Natural Birth

araromi2

Hi Ladies Hope everyone is well! I was curious to know from the women who have given birth if you had a natural birth (no pain meds) To the first timers like me Do you plan on having a natural birth? I am such a baby (no pun intended) when it comes to pain so I have been going back and forth with whether or not Id accept an epidural or not. I would love to hear your thoughts on the matter

TLCEsq

Hey there! I am happy to share my birth experience with you :-)

I intended on having a natural birth for my son last year and was in fact hell bent on it. I read the books, did the exercises, everything except classes because my husband and I have opposite shifts. I was a bit of a crunchy mom, wanting to do cloth diapers and exclusively breastfeed, etc. I have two friends who had natural births with no medications whatsoever. I also hired a doula but more from the perspective of having a labor coach and the support for both me and my husband. I have hired her again as well.

I am high risk because of lupus and hypothyroidism so I had lots of ultrasounds and doctor appointments. Towards the end after 36 weeks I was going in for monitoring 2-3 times a week which consisted of a short ultrasound and 20-30 minutes on the fetal heart rate monitor. My fluid levels were getting on the low side around 7-8 and they should have been around 10-12. I drank TONS of water but wasn't feeling my son move as much (he was very active, so I was still feeling the regular amounts that didn't indicate danger, but not as much as I was used to for him).

When I was 39 weeks I was on the monitor and his heart rate dipped to 90 for a few seconds, then back up. It kept happening and the nurse hadn't taken me off the monitor after a half hour so I didn't know what was going on. Then she said he was having cord compressions which were causing the heart rate to go down and temporarily depriving him of oxygen. The other doctor who was there, because mine wasn't, came to talk to me and said there's no reason for me to "stay pregnant" because there was an increased risk of stillbirth, etc. While I didn't want to be induced, I also didn't want to go home and have that kind of extreme anxiety going on!

I was induced with the Cervidil insert and luckily avoided Pitocin because I went into labor on my own. I labored for about 10 hours. When I was 5 cm dilated at 11:00 PM I had been in labor since around 3:00 PM. I couldn't relax well because the contractions were one on top of another so I finally asked for an epidural. Literally 10 minutes after I had the epidural I was at 9.5 and my water broke. My son was born at 12:54 AM the next day!

Nothing can prepare you for how you feel and what you experience when you're in the moment so my advice to you is to just roll with it. I wasn't able to breastfeed long and ended up using disposable diapers from the Honest Company. It's crazy how chill and different I am this time around while pregnant with my baby girl and I think that's a good thing. Sorry this is so long! Just wanted to tell you my story.

Every woman who gives birth to life is a warrior goddess no matter how it's done, so there shouldn't be any pressure from other people. I dealt with a lot of that in the beginning and I am hoping for another vaginal birth this time. However, I have placenta previa right now at 21 weeks so I am hoping it moves up!

stephysd

The best advice I can give is go in with a 'loose' plan of your birthing experience. From working in the hospital we would watch mothers come in with 10 pages of a birthing plan and freak out when things did not happen as they had planned on it being. As tcrofford said you can have your plan, but things can change last minute. If you want to go with a natural birth start with it and if it becomes too much know having pain medication or epidural are perfectly fine. If things end as a c-section, that is perfectly fine. All that matters in the end is the healthy baby.

From personal experience - I was not going to have an epidural with my first son. I started contractions on a Friday and finally at 2am on Sunday morning headed into the hospital. I was tired and achy. We had been at my husband's military ball that Saturday night till midnight, so I was tired. I had discussed with my doctor no epidural but was okay with pain medication given to me IV since I was Group Strep B+ and had to have antibiotics anyways. They gave me a dose after getting me settled in and checking me. I think I was only dilated a few centimeters at that time and water was intake. Somewhere around 5am I went and sat in the tub to try to help alleviate pain. It was not so much contractions being painful, but I have back labor which just aches something fierce. Doctor came and checked me a little before 9am and I was only 6cm at that time and water was still in take. She said it would probably be late afternoon before I would deliver and at that time I just wanted to sleep. So I went with an intrathecal (which is the only option at the hospital I delivered at that time. It's like an epidural except it is one time shot that provides a reduction in pain, but does not make you numb. You are still able to move and walk around with an intrathecal.) She broke my water, guy came in and did the intrathecal and as I sat there I felt the urge to push. Argued with the doctor about it for a while as she reminded me I was still only 6cm. They laid me down to let the shot start to work and she rechecked me. I was complete and head was crowning. At that time my son's heartrate started crashing and doctor said start pushing or it was a c-section. I could not feel the contractions anymore and it made me nervous. On top of being a first time mom, and not knowing what to expect it was just panic inducing. I was able to delivery him vaginally after pushing for 2 hours and the cord was wrapped around his neck multiple times which had stopped him breathing. It was not the intrathecal's fault everything that had occurred, but it scared me so fiercely to not be able to feel my body that I knew I would not use it ever again.

