Your Birth Experience?

Question

Trying to think about what kind of birth I'd like to have. Question for those of you who are already moms: What was your birth experience like? Did you have an epidural/natural birth/C-section? What would you change? What would you keep the same? Thanks in advance!

Answer

With my first son, I was 3 days overdue and labour started on its own and lasted 14 hours. He was 8lbs 8oz, I had an epidural, pushed for 10 minutes and had a small tear.
With my second son, I was planning an epidural. I was 16 days overdue and labour started on its own and lasted just 2 hours. He was 10lbs! I had no time for an epidural so it was all natural and didn't tear at all and again pushed for just 10 minutes. Maybe less.
This one I am going to go natural again. (Or try at least hehe). I read an article not long ago that said that women who go natural tear less often because they can feel when they are pushing too hard, whereas an epidural covers up some of the feelings. 
I wouldn't say that is true for EVERYONE but it was for me for sure. I remember pushing with my second and feeling like I was going to rip so I let off a bit.
Alas, the universe has its own plans so don't get too caught up in making sure you stick to yours when you make it. Good luck!

Answer

I had two natural deliveries and loved them. My first was about 6 hours and my second was about 3.5

I delivered in the hospital just because I wanted to be seconds away from help if needed. My mom is a NICU nurse so I've probably heard too many horror stories :/

But she gave me the best advice ever.
1) healthy baby/healthy mom is 1st priority
2) if you want to try natural, go for it, you CAN change your mind. Your body is so strong, and for me, knowing pain management was available helped me relax and get through it

I can't wait for this baby! I truly LOVE labor, as weird as that sounds, and I wish you the best of luck with whatever birthing methods/places you choose!

(Ps I would love to try a water birth, I've just never had the opportunity!)

Answer

I did all natural. I actually wouldn't change anything. I wish I could give birth in a birthing center but I'm too high risk. Same goes for this one too :/ oh I would change the cord cutting. This time I told my doctors that I don't want the cord cut until after it is done pulsating. Everything else was perfect besides my husband not being there 😔

Answer

I've had two kids. My son, I contracted regularly at home on the night of my due date. Monitored contractions until I knew it was go time. They were 5-7 mins apart, getting stronger, for over an hour. We went to the hospital at 4am, triage to check me, was 4-5cm dilated, admitted by 5am, epidural by 6am, had him by 8:32am. Such an easy labor and delivery. I'm praying #3 goes that way! For my daughter, #2, I had to be induced 1week early. I don't recommend getting induced unless medically necessary. The meds threw everything off. At 7am I got the pitocin. My body was forced to start contractions when I don't know that it was ready. Also had a problem with the epidural. It wasn't working, then my heart rate shot up, my breath got shallow so I needed oxygen. They were literally putting my bed all the way down on my head side, to get blood to flow to my heart and head, then sit me back up to breathe... A good 15 mins of this chaos where I was literally crying thinking I was dying. Then, I got another epidural-type shot (I'm not even 100% sure what it was) into my hip. That hurt like a mother. Finally, after a while, I got settled to where I could labor "normally", and had my daughter at 4:23pm. So, both were vagjnal deliveries with an epidural, but very different experiences!

Answer

Thank you all for writing about your experiences! I know I can't expect for it to go exactly as planned, but this helped me narrow it down to what my first choice will be. :)

Your Birth Experience?

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