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Drugs or no drugs?

DoBetterDrea
DoBetterDrea Posts: 85 Member
in Social Groups
Just finished watching "The Business of Being Born". Wow...just wow.

I really want to have the baby without drugs...I wanted that before I saw the movie, but I want it even more now. I don't know if I can handle that pain though...argh.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

Replies

  • jaimemariel
    jaimemariel Posts: 183 Member
    Oh man! I just watched that tonight too! I don't have any suggestions for you though other than what the movie delves into. Know what your options are. Plan on having an advocate with you like a doula or midwife who can think more rationally that you can in that moment. Research your OB/midwife/hospital options to determine what is possible.

    I'm not a "no drug under any circumstance" kind of person. I'm a whatever is safe and best and reasonable person. And I will be birthing at a hospital. But I really don't want someone to take that moment away, after he/she is just born. I'm afraid that's inevitable in a hospital environment.
  • rosy003
    rosy003 Posts: 251 Member
    If you are really committed to no drugs I recommend you take a class to teach you breathing and other coping techniques. If you feel prepared going into it you will be less likely to panic. :) See if your hospital offers classes or if there is a birthing center near you that does.
    I saw this movie too- I thought I wanted to be drug free, but I was pretty lazy about it. I don't think I ever ruled it out completely in my mind, which is why I wound up deciding to get an epidural with each of my kids. I will do it again with this baby- my experience with it has been good. But I totally understand not wanting to.
  • VelociMama
    VelociMama Posts: 3,119 Member
    My plan was to do a drug-free birth, but I ended up with an emergency c section.

    I second the suggestion to do a birth class to teach you breathing techniques. It was really helpful during my labor.
  • lilchino4af
    lilchino4af Posts: 1,292 Member
    If you are really committed to no drugs I recommend you take a class to teach you breathing and other coping techniques. If you feel prepared going into it you will be less likely to panic. :) See if your hospital offers classes or if there is a birthing center near you that does.
    Getting into as many classes as possible and doing as much research ahead of time to know your options, the pros/cons/etc., and having a doula/midwife to discuss potential scenarios ahead of time to better prepare you will definitely help (all of which I've done). Also, there's quite a few books out there that are also great; my fav is by Ina May Gaskin who puts the whole labor/delivery time into a whole new perspective and knowing how it's supposed to work and that it's a different/good kind of pain makes it easier to mentally cope with as well (L&D I'm convinced like many other aspects of life is 80% mental/attitude). But, as others have said, don't be completely against meds or other alternatives because baby doesn't know what you want and s/he will come how they want to come and it could be in direct conflict with your plan so you'll have to be open to compromise. Good luck!

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