I want an unmedicated birth… any experienced mamas have an unmedicated hospital birth?

Question

How do you prepare for this unmedicated birth? Can I have semi free movement in hospital? My mom had an unmedicated birth in the 90s with me she is an RN and she says that I will be in the bed for contractions and I’m cuckoo for thinking I’ll want to be up when contractions are happening. I told her I want to dance through them. She thinks I am nutty lmao. I am so ignorant to the membrane sweeps and cervix checks and I know many “natural” mamas don’t want that… what are they and what are the reasons? Thank you! I’m a first time mama to be.

Answer

I always wanted a natural birth. 
I have a high pain tolerance so I thought it would work.
I ended up having a epidural after the contractions started. It felt like my hips where being pulled apart. Then ended having a emergency c section.  Like the other poster said. Go in with a plan but know that the plan may go out the window at anytime due to the variables. 
Congratulations on your baby I wish you the best!

Answer

I had an unmedicated birth with my 2nd and thought I was having false contractions until I started feeling a ton of pressure and decided to go in (I was 8cm when I got there). My contractions were 10 minutes apart for 9 hours so I did alot of walking to try to get them closer together. I kept in mind that each contraction was moving my baby down, I breathed thru each contraction imagining my baby moving lower into the birth canal. I reminded myself that my body is doing what it needs to do and kept relaxed rather than tensing up. Other than mentally preparing for what your body is doing during a contraction there's no way of planning how it will go, my first was sunny side up and was absolutely horrible (ended up with an epidural), my 2nd seemed so much easier than how everyone describes labor. I know a woman who didn't feel any contractions but felt off so she went in and found out she was 10 cm and ended having a 10 pound baby. You just never know. Don't let anyone discourage you and don't feel guilty if things don't go how you imagined. Be proud of yourself no matter how your baby comes into the world 😊

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Check badassmotherbirther on Instagram, she has tons of info and holds courses!

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I have had 2 natural births in the hospital. Your mom is dead wrong on making you stay in bed, you can do whatever you need. You do not need cervix checks and if they do have to do one they can do it while you're squatting. Water labors help a lot. Most of the unmedicated birth is the mindset. Being mentally stronger then the pain and having a partner who knows your wishes and is dead set on it. In both my experiences I asked for the epidural 30 seconds before I started pushing. The best advice I got was that once you feel like you can't do it anymore the baby will come, and it's completely right.

Answer

You can definitely be unmedicated in the hospital! Use the BRAIN acronym whenever presented with the choice for any sort of procedure. Remember safety of the baby and your life should always be first. If your plans change when you’re there, even if you decide you want pain medication, you have options on the type, amount, etc.
B: What are the benefits to the procedure?
R: What are the risks to the procedure?
A: Are there alternative solutions? 
I: What does your intuition say? 
N: What happens if you do nothing?

Answer

I did it unmedicated with my first and going to try again with my second (sometime in the next few weeks!). I also thought I would move around but did not end up doing so. You have to ask for a hep lock instead of an IV so you are not attached to anything. I sat on a birthing chair for a while. I also wanted heating pads held to my body underneath my belly and on my lower back during contractions- so then you’re like a party train because your support people are literally supporting you- all reaching in with a hand here or there. You can’t really be dancing around :) I also didn’t expect to be bleeding so much which quickly turns into bloody footprints all around the birthing suite. And sure, you can wear a pad and underwear - but while going thru contractions I couldn’t even stand the hospital gown touching me and took it off. I’m practicing using hypnobabies hypnosis meditation tracks this time around - you begin preparing with those around 32-34 weeks - it takes practice. But I basically remember screaming my way through birth, my throat hurting so bad afterwards I thought I injured my uvula also. I went a week overdue last time even with consenting to sweeps. I plan to do sweeps again- I think my first is this Friday. I’m going to see if I want to try waterbirth this time- thought I might last time, but in the moment, getting in a tub of water was the last thing I wanted. Everything seemed like an inconvenience and annoyance:)

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I had medicated. But I has oxygen and laughing gas.
It was crazy 😂 But I believe many will be able to get through it if they want to and have the right supportive birth place.

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I honestly just think the best thing to do when in labour is go in with no expectations as you’ll only be disappointed if you decide you want some sort of pain relief I went in no expectations I had gas and air THats it was free to move around the room had a lovely birth I think all this natural and unnatural stuff is just stupid and puts pressure on a mother in a time when you really don’t need it

Answer

I was induced and did unmedicated. Not going to lie, was not fun.