Natural Birth?

[swiftlyirun]

I'm sure that's not the "right" name, but I'm starting to explore what a V-delivery without drugs would look like. 

Before I got pregnant, I was sure that I wanted a natural birth, but now, I think I need more info. 

I have no idea where to start, but I'd love hear from you ladies who have done a natural birth what worked for you etc. Did you take classes? Honestly, how bad was it?

I feel like I have a relatively high pain threshold but then again, does that just go out the door with labor?

[Aquatica]

I'm exploring birth plan options and primarily would like to do a drug-free vaginal birth as well.

Something my midwife said was to remember that you can change your mind if you want an epidural since the anesthesiologist will be on stand by and there is nothing wrong with changing your mind.

Hoping to get some good info in this thread too!

[katiescarlett]

Well, it hurts really badly IMO. However I never gave a 10 for my pain scale rating because I thought it probably hurt more to be burned alive or having a limb cutoff without anesthesia (strange thoughts I'd had ha). With DD I was in labor about 24 hours and probably would have gotten an epidural if I wasn't having a homebirth. DS2 it was not as long but as had a tiny bit of pitocin. I just sort of left my mind and tried to think of ocean waves. I wasn't a calm, smiling person but got through it. It's not for everyone for sure. I'm sorry I don't really have much advice other than keep an open mind. Everyone's experience is different and you just don't know what it'll be like for you until you're there. Good luck!

[ginkgoleaf]

DS was a totally unmedicated birth. I went to the hospital when I was in labor, was only 1cm even after walking for an hour, so they sent me home. Things picked up a lot and I labored in the tub at home with the help of a close friend who is a massage therapist. She did a lot of counter-pressure on my lower back. I could tell when I was in transition from reading labor books, went back to the hospital and was 10cm and ready to push (had pushing urges at home too). They insisted on an IV and the Dr had to break my water, but 30 minutes of pushing and he was out.

I took a Bradley class but honestly I didn't use it, I read a ton about birth and just did what my body wanted me to do. Yes it hurt, but the worst part by far was laying on my back in the hospital bed waiting for them to be ready for me to push (getting me checked back in, breaking water, getting IV in). DS was 8lb14oz but like 25% for head size, which I'm sure helped!

My biggest advice is to stay at home as long as you can. It's much easier to do what you want there than in the hospital. And also know it's ok to try for natural and change your mind if it's too intense. For me, knowing it hurt because I was making progress and that it would be over soon and I'd have a baby soon really helped me get through it.

That said, I'm planning on an epidural this time since I'm having twins and have a pretty big chance of a c-section. I want it to be in place do they don't have to knock me out if there's an emergency - I've read of that happening and I don't want to be unconscious for the birth.

[ginkgoleaf]

Also, I suggest asking on MMM too, you'll probably get more responses.

[boiler717]

I would like to avoid an epidural for a variety of reasons. I don't want to be restricted during labor, I get bad migraines and really worry about spinal headaches, other risks, etc. I am okay with IV meds if needed.
My main indication for an epidural in my mind is the duration of labor. If I haven't sleep, am exhausted, it's going on days, I am not opposed to getting one to allow for some rest.
I feel like I'm a good candidate for a variety of reasons -- I have severe endo pain during TOM so I feel like I'm more used to some of the sensations. I'm sure labor will be more intense but my endo is really severe and I have a variety of pain coping mechanisms that work well for me. I'm athletic and have been active all through pregnancy and feel like I can handle the physical demands on labor. I respond very well to meditation and feel that it will be helpful in disassociating from the pain of labor. Also, being medically minded the idea of contractions doesn't fear me -- I know each one is bringing my baby closer. I hope all these things help me to avoid an epidural. If it doesn't, I've tried.
Also, I've heard way to many stories of women not preparing to avoid an epidural and winding up without time to get one, labor info for hours before anesthesia can show up, having one that doesn't take at all. I want to feel prepared to go without in case I'm not even given the option because of the circumstances.

[boiler717]

Some good books:
Ina May's Guide to Childbirth
Birthing From Within
The Birth Partner
Methods to research:
Hypnobabies
Bradley
Lamaze

[Deleted]

I've had three med-free births and didn't take any classes. I did have a doula for my first and that was very helpful.

