Natural Childbirth

[EmSchmem]

So because of a few factors, the game plan for this baby is to go without medication. I am more afraid of being medicated than of the pain of not being medicated. I fully intend on goign unmedicated as crazy as other people might think I am but at the same time I am worried. I really could use some encouragement in this area. I do NOT want encouragement about using medication or the different types of medication out there. I have done my research and know this isn't for me. So please so posts saying how someone totally reccommends and epidural. It's fine if that's what you chose but it's not my choice.

 

[andiesmama]

You can do it! I put the deep breathing & focusing things they taught us in our birthing classes to use while I was going through my contractions prior to my epidural. By concentrating on the breathing & stuff like that, it really did seem to help get me through. Just try your best to go in with as a positive attidue as possible and take it one step at a time. A cool cloth for your face & neck as well as ice chips help too.

 

[lucypevensie]

I'd just like to commend you for your decision. I personally chose the epi, but the more "satisfying" (for lack of a better word) birth experience for me was the one in which I had specifically requested the barest minimum of anesthetic. Sure, it hurt more, but I loved being able to feel what was going on. If it were possible for me to have another one I would definitely try to go epi-less.

 

[katelyn]

I had an unmedicated birth with Natalie. It's hard work but it can be done! But we took Bradley natural childbirth classes, and that really helped. The basic idea is that when a contraction starts, you try to relax as much as possible - if you can do that, it makes the pain a little more bearable. Clenching your muscles against the pain actually makes it hurt worse. Closing your eyes also helps you relax. The classes also taught husbands to try to do things to help their wives relax - gently talking and encouraging, rubbing your back, making sure you take a drink of water between contractions (or ice chips if that's all your hospital allows), reminding you to get up and go to the bathroom at least once an hour. My husband was all prepared to rub my back during contractions, but we quickly learned that I did NOT want to be touched, talked to, or anything during contractions. There's no one way that works, you just have to try to figure out what's comfortable for you and go with it.

The Bradley method teaches a side-lying position which I found to be comfortable. Laying on your back when you are pregnant and in labor is not really all too comfortable - but it's the position you get in for when they check how you are progressing, and also the easiest for them to get the external monitors to work on you, so many people end up staying in that position. Think about when you sleep - what is the most comfortable position for you? That position - or a slight variation of it - will likely be the most comfortable for you to labor in.

Towards the end of my labor, I had a harder time dealing with the pain due to nausea and all the pressure of the baby moving down. At that point my midwife had me get on a birthing ball for a while. I highly recommend it. You kind of bounce and rock around on it, and not only does it make the pain seem not quite as bad, but it puts you in a good position for helping the baby continue on its journey to your arms!

God will get you through and the joy of finally seeing that little one's face after all that hard work is totally worth it!!

 

[EmSchmem]

Thanks Katelyn
I have a doula so she has been really helpful. I got a birthing ball this week and try to sit on it at home pretty much whenever I am sitting down. We actually have one here at work to so I get on it when I can. I get really sicxk off of a lot of medicines and am actually petrified of an epidural. I have really needed someone to tell me THEIR experiences with no meds. I'm getting a BIT testy about being told I'm crazy and about being told there's no shame in medication.

 

[EmSchmem]

Thanks Blue. It means a lot coming from someone who seems to wonder "what if" about a couple things. I am ALL for the birthing tub. I have horrendous cramping during my periods (obviously when I'm not pregnant) and that is the first place I go. The same for any other pain or stress. I think they'll have a much harder time getting me back out.

 

[EmSchmem]

If you do start taking baths for period cramps you might try as hot as you can stand it with either a fan on you or a bucket with cold water and a cloth in it. It helps me. I put the cloth on my head. I also am a big fan of heating pads. And squirell around until I find just the right position and don't move and inch until I feel better.

 

[EmSchmem]

No biggie. At least you didn't hijack it in a pro-medication way. Not that I'm anti-meds, I just am for myself for this pregnancy.

