Hi everyone - new here...

My name is Melissa. I'm not new to PO - I have actually been here on and off since 2002...

Anyway, I am 22 weeks pregnant with my third pregnancy. I'm due August 16th.

My first was a twin pregnancy, and I was new to the whole thing. There was nothing natural about the birth - I was induced and had both babies vaginally in a hospital with an epidural. You can read my birth story here: Twins' Story.

My second pregnancy was a singleton, also induced, and with an epidural. My Singleton Birth Story

Now, it is 8 years later, and I have a new husband and everything is different. I have the same OB that I have always had, but I'm not sure if it's age, or experience, but I am really craving something much more natural this time. It will be a hospital birth, no doubt, but I am really hoping to go into labor on my own this time, and am considering trying to do it as naturally as possible - not sure if I can handle it with no drugs, but I am thinking that I want to try. My OB is fabulous, and if I tell him that I am looking into a natural birth, I am sure that he would be completely supportive. I'm not sure about the hospital, though, as I am planning to deliver at a different hospital this time and I'm not sure how much of a fight it might be there.

Anyway, I just wanted to introduce myself... I plan to hang around here, learn from all of you, and read your stories. I have been following Anna, Joy, and Ariel's lodges anonymously so far and I am inspired by them!

Anyway, any support and advice you can give me over the next few months would be greatly appreciated - I look forward to it!

Welcome! Glad to see you over here too :D

Hi Leigh! :)

:) Welcome!

Welcome! I wish you the best of luck with your natural birth. I would strongly encourage you to research the hospital thoroughly. Don't just go off information on their website or even information you receive by touring the hospital. If possible (which unfortunately wasn't for me), talk to women who've had or attempted unmedicated child birth at that hospital.

I only say that because if you visit the website to my hospital they claim to be very natural birth friendly, but when it comes to actually giving birth there, the nurses will look at you like you have two heads if you act like you are the one in charge of your medical care/decisions.

Yay! Welcome!! :D

Welcome! There are some great books that you can read to help "prepare" yourself for a non-medicated birth...I think there is a sticky at the top with the books listed. Good luck!

Thanks, ladies!! I finally had the guts to broach this with DH last night... he was all for the idea of a scheduled induction (he likes planning and order) and me having drugs (he's uncomfortable with uncomfortableness :ROFL: ) and liked that I have a history of both with my doctor. But I brought up the fact that I really want to go into labor naturally and on my own, and experience birth as it's meant to be. I also mentioned at least meeting a doula so that he could see how a doula could help me have the birth I really want to have, etc. He has no clue how it all works, and it doesn't help that this is his first child, so the WHOLE process is new to him.

Anyway, he agreed to be open to meeting with a doula, and to support me in my birthing choices, so that's awesome! :) It's a big step!

That's GREAT. Having a supportive DH makes an NCB worlds easier.

Welcome! I am relatively new here, too, and have found this to be an amazing group of extremely supportive and brilliant women! I do agree that research and education on our part as the birthing momma is extremely important when trying to advocate for yourself in the hospital. I did go ahead with a doula for this very reason: in order to have someone extra there at the hospital to advocate FOR me! Hopefully I will be giving birth in the next two weeks, so we will see how it goes!!! Excited to share with you in the remainder of your journey! Again, welcome!