Natural Birth questions?

Question

I'm 26 weeks and I really want to have a natural birth. My family isn't very supportive, but the father is and he'll be the only one in the room while I'm laboring. I've been doing a significant amount of research on the topic, but I would like some opinions from people who've been there.

Is a doula necessary? Aside from pain management and helping to enforce birth plans, is there anything else they do during labor?

Do the doctors really push drugs and interventions on you? I've heard quite a few stories where the doctors kept trying to convince the mom to accept epidurals and wouldn't take no for an answer. Is that really what it's like?

What were the best pain management techniques that you discovered?

If there is any other advice you'd like to give that would be amazing! I don't have many people to talk about this wth. Thanks!!

Answer

I delivered my son with no medication. I was at a birthing center at my hospital that really promoted the mothers wants. I would go visit where you'll be delivering. Talk to the nurses about their basic practices. I didnt use my birth plan as i was able to verbally tell my nurses and dr. I was asked many times before even going into labor if i would be wanting an epidural and they respected that by not offering unless I asked for it. Who cares what your family thinks? You and your husband are the only ones who matter in this. He needs to be your advocate 100%. If you don't want an epidural, he needs to make sure you dont get pushed into it. If you want delayed cord clamping, if they rush to do it for any other reason than emergency he needs to be like 'hold up'. My husband was my saving grace. He was so calm, he brought me cold wash clothes for my face, put counter pressure on my back, got me drinks of water and just kept his voice low and mellow and just let me know i was doing good. Dont just lay on your back and labor. Get up. Hands and knees. Walking. Whatever you can. Dont be afraid! It's hard, it's sometimes a little scary, but turn to your husband or whatever you're using as a focus to dig down and hold on! Once it's to a point that you cant take it anymore you're almost done! And it's awesome being able to get up an hr after delivering and going pee on your own! I wasnt foggy with medication. I was self sufficient after. I wasnt even all that sore. I took pain meds maybe a week and not even every day.

Answer

Doula- nice but not necessary, I'm not hiring one because I think my SO will be enough support for me personally. 
As for the doctor pushing epidurals and other interventions, it really depends on the hospital and doctor. You should talk to your doctor about your desire for a natural birth and see what they say. I personally did leave a hospital because the doctor & nurses literally laughed when I said I was going natural, but another hospital near me LOVED the idea. Just depends (:

Answer

So I also LOVE laboring in a birthing tub. The warm water is amazing and if it has a nozzle for hubby to spray water on your back during a contraction...yes. I wasn't able to with my first, but I delivered my second in the tub and also loved it. I delivered my first on my back and my second in a supported kneeling position. If I have another I will never deliver in my back again...I felt kneeling/squatting helped my body push more effectively. The key to nonmedicated labor is MOVE! Walk as much as you can. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart and rock your hips through contractions. Let gravity help guide your baby down. Bounce on a birthing ball. All of that. A good doula or midwife can help remind you of those things, so again you don't need one but they can be very helpful.

Answer

It really depends.  My doctor sent my birthing plans over to the hospital where I was induced at 41 weeks.  They stuck to my plans pretty closely and when I asked for an epidural after 48 hours of active labor (and another estimated 24-48 left before doing a csection of no baby), they triple checked with me AND my SO.  
 
I didn't want a doula as I wanted my SO to be my support.  Yet while my husband was AMAZING throughout the process, he was also at a loss in regards to how to help me. And with a doula your SO can rest while you still have support.

Answer

I didn't have a doula and had an excellent doctor. When I got to L&D my doctor verified I wanted a natural birth even if my baby was breech (he wasn't!) and when I said yes said, "A woman after my own heart!"

Answer

Two non-medicated births here...

A doula is good but not necessary. She can also help provide new positions and techniques to try to keep labor progressing. If i didn't go to a midwife medical practice, I would have gotten one. I never had doctors push interventions, but then the OB office I go to is veeerrryyy supportive of non-medicated l&d. They have midwives you can see through your your pregnancy, and they will be the ones to help you at the birthing center to help you through labor and delivery. The OBs are there for women who prefer an OB or for complications that require more medical intervention. I chose a birthing center rather than a hospital to deliver in (but in my case it was IN a hospital, so easy to be moved if required). More to follow...this might cut me off...

Answer

A doula is like a wedding planner - useful to make everything run smoothly, but not totally necessary. 
My docs actually discouraged intervention until there was a true medical need, they (teaching hospital- i had a team) were really trying to motivate me to keep going without meds, and when my labor stalled at 8cm they made it my call to go ahead with the c section- they were willing to keep trying.  I had no intention of going natural though, and it wasn't until late in my pregnancy that i was cleared to push (most of my life i was told that a c section would likely be necessary due to other issues I have).

Answer

Following

Answer

I gave birth to my daughter all natural. I personally don't think a doula is necessary, I personally didn't acknowledge anyone around me, my husband pretty much slept through labor till it was time to push. I was in an almost meditatative state concertrating on breathing and meeting my daughter. The nurse told me they really only try to push medication onto patients if they can't handle the pain well. My midwife and nurse told me multiple times how impressed they were by how I handled the pain and fully supported me. I read Ina May's Guide to Childbirth and the Guide to Breastfeeding in preparation. I also took a hospital tour and informed myself about the policies. But otherwise I just labored at home till I was 8 1/2 cm. I took a bath, switched positions, sat on the toilet, laid on the floor, whatever felt right.

Answer

I labored naturally until my doctor said a c section was coming.so I did take drugs to try and not have a c section,but that plan didn't work.i had to beg because my labor wasn't progressing at all.i found that my husband was all I needed.girl in the moment you do what you have to.some of my contractions I screamed with and others I just bit my pillow or crushed my husband's hand.

Natural Birth questions?

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