I'll throw something out there that most people won't talk about: I was pretty excited about labor and not fearful of the pain. It wasn't because I read a book or anything, I was just genuinely excited about the process. I have a high pain threshold (former athlete) plus my mother never described her labors as being excruciating (she had six kids). I just had a strong feeling I would be fine with no meds.

I haven't heard anyone else say this so just thought I would share. I think people have a good idea of how they handle pain and stress so if you think labor will be tolerable for you, you are in a good place to consider having a med-free labor.

[traveljunkie13]

I went med-free with my first two and plan to with this one as well. For me up until transition (around 7cm) it felt like a horrid period combined with a stomach bug. Annoying and crappy but tolerable . Transition was where things started getting intense but I used hypnobabies both times and was able to focus and relax my muscles during the contractions. I'm not hippy-dippy and never bought into the "pain free labor" hypnobabies tries to sell but it really did help me focus on not fighting the contraction by tensing up.

With DD the only time I started to panic was when I was about 9.5 and she was really dropping.....I wasn't prepared for the insane pressure in my butt! Haha! I always assumed the pain/pressure would be in the frontal area and started panicking. Thankfully my nurse calmed me down and explained what I was feeling!

With DS it was a little tougher because he got stuck for a bit. Little ass was trying to come out face first and got his forehead hung on my pelvic bone. That freaking hurt and he was starting to distress so they forced me into bed on my side. Med-free is doable unless they trap you in bed! In bed with contractions is a horrible horrible thing! I almost caved with him but my midwife decided to break my water to see if it would shift him and it did....I went from 6-10 in one contraction after that and almost had him on the bathroom floor since the nurse wouldn't believe me saying "the baby is coming NOW!".

The hormonal high after a med-free birth is amazing. Both recoveries were quick and easy and both babies super alert and great eaters from the start (and I never had supply issues). These things might have still happened with an Epi but I loved seeing what my body could do.

[traveljunkie13]

Oh I will agree with the previous poster in that I was never really scared of labor....more excited! I was a NICU nurse and saw hundreds of deliveries which helped I'm sure . My mom had all of her kids med-free so I just assumed that it would be rough but 100% doable.

And I'm stubborn as hell so when people told me I wouldn't be able to do it it made me that more determined to prove them wrong

[swiftlyirun]

Thank you so much ladies!!!

boiler717 I have similar reasons for wanting to go med-free including the migraines. I also run marathons so I'd like to think I have developed some pain coping mechanisms. (hopefully?!)

I also just really want to be present with my body. I know my body pretty well and I feel like labor might go better for me if I can manage and respond to pain without the meds shielding any of it. (again, I may be totally wrong!)

I SUPER appreciate all of the thoughtful responses! I think I'm going to go for it!

Next question- did you have a doctor or midwife (or both?)

[Deleted]

@bouler717 said exactly why I had an epidural with my first. My water brok at home and 36 hours, a pitocin drip and very little sleep later, I was only at 3.5cm. I decided that it was better to get the epidural and sleep than be too exhausted from riding the pitocin contractions to push. I ended up having to push for 3.5 hours. I'm glad I slept.

With this one, my plan is to take it as it comes.

[mannah]

Oct 7, 2015 14:18:53 GMT -5 @bandwife said:

I've had three med-free births and didn't take any classes. I did have a doula for my first and that was very helpful.

I'll throw something out there that most people won't talk about: I was pretty excited about labor and not fearful of the pain. It wasn't because I read a book or anything, I was just genuinely excited about the process. I have a high pain threshold (former athlete) plus my mother never described her labors as being excruciating (she had six kids). I just had a strong feeling I would be fine with no meds.

I haven't heard anyone else say this so just thought I would share. I think people have a good idea of how they handle pain and stress so if you think labor will be tolerable for you, you are in a good place to consider having a med-free labor.

I felt the exact same way. I was so excited about intrigued about labor and felt that I would be able to let my body take over and do what needed to be done.

I had an un-medicated birth with DD and I am really looking forward to this next one. I just feel like it is this amazing thing we get to do and it's a shining moment as a woman. So cheesy, but whatever. It's such an emotional high and unbelievable feeling. That's not to say it wasn't painful (it was). I definitely had a moment towards the beginning where I thought to myself "Ooohhhhhhh so THIS is why people get epidurals!" It's very intense pain and can go on for a long loooooong time. If you aren't mentally prepared to handle that, and haven't decided before hand how you will handle the pain and exhaustion, it would be extremely difficult to get through. I feel like it's very important to decide in advance what is important to you (birth plan type stuff including meds or not) so that you can be ready when decisions come up. 

