Natural birth stories?

Question

I am considering natural birth but this is my first baby so for now I'm saying I'm just going to do a wait and see approach. I was wanting to hear some natural birth stories from other women, especially if you went that route your first time! Anything that helped with the pain, if you would do it again, etc.

Answer

I've had all three of my babies granted two were extremely premature births (25ws) and one past term(41w) I would have it any other way. I had to have a spinal block(something similar to an epidural) with my last babies to have my cerclage placed and I absolutely hated not being able to feel anything from my hips don't and made my decision not to have one ever from that. I have a pretty high tolerance for pain and it didn't become unbearable until I got to the transitioning phase, which was of course then too late. I liked that after all of my birth I was aware, didn't have to worry about medication wearing off and being able to walk basically right after I had them. I can't speak on the difference in birthing with one but I know without I felt like I was in control as far as knowing when to push since I could feel the contractions coming.

Answer

You may be able to use the search fun to find other natural birth stories too, but here's mine. :) 
   (TL;DR is that it was great and I'd totally go that route again.)

I had an 11 hour labor--he was born at 41+2.  Some sex got the real contractions going about 6pm sunday night.  Went to the birth center at 1am. Labored for awhile just walking and breathing, got in the tub maybe around 2-2:30? Which was so wonderful. Pushed for...an hour? Time was very strange by then...he was born in the water (mostly because there was no way I was moving, haha!) I had very minimal tearing, didn't need stitches.  No med of any sort, just some natural gatorade while i labored (brought snacks but didn't feel like eating).
    Of course, this was my only experience so I can't say whether it was better or worse than a hospital birth. But it was super calm and we got to go home the same day, so I'd do it again. :)

Answer

FTM who had a natural birth in the hospital. Let me start by saying it was a terrifying, painful BUT absolutely incredible/ beautiful experience. I knew from when I got pregnant I wanted no medical interventions during birth. No meds, no epidural. Unlike the women who do natural home birth, those of us who do it in the hospital have some other challenges they don't face. When I went in I was 5cm and they hooked me up to a fetal monitor. This greatly restricted my movement, which if you aren't doing meds moving helps A LOT. In 1hr I dilated to 7cm and they admitted me! I was brought to the birthing room where they hooked me up to an IV and the monitor again. It is hard to move during these circumstances but I managed (move your hips A LOT). At 8cm the pain was awful. I had a nurse come in and start out giving me good advice, breathe, keep calm, have hubby massage my back (had horrible back labor), move positions etc. But then she started trying to convince me to get an epidural. She said no one does natural, and if they do you can hear them screaming bloody murder from down the hall. She told me she gave in at 8cm with both hers too and that no one dies from them and I could be in labor for 14+ hours going through this pain. Well needless to say she had me convinced and I said yes. They started prepping me and my husband looked at me (I promised him to not let them convince me no matter what!) and said he wasn't looking forward to pushing me around in a wheelchair when they messed up! That snapped me out of it real quick and I declined the epidural, and that nurse disappeared.

Answer

I had a home birth. Part was to avoid the temptation of having all interventions so easy to ask for. Also I did not want to have to drive to the hospital while in labour I wanted to be home with my husband and have the midwife come to me. I am so glad that is the route I picked as he came pretty fast and my midwives were fabulous as was my husband for taking care of me. I had back labour which was very intense but I thought it was my whip lash acting up so I did not think it was labour. It started to be a little uncomfortable about 3 when I was driving my standard. Then around 5 after making dinner and eating I had a soak in the tub for an hour and hubby left for a church meeting. By 7:35 I was not feeling well and my back was really hurting so I asked him to come home, he was back by 8:10. He said "what can I do for you? It's not like your in labour I don't know what I can do to help." I told him I did not know just do something to distract me from my back so he read to me. Within 5 min of him starting to read I ran to the bathroom and puked up dinner and he said "well I think it actually could be labour lets check our birth book"  I laboured for a bit on my own while he called my mom who was at our house within 30 min. As soon as she got there she started to freak out that the baby was coming any second and if the midwives were not there in 10 min she was calling the ambulance (yea out fault for not preping her for home birth more). My husband called the midwife she was there by 9:45 and she pushed my hips (felt AMAZING!) and then checked me while I was standing. My water broke on her hands and I push for 20 min. At 10:10 he was born! I had 6-7 stitches because I was so focused on pushing him out I did not hear the instructions to stop pushing so I would not tear. I delivered the placenta, he nursed and I was stitched up.

Answer

I suggest looking into "hypnobirthing" I have multiple friends that used this method for their natural births and swear by it. All said hey will use the same method in the future for natural births. I too am trying it out when my little guy finally decides to make his appearance 😊

Answer

Part 2:  I quickly moved from 8-10cm by breathing, staying relaxed (so hard) and using a focal point to get me through the contractions. They hurt, I am not going to lie. And it is so hard, but my labor progressed so fast. I went from 5cm-birth in 5 hours. Just keep reminding yourself it's healthier for you, the baby, and your labor. After I was able to get right up, eat, use the bathroom. I didn't have any side effects (they talk about the anesthesia headache for days and not getting feeling back for hours, and back pain that could last for months). Plus, labor can slow down significantly when someone gets one. Move as much as you can, rocking helped me a lot. Ask if they will let you birth in a position that is not lying down, that may help the pain. Back massages help a lot and just breathe. Our bodies were designed for this but it is hard. For my next birth, we are going to do a midwife and a home birth. I feel like for natural births home is best. You can eat, use water, move around, no monitors, and can birth in any position. But you can do it!! Good luck in whatever you choose.

Answer

I had my daughter naturally with a midwife at a birth center. It was an amazing experience and the pain was quickly forgotten. I did have a water birth and I would do that over and over again, that's how awesome it was. I am actually studying to become a midwife and my experience only reinforced my desire to help others achieve a natural birth. Do it! You won't be disappointed!

Answer

I was 18 and swore I'd have no drugs. I read the dangers and didn't want to go that route. My labor lasted 8 1/2 hours from first contraction to birth. It was painful but I had a friends mom tell me not to cry or scream because I was going to need that energy. That stuck with me and anytime I felt like crying or screaming I would remember to save that energy and breathe instead. My contractions were pretty intense but short so I actually had to push between them as well. It hurt but but I went the same route with my daughter. I labored with her for 2 1/2 hours. Labor with her was text book. I lost my mucus plug and  my water broke. With my son I didn't lose my plug and the dr broke my water. I was 2 weeks late with him and 2 weeks early with her.

Answer

Thanks for the responses, all these births sound amazing!! And I'm sorry, I didn't realize there was already a forum for just natural birth stories. It seems a lot of them are just posts of personal birth stories.

Answer

There's a Natural Birth forum on here

Natural birth stories?

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