natural birth?

Question

I'm terrified of epidurals. I've been in the medical field for too long and I hate thinking about them even. I know it sounds crazy. But if you had a natural birth or something without an epidural can you tell me about that please??

Answer

I had an unmedicated labor, and sure, it's painful, but it's not as scary as people make it out to be. For me, a key to handling the pain was to not be afraid. Fear increases pain. I loved laboring unmedicated, because I was able to labor all around the room, and ended up mainly using a squatting bar during my contractions (I think most hospitals have them that attach to the end of the bed). Usually the positions that help you feel relief from the pain are the very positions that will help you progress. So in a way, pain is your friend since it is signaling what you should be doing. My labor went smoothly and relatively quickly.

My suggestions to you is to research different birthing positions, have someone who can be a good labor coach (wether it's you SO and maybe y'all work through the Bradley method together, or maybe get a doula), and then maybe read Ina Mays Guide to Childbirth. It's a kind of hippie book, so some of the stuff I just kind of shrugged off (like orgasming during birth! Lol) but really, that book helped me to not fear birth.

Good luck!! You can do it!

Answer

I had a completely unmedicated labor and would do it again and again! I think the best advice I can give is:
#1: Stay at home as long as possible. I arrived at the hospital at 7cm and it made the process quite easy.
#2: Look into having a support person. If you can afford it, or if your insurance covers it, look into having a doula. We had one and she's my favorite person. My husband jokes that she was more HIS support person than mine (and he isn't wrong)!😂
#3: Mentally prepare. Read books about natural childbirth. Read about calming and breathing techniques. I recommend Ina May Gaskin's Guide to Childbirth. It's filled with beautiful, real and most importantly positive accounts of natural labor. Birth Matters is also a great book. Block out the naysayers. 
#4: Utilize the bathtub! I stayed in the tub at home and then the hospital until it was time to push. It was awesome! Don't be afraid to move. Listen to your body. Don't worry about how you look. 
#5: Be comfortable in your own head. Trust your body. Learn to deeply, deeply relax and focus on nothing but your breath. The times I caught myself fighting the pain and losing my focus on my breathing, I noticed an immediate increase in the intensity of the contractions. Give in to the pain. Surrender to it and let your body work. Your breath is all that matters. When you let go of the fear and the hang ups and you allow yourself to fully immerse in labor, the pain IS manageable. Believe in yourself!

I hope this helps! Good luck! You can do it! There are more positive experiences out there than negative. Our society chooses to focus on the horror stories and they are not the majority.

Answer

I delivered naturally on 11/16/16.  It was intense, it was difficult and painful, but it was never unmanageable.  And I was rewarded by an intervention-free delivery and a healthy, alert newborn who latched and fed right away.  I think the key was being prepared myself, and preparing my support people.

I listened to podcasts, read books, and talked to other mothers who filled my head with positive birth stories and techniques for dealing with contractions.  In the end though, the most valuable piece for me was my husband, my friend who coached me through the birth, and my doctor.  My husband was always ready between contractions with a breath mint, chapstick, or a cup of water.  I gave him suggestions for things to say to me, such as "Let's just get through 10 more contractions and see how you're doing then" or "Let's wait an hour before we try a painkiller."  He ended up needing to use both of those during labor because I definitely wanted to cave!  My friend coaching me helped me keep my breaths low and open, reminding me to relax my pelvic floor muscles during contractions.  She was also a great cheerleader, constantly telling me what a great job I was doing.  My doctor knew I wanted to go natural, so when I started wishing aloud for an epidural, she encouraged me not to because I was so close.

I don't think I would have been so successful without the support.  Find people you love and trust to be with you and a care provider who understands and encourages your decision and I know you can do it!  Good luck!!!

Answer

Greatest experience ever. If your body can handle it. I delivered both of my children naturally and I had back labor as well. It hurts but as soon as the baby and placenta are out, you feel relieved.

Answer

I've given birth 3 times with no epidural and twice with an epidural and let me tell you I hate the epidural! the only reason I got one a second time is because my doctor practically forced me because of my blood pressure. But natural labor is not half as bad as people make it out to be. It's actually a very beautiful experience and recovery is so much easier. You can immediately shower afterwards. In my opinion it is just overall a better experience and just remember your body was created to handle labor. One thing that helped me was with every contraction I visualized my body pushing the baby down further and further.

Answer

I highly recommend the Bradley Method! I work in the medical field too and feel the same way. Bradley helps to train you SO to be your support person and coach. I had to force my husband to take the classes and afterwards he was so grateful and was an amazing coach I could not have done it with his support. I ended up having back labor and had to receive pitocin, it's doable, you just really have to want it!

Answer

I delievered naturally (only one shot of morph and the gas so I think I did very well) it was painful but nothing I couldn't handle. I mainly took the morph so I could have a sleep before I was fully dialated.

Answer

I had an epidural that didn't work on one side and I will say this, the pain I did feel gave me a whole new respect for women that do it naturally. I still think you're all crazy but serious props to you because holy cow never in my life have I experienced something like that! I should probably mention that I have a low pain tolerance and was induced. They induced me with 1 dose of cytotec and it threw me into active labor within 3 hours. I never got pitocin or anything else to progress my labor because I was having contractions that were off the charts, 1 minute apart. Pitocin was administered to me after my daughter was born to help my uterus contract and stop my hemorrhaging.

Answer

I asked for an epidural and when he got there he was too late. But he tried giving me one anyways. While in the middle of it my water broke and she was crowing. I told him to stop. But he had already punctured me spine. He taped up my back and as soon as he did that I laid back and pushed her out within a few seconds. I never got any medicine. All natural. But even tho he still hit it with a needle I ended up having spinal leakage. And the worst headache I have ever had in my life!!!! I would give birth 10 times over before I felt that pain of spinal leakage. I then called my doc bc of the headache and I had to come in and they did a spinal blockage. Needle in my back again but he fixed it. I was so angry that I went through that when I never got the epidural. The natural birth was amazing! I wasn't all drugged up. Very much aware of everything. I will absolutely be doing it naturally again with my next baby!

Answer

Hi Kaitlin! I'm on my seventh pregnancy now, 4 wks 6 days.  I miscarried identical twins that had a chromosomal abnormality back in June , so hopefully this one sticks.

All 5 of my other kids were born without any drugs. The first and last were both hospital inductions with pitocin, and the middle 3 were born at home with midwives.

Because of the pitocin and not being allowed to move around much so that I could be continuously electronically monitored for 16 hours, the pain with my first was rather intense. However, heating pads, sipping water, and getting plenty of back rubs helped me handle the pain. I also changed positions as needed, and would stand and rock my hips.

With my homebirths, I either labored in the shower or birthing pool, and walked around or rocked in my rocking chair. Switching to comfortable positions, as well as heat, really helped me deal with the intensity. I also was rewarded with plenty of endorphins, and don't regret my choices for a birth without drugs. I'm hoping to have another home birth this time around, as being in my own environment also helps tame my anxiety and pain.

Good luck to you!

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