How hard is Natural Childbirth?

Good question!! I am interested in this one myself. Pregnant with #3 and thinking about going all natural this time….

Going to pop popcorn and read!

It hurts like a mofo…

But I have heard the pushing takes way less time because you can feel it and be more active in it.

It’s not the pushing part that hurts, it’s the contractions (labor) that hurts.

What helped duringm y labor was just deep breathing (in for 4, out for 4) while focusing on a point in space. For me this was the design on the dad’s Tshirt. Heh heh. Also to have a woman who has gone through it to apply pressure (steady) on your lower back) when you ask, because they will remember sort of how it felt and intuitively know what you want… I had my mom there. Way more help than the man but it was nice having him there too.

CONGRATS
BEST OF LUCK

Yes is hurts, but right when you feel it to be unbearable, you will deliver and then it will be DONE.

i did not have medication with my daughter. nothing can prepare for the pain. when you get to the point to where you feel like you cant do it you have to realize that is the worst pain you will feel and that means its getting near the end. and when you push amazingly it feels a little better when you push cause your not fighting trying not to push. i would not have medicine just i know what it feels like without it. good luck to you!

My 1st son was born naturally. I had an epidural, but it had worn off because I got it too early in the labor. It was HORRIBLE. Of course, I wasn’t trained to do the breathing and focusing and all that they teach you about in birthing classes. I had every intention of going with the epidural and feeling no pain. With my 2nd son, I went into labor and labored at home until I was 8 cm and then went to the hospital for my epidural. The labor was VERY painful and the only reason I waited so long to get to the hospital was because my stubborn husband refused to get out of bed…. (He is NOT going to do that to me this time, lol) I fully plan on doing things the same way as with my last son, with this baby. I would like to labor on my own as long as I can stand it, but I do need that epidural so that I can relax more and actually enjoy the birth. So, I guess if you put my 1st and 2nd experiences together, you have a full on natural childbirth and it was every bit as painful as I thought it could possibly be and maybe more.

first of all everbody copes with pain differently so you never know what it will be like and every pregnancy is different,
i did have gas and air but not much just wanted to share my experience with you, anyway didnt have much of that as it was getting in the way having to hold it and was making me dizzy, everbody thought i was going to suffer a bad labour as im only 4ft 10 n size 6 beforehand but i managed at home till i was 8 cm dilated when i got to hospital,
i thought the crowning would be the worst part but by that stage you just want your baby in your arms so you pretty much forget about the pain i did tear and have an episiotomy though and was not having any gas and air by this point before i bore you im just gona say good luck n hope it all goes well

Hi I am an OB nurse and only 2% of our patients get epidurals we are more hippy on the north coast of california and natural child birth is big!
I had my son completely natural and the contractions were painful and you just breath with them
My second my water broke labor didn’t come and i needed pitocin (the medicine to make you have contractions) it was AWFUL AND IT HURTS THE CONTRACTIONS DON’T GO AWAY I was completely in your mind frame no nothing well I got one shot of pain meds and she came 15 minutes later I couldn’t relax and was stress but the meds just let my pelvis relax!
anywyas don’t have to much of a plan because you never know the cicumstance

It’s wonderful that you want to have natural childbirth. Women have been doing if for a very long time! I have 6 children and the first 4 were born naturally and without medication. I guess for me, the question isn’t “Was it bad?” because ‘bad’ isn’t the right word. Birth isn’t bad, it’s wonderful. But, natural childbirth can be painful. The thing is that in childbirth, pain isn’t bad, it’s natural and normal. The muscles are contracting and working hard.

Sometimes it helps to think about it like running a long distance race. You’ve been running for awhile (the early stages of labour) and you’re sore and sweaty and your muscles hurt, but you know you can keep going. Then you hit a hill. It’s a big one. It’s steep and as you start up it, you realize that it’s going to be tough to get to the top-but you know that you can! You don’t know you can make it because you’re not in pain, or because it’s easy, but because 1-you’re body is doing what you’ve been in training to do and you can trust that…and 2-because you want to get to the top and down the other side really badly!

Just before you’ll get to the pushing stage of your labour and delivery, the contractions get very strong. It’s called transition because it’s the time when you’re in transition between the work your muscles are doing to open your cervix the final few centimetres, and the time when you’re muscles are going to help push your baby out.The contractions are longer and stronger and the rest time in between becomes shorter. It’s a very tough time, like being on the steepest part of the hill. Thankfully, that time doesn’t usually last very long (my transitions were about 1 hour).

And on the other side of this huge hill is a baby-the very best prize you could ever have!

There were a few things that helped me.
1-I had a breathing coach who stayed with me from start to finish. For 3 out of 4 of the births, it wasn’t my husband-he got relegated to pushing on my lower back to relieve my back discomfort! Practice your breathing and make sure you have someone with you to remind you to breathe. That person doesn’t necessarily have to breathe with you (they might hyperventilate) but they do need to be able to pick up the cues that a contraction is starting and help you get into your rhythm before the pain hits. It’s hard to breathe well once you’re in pain.
2-I walked around a lot. My most comfortable position up to transition was standing up and leaning slightly forward (on a person or chair or benchtop) during the contractions. Once transition hit, I had to lie down and I stayed on my side, because that was the most comfortable position for me.
3-My husband and I talked before hand. I didn’t like being touched during my contractions- not by my husband, my coach, the midwife or a doctor- so my support people made sure that no one touched me during contractions. Doctors/nurses, whoever waited until I was ready- and I had a minimum number of internal examinations.
4-I occasionally tried other positions, pillows propping me up, whatever. However terrible it feels in that position, remember you can always change it. Some woman like to labor on all fours (not me). Others squat in a position supported by pillows.

Just to let you know- I laboured naturally with my fifth child, but needed an epidural and emergency c-section because she was so big (11 pounds). My 6th was even bigger and so we opted for a C-section and I didn’t labour at all.

At the end of the day, it’s better for you and for the baby to have a natural childbirth. On the other hand, it’s also important that you keep tucked in the back of your mind that the most important thing is a healthy mom and baby, so if medical intervention becomes necessary, that’s just you being a good parent, wanting what’s best for your wee one!

I wish you all the best! God bless you!