The only labor book I read was Ina May's Guide to Childbirth. It was very empowering for me and had a lot of great stories which I enjoyed reading and got strength from. I also took a natural childbirth class with my H. Even writing this out I'm getting all excited about going into labor lol.

ETA: I had a midwife and delivered at a birth center which was across the street from the hospital with which it was affiliated. Make sure whichever practitioner you chose is supportive of the type of birth you want (not all midwives are the same in terms of supporting unmedicated births and neither are doctors).

[missbella]

I want totally med-free with DS. I wanted to because I didn't want to have to deal with any of the side effects that you hear about even though they are rare. My mom had two med-free births and said it wasn't that bad so I figuredi could do it. I didn't take any med-free specific classes but I read a bunch of stuff and watched a lot of birth videos on YouTube.

My water broke before contractions started. I went to the hospital around 5:00 and they said I wasn't contracting (I was but the monitors weren't picking it up) and they wanted to send me home but since I live pretty far from the hospital and they weren't busy ( it was Memorial Day) they let me stay.  I had back labor and felt every contraction in my tailbone which was pretty uncomfortable. They pretty much left me alone and told me to call if I felt like anything was changing because they needed to do bloodwork. I called them around 9ish, they did the bloodwork and IV, checked me and I was 4.5-5. At this point I was thinking I was going to be in labor all night. I got in the tub which wasn't the magical pain erasing device that I was lead to believe but it was peaceful and I went from 5-10 in about half an hour. Then I pushed for about 4 hours. 

All in in all it was a good experience and I am excited to do it again. DS was born alert and breastfed like a champ from the beginning despite being 3 weeks early. The pushing was the worst of it. It never got bad enough for me that I felt like I needed any medication. It's true that you forget the pain after.

[katiek]

I went med-free with DS. Honestly, I don't think I could have done it without H being such a good cheerleader. If you don't think your H will be super supportive, I'd look into hiring a doula. Before I went into labour, I told him that I didn't want to get an epidural, but if he didn't let me get one if I wanted one, I'd be super mad, haha. His solution was to tell me to wait three more contractions after I asked, then if I still wanted one, I could get it. It worked really well, because getting through those three contractions made me forget about the epidural or realize I could keep going.

I was in labour for 30 hours, including 14 hours of hard labour and 1.5 hours of pushing. It was really hard. But a big part of me kept thinking "I've done this for 10 hours, I can do a bit more! How much longer can it be?!" Joke was on me, but I'm glad I had the birth that I was hoping for. I had an OB and no doula.

Beforehand, H and I took a class through my prenatal yoga instructor (who is also a doula). We learned lots of good ideas for helping with labour, like specific massages, different positions to push in, etc.

I'm planning to go med-free again with this baby, so the pain isn't bad enough that you never want to experience it again! I have a pretty high tolerance for pain, so that may be part of the reason why I was okay with it. Not sure!

[Blackout81]

Oct 7, 2015 11:22:39 GMT -5 swiftlyirun said:

I'm sure that's not the "right" name, but I'm starting to explore what a V-delivery without drugs would look like. 

Before I got pregnant, I was sure that I wanted a natural birth, but now, I think I need more info. 

I have no idea where to start, but I'd love hear from you ladies who have done a natural birth what worked for you etc. Did you take classes? Honestly, how bad was it?

I feel like I have a relatively high pain threshold but then again, does that just go out the door with labor?

I sometimes kid that I got the labor I wanted, just not the birth. I went totally med-free through pushing, my labor was long (like, days at home) and active hospital labor after my water broke on its own (thank god) lasted about 10 hours before pushing and it was freaking intense.

Pushing wasn't that bad for me, but in retrospect, it's probably because she was poorly positioned, so even 2ish hours of pushing in all different ways (standing, kneeling, squatting, whatever my body felt like trying) didn't do much good, she was completely stuck. I ended up having to go in for a C.

