For those of you planning a drug-free/natural birth?

Question

What made you decide on a natural birth?

What classes are you taking to prepare?

Have you had a natural birth before?

What methods will you be using to control pain during labor?

Answer 1

i 'planned' a drug free labour.. after 48 hours (around 5 of pushing) i was begging for pethadine, gas.. a C section.. ANYTHING.. but unfortunantly due to complications with my contractions i wasnt allowed pain relief of any kind.. I tried different positions, showers, massage, walking.. nothing really helped.  

A specialist was called in out of bed in the middle of the night to finally get my little girl out because i couldnt physically do it alone.

It's nice to be able to say you want a drug free birth and labour.. but I'm proof that sometimes things just dont go to plan, and it's important to keep an open mind..

Answer 2

when i was 9 my aunt went to a midwife to have her first baby so from a very young age i KNEW that you didn't have to do things the way that everybody else did them. and when i got married and the reality of the fact that we could have a baby hit me i definitely started thinking about all aspects of it, including how i would like for that baby to be born and i knew that i didn't want to do drugs and a hospital and all of the other things that seem so unnatural.

unfortunately even tho i live in one of the largest cities in my state, our state as a whole is very behind on the times and there aren't any midwives within travelling distance from me so having a home or birth center birth is not an option. but i made sure that i found a doctor who is pro natural childbirth and not one to push inductions or c-sections for no reason.

i took the 12 week bradley method course with my husband to help us to prepare and it was wonderful. the bradley method has about an 86% success rate of drug free births which is pretty amazing i think.

this is my first baby so i have NO experience with birth period, but i do have some friends who have done natural childbirth and the girls that were in my bradley class have done it as well so i feel like i can do it.

with bradley they teach deep relaxation, even when you are in pain and it is important to practice it a lot. i probably don't practice as much as i should because my husband and i work shift work and don't see eachother every day but we do practice a few times a week together. it's also just about being confident that you CAN do this.

i have found that reading natural childbirth books has helped me immensely. the ones i think every pregnant woman should read are "the thinking woman's guide to a better birth" which just tells facts about what they are REALLY doing to their bodies and babies.

"ina may's guide to childbirth" which i have read twice

"the husband coached birth" by dr. robert bradley whom the bradley method was named after.

Answer 3

i had a c-section for my first and it sucked so i am trying for a natural one this time hoping to make the experience much better ... no epidural scares me the thought of putting a needle in my back (had to be put out for the c-section for other reasons anyway)  i took pre natal classes for the first pregnancy was not much help so wont' be taking any other classes.  

Answer 4

I had to have a cerclag done when I was 22 weeks.. they gave me a spinal then.. so you feel nothing from the waist down.. it made me nuts.. LITERALLY... I was on the table for 15-20 mintues and then I couldn't stop moving.. it was making me crazy... the feeling of being paralized.. don't want to feel it again.  So I planned to go natural.  

I ended up going into premature labor early with my twins in feb.. so I had no choice but to deliver naturally.. they were very small so i am sure I didn't feel as much pain as those that deliver full term babies.. but I am pregnant again.. 7wks... even thou I have to have a spinal again for the cerclag @ 12wks (making me nuts just thinking about it) .. I plan to go natural for the birth.

Answer 5

In my youth, I had basically assumed that everyone got epidurals.  It wasn't until last year that, while talking my mom, she mentioned that she had my brother and I naturally, and that she really enjoyed the experiences.  That was sort of the catalyst that got me thinking about natural childbirth--if mom could do it, then so could I!  I generally avoid taking medicine unless I really need it, and I do not like the feeling of feeling loopy (which stadols can do) or not being able to move (which the epidural would do).  In my research, I have learned that I would much prefer a mobile borth that allows me to move around to get my baby into position and through the birth canal.

All I have taken for classes is a regular old childbirth class.  There was plenty of information for both medicated and unmedicated births, so I got a good education on the pros and cons of each.  I've also been reading up on natural childbirth in the books given to me by my doctor, as well as reading up online (and Y!A)

This is my first baby.

I plan to use breathing/relaxation techniques in conjunction with moving into positions that naturally seem good to me.  I also am going to be using the "jacuzzi" tub in the hospital room as well as the big laboring tub if I manage to get that particular room (my hospital only has one of the mega-tubs, but every room has the small jacuzzi bathtub).

I'm also trying to stay open-minded about the whole thing.  I would like to enjoy the experience.  I know that the pain may get to be too much, and I don't want to be miserable and upset and exhausted to the point that I resent my baby.  I doubt it'll get to that point, but childbirth is certainly unpredictable!  I've got it planned out in my head, but I'm open to changes if need be.  Thankfully, my hospital and doctor are pro-natural, so I know I'll have the support I need.

Answer 6

I've been blessed.  Two births, no meds.  They come fast!

Answer 7

I have had four Bradley births.  It worked great for me.  I used the total relaxing of the Bradley method.  It works to prevent uterine cramps.

Answer 8

I decided I wanted a natural, drug free birth because of my mother.  She did it twice and said it was the best decision she ever made.  I want to experience EVERY moment of birth, no matter how painful it is.  Childbirth is an experience that women are blessed to be able to go through, so I dont want to miss out.  I may regret it when I am screaming in agony, but I want to know I did it the old fashioned way.  Besides, I have always been pretty good with pain so I think I will be okay.

I am not taking any classes other than the ones offered by the hospital (it's just a day-class) because my friends that have had babies recently tell me the classes are a waste of time.  However, I have been and am planning on reading lots of information on natural childbirth.

This is my first pregnancy ever.

I plan to walk alot during labour, which is another reason I dont want an epidural because you cannot walk with one.  I also plan to use water, whether it be the shower or a bathtub to help with the pain.  I will do whatever helps me at the time with pain management.

Congrats and Good Luck~