Natural birth...

• 11-07-2009 1:36 PM

  ShaTerra 1690568 Joined on 09-11-2006 Fairborn, OH Posts 231

  Natural birth... Reply Contact So I'm thinking about being bold and trying for a natural birth (as long as all goes well of course). No drugs or anything. With my first son I had to be induced so got an epidural and I tore regardless of the fact that I was doing kegels the whole time. Hoping to avoid tearing this time. Can I get any tips from the moms that have done no drugs to help me make it all the way?

• 11-07-2009 4:04 PM

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  Cookiethief2 Joined on 12-18-2006 #1 5/17/06 #2 6/11/07 #3 12/18/09 Posts 1,007

  Re: Natural birth... Reply Contact I haven't done it completely med free, yet, but I did make it through 2 days of on/off false labor and about 11 hours of a 14 hour labor without anything.  At the end, I'd had nubaine and phenergan, slept for a couple hours, and then had a paracervical block(a gel they apply to the cervix) that got me through 8-10(about 15 minutes) and an hour of pushing.  I am hoping to go 100% no meds this time, but we'll see what happens.  I've been reading and somewhat practicing the hypnobirthing way of pain management and I plan to stay out of the bed for the most part, sit on my ball, use the shower/tub...and just try to keep in mind that my body was made to do this and if I just let it do it...it shouldn't hurt so much(hypnobirthing).

• 11-07-2009 6:31 PM

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  3boysandagirl Joined on 11-02-2008 Posts 126

  Re: Natural birth... Reply Contact well it is all in your frame of mind,and how well you can deal with the pain of it all..and trust me it is VERY hard to do this..all I did was take it one contraction at a time..not think about what was next...find your "happy"place...as for tearing,I do evry time..this is baby number five for me...my problem is they come out to fast when I push..if you can do slow easy pushes at the end and let yourself stretch a bit before pushing the baby out that will help...good luck! I never say I am planning a natueral birth..I just always go to the hospital to late to get any pain releif...lol..that may work for you too!

• 11-07-2009 6:42 PM

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  ShaTerra 1690568 Joined on 09-11-2006 Fairborn, OH Posts 231	Re: Natural birth... Reply Contact thats very helpful lol. i will try that along w/ the birthing ball technique. i want to test my threshold and hopefully i get thru the whole way w/ no meds and hopefully not tearing. *fingers crossed*

• 11-08-2009 8:49 AM

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  Cookiethief2 Joined on 12-18-2006 #1 5/17/06 #2 6/11/07 #3 12/18/09 Posts 1,007

  Re: Natural birth... Reply Contact 3boysandagirl: well it is all in your frame of mind,and how well you can deal with the pain of it all..and trust me it is VERY hard to do this..all I did was take it one contraction at a time..not think about what was next...find your "happy"place...as for tearing,I do evry time..this is baby number five for me...my problem is they come out to fast when I push..if you can do slow easy pushes at the end and let yourself stretch a bit before pushing the baby out that will help...good luck! I never say I am planning a natueral birth..I just always go to the hospital to late to get any pain releif...lol..that may work for you too! I also tore with my vaginal birth. I pushed for an hour and still tore. This time, I'm hoping to let my body lead and therefore help decrease the risk of tearing.  You can also do some stretching of the vaginal walls(Do a google search for the proper technique!) which will help decrease tearing as well.  I am also planning on staying home as long as absolutely possible. Hopefully by the time I get to the hospital, I won't have time for meds! :P  The first time, i went in way too early, but I'd been in false labor for 2 days and true labor for about 5 hours before getting to the hospital. I wish I'd have stayed home longer because I could have as the contractions weren't unbearable yet. Once admitted to the hospital and out of my "comfort zone" they became unbearable alot quicker than, I believe, they would have if I'd stayed at home.

• 11-08-2009 11:58 AM

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  Mommy-Megan Joined on 08-21-2006 Renton, WA Posts 184

  Re: Natural birth... Reply Contact I have a ruptured disc in my spine, and SPD... They don't want to give me an epidural because they're concerned about me doing permanant damage to me back or pelvis and not knowing it until after... I am SCARED. I had an epidural with my first, but it wore off about the time I got to an eight, and they told me it was too late to have another one. I made it through that... Fingers crossed, I'll be able to do this!