I would read Ina May's books, I'd try to get at least one natural birthing class in, and if I could do that first time all over again, I'd absolutely get a doula. I really believe had I had a doula to come to me at home during my labor, even just for a bit, and to be there in the hospital with me, things might have ended differently.

Also, depending on where you deliver and what their rules are, get a hep-loc instead of an IV. It's routine by me to put all birthing moms on an IV and that inhibits a lot. I fought for hep-lock only, and the nurse told me that if I ended up needing a C, everything would be all messed up because they'd have to get me an IV. It was totally not a big deal at all.

The irony is that I did that intervention-free labor with an OB/GYN, and now I"m with a midwife practice and might just go right for the repeat-scheduled-C. The care I'm getting now is better, I can't change the past, and really the doula is the only thing I would have done differently, so I'm just rolling with it this time around. Zero prep for a possible VBAC, just gonna see what happens.

[dcn]

I had low platelets throughout my first pregnancy so I wasn't sure if an epi would be an option. I mentally prepared myself to go drug free. I ended up with a 9 hour total labor (3 of pushing) and no drugs. I had an ob, and the nurses were very supportive of whatever I wanted to try.

I didn't take any classes or even read any books. My plan was to see how it went. I was pretty nervous about how much it would hurt, and it did hurt, a lot at times. I remember being like 2.5 hours into pushing and being all "I can't do it!". DH and the nurse were really supportive and they brought in a mirror so I could the progress I was making with each push which really helped.

If labor had been a longer drawn out slow moving process I probably would have asked for something. But I was 7 cm when they checked me upon arriving at the hospital and things moved along and I was able to get through the pain ok.

This time my platelets have been better so an epi is probably an option. I am hoping to go med free again but am not ruling it out if this delivery is longer or harder than my first.

[speyedr]

As someone who has had both an epi labor and delivery and a completely med free I will tell you my recovery was much better with my med free delivery. I also only had 4.5 hours between my first contraction and delivery. I showed up at the hospital 40min before DD was born.

[swiftlyirun]

Thank you all so much- so much wonderful insight!

Ditto @cookiemonster03 curious the difference between a hep lock and IV

[traveljunkie13]

A hep-lock is an IV that is in place but not hooked to any fluids. It allows you to walk around without having to drag an IV stand of fluids with you...but still allows immediate access for nurses/Drs if needed.

[jennistarr1]

I did not have a natural birth, I had a c-section. So all I can tell you is about the labor pains I did feel. I had asked a million people what labor pains felt like and NOONE had an answer except "really bad period cramps". So I was determined to come up with a better answer.

So not at all like period cramps

More like a brain freeze, but in your stomach.

I say a brain freeze because you kind of feel it coming on, you feel it going out...and there are a few second of really crippling OMG THIS HURTS SO BAD, I can't believe how bad this hurts, when is it going to end. And in those few seconds you're grasping at anything to make the pain stop (like putting your tongue to the roof of your mouth for a brain freeze but it's not working, it's not working, aaahhhhhh!!!).

As you feel a brain freeze coming on you think "I'm going to be cool about it this time, I'm not going to make ugly faces, I'm going to be normal because I know it's only a few seconds"...quickly followed by making ugly, uncool faces because you just have to.

I was strapped to monitors and with every contractions tried to stay still because movement knocked the monitors off *again" "sorry nurse, I didn't mean to".

But I remember feeling like had I been able to move, there were lots of things I would have wanted to try to help with the pain. LOTS, and that's where I think prepared childbirth comes in and you could deal with natural labor and the pain (though I never felt anything from the transition to the actual childbirth...just the up to 6 cm labor pains)

[Muddled]

It was hard, no lie. There were many times when I didn't think I would make it. I think the biggest help for me was having a super supportive partner. Honestly, classes were vital for that since we didn't get a doula.

The classes we took did not subscribe to any one method of pain management, but we came out with a 'toolbox' full of things to try. The one we ended up using most was massage and sacral pressure.

Now that labor is over, I can definitely see benefits to an epi. Maybe I would have had more steam in the engine when pushing? Who knows. I definitely think no pain meds has been good for recovery.

[traveljunkie13]

Oct 8, 2015 9:42:59 GMT -5 @cookiemonster03 said:

Oct 8, 2015 8:56:18 GMT -5 traveljunkie13 said:

A hep-lock is an IV that is in place but not hooked to any fluids. It allows you to walk around without having to drag an IV stand of fluids with you...but still allows immediate access for nurses/Drs if needed.