 

[JustMandy]

Kudos to you for your decision! I am way too chicken to try it med free...that was before my last baby. I had epi's for the first two that were beautiful! If I could sing a song about them, dancing in a feild of flowers, I would. Then there was #3. My first bad feeling came when they woke the anestisiologist (sp?) up at 4 in the morning to put a needle in my back, then I could feel the medicine going to my right leg...funny, I had no pain in my legs, go figure. Anyway, it did help some contractions but when it was time to push---boy did I know it!! Since the epi slowed down my contractions, they had me on ptocin so the contractions were REALLY intence and I could feel everything (except my legs, maybe I should have focused on how much they weren't in pain )


All that to say, I really recomend the tub and enjoying the first part of labor, there is a long exciting happy part that is really a lot of fun. We took walks, had snacks and called family to keep them updated. After seeing that I can get through it, I may try it med free next time.

You totally can do this and it is such a short time. John 16:21 says it best, "A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world."

 

[BeanMak]

I had both of mine med free. Epidurals weren't done much "back then" and NO way was I going to have a spinal. Lamaz breathing REALLY did help. My husband and good friend (who is a L&D nurse) were with me the whole time and I felt well cared for. It was an experience that was worth going through.

 

[Picture.Of.Obedience]

I think its great you will go without meds. I got an epidural, i couldnt handle the pain, but before i got it, all that helped me was sitting up, and Matthew rubbing my back HARD. I had back labor though.

It will be tough but you can do it!!

 

[sara elizabeth]

I had mine without meds. (at home actually ) Some things that worked well for me were rythmic breathing (more for something to concentrate on than any thing) relaxing as much as possible and trying to think of other things during the contractions. I would focus on something in the room and really try to keep my mind on that instead of focusing inward. My sister said it helped her to count things during contractions (ceiling tiles, windows, anything handy) Another thing that helps is not getting too caught up in what time it is and how long you have to go.

Best wishes to you. Having a baby is one of the most awesome experiences in life.

 

[Linnis]

A friend of mine has permanant spine damage to this day from the epidural she received having her last child. The doctor did something or she moved and some how she hit something he wasn't supposed to. <--- That makes me fear getting one.

What ever you are comfortable doing, I've never given birth so I don't know. Just thought I'd give my two cents.

 

[Leanna]

I labored the first 12 hours (14? but the first two were unpainful easy contractions) without medication. You are right about there being pressure to get medication. Make your wishes CLEAR. I told them from the beginning that I wanted to wait until I was far along and then get an epidural (that being my choice), but the nurse KEPT telling me, "oh hon you look so stressed! you need to get some drugs" (the other medication that you can get before an epidural) and she kept pushing and it was really irritating. I was NOT stressed, I was in labor and it made me want to hit her. I actually didn't think that the labor was that bad without drugs, but knowing it was going to get worse I chose to plan for an epidural. Also in the end it was a good thing I had one because of how.... er, icky, it got at the end. No scary stories before birth!! Anyway, I thought it was great laboring without drugs for at least the 12 hours. It made me feel like a real woman doing the woman thing. Hehe. Good luck! You are very brave.

 

[Leanna]

PS. My labor was 18 (20?) hours. It was so long, we watched TV! And the crazy thing is.... I had a contraction every 4 minutes for ALL 18 hours. Sheesh. I'm looking forward to the second birth being faster....

 

[MyLittleWonders]

My first son was almost med-free (just a shot of demerol at some point in time - about 7 cm I think). My second was med-free, as will any others. It was the most awesome (and yes, it was painful at times) experience. What's funny, at least to me, is that my first was 8 lb, 7 1/2 oz. I had to push for 2 1/2 hours with him (admittedly I didn't pay that much attention during lamaze class ... I guess I thought I knew all that already?!). My second son was 9 lb. 12 oz, and I pushed 20 minutes!

