Best things to do to prepare for unmedicated birth

[Anonymous]

Vocalizations were something I learned in prenatal yoga class that really helped. Read about that--opening the throat is good. Learn about optimal fetal positioning and try to get the baby in a good place in the final weeks to make things easier. Don't eat too much sugary junk to keep the baby from getting too big. Hiring a doula who will come to your house is helpful. Water--shower or tub--is great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People,stop it with your horror stories. Just. Stop. I had a sunny side up delivery with a TON of back labor. Know what back labor tells you? To change your position, and to apply counter pressure. Yes, back labor does hurt, but you'll be okay. I This was another reason I was glad to be a little bit older when I had my baby. I think some younger women just haven't had much pain in their lives. Yes, it "hurts," but it truly is pain with a purpose. And usually your body feeling pain that you can't manage is one of two things: transition or the need to move around and otherwise make an adjustment. I had two happy hospital births but I will say the hospital environment takes you out of your ability to completely get comfortable - the need to be monitored, presence of other people and disruptions, and even the fact that they'll ask you not to eat (and sometimes not to drink!). All of this interferes with your body's ability to manage the situation and can get into your head. I never took any classes because I don't really like classes. I know that probably seems crazy, but I didn't, and I had a good birth. So my advice:

step one: find a care provider who will be committed to doing what he / she can to help you with your natural birth. they do exist, google these threads for names.
step two: read everything you can get your hands on. Ina May Gaskin's books are required reading - a bit hippied out but filled with information. I also LOVED Penny Simkin's the birth partner. It's for partners, but it really, really was one of the better prep books out there. I also read the birth book by Dr Sears (it was decent, not my fave, but informative) and Husband Coached Childbirth which was odd and patronizing but had some good info on stages (just ignore his weird bits about the position you're supposed to get into because I would have lost my mind in that position).
step three: see if a Bradley coach will let you take a brush up course instead of the long course (again I didn't take any courses but you may prefer to)
step four: consider a doula (I actually did not use one, but most friends who did use one say it was a good move).
step five, and this one is the most important: embrace your contractions and believe in your body. Don't fear birth. There is pain, but it does NOT have to be the nightmare that some folks say it is. Yes, labor involves enormous sensations, some of them are nearly overwhelming but you CAN do it. It is NOTHING like smashing your hand with a hammer. It makes me so angry to say that. smashing a hand with a hammer is pointless and damaging. Giving birth is beautiful.

It was literally the most amazing experience of my life.

People, stop it with your horror stories. Just. Stop.

Oh goody, a forum nazi who loves. to. punctuate. like. this. Get over yourself.

Yes, it "hurts," but it truly is pain with a purpose.

ALL pain "has a purpose". Your point? I would never have an appendix removed with anasthesia just because pain has a purpose. When society figures out a way to alleviate suffering, THAT'S called progress and enlightment.

Have an excruciatingly agonizing birth if that's what self-affirmates. But spare us the preaching about how it is the most quintessentially enlightened life-changing experience that any woman could ever hope for. If we're going to go that route, OK, I will preach about how amazingly wonderful I remember my epidural births to be. I was in no pain at all, had total peace of mind, remember with complete clarity everything that happened, and didn't need a "coach" to help get me through totally unnecessary pain.

Even more, I have never felt the need to start a threat about how great my epidurals were just to fish for affirmative feedback.

Listen here, asshole. Get off this thread if you can't take what's written. Better for you to go and start a thread about how fantastic your epidurals were than to shit on somebody's thread seeking feedback.

I loved my birth. I LOVED it. I didn't find it to be excruciating in any way. I'm not going to "spare" you the preaching. If you can't endure a point of view that is different from yours, why in the world would you open a thread entitled "how to prepare for unmedicated birth?" Oh, that's right, to shit on it. You just can't hack that someone else didn't find childbirth to be equated with suffering in ANY way. I didn't. I liked my birth. There were painful moments but they are not really what I remembered. I needed no "coach" to get through it (if you are talking about a doula, I didn't need one). But why are you so offended by the way I gave birth, by the way OP wants to give birth, that you specifically opened a thread to spit negative thoughts all over it? You're not a secure person - it's quite obvious. Sad for you. But that's okay, keep on keepin' on, lady!

[Anonymous]

I had two unmedicated births. I'm a lawyer and I have a bad case of lawyer-itis about epidurals. I really didn't want anyone poking around on my back, and other kinds of medication aren't good for the baby.

