What is natural childbirth REALLY like?
ByFrom anyone who has gone through a natural childbirth… what was the most difficult part? What helped you the most? What is something you know now that you wish you knew beforehand? Does perinneal massage work? Is 38 weeks pregnant too late to start doing it?
Just trying to gather all the information possible so that I can try to give birth w/o any drugs.
We took the childbirth classes and learned different positions, breathing techniques and massage. I’m just worried that’s not enough! I’m against getting an epidural b/c we had a client who ended up paralyzed when the Doc didn’t do it right. I know that’s rare – but its still a fear of mine.
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22 Comments
February 17th, 2010 at 10:27 pm
Take the drugs.
February 17th, 2010 at 11:09 pm
It is very painful, and u will need pain meds, and i would think its to late to get the massage, at least i would think, but good luck
February 17th, 2010 at 11:44 pm
well i tried my child birth natural, i did 17.5/20.5 hours natural, it hurts very badly, i gave in an had an epidural.
looking back on it, i wish i would have pushed threw the pain and went threw it all natural. but i chickened out,lol.
i think if you keep your mind frame right during labor, you will be able to do it!
good luck!
February 18th, 2010 at 12:20 am
I gave birth totally drug free I had more discomfort than pain. If you have someone to be there with you to talk to you and help you through you can get through it easily.
Good Luck
February 18th, 2010 at 1:17 am
I wasn’t able to have any drugs, my white cell count was too high. It was the most painful thing I have ever experience in my life. I am not trying to scare you, but it does hurt. I also know now that even though it was very painful, when I have another child I will not use any drugs. There is something special about all natural child birth. Once that baby is out you forget all of the pain you were in. It is magical.
February 18th, 2010 at 2:12 am
its like dying over and over again i was in labor for about 3 days before i had an emergency c section the contractions are like someone ripping out your gutz. but i dont mean to scare u after your baby comes into the world you will forget all about the pain. yes massage help to srengthen your muscles to push the baby out. i think i would admire any woman i knew who could go without an epidural.
go for it if you like natural is the best way afterall
February 18th, 2010 at 2:52 am
I have had four natural births, using the Bradley method. It is actually a wonderful experience. I feel sorry for people who have not had it. I felt like my husband was missing out. Perinneal massage really does work. It should be started at 34 weeks, so you need to get busy. I did have stitches with my first one, but it was because of fetal distress and they had to hurry and get her out. I did not have stitches with the other three. I was not even sore after the last one. Actually the most difficult part is the postpartum. I had several complications after an easy birth. I recommend the book, Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way.
February 18th, 2010 at 3:25 am
Picture trying to poop a bowling ball.
February 18th, 2010 at 3:26 am
http://www.thebusinessofbeingborn.com/
Here is an awesome documentary I rented that helped me make the decision to go natural when delivering my son in December. I chose to go with a doula as labor support (along with my hubby), and deliver in a birthing center as opposed to a hospital.
You should start perinnial message b/w weeks34 and 36, but it’s never to late to start, especially when you could end up beng a little overdue anyway! Good luck with your decision!
February 18th, 2010 at 3:28 am
Natural childbirth is a good thing for those who have a high pain tolerance. It is not right for everyone. I gave birth to two children naturally. I feel like things went smoother and faster i felt well after wards and i wasnt confined to bed while in labor i could walk while in labor i think things progressed faster that way. and I wasnt confined to bed after delivery until the epidural wore off. I was able to get up and walk right after. I have a high pain tolerance and smiled and played cards with my husband most of the way through.The midwifes and nurses all thought i was crazy lol. It is uncomfortable but the pain doesnt last forever. I just kept telling myself just a few more minutes and it will be over and it was. I didnt try the perineal massage.
February 18th, 2010 at 4:18 am
I’ll probably get a lot of thumbs down but I went natural on my first and epidural on my second. The was nothing that helped for the pain going natural. With the epi I felt nothing. Both of my children are good students. It’s all the same in the end. My advise take the drugs…don’t go through the torture! It’s all the same in the end.
