[open] Are you having medication?

_Shannon_ said:

It is by no means pain free- but just the simple fact of refusing to be flat on your back for any part of your labor drastically and I mean DRASTICALLY reduces the pain. If you can spend part of your labor in water That really helps- most hopsitals have a tub or a shower you can be in while you labor- it really helps a lot.

The other thing too is psychological preparation for labor...knowing that during transition you are likely to feel like you can't do it...you are likely to feel overwhelmed and weepy---and if you can recognize it for transition---you can keep telling yourself that means you are so, so close to beginning to feel like pushing and really, really close to meeting your baby. Also just the idea that every contraction will be over in 90 seconds or so...that you can endure almost anything if will only last 90 seconds....

For me labor is almosy entirely mental- getting through one contraction at a time- recognizing the signs of transition- and crowning...really being aware if my shoulders or my mouth are tense--which means that I am pulling away from the pain...rather than breathing down into it to let my cervix open up. I play all kinds of mental games with myself-- I keep telling myself by this time tomorrow I'll be holding my baby in my arms....and try to imagine what he'll look like....I always try to reach down and feel the head while they're crowning --it makes it really real that this all because there's a BABY!

Again- it's by no means pain free...but it is also, for most women- a very different kind of pain that any they have experienced before.

Click to expand...

Denax said:

The goal is not to have any medication. That is one of the many reasons we've chosen to birth at home. Nobody will offer me medication and tempt me to say yes because at the hospital I would likely give in and take them.

Click to expand...

AssortedColors said:

oh honey, you are brave. My pain free pregnancy versus the painful one, I'm gonna choose pain free If you can do it, you are super woman for sure.

Click to expand...

white dove said:

I would love that! But, due to my current situation, home birth is not really an option and would not ultimately be advantageous for the reasons I would like to do this. I've already said before, if I could do this all over again I would just go with a midwife, possibly a doula and just home birth (if it were possible). Although the hospital I plan to birth at is reputable, clean, safe and all that, it does take away a bit from the more personal aspects of your pregnancy.

Click to expand...

xDenax said:

Since it's my first birth and I'm doing it at home we're hiring a doula. We've already chosen her actually. She's been a doula for 26 years and is really "motherly" I guess you could say. Both my husband and I liked her really well right from the start.

Click to expand...