Second pregnancy, I had contractions all day and finally at 4pm decided to head to the hospital as the pain was getting intense. We got to the hospital around 5pm was admitted and checked in. Nurse checked and I was only around 4-5cm again. Soaked in the tub for a few hours. Finally at around 7pm I could not take the back pain so asked for the IV shot. Nurse wanted to check me before giving me the shot, but I refused and finally got the shot then she checked. I was a 6-7cm and she accidentally broke my water while checking. Within 10 minutes I had the urge to push and was complete with head crowning. About 15 minutes later doctor walked in just in time to catch my son. I think I pushed for a total of 15 minutes with him when I was finally given the go-ahead.

This pregnancy, it will again be just the IV shot if needed. I won't lie. It hurts being in labor and giving birth, BUT the minute that baby is born and you hear that first cry you completely and absolutely forget all the pain. You are on Cloud 9 and nothing else matters at all. If you go natural birth method, change your positions frequently. Use the birthing ball, walk around, try hands and knees, sitting and rocking, using the birthing tub. If you have a good nurse, they will recommend this to you and suggest things to try. For myself and the back labor, the tub was amazing because I could position againist a jet where it hurt. When out of the tub we would use a birthing ball and I would push againist my husband's fist for counterpressure on my back. When I went through transitional labor, I would sit in a tailor's position on the bed and rock back and forth. It kept me zoned on breathing doing this and was not something that was planned, just what my husband pointed out afterward that I did both times. Your body will respond and take care of you. And just remember that no matter what options you choose, all that matters is a healthy baby in the end!

qhiggins86

I just wanted to say thank you to the ladies who shared their stories!!! It's very helpful for girls like me who are first time moms.

I'm going to go in with an open mind because I can't say I've ever been in serious pain before in my life... I think an ankle sprain was the worst of it. All I know is if I'm not considered high risk, I'm going to try to labor at home as much as possible before going in. The thing that scares me about the epidural is not being able to feel or move my legs... and knowing me, I would be that girl that the epidural didn't work for anyway! LOL

stephysd

I should have said in the part that it hurts a little more clearer that it is such a different pain. It is very difficult to explain and even now after given birth twice I still don't know how to describe it. It's like you are in a fog. You can remember it hurting, but you can't describe how that pain felt and even where it was at. I could not even begin to tell you what things I did to make it feel better other then what others told me occurred. It truly is like you are in your own little world, and a lot of why I think they minute the baby is born that you forget it all. Your body naturally knows that it needs to focus on what it is doing to get the baby out and all the natural endorphins just do such a mad rush after the delivery that you don't even know or feel anything.

I hope I did not scare anyone with my stories. As I said with my first son, no matter what we would have had problems due to the cord around his neck. Don't let that scare you from using an epidural if that is your decision. I have many friends that had epidurals, loved them, and they worked great for them. Same with the intrathecal. I also have friends who have gone the route I did with my second pregnancy or complete pain medication free. Also keep an open mind about c-sections. Nobody wants them, but they do occur. My sister's labor ended in a c-section and again all that matters is healthy baby and healthy mom.

KimberlyTG2

I think you ladies said it well. I am such a baby, I knew I wanted every pain med they would give me:)
I am one of those people that need to plan and read and know everything I can so that I can be calm. I had to be induced and I did not progress much, then the babies heart rate started dropping, so it was off to a C-sec for me. The good thing was that because of the birthing classes and reading others birth stories, I felt prepared for whatever happened. I really think, like you ladies said, being flexible is so important. Their is no medal for who can endure the most pain and one way or another is not going to make you a better mother. We need to support each other not make each other feel bad because of our birth experience.
I also remember feeling bad when he was a baby because I didn't make all his food from scratch or breast feed until he was 2... Sometimes we just have to keep our head above water

TLCEsq

Their is no medal for who can endure the most pain and one way or another is not going to make you a better mother. We need to support each other not make each other feel bad because of our birth experience.

