Natural Birth???

Amy - posted on 03/17/2010

I planned on having a natural birth but with my first it was so bad I ended up with pain meds in the IV. I refuse to have the epidural. I'm planning on doing the natural birth this time, and to help prepair me I'm doing prenatal Yoga and going to a chiropractor regularly.

For my first I was in labor for at least 24 hours, pushing for several hours. I was 2 weeks late and had my membranes stripped, then had to have my watter broken to speed things up as my labor basically stopped (That's when I needed the pain meds, I diolated 3X faster the first hour then they say you should). I'm hoping for a better experience this time!

Nicole - posted on 03/16/2010

I have had 3 natural and my last one I had an epidural. I had to have pitocin so my contractions were really hard. I was dead set on doing natural again, but at the last min. decided on the epidural ( I also have quick labors, start to finish with my last was 30 min.) HOWEVER, for me personally having been through it both ways, I will take the epidural, I was not exhausted afterwards, and my recovery was a lot faster because I was completely relaxed through the whole delivery. No kidding my last was the biggest 9# 2oz. and I did not rip, or need an episiotomy (sp?). I was nervous about getting the epidural, but opted to have it because, they can take it out if I did not like it. It was very funny my DR said it was like delivering a completely diffrent person!! Good luck on congrats!! :o)

Angelina - posted on 03/16/2010

I'm planning on All Natural, but I might have to have a C section :( so I'm not sure what's going on yet

Marina - posted on 03/16/2010

ive always known that i wanted to go all natural unless it was absolutely necasary. and luckily (and unluckily) i didnt feel a thing anyways. it was really scary because of that since if i hadnt had a dr appt that day we probly wouldnt have known that i was in labor until it was too late to go to the hospital. but every thing turned out well i was at the hospital 3 hours and then had my beautiful little girl :)

Amanda - posted on 03/16/2010

I planned on natural for my first, but I wasn't going to rule out pain meds. I made it to 7 cm than couldn't handle it anymore, I was literally having panic attacks. I wanted to be able to enjoy it and not be freaking out. Well, after having the epidural my water broke and it was full of meconium. So, I wish I would have had the epidural sooner, maybe I could have avoided the whole horrible experience. With this one I plan on trying natural again.

Linea - posted on 03/15/2010

I think my decision will have to wait until that time comes b/c if I am in labor for a long time before I am ready to push, like several hours, then I may be more inclined to opt for the drugs...lol but if I am like my mom and some of you ladies where the baby is out after just a couple of hours then I will really try to just stick it out...no need to drug us if the pain isn't going to last for that long.

Erin - posted on 03/14/2010

I just took my early prenatal class and they mentioned the local rate of epidurals is between 65-85%. I know it's quite the range but this probably was a variable based on different years. I was quite shocked to find how high the rate was. I'm still hoping to go natural (I know I'm not wanting an epidural as the needle scares me) but it's good to know that you're not alone if that's what you're hoping for.

Emma - posted on 02/28/2010

Hi, I have a 2yo and had to be induced unfortunately as I had severe pre-eclampsia and coped just on the gas & air (as induction makes makes the contractions more severe because I also had the thing to speed up labor with being so ill) and I am 37wks with my 2nd and plan on using nothing or just the gas and air again. Hopefully, I can go into labour on my own rather than having to be induced but it's looking unlikely as I'm a type 2 diabetic. Good luck :)

Trish - posted on 02/27/2010

Natural all the way baby! Theres no reason to drug yourself or the baby when women have been having babies since FOREVER!! If you can avoid any intervention you should. I went natural both time so far and I will do it again in just over 20 weeks time :)

Cheryl - posted on 02/27/2010

I agree with everyone here so far- natural is awesome- You Can Do It!!! But if it doesn't work out, there is no shame! you must choose what's best for you and your family. And Mothers please remember this goes for all aspects of parenting: birth method, breast or bottle, vaccinations, spanking, etc!

Sheelah - posted on 02/26/2010

I have quick labors too so I don't have time for an epidural. I used laughing gas with my second & third, but my first there wasn't even enough time for gas, lol! I was pushing while they were putting my IV in! (which hurt and I'm glad my Dr. just told them not to bother with the other two! She didn't make it to the hospital until after our oldest was born and missed it all!)
Honestly after I did a natural birth once I was looked back a few hours later and said (to myself), "that really wasn't so bad, and I can do that three more times"! And I've done twice more and I'll be doing it one last time come September! ...I tell everyone though if my labours were more than 8 hours long I'd probably sing a different song, lol!

