I want to have a natural childbirth…?

It is nice to want it but don’t count on it. I wanted one too and needed a c-section. It’s good to ask this question but don’t be disappointed. Good luck!

I wanted natural childbirth but way back in 1969 and 1973 they just didn’t believe in that thing.

My daughter has four children and had natural childbirth with all. It was beautiful. The older children and I watched the next child be born.

My daughter went to a midwife at a birthing center that was covered by her insurance at the time. They instructed her and also gave her books to read and she met with other moms to be and the counselors.

My daughter had easier births and so did I. Some women tell horror stories and as above sometimes for the sake of the mom and baby, it has to be surgical. You can find out as you go along. A birthing center will tell you in advance if you are going to have problems, such as you are too small in the hips for the baby you are carrying. They also have emergency equipment and are ready to rush you to the hospital if it becomes necessary. I hope you plan to breast feed too. It’s a wonderful bonding experience for both. Both my daughter and I did. My daughter-in-law didn’t have any interest in natural birth or breast feeding. Alex is still a doll, even w/o the benefit of natural birth or breast feeding.

I was born in 1971 and my mom had me natural and my brother too, in 1973.

I had natural childbirth with all five of my children and it was great! OK… a bit painful… but it didn’t seem all that bad afterwards. I forgot the pain almost immediately. Except on the last one, I had my tubes tied and that hurt worse than labor and delivery!!!

I never took any classes, and wished I could have. I was looking for a class for my daughter, she is due in October and this is her first!

I would go with natural childbirth with the exception of an emergency resulting in a c-section.

C-sections take longer to heal, the hospital stay is longer and you may not be able to have natural childbirth with later children. (VBAC).

But don’t be afraid to ask for pain medications to help with the pain of labor. I had a Demerol drip with the last one (before the tube tying) during labor… My labor had to be induced because it wouldn’t start back up after my water broke. The back pain was very strong and I asked for pain relief, without losing any feeling.

Wish you the best of luck!

DO NOT take a hospital class. Find an independent childbirth instructor instead. Hospital classes teach you to be a good patient. You want to learn to be a good consumer.

Birthworks, Bradley or Birthing from Within classes are all good.

Consider hiring a doula. Some hospitals even provide one for free. She will support you through labor and give you suggestions for what to do to cope. She’ll give your partner ideas how he can help and support you.

Talk to your caregiver about your wishes prior to labor. Write a birthplan that discusses what you want and what you hope to avoid. Have your caregiver sign off and put it into your file.

Consider using a midwife instead of a doctor. Midwives will spend more time with you at prenatal appoinments than a doc. (30 mins to an hour is AVERAGE with a MW – that’s time WITH her, not waiting on her!) Midwives will be with you and support you through the birth, not just show up to catch. A midwife is experienced with supporting mothers who want an unmedicated birth.

Deep, relaxed breathing can help but DO NOT just rely on breathing techniques!

Stay active in labor. Walk, squat, rock in a rocking chair, take a shower, hang out in a labor tub, use a birth ball, have your partner do counterpressure on your back. Ask to be allowed to choose your own positions to push in. DO NOT push flat on your back as this is the WORST position for birthing a baby!

Consider having a waterbirth. The water is so relaxing! Two of mine were waterbirths and it REALLY helps you to relax and takes away a lot of the discomfort. Some people call it an “aquadural” because it helps so much!

Read a lot. Check out the following books:

The Birth Book by Dr. Sears
The Birth Partner by Simkin
Birthing From Within by England
Choosing Waterbirth by Bertram (sp?)
Husband Coached Childbirth by Dr. Bradley

Well I was a weenie with my 1st and had an epidural. I wish I wouldn’t have had 1 b/c they gave me too much and it went into my lungs. Dr said if I pushed I could stop breathing. So I went 2 hours in so much pain b/c they wouldn’t let me push. I was gonna do natual birth with my next child, but I had him by emergency c section at 29 weeks and my last baby I had a repeat section. So, I never got to do that. Goodluck to you! I agree with the person that said anything can happen and don’t be disappointed.