• 11-08-2009 11:45 PM

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  anglkisses98 Joined on 04-06-2004 Stockton, CA 3 girls+1 boy+ a girl due 12/10/09 Posts 319

  Re: Natural birth... Reply Contact I had an epidural with my first three and went without for my last, I may not be able to get one this time either because of the blood thinner I'm on. I did use an IV drug that lasted about 45 min and caved for an intrathecal (similar to an epidural) when I was complete. It hadn't had a chance to kick in. I think the only reason I made it as far as I did and the reason I hopefully will with this one is because I know my contractions don't hurt much until my water is broken and then it's only about 2 hours until I'm complete. I also push my babies out within 3 pushes and my last was 9.5lbs. I tore quite a bit with my first who was 1.5lbs smaller than my next two and I didn't with my last three. I pushed for 45 min with the first and they were out very quickly with my last, I didn't do anything differently, I don't know what the difference was but WOW what a difference in recovery! I hope I don't tear this time either. I don't think I could make it if I had long painful labors, but I think a pp is right it's a matter of how you deal with pain and your mental state. Good luck with getting what you want!

• 11-09-2009 9:11 AM

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  ShaTerra 1690568 Joined on 09-11-2006 Fairborn, OH Posts 231

  Re: Natural birth... Reply Contact Yeah I went to my 37 wk appt today and the dr said she had a natural birth before and she still tore. She said she'd never recommend a natural birth but she gives compliments to those that can/do. She said basically if you're gonna tear, you're gonna tear. So I just have to decide once the contractions start getting intense I guess. Thanks girls for the advice. Its really helped me know what to expect.

• 11-09-2009 9:11 AM

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  CJ3 Joined on 12-12-2007 Posts 348

  Re: Natural birth... Reply Contact Well I practically had 2 natural births....but definitely my last one was. My 1st natural I got an epidural as I was pushing...so that one I kinda count. My last child was ALL NATURAL!!!! I got to the hospital at a 9 and was told I have no time for an epi. You can do it, I won't say it's easy, but it is possible. :) I learned that between contractions I could actually relax and breathe and be okay and as long as I took those rests it made it easier and faster to get through the pushing. If that made sense? Also, if you can get through the burning part where the baby is crowning( and the shakes, which I got with one child...that was weird).....you'll be able to do it! I think that part was worse than the actual final labor, because after baby crowns you do go somewhat numb down there, and what you feel is the contractions either in your abdomen or your back (wherever you get your labor pains) Mine were in the front, I don't have back labors. I'm planning on natural again, even though it is still fresh in my mind only 15.5 months ago. :) Maybe this one will just slide out, right???? LOL :)

• 11-09-2009 10:21 AM

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  Jaime53005 Joined on 12-28-2005 maine Chase5/21/06 Maggie 2/15/08 due 12/22/09 Posts 93

  Re: Natural birth... Reply Contact i had a natural birth with both my kids. My first I had to be induced,my water broke at 36 weeks with no contrations. 8 hrs of pitocin was no fun!my daughter was fast and easy. I made sure that all the birthing staff were aware not to even mention pain control, and my family was super supportive of my decision. I believe that this pain is for a purpose. I am not saying it was easy, but i felt it was worth it. I wouldn't have it any other way.

• 11-09-2009 10:40 AM

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  mandbro Joined on 12-09-2007 Ryan 07-24-2008, baby #2 due 12-15-2009 Posts 364

  Re: Natural birth... Reply Contact In my heart I really would like to have a natural birth.  But in my mind, I just know that I won't.  The other night I must have turned over too fast in my sleep and got the worst round ligament pain, I was nearly in tears...it was at that moment that I chuckled and said "Yeah right, like I'm gonna be able to go natural".  The only way that I would probably end up going natural is if they told me it was too late for the epi.  I get novocaine when I go to the dentist, and I get an epidural when I have a baby! I was very fortunate to have a very smooth/uneventful experience with my epidural, I hope that it is the same this time around. ________________________________________________  CJ3: Maybe this one will just slide out, right???? LOL :) hahahaha, that is funny!

• 11-09-2009 5:47 PM

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  Sherrikay Joined on 06-18-2009 Anacortes, WA Posts 322

  Re: Natural birth... Reply Contact MY biggest piece of advice is to get a book called Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn. It was instrumental for me. The key for me throughout my first labor was to tell myself to remember these things: The pain is YOUR PAIN. OWN IT and let it bring you YOUR BABY. the other thing I reminded myself to do was RELAX, and just go with it, because if I started to freak out, I wasn't going to make it through. Trust your body.