natural child birth

[Angie]

Have you ever had a natural delivery with no meds?

I am planning on having one and I am scared to death!!!! With Raija I was in labour for 31 hours with pitocine(sp) and then had a C-Section and a spinal leak after ward. My whole birthing experience was not a good one. I am not saddened by it. I really just don't want to go through what I went through with her as far as my spinal leak goes. Therefore I have been told that an epidural or spinal is not really an option for me. If for any reason I need a c-section again they will have to put me right out. I am going to the Doctors on Monday to discuss it a little more.

With Raija I had a massive bad migraine headache for a week. I did not see Raija for the first week of her life. I could not get out of bed to pee let alone hold her. That whole experience was awful. Thankfully my mom took care of her while dh was at work. My mom was so worried about me. I ended up back in the hospital for a spinal patch and was told that the reason that this had happened was because they had a problem getting the needle in and so they had to use a bigger one. When they did that it left a hole in my spine causing the fluid to leak out causing my headache. As it turned out they refused to give me a blood patch in fear of something happening. SO they called the next biggest city to fly me there to get it done. They just wanted to wait a few days as it usually heals by itself. As it turned out the next day I was barely able to sit up but sitting up was a sign that it was healing. I am sure that my spinal leak is what caused my high blood pressure, and swelling that I managed to get a hold on and no longer needed meds for. However, since then I can hear my pulse in my ear. Kinda like a swishing noise. Very annoying.

Anyway, to make along story short. They never offered epidural or spinal while in labour in the small town that I lived in. So it was not an option then. I was not sacred then I think because I did not know what the pain was going to be like. However this time I KNOW. LOL I never have forgotten the pain. Now I live in a big city and I still can not get one. Anyway, was just wondering what your experience was like with no drugs?

[Spacers]

I was planning a home birth last time, and I'm actually quite saddened that I never went into labor. I had a total of 9 contractions over the course of two weeks. Since meds aren't an option at a home birth, I did a LOT to prepare. DH & I studied the Bradley Method, I did prenatal yoga, I did LOTS of mental & emotional prep like Birthing From Within, and I got an incredible support person (my MIL, whom I love dearly and who happens to be a massage therapist and doula!) I also made my 3rd trimester a "bubble of peace" in that I didn't allow any negativity into my space. I concentrated on growing a happy & healthy baby and on getting myself ready physically and emotionally. Sadly, this meant limiting contact with my mom & sisters, but it was their decision to not be supportive.

You CAN do this!!! :cheer: (OK, what happened to the cheerleader smilie???) Have you visited the Birthing Naturally board here at PO? Also check out the VBAC board. I know MichelleMarbelle had great success with hypnosis with Johnny's birth (don't remember which method she used) and I've heard from a lot of VBAC moms that the fear release sessions alone are worth the money & practice time.

[**Tiffany**]

I have never done it natural (though technically I would consider any child leaving your vagina something natural, drugs or no, your dont get much more down to nature than that!). However I have been thinking that if I have another I would try it atleast w/o an epidural. For one thing my epidurals have never really been effective not one of the four. They did help some but my MW with Alec said I shouldnt have been in that much pain with that much epidural meds running through me. So I figure why go through all that if it cant be that much worse w/o it. I will however probably end up with some stadol to fuzzy me up a bit. The MW says that the whirlpool is an effective pain reliever also. GL!

[juliedinny]

I shouldn't say I had a BAD experience with Ava's birth, but it wasn't what I imagined it would be. My water had ruptured and I didn't go into labor, so I was induced. I now know I was given way too much pitocin...the contractions were on top of each other - literally - for a long, long time and I couldn't deal with it. I was freaking, tense, turned into an outrite wild woman. I begged for something, they gave me too much. I had to push for 4 hours as I couldn't feel what was going on at all. With Stephanie, I knew what to expect even when induced again and I tell ya, it was such a comfortable, beautiful experience. I did opt for an epidural, but it wore off after 5 minutes and I didn't want anymore. I wasn't willing to prolong it. So, I just dealt with it and even though the pain sucked, I was so proud of myself. I felt so in control, so at ease, so awsome! I say don't plan it either way, know your options and see how you feel. I had a plan both times and neither birth was close to what I expected. I wish I had a better doctor with Ava, but I still have no regrets for taking the epidural. You can so do it! GL!

[Britishfrog]

I didn't with P and never will if we have anymore kids. MIL had a natural with DH and he was 11 lbs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[krisssss]

I am also looking in to it, I had an epidural with Evan and I really can't complain about his birth, It was a nice experience and a quick recovery. This time though I want to try to do it without drugs, since Evan has been trouble with speech and had some other delays earlier on (we had come a long way since) I have been doing a ton of research, specially about autism and aspergers (since they thought Evan might be on the spectrum) and some experts believed that pitocin and epidurals could be the "trigger" for the condition and I am trying not to take any chances...I know this is all not proven and everybody has a different theory, I just don't want to do any damage on purpose if I can help it.

[anthonysmommy]

I did both labors pain med free. With anthony I did need pitocin to bring on labor, with tori they used cervadil, but had to remove it within 10 minutes because labor came on fast. I think Julie's description of what she felt with stephanies labor is a perfect description of how I felt. I really did enjoy my labors. If we decide to go for #3 I think we will definitely consider a home birth, although since I've not been able to go into labor naturally yet, I don't know if it would be an option.

[**Tiffany**]

Sherri - my labor with Cole (who was my 3rd birth) was the first time I went into labor naturally. I was pretty convince I couldnt either with Em they had to take her a week early and at 39 wks I was nothing no contrax, nothing. With Bella she was a week late I had lots of contrax that last week and still even being dialated to 3 and membranes stripped at 40 wks at 41 wks I had to be induced. With Cole the day after my due date I started in with timable contrax (though they had been off and on for weeks) and I started having bloody show and he came at 10:50 that night. Alec came a day early. So there is hope!

[anthonysmommy]

Sherri - my labor with Cole (who was my 3rd birth) was the first time I went into labor naturally. I was pretty convince I couldnt either with Em they had to take her a week early and at 39 wks I was nothing no contrax, nothing. With Bella she was a week late I had lots of contrax that last week and still even being dialated to 3 and membranes stripped at 40 wks at 41 wks I had to be induced. With Cole the day after my due date I started in with timable contrax (though they had been off and on for weeks) and I started having bloody show and he came at 10:50 that night. Alec came a day early. So there is hope!
that's great to know! anthony was induced 3 days after my due date because of my bp, but they didnt' think the induction would even take because I had had no progress whatsoever, I was brought in 5 days after my dd with Tori, with again NO progress, not even a fingertip dialated, luckily cervadil did the trick with her, but I'd really like to go into labor on my own if we try again, I'd like to have that experience.