February 18th, 2010 at 4:59 am
Take the drugs haha! Just think who is going to say OMG she delivered natural and applaud you….Not trying to be rude at all…..and your kid is never going to thank you for all the pain you went through….you can always go into the hospital thinking I will do it natural and then change your mind but you have a very short window when they offer so choose wisely! Good luck! and Congrats!
February 18th, 2010 at 5:31 am
ever broke and arm, leg, finger, toe, or been punched real hard in the stomach? that a light pat compared to child birth. or so i’ve been told. i always had the epidural, i have a very low tolerance for pain.
February 18th, 2010 at 5:49 am
I had my second child without any drugs.
For me I found walking around a good distraction and it also helps bear the baby down at the same time. When it started to really hurt I had a warm shower and amazingly it numbed the pain considerably.
From then until baby was born concentrating on my breathing was the main thing. Just keep in mind that the pain isnt going to last forever and as soon as baby is born it all stops.
For me the best thing about it was i didnt feel restricted afterwards just been able to get on your feet straight away and have a shower made me feel great and of course my son didn’t have any drugs in his system either.
February 18th, 2010 at 6:07 am
God I hope this baby isn’t your first, because some of these comments are downright scary!
First of all, it’s different for everyone. If you have a higher tolerance for pain like I do, it might not be that bad. I honestly remember thinking that while I was in labor. I did have Nubain, but that drug does not really do anything for pain, as the nurse informed me. LOL I’ve heard women say it sort of makes you not care about the pain, which is how I’d describe it. So while not TOTALLY drug free, it certainly didn’t help with the pain, in that respect.
It’s probably too late for perineal massage, but you can try it anyway. I asked about it while trying to push, LOL and the midwife was like, “Umm, it’s too late for that.” LOL Oh well.
For me the most difficult thing was pushing. At first I wasn’t sure what to do because it seemed so foreign – it’s not the same thing as having a bowel movement. I think it was hard for her to come out because I never had the urge to push, strangely. I don’t know if that was the Nubain or what, but when they told me to push I just did because they told me to. I never felt like I had to. So if I could change one thing, that would be it – listening more to my body than to what they think I should do just because I’m 10 cm and ready to go.
Changing positions and walking around REALLY helps. You can have a focal point or just take your mind off the pain, and sometimes it will alleviate the pressure, especially if you’re having back labor. You might be able to try a hot shower, hot tub, whatever – even if you can’t get out of bed try to move around some. A birthing ball might also help.
One thing I recommend is not getting to the hospital too soon. Do a google search on “signs of labor” and you’ll feel more ready to come at your own pace instead of showing up six hours early and having them stick you full of IV’s. I labored at home for four hours and got there when I started feeling sick (which was probably transition) – I was 7-8 cm when i got there and delivered three hours later. Even if you just get to the hospital and walk around but don’t go up to OB, you can still buy yourself some time before they ‘put you on the clock’ and want to speed up your labor.
February 18th, 2010 at 6:56 am
I delivered my son naturally. I won’t lie, it was very painful, but sooo worth it in the end. I calmed myself by focusing on my nurse’s voice (she had a very soft, soothing voice). I also hugged my husband or mother during the more intense part of each contraction.
Once that baby comes out though.. it is so worth it. The pain is gone instantly, and you are able to walk right away. Recovery was very smooth, even though I had a lot of stitches (my son was born quickly – labour only lasted 3 1/2 hours).
My doctor also commented on how alert my son was after he was born. Often the drugs can make newborns very sleepy shortly after birth, and this can affect your start at breastfeeding.
