the question is: What can I do to prepare myself for natural childbirth–mentally and physically.?
ByI am 21 wks pregnant with my 1st child, and the (obvious) issue on my mind is childbirth. I really would ideally like to have a natural childbirth. It seems like every time I mention this to someone they roll their eyes and laugh at me while offering a snide remark about how I will be begging for an epidural. I think that’s why I am so interested in having a natural birth–because so many people tell me I can’t do it(I am stubborn). Also, am I crazy to want to do this when there are far less painful ways to deliver?
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10 Comments
February 19th, 2010 at 4:58 am
You’ll know when the time comes whether or not you can handle natural. I didn’t, but I also had horrible back labor, he dropped right on my tail bone. I was talking to my friends mom yesterday and she said “push the pain out” while pushing. She said thats how she made it thru all three of her deliveries without meds. I think in order to do the natural thing you need to have a strong sense of inner peace and calmness. Good luck, if you do give in don’t feel like a failure, labor is not easy.
February 19th, 2010 at 5:38 am
I have 8 children, 2 c-sec and 6 natural. It was the most wonderful experience. I wouldn’t change a thing. Stick to your guns and don’t let the sissies talk you out of it. By the way, I’m going to get slammed for calling them sissies!
February 19th, 2010 at 6:26 am
you can do it, or you can get meds as for preparing there isnt much to prepare you just wait till the doc says push and push thats it. It is very painfull but it is deffinately not too painfull to do naturally. I had IV meds with both of mine and was fine…but if you want natural go for it.
February 19th, 2010 at 6:41 am
Take a childbirth class. You’ll learn about dealing with the pain, as well as what to expect in labor. Lots of times, if you’re educated, you won’t be so frightened and you’ll know what’s going on. It can make it easier to get through without pain meds.
You should also learn about the pain meds, too. You just may find that its too much pain for you to take, and there is nothing wrong with getting a bit of help. The best labors are the ones where the moms are really educated and prepared for everything as best they can.
I don’t think you’re crazy to want to go natural. There are a lot of us out there that are hoping to stay drug-free during the delivery. We all have our own personal reasons, no different from the women who are getting the epidurals, IVs, etc. We just do what’s best for US and our babies. That’s all that matters.
February 19th, 2010 at 7:38 am
YOU ARE NOT CRAZY!!! you are doing something wonderful for both you and your baby! i’m 20 weeks and doing the same thing.
first it is SO IMPORTANT for you to have a doctor that supports natural drug free childbirth. (like the bradley method) my first doctor didn’t and i had to switch because she was very dismissive of it as an effective way to have a baby.
second is to be sure you will be having the baby at a hospital that is supportive of doing things naturally (if they insist that you be bed bound as soon as you are admitted they likely will not be a good hospital for you. we are actually having to pay out of pocket to have the baby at the hospital that is best for us (i work for a hospital and they are SO mother un friendly)
third SURROUND yourself with people who are supportive of your decision! your body is not a lemon!! God designed your body specifically for childbirth!!!
fourth take a good class, don’t attempt to do it without any practice or training because it does take a certain skill to give birth naturally with minimal pain. (the bradley method or hypnobirthing are the two most popular)
fifth read TONS of books that are pro natural childbirth. my favorites so far are “ina may’s guide to childbirth” which has natural childbirth stories and statistics about how invasive today’s obstetric medicine is. “the thinking woman’s guide to a better birth” and “the husband coached birth”
i am also about to read “spiritual midwifery”
good luck!!!
February 19th, 2010 at 8:18 am
u do it girl I did it natual last yr at this time ( mines almost 1!) if you want to email please do sillynicoleh@yahoo.com
belieeve me you can do it .. ! please send the same to me i was even cut to get herout ( they give you a shot to rub ya if that happens) and was in labor for 14 hrs and still did it
February 19th, 2010 at 8:32 am
Clearly, you don’t have supportive people around you. I was in labor for 23 hours with a very nasty staff of nurses and it was hell, but I didn’t need any drugs.
My suggestion is to join a Yahoo!Group that focuses on natural childbirth. You’ll have lots of supportive women who have gone through the experience and who can give you tips. I would add that I recently read that the number of women having epidurals today is actually down significantly. Guess others agree with you! My only tip is to not rush to the hospital. Drink sips of water, eat small snacks. If you are not too far from your hospital, wait until your contractions are 4 minutes apart and REGULAR. If you have a medical problem that could interfere with this (such as high blood pressure, group B strep, etc.) consider hiring a doula. The hospital my Mom works at provides them for free because it dramatically lowered the c-section rate. In most hospitals, nurses are very unsupportive of natural birth and will constantly rag on you to about having an epidural. There is a point where it does help (you are exhausted and need rest), but that’s a different story.
February 19th, 2010 at 9:19 am
It is so hard to tell how you are going to react to labor.
But when I got a contraction I mentally told myself “just ride the wave” The contractions are going to hurt, but once one is over you will never get that one again! One by one you are getting closer you holding your beautiful baby in your arms. If you need a break, check out the options. You don’t have to get an epidural, there are other drugs just might do the trick for you! Understand it is YOUR labor! You decide what is right and you follow your heart. Actually labor was totally different than what I imaged. It was long and hard, but I am ready for #2! Are we women crazy or what! Good luck!
February 19th, 2010 at 9:23 am
ok I thought the same thing and I ended up with everything under the son but I had some complications such as another cervical band behind my cervix was open that they broke manually which was like murder but nessesary if I wanted to deliver naturally.
Some things you can do is wait to go to the hospital, until your contrations are very close together. Find a doctor and hospital that respect your decision to go natural. Try walking during contraction and even getting into the bath tub,
I would look online for more advice but always consult your doctor and have a back up plan. So that if things go wrong or the pain is too much than you know what to expect. The main goal is to have a healthy baby.
I have a very high tolerance for pain and really get sick with medication, I take it very minimally. SO when I had to junk my NO MEDS plan it was very hurtful I felt like a failure. but after 49 hours in labor I was just so happy to have my son happy and healthy.
February 19th, 2010 at 10:13 am
Your not crazy you are a strong woman. I had 3 natural no pain meds I am pregnant with my 4th and will do the same. Don’t listen to anyone making rude comments about you because they couldn’t handle it. You can do and live through it. I will hurt but it will be the best thing you have ever done. I didn’t take any classes but you can to help you get ready. What I did was tell myself I was going to get through it, laid on my side, gripped the arm rail, and breathed in and out slowly. In through the nose out through the mouth. Don’t yell or scream it’s waisted energy. You can moan and move around. Try laying in different positions or walking. The nurses will be bugging……Are you SURE you don’t the meds??…they will ask a million times…you can do it without them. There is a point will you will want to scream for the meds but breathe through it and before you know it you will be pushing. It’s better with no meds because you can tell what’s going on. You can feel your body trying to push and when the head comes out they tell you to stop pushing so they can suction the babies mouth. Your body will still try to push so to stop yourself from pushing (because you will want to) Take quick breathes in and out and hum so that your belly doesn’t contract and push. Because they have to turn the babies shoulders and if you push you might tear. Then when he says…..push….and the baby will be out. Then you can go back and say SEE I told you I could do it.