THIS! Agree with you 100%. The "mommy wars" seem to get more and more ridiculous, especially with vaccinations and breastfeeding (but that's a whole other topic!).

spunkychelsea

With my son I was open to drugs. Thankfully. I was induced with 6am him on Tuesday morning. 24 hours and 4 doses of a pill to dilate me and I was still at 1 cm. Noon on Wednesday they started pitocin since they were out of other options. (I was 12 days overdue at this point!) Every 30 mins they upped it. About 5 pm I remember being in fetal position on the bed holding onto the rail for dear life telling my family they couldn't talk to me. THe nurses came in and asked my family how long I'd been like htat. THey offered me drugs, but said they'd have to check me. I got up, peed, let them check me and my waters went everywhere! (Turned out they had broken like 30 mins before - hence the horrible pain) but just needed the nurse to move the head out f the way. I was STILL 1 cm! OMG! So 2 shots of IV drugs then they just let me get the epidural. 5 am on Thursday I was 10cm. Started pushing. Nurse was a *****. Told the doctor I wasn't motivated enough and encouraged her to turn off my epidural. Cue HORRIBLE pain in my hips and back and them upping the pitocin MORE. 2 hours into pushing he hadn't come down AT ALL. I asked for a csection, they told me sure, but it'd be an hour cause someone had just gone into the OR. I convinced them to turn the epidural back on (and let's not even talk about the squatting bar where I was hanging over it and my IV started dripping blood everywhere from my hand on the floor and bed). An hour more and he'd come down a bit so no csection, 30 more mins of pushing I beg for a vacuum, and he was finally low enough. It popped off once, but the second time she was able to deliver his head. 3 hours 45 mins of pushing and 50 hours in the hospital and he was finally out. I had a 3rd degree tear. That sucked. It hurt for 2 weeks, but healed fine.

Baby #2. Only 6 days late. Woke up with contractions at 4am. Had my dad come over to watch my son at like 9. Got to hospital at 10. I was still only like 2 cm that I was from the week before, but I was contracting every 5 mins. They threatened to send me home, but I live 40 mins from hospital. I walked the halls and went up and down the stairs for 1.5 hours. They checked me again and I was 3+ cm. Told me to keep moving but welcome to get epidural anytime. 1:30 pm all of the sudden the contractions were so much worse and I started panicking demanding an epidural. The doc was able to be there in like 5 mins to give me one (BLESS HIM). They didn't check me again because they knew I was far enough long before the epidural. Right after I got it though they did check and I was 7 cm, so I must have been in transition. 4:30 ish I was 10 cm. Started pushing at 5 (after they spent 30 mins trying to figure out why I wasn't peeing enough) 5:36 she was born. I used a mirror to push. My epidural was kept on the whole time, it was a much better experience. The doc said her head was at an angle, otherwise it would have been faster pushing time. I wish I had known I was 7 cm, maybe I would have been able to go farther without drugs, but I wasn't prepared. Second degree tear again. Still hurt for 2 weeks, healed again.

This time around I have a doula friend - whom I don't plan on using during labor. BUt I have been talking to her about avoiding the panic. I had assumed I would have HOURS and hours ahead of me, I figured I was only 4-5cm, not 7. I don't remember the pain being unbearable, but the panic of how long it would take and how bad it would get. She recommended a book I have really been enjoying it's called Active Birth. It has yoga postures and things to try ahead of time. My hospital now has an IV drug that is patient controlled. The reason I don't want an epidural again is because after the second time my back ached for 3-4 months afterwards. I didn't have that with my son. But it was hard to pick up a toddler and a newborn with a sore back. I think an IV drug will be nicer - I hope. BUt I think I'm going to try to do without anything. The IV drug only takes 3 mins to wear off, so you have to push the button every contraction. I am just worried about tearing. I wonder what they'll do when they have to sew me up? Local? The Active Birth book though says if you deliver upright you're more likely to stretch better and not tear as much. I know scar tissue doesn't stretch as well though and I will probably tear again. But I really just want to avoid the panic. Drugs or not the panic is what I remember from both times.