Amber - posted on 02/26/2010

I have watched a couple of documentaries and then have watched the baby story things on tv and honestly I have no idea what I want. I also watched my sister give birth with her last and she had the epi and it was an amazing experience, however her baby girl was pretty small. After everything I have seen and read and this being my first I have pretty much decided that I am going to try and do it naturally, since I don't know what to expect or how long labor is going to last for me, I guess I go in with the best intentions and then go from there. I just hope that whatever I decide the nursing staff is behind me and doesn't try to push interventions too early. I actually have thought a lot about not running to the hospital right away because I dont' want them trying to push me out as fast as they can, I really do want this to go as naturally as possible... I guess I will just have to wait and see...

Erin - posted on 02/26/2010

I'm 26 weeks pregnant now with my first and wanting a natural birth. I'm a little worried as my doctor seems very sceptical about the use of herbs during labor (I am a herbology student) and has told me that "sometimes a woman's uterus just doesn't work" so they have precautionary measures like breaking the water or a slow steady increasing dose of pitocin. This is exactly what I didn't want to hear. So far I've had a very healthy pregnancy and baby is doing marvelous! I have remained active during my pregnancy and am quite excited at the prospect of naturally birthing my baby and really emersing myself in the experience. I have also taken a lot of anthropology and childbirth through history has always fascinated me; I anticipate the whole birthing process to be a rather spirtual experience for me and don't want to be bother needlessly for extra vaginal examines, or getting hooked to IVs despite the fact that I'll be drinking herbal tea through out the birthing process. I would love to have a midwife, or be able to birth in a birthing center, or even just find a doula to be with me at the hospital: sadly I can't really afford any of these options. I'm worried my naturally shy nature will have a hard time standing up for what I want seeing as non of the staff seems open to an alternative birth, and even family members seem to think I'm weird for not taking meds as early as possible. Just saying that I planned to birth squatting seemed weird enough for the family, I haven't even wanted to mention I plan to use meditation. Bah! I just wish I could be left alone, with maybe someone hanging out in the room to make sure everything goes smoothly. Sorry I needed that rant, this topic has been on my mind and bothering me lately. I may need to look for a new doctor...

Natalie - posted on 02/25/2010

I wanted a natural birth with my 1st but i was only 4cm when i got to the hospital and the gave me pitocin and the labor was soon unmanageable. I had a 12 hour labor, 9 out of that in the hospital and after about 3 hours on pictocin i couldn't take it anymore so i asked for an epidural and you know what? It was the best thing for ME. I went to the hospital at midnight so i was already up for almost a whole day and when i had that epi i could finally calm down, enjoy the birthing process and get a nap in to get some energy for the pushing.
I do not regret it and i never will.
With my 2nd i wanted an Epi form the start BUT my labor was too fast. 2 hours at home 40 minutes in the hospital and she was born. No time for any pain meds and not even an IV for fluids so i did it without anything and i am also glad i did.
I had 2 completely different births and i wouldn't change it for the world
Just b/c you have an epidural doesn't mean you don't have control over your body. You very much do, you can move your legs but you just can't feel the pain which i think is a good thing.

Now i'm pregnant with my 3rd and last and if this labor is so fast again i won't have a problem delivering all natural again. I gotta agree, the recovery time was much less and i had more energy since i wasn't up for 26 hours prior to giving birth. My daughter was born shortly after noon
BUT if this labor drags again and i can't take it anymore i will ask for an epidural. Heck, if they had to induce me i will tell them from the start they better get that epi ready...

Anyways, natural birth is not for everyone and each woman should make the decision that is best for her and her baby. No way is wrong.

Lisa - posted on 02/25/2010

Hi Katherine,
I am a mom of four and 39 weeks with our fifth and I have had all natural births with no pain meds at all...it is the best like you said you have complete control of your body and your recovery is great too..I also have very fast labors my 1st was 4hrs and my 2nd 1 1/2 3rd 45 mns 4th 1 hr and this one more then likely just as fast LOL at least I hope so .... your body is made to have babies hope you have a great birth and a healthy baby =)

Jessica - posted on 02/25/2010

I'm planning another homebirth! Loved it the first time, and plan on loving it this time too!