So forgive my ignorance, but what's the connection between this and an epi in an emergency c-section situation? You have to have an IV to have an epi? How long does an epi take to place anyway?

You do have to have an IV if you have an epi. Most moms that try for med-free push for only a hep-lock vs IV with fluids so they have more freedom when moving around. Some moms do not even want the hep-lock but I am big on having access available if things go bad. I was glad to have it with DD because after she was born I had some hemorrhaging that they struggled to stop. They were able to quickly get fluids going and push pitocin and another drug into my hep-lock to help stop the bleeding. I'm a nurse and trying to start an IV on a patient who is going downhill sucks and is 10X harder so I am all about the hep-lock in labor!

[Wonderwall]

Oct 7, 2015 11:22:39 GMT -5 swiftlyirun said:

I'm sure that's not the "right" name, but I'm starting to explore what a V-delivery without drugs would look like. 

Before I got pregnant, I was sure that I wanted a natural birth, but now, I think I need more info. 

I have no idea where to start, but I'd love hear from you ladies who have done a natural birth what worked for you etc. Did you take classes? Honestly, how bad was it?

I feel like I have a relatively high pain threshold but then again, does that just go out the door with labor?

Take a labor class. When I was pregnant i took an "prepared birth" class through Kaiser.

It was AMAZING and worth every penny. It was a full two days - day 1 was all about what a natural birth would could might be like and how to deal with the stages and pain etc.

Day two was all about interventions- epidural as, other pain meds inductions, c sections, etc.

We got to hold and touch the instruments, including the water bag needles and see what the epidural needles and kits looked like and got to hold the internal monitors and all that.

I walked away incredibly informed and prepared. I was shooting for a "natural birth" and ended up with an induction that ended up being A-Z intervention.

Having held and understood all the meds and tools helped me to be more zen during the whole ordeal - and I felt confident in making decisions about my care and birth.

TAKE A CLASS

[Poppy]

I personally think that the length of labor makes a huge difference, and that it's harder to go epi free with your first kid.

I planned to wait as long as possible to get an epi and ended up asking for it during what must have been transition, and it was too late by the time they had it ready. It was very painful and scary, especially transition, but obviously doable. My labor was only 12 hours from water breaking to birth, though. I had sort of prepped - we took a birth class and I practiced breathing exercises a little, but I should have done more. I do think I have a pretty high pain tolerance.

Anyway, I'll probably try for it again but I am not anti-epi by any stretch. I remember reading Dr Sears when I was struggling with breastfeeding and being mad that he implied that if you went med-free, breastfeeding would be easy. Personally I think that's bs and mainly I was mostly concerned that I would get the epi and it wouldn't work and then what? According to my Dr, it's a little safer to have the epi in place in case of emergency C, so that does weigh on my mind too.

[Poppy]

Oh, and my hospital was very supportive about various birth plans and they had a ton of tools available too. I came in with high BP so they had me on monitors the whole time but they were waterproof and wireless so I was able to labor in the tub, etc. So that was also a big factor.

[Muddled]

You have to have to have an IV if you are induced as well. For me, it meant that walking around was a PITA. I found all the connections to be very frustrating and I didn't go to the bathroom as much as I should have, which ultimately caused some problems.

[july]

For me, the pain was really rea
lly intense and I loved my epidural. I enjoyed the time rather than being a total bitch who was miserable.
My water broke and they gave me medicine to speed up labor to avoid a c section. That might have made a difference.

[swiftlyirun]

Good points! I'm not against an epi, but I'd like to try without it. Apparently, I have a penchant for things that are difficult and painful- I totally crave the challenge of managing the pain. LOL!

[cactuscookie]

Oct 8, 2015 15:03:09 GMT -5 @vicmo said:

The better recovery and bfing stuff makes me go hmm because my epi wore off within an hour or two of birth, and my kid was super alert from the get go. (He had a terrible latch but that lasted for a month or more so I don't think it was related to my evil epi, lol.)

If I recall, the book Expecting Better, which is mostly about pregnancy restrictions but also talks about birthing methods, says there's no real relationship between getting the epidural and ease of breastfeeding.

But I do remember that the author wanted to avoid an epidural, and I don't remember why.