Sorry for the ramblings.

stephysd

@spunkychelsea- My doctor used local to stitch up both my tears. Feel the sting of the shot, but after that I would just feel the pressure of her hands as she stitched. Another thing that will help with tearing is if you can get your nurse to stretch out the vaginal opening periodically. If your husband is willing to even better because he can do it on a more regular basis during the labor. My husband wouldn't, but my nurses would. They would put there hand inside and then stretch out there fingers as far as they could and rotate them for about 30-60 seconds depending on what I could stand. It's uncomfortable, but it helped quite a bit.

spunkychelsea

stephysd - thank you for your reply. I'm not sure whether my husband would do that or not - LOL. He's seen my two previous births - even though the plan was for him not to look down there. He wasn't traumatized too much. I know the doctor was stretching me during the pushing stage, but I hadn't even thought about asking for someone to do it at other times! A midwife told me if I can spend any time during labor in a pool that would help too, but by the time I wanted relief I wanted nothing to do with the pool. Thanks for the reassurance of local - it makes sense but I just haven[t had to consider it before. I just HATE tearing so much. It's certainly not the end of the world or the worst part of labor, but the fact that it stays with you so long after makes me sad.

Momma2CharlieJane

When I found out I was pg with my first I mentally tried to prepare myself from the beginning that I would be two weeks late, with a 10lb baby, have to be induced and would end up with a c-section. Anything that actually happened during my labor would be fine. I think this helped a ton when it came to that time. My birth plan only consisted of who would be in the room with me and if I was interested in using the laboring tub. I have a MW so there isn't an option for an epidural - although the thought of a needle in my back does in no way appeal to me whatsoever which is why I chose her. My water broke at 1:30am on a Sunday. I had no contractions. I went in at 10am to be checked since I had to be there for a non-stress test anyway (she was no reactive the day prior so they had me come back). I wasn't dilated at all and was still having no contractions. I went home and continued with my day (including a trip to Home Depot while my husband and his friends put in our new wood flooring). I called my MW at 6pm and agreed that I would go to the hospital at 8pm and start on the Cervadil. Once there I was set up in a room, but there were three deliveries going on so I had to wait. The nurse came in at 3:30am on Monday morning asking if I wanted to have the Cervadil put in now or wait until later in the morning. I opted to wait as I was sleeping and wanted the rest. At 8:30am (Mon) they put in the Cervadil and I spent the next 12 hours walking around the maternity dept and taking cat naps. Around 5pm - just as I finished dinner - I had a bowel movement and I could start to feel some contractions. My MW came in at 8:30pm to remove the Cervadil and checked me. I was only dilated 1cm. I was given 3 options - 1. get some sleep and they would give me Pitocin in the morning, 2. get a full dose of Pitocin now or 3. get a low does of Pitocin and a sleeping pill and would have the baby sometime in the morning. I opted for the low dose and a sleeping pill. By the time I was hooked up with and IV and Pitocin it was 9:30/10pm (Mon still). My contractions picked up quickly from there and I could no longer lay in the bed. I was going to try to move to the rocking chair, but never made it past standing and holding on to the side of the bed. Around 11/11:15 I opted to use the labor tub and it helped a ton. Once I got in there the nurse went to get my MW because she thought I was in an awful lot of pain for someone who should be getting ready to sleep. My MW checked me and I was ready to push. After 15 minutes (4 contractions) of pushing my daughter was born. I went in feeling confident that the hospital staff and my MW do this everyday and know what they are doing. That helped a ton too.

With this pg I decided to buy the hypnobirthing book and CD. I'm hoping I can find some relaxation techniques because my only complaint is that when I lost control of my breathing, I had a hard time getting control back. No one was allowed to talk to me during the peak of my contractions because I trying so hard to concentrate on my breathing. It is different for everyone and if you go in with an idea on what you would like, but are flexible enough to go with the flow I think you will be happy with your experience.

Mitzimum

as a first time mum, I have no idea what to expect! We do have a 'sort of' plan though, nothing too crazy and definitely very open and flexible depending on the circumstances. Both my husband and I are a bit freaked out by the thought of an epidural and emergency c-sections so I just try not to think about them as a possibility and focus on bringing baby into the world as naturally as I can. I'm not too worried about the pain as I have had to deal with some fairly hectic pain in the past. My midwife said the other day how important it is to prepare for labour properly. She explained how being as muscularly fit as possible really assists with labour, she was also saying how very gentle, targeted yoga helps to loosen up the hips and pelvis and move the baby down (in the last few weeks) also combined with walking and swimming. She suggested I start some yoga now to help prepare, so I've got a pregnancy yoga DVD which I'm going to try out today or tomorrow. Other than that I don't think there is a lot of decisions we can make before the birth, especially when it's the first bubba as I really have no idea what to expect and I guess just really have to go with the flow!