February 18th, 2010 at 7:12 am
Well im only 19 years old. I’m a mother of a 13 month old daughter. And my experience of going through labor was the best, i was in no pains. Ofcourse i took epidural..lol. i think that pushing was kinda DIFFICULT at the end cause my contractions wore like 15seconds apart. But i pushed in 30mins and my daughter was 8lbs and 3oz. The best thing that helped me was my boyfriend/daughters father being there to support me.rubbing my feet and holding my hands. You’ll be fine just breath a lot if you’re trying to give birth normally with no drugs. Well good luck. =]
February 18th, 2010 at 7:25 am
I was 18 when I got pregnant and 19 when I had her I decided the minute that I found out I was pregnant that I was going to go all natural. I really wanted a home birth but it was not an option. I started researching anything and everything I could. What I ended up doing was taking Evening Primrose Oil Capsules and Red Raspberry Leaf Capsules. The EPO will Prepare your cervix, and the RRL will prepare your uterus. Both are sold at earbal stores although I know that the EPO is sold at wal mart. I took two of the EPO twice a day and 2 of the RRL 3 times a day (per a friend who is a midwife) they will not hurt you!!! Do some research on them if you want but I definitely recomend them. I got to the hospital at 8:30 on my due date and my contractions were 2 minutes apart, but they werent that bad so I didnt really believe I was in labor. They checked me and I was 8 cm dilated I started pushing about an hour and a half later, I pushed for 15 minutes and she was out. I will not lie to you the pain is intense. Is it horrible, I wouldnt go so far as to say that. But yes when she was crowning I wanted to give up because it burns, but my mother held ice cubes to my lower back and it gave me something else to concentrate on. Also I had her in a squating position. so that made it a little easier too. To those that say that you forget about the pain once its done, thats true and not true. Its not that you see your child and you are so over joyed that you forget about the pain. Litterally once the baby comes out the pain is done, for the most part, your body has done what it needed to do. Even now, I feel like I was there, I dont feel like I went through it if that makes sense. I did tear in two small places but I was up and walking 15 min after they stitched me up. I would do it the same way every day. and not change a thing. My advice is to look in to those two herbs, do not go to the hospital until you absolutely have to, I left at 4 minutes apart and within 30 minutes I was at 2 minutes apart, and also make a birth plan. I have a 3 page plan on file and I had 3 extras in case someone lost one. I didnt have an iv or anything and told them not to even mention the word drugs to me, because i knew that if they were offered I would probably take them! Its a very rewarding and amazing thing to experience everything about your childs birth. I know this was long winded but I just wanted you to know that it is possible!! Oh yeh I never did any perineal massage either. Feel free to email me with any questions or if you just wanna talk!!
February 18th, 2010 at 8:07 am
i have had 2 natural childbirths and its really not that bad especially if you think of what the result is….a baby. i didnt take any drugs because i am afraid of needles big time! as long as you dont make yourself think to much about the pain or keep it in your mind it wont be that bad just concentrate on something that makes you feel good that helped and yeah it still hurts but not as bas as people make it sound. and no i didnt wanna know about how bad it would hurt before cause then i would have made myself believe that it WAS going to hurt. i would have to say that really the worst part is the contractions as you get closer but it is more being uncomfortable than hurt. im sure that you will do alright and congrats besides when you get a look at that new addition all the pain you had all goes away and how much pain you had doesnt matter cause you have just brought a new life into the world and that is a great joy and makes it worth it all!
February 18th, 2010 at 8:50 am
i hate to say it but im with the guy who made the bowling ball comment. i felt like a watermelon was coming out my rear.
February 18th, 2010 at 8:51 am
I guess everyone is different regarding how painful childbirth is. For some it is an unbearable pain and for others it isn’t quite that bad (for those who didn’t have to much pain I’m jealous lol)
I did have a natural childbirth with one of my kids. It was almost unbearable. It wasn’t so much of the pushing that was unbearable it was the contractions that got me to the 10 cm mark that were. Once you area able to start pushing I think the pain helps you push harder. You want to get that baby out something awful by then
February 18th, 2010 at 9:03 am
Do know im a man both my daughters were born by surgery