was spastic so he didn't help me AT ALL! But, I am sure that the nurse was an angel in disguise. My doctor was on her way home after a double shift or something so I didn't have my regular doctor...but this nurse knew the breathing and she knew how to look me in the eye and remind me what to do and there was such a peace about her and she kept my attention where it belonged...she was fantastic. Most of the lamaze did go out the window. But, two things (besides the paper bag) did help: 1) remembering that the idea of relaxing is that your body is working on pushing that baby out whether you like it or not and so you learn how to go with what your body is doing. Relaxing doesn't make the pain go away but it does help because if you are fighting against what your body is naturally doing it will be more painful. (This was confirmed to me before the nurse was helping me.) 2) They gave me a list of drugs and the possible effects on both mother and baby. I decided to go with the lowest medication on the list. (I will not have anyone stick anything in my back! And I've heard from too many women who still suffer with pain in their back due to it.) The medication I had made me really sleepy. I think it just really started to kick in when I was getting stitched up. The last thing I remember was holding the baby as they wheeled us into the room I was to stay in and telling them that they had to take him because I thought I was going to fall asleep and drop him...I fell asleep as soon as they had him...before I was even all the way in the room.

That was the main reason I chose to go with no drugs with my second son. I also chose to go with a mid-wife because the doctor had really done nothing for me...just sat there and caught the baby when he popped out! I got the best set of mid-wives. They traded off and I got to choose one or the other if I wanted to. When it came down to it (because it was early in the a.m.) it was whoever was on call...but it didn't really matter because I trusted and liked both of them. Only part I didn't like was when they tried to put on some ocean sounds or something while I was in transition and I told them in a very rude way to turn it OFF! My husband was wonderful...but because they didn't have time to get the things out that you put your feet up on he ended up holding my foot instead of my hand! But, when I started really hurting he started to cry and I just couldn't stand that so I just worked really hard to get it done. Keeping it in mind that once babies out...it's over helped alot. And because I had not had drugs once it was over I was wide awake and on a really big adrenaline kick! (I think I was also VERY happy that the mid-wife made sure, through massage, that I didn't tear or get cut...NO stitches!) The world was so beautiful...and my baby was there and I was just so overjoyed!!! I really got to enjoy that time with him and his dad. I'll hold on to that moment forever and it helped me through alot of the long nights after!

Sorry for the long post...but I guess the main thing is that you go to the classes (lamaze in particular) and pick up as much as you like. Get all the information you can about the process of birth...then the fear is less and thus the pain (not gone) is less because we tense up when we are afraid. In the end all the techniques are not going to work for all of the people. But one or two things might help along the way and there is no way to know which ones until you get to that point.

Hope this helps. I hear alot of griping about birth...but it really is such a miracle. Even through all the pain keeping your mind set on how God set it all up is pretty fascinating. I know it happens everyday...but that birth of that child is uniquely yours to hold onto forever...it will never happen again. That's how I approached the second child anyway...and it did help...along with a loving caring husband and a mid-wife I trusted who knew when to shout and when to be gentle. It was in no way easy...and I had a very long hard labor. But it was so worth it.

 

[ukok]

I hear alot of griping about birth...but it really is such a miracle. QUOTE]


I agree straightforward, that giving birth to a child is indeed a miracle, but i disagree that any one "gripes" about childbirth. We have varying degrees of tolerance, supporting partners and a whole host of differing circumstances. One womans agony is another womans "bearable". Those who gripe, remember the pain...personally i rarely speak about my childrens births, so if i complain about the pain here at CF, it is because it really was agonising, not because i fancy a moan.

 

[straightforward]

Sorry if I offended you UK. I was not necissarily speaking of anyone here as much as mothers I know personally. I mean people who don't see the miracle in it at all...and I think that is sad. I was also sharing my view on how, although not ALL important, pieces and parts of lamaze and the like can help even if each individual keeps or throws out the parts they can't (or don't want to) use. Believe me...I know about the pain. But I have also seen how focusing on the pain can make it more painful.