Anyone else trying a natural birth? What preparations are you using?

Question

Second time mom here. I was induced with my first, and had a pretty bad experience. 
This time I’m hoping to go natural and am (somewhat halfassed) practicing hypnobirthing... read the book, listening to the tracks. I’m hoping to hear from some of you about your plan and your perspective 😊

Answer

I had my baby girl last Sunday and she didn't even give me time for any pain medication. I won't lie it was rough, those contractions at the end hurt so bad I was in tears but I'm so happy I did it naturally because I felt great after! I was up and walking around a few hours after I gave birth! Our childbirth class was supposed to be the day our peanut arrived, she was a month early and I hadnt even had the chance to read through all my childbirth book so you're off to a better start than I was haha. Focusing on your breathing really helps, my husband would literally have to tell me to breathe. I walked around as much as I could. Everytime I pushed I would focus on a spot in the room and concentrating really helped. You can do it, it isn't easy but its a great feeling when you can be up and ready to go after!

Answer

We can’t have any pain meds due to my crazy medical history and a repeat cesarean would need to be performed under general anesthesia which is just about the worst thing I can imagine and I would not be able to have anything to manage my pain post op so we are going all natural VBAC. We have an OB who oversees our pregnancy but we only meet with the midwife. We hired a doula and took 12 weeks of Bradley birth method classes (there’s a great book too). We had a sit down with the OB anesthesia head doctor to make sure my records were clear that no nurse is to offer or suggest pain meds. We have practiced counter pressure and labor massage. We plan to stay at home with our doula (who’s also an RN) until contractions are 2-3 minutes apart (we live a block from the hospital so we’re safe waiting). We also plan to utilize water for as long as possible. Our hospital won’t allow a water delivery, but every room has a labor tub. We also worked with a hypnobirthing counselor and practiced a ton of relaxation techniques, basically just stuff my husband needed to learn about me and how to do for me. We have a pretty specific birth plan but we’re as set as we can be. It’s definitely doable, I think a lot relies on the coach to make sure your wishes are met when things get hard and you consider giving up (like in transition 😬), but having people supporting your plan and advocating for you is huge.

Answer

I just go with the flow and listen to my body. 🤷‍♀️ 
This time around I’ve been drinking RRL tea and sitting on my exercise ball as far as labor prep. But for all of my births themselves, I have never done any of the classes or hypnobirthing or anything like that. I just trust my body knows what it’s doing. 
I guess I move around a lot, walking for me takes off most of the pressure, rocking back and forth on all fours... look up labor positions maybe, but honestly your body will tell you what to do to feel better, everything except lying on your back really. Use gravity to help you along. 
Sorry I’m not much help. Go with the flow when the time comes.

Answer

My first also didn’t go as planned, but I labored naturally for 36 hours, including being stuck in transition for like 4-5 hours without any pain meds before they finally told me epidural or csection. I can’t vouch for pushing unmedicated, but can definitely give some tips for laboring! 
Read as much as you can, as many natural birth stories as you can find, to me this was incredibly helpful to understand some of the ways you could potentially feel during labor and how others have combated that. Breathing is huge! Hypnobirthing should cover techniques for breathing, but breathing through the contractions is important. Your body will probably tell you what you need to do, so just trust and listen to it. Have your partner be prepared to hold you in different positions, rub/squeeze your hips/back (my husband was a trooper and did it for hours and hours) If you think a bath or shower will help, try it! I know it helps many women, I actually felt worse after getting in the tub so I got out. Also, keep moving as much as you can. If you can walk, walk. If swaying feels good, do that. If you’re comfortable bouncing on a ball, keep it moving. It’ll help baby get into the ideal position. The most important thing, in my opinion, is to remind yourself that YOU CAN DO THIS! Women have done this since the beginning of time without any meds and still do it every single day.

Answer

I’m also halfassed studying hypnobirthing lol. I figure some kind of preparation is better than none! I bought a pdf online that came with 8 audio tracks talking about what hypnobirthing is and then it has like 25+ meditations that I’ve been listening to before bed. A few of my friends recently made it to transition and then asked for epidural and all said after they wish they would have stuck it out because after epidural everything slowed down and the birth went on for hours longer. So I’m hoping to be able to make it through!

Answer

Perineal massage. I use sweet almond oil form vitamin world.  I also got a doula who I think will be able to help a lot with pain management.

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I had an uncomplicated, unmedicated birth with my first. I drink red raspberry leaf tea ( have been for 7 years, all throughout both pregnancies). I also labored at home for as long as possible - in the bath, swaying with my partner, squats and bouncing on my yoga ball. I went to the hospital when my contractions were 3 min apart at noon - had my daughter at 3. I plan to do the same thing this time as well- except my midwives want me to come in when contractions are 7 min apart bc of how quick I progressed. I make sure to breathe and be vocal like oohing.

Answer

I’m also half assed preparing for a hypnobirth. Not totally convinced I’ll be any good at it as I’m horrible at getting ‘in the zone’ in the breathing techniques but I’m gona buckle down here this week, do the work and then if it doesn’t work out I’ll play it by ear regards a possible epidural.

Answer

I'll have my 3rd natural birth next month. Planning on my 3rd waterbirth. If possible I'd recommend using a bath or birthingpool while giving birth. It really helps with the pain. You can rent or buy one yourself if the location where you plan to give birth doesn't have one.

Anyone else trying a natural birth? What preparations are you using?

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