Here's my recommendations - and YES! You can do it!
1. Labor as long as you can at home. I went in with my first because my water broke and the doctor said I had to go. I was only in the hospital for 7 hours before he was born - 2 1/2 were pushing. I stayed home the entire time with my second and was in the hospital for a total of 1 hour, 15 minutes or so ... basically for the transition period (when they checked me I was already over 9 cm) and the pushing. It is so much better to be laboring at home.
2. Use that birthing ball ... find positions that feel good. Leading up to labor (the last couple of weeks), I just sat on it with my feet/legs to the side, and bounced or rocked back and forth. It really does help open your pelvis and settle the baby down in the birth canal. Then, when I was laboring, especially with my second, I would get on my knees and rest my chest/arms on the ball and just rock back and forth.
3. WATER! Get in the bath ... take a hot shower ... it is amazing. I actually would love to get a birthing pool for the next one ... not necessarily to give birth in, but to labor in until it was time to go to the hospital. My doc/hospital don't advise being in standing water once your water has broken, but they still allowed me to sit in the bathtub (at the hospital ... and this was just with the first one because there wasn't really time with the second) with the shower pointing down on my tummy.
4. Breathe ... it seemed like a waste the first time around, but the second time I realized it really did make a huge difference. During the transition period, it is almost impossible to concentrate on anything ... I just stared at the little controls on the rail on the side of the hospital bed and breathed ... rhythmically. I had an awesome L&D nurse (I was the only L&D patient at the time) who sat right with me and breathed me through the entire time. Because of her, I am having a doula the next time ... that support was invaluable.
5. Husbands ... just warn yours ahead of time that you may want nothing at all to do with him, but once he witnesses you giving birth to your baby, he'll forget it all and think you are the most amazing and beautiful woman he has ever laid eyes on. I didn't want my husband to touch me, except with the second he really did help with back pressure ... he'd just push hard against my lower back and that really felt well.
6. A SUPER DUPER SOFT washcloth ... the first baby, I took a regular washcloth with me ... kept it really cold with ice water and rubbed my face and neck during contractions. Well, afterwards, I looked pretty sunburned because I rubbed my skin pretty raw. So, with baby number 2, I took a really soft baby washcloth (actually two) and it was much nicer.
7. GOD - don't forget Him! I remember praying so much more with my second baby ... through all the contractions ... praising Him, crying to Him, knowing He was the source of the strength I found to get through it ...

It does hurt. But, it is completely doable. And, from giving birth with just a little demerol in my system to giving birth med-free, the recovery is so much easier, the baby is totally alert and ready to nurse, and you really feel much better. It also makes you feel on top of the world, knowing that you found within you the ability to get through something like that ... I actually look forward to doing it again!

 

[Leanna]

Actually I think that if my husband would have made my wishes known about not getting any meds until later, the nurse would have backed off. I kept saying "No, I want to wait for the epidural..." but I think I wasn't forceful enough. Next time I will make sure my wishes are known and no one will bother me or I will be bothering their boss if you know what I mean. At our hospital each person gets their own nurse in their room while they are laboring and before the actual birth and pushing.

Just make sure that nurse knows you want to go drug free!! We actually took a childbirth class and that was a lot about how to birth without meds..... lots of videos with people with no meds... so the hospital in general seemed to be encouraging women to give birth without drugs. I think I just got a rogue nurse.

 

[Princessperky]

I had one kid with an epidural and one without, I prefered the one without, The only reason I asked for the epidiral with DS was that I wanted to push and the nursed checked size, said no and walked out, no support whatsoever, and DH wonderful as he is didn't know what to do to help, I decided if they wern't going to listen to my body then it bloddy well needed to shut up (err can I say that?)

With DD my midwife checked said sweetly not quite open yet can w wait a bit and talked to me, and then caught as I pushed anyway. Much better knowing what I was doing and knowing my body was telling me what to do and I could listen.

It did hurt btw . but pain is temporarry. The baby and experience is for life .

 

[EmSchmem]

Thanks so much for the encouragement ladies. I have a doula. One of my co-workers is getting vertified so she's attending our birth for free. We'd never be able to afford one otherwise but we got lucky. She's great and my mom will be in the room too. I'd smack a nurse who told me I looked stressed. Stupid nurses are why I got a doula in the first place.

 

[bliz]

3 kids, no pain meds.

Giving birth is hard work. That's the good news. Really! You have done hard work before, and you will do hard work again, and giving birth is another hard work experience - but with far more exciting results than anything you've ever done before!