I was a distance runner (half-marathons) before I got pregnant and I continued to run during pregnancy. I found the mental toughness of running really helped with delivery. I was used to dealing with physical pain and pushing through it. It helped. I think being in good physical shape helped with the delivery as well. I had more stamina.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Figure out why you are so obsessed with experiencing pain in childbirth. Who are you listening to that is convincing you that is necessary or preferred? Why do you believe them when medical science has advanced since women had to endure pain and drop babies in the field then keep plowing? Who has convinced you that it is better for the baby to feel pain?

Medication during childbirth has risks, even epidurals. I didn't want someone sticking a needle in my back. (Although, really the risk is pretty low.) Other drugs aren't good for the baby. For me, the pain was worth it to avoid the risk. I had pretty bad pain with the first one, too. I had back labor and a very long labor. It still wasn't worth the risks of an epidural or drugs.

If you preferred getting an epidural and didn't mind the (admittedly low) risk, cool. Every woman has to get through this in her own way. It's not a freaking indictment of your birthing process if someone else does it a different way.

[Anonymous]

Prepare for the unmedicated, and discuss how you feel about interventions.

I was seeing a midwife, planned on a birth center, then my water broke 3 weeks early, and labor didn't start (even after trying every natural thing possible at the birth center). Had to get pitocin, and after those contractions started, I begged for the epidural (I have a high pain tolerance as well). They had a hard time monitoring her heart rate, and we almost ended up with a c-section twice. The second time they had to put in a scalp monitor so we could make sure she was okay.

I had to push for 2 hours, she was stuck behind a bone. Thankfully we didn't need any help there (forceps or vacuum), and if the doctor would've suggested one of those I would've opted for the c-section instead. DH and I discussed all options so we knew where we stood incase something happened. My pregnancy up to that point was 100% normal (all scans looked great, negative for gestational diabetes, normal weight gain, etc), she just wanted out early.

[Anonymous]

I didn't hire a doula and I only took an express child birthing class at the hospital. Plus my water broke, I was GBS positive, and I had meconium in the water, so my midwife was uncomfortable with me staying home until the last minute. But I still delivered with no medication.

I read a lot, including several of the Bradley books. I was in great shape, running all the way until the end. For the last several months of the pregnancy, I sat on the floor a lot (one of the exercises Bradley recommends). Knowing what to expect and remembering that the pain had a clear ending made it much easier to handle mentally.

DH was awesome and right there with me the whole way through, giving me massages (I was bruised the next day). I walked around through the contractions and sat on a stability ball in between. I was only in the bed for the actual delivery.

Good luck! It's definitely doable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Prepare for the unmedicated, and discuss how you feel about interventions.

I was seeing a midwife, planned on a birth center, then my water broke 3 weeks early, and labor didn't start (even after trying every natural thing possible at the birth center). Had to get pitocin, and after those contractions started, I begged for the epidural (I have a high pain tolerance as well). They had a hard time monitoring her heart rate, and we almost ended up with a c-section twice. The second time they had to put in a scalp monitor so we could make sure she was okay.

I had to push for 2 hours, she was stuck behind a bone. Thankfully we didn't need any help there (forceps or vacuum), and if the doctor would've suggested one of those I would've opted for the c-section instead. DH and I discussed all options so we knew where we stood incase something happened. My pregnancy up to that point was 100% normal (all scans looked great, negative for gestational diabetes, normal weight gain, etc), she just wanted out early.

This. Because for some women, it's just not doable. Their cervixes (cervi?) don't dilate fully, with or without pitocin. Their labors go on for days, and they need rest.

It's great to prepare, and you've gotten wonderful advice. Recognize, too, that there's also an element of luck involved, and that's beyond your control. Don't belittle those people for whom it wasn't doable as weak in mind or body.

[Anonymous]

its called pre-historic birthing vs modern medicine

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had two unmedicated births. I'm a lawyer and I have a bad case of lawyer-itis about epidurals. I really didn't want anyone poking around on my back, and other kinds of medication aren't good for the baby.

I was a distance runner (half-marathons) before I got pregnant and I continued to run during pregnancy. I found the mental toughness of running really helped with delivery. I was used to dealing with physical pain and pushing through it. It helped. I think being in good physical shape helped with the delivery as well. I had more stamina.

you're a lawyer not a doctor therfore you are uneducated and stupid when it comes to childbirth.

[Anonymous]

(going to ignore the person looking to start a fight)

Reading up on how childbirth felt, how other women felt about their births afterward, including those who were happy with the process and those who weren't, and having a doula made the difference for me.

Any activity that gives you practice relaxing into pain instead of tensing up will be valuable. The PP did it while running. You can also do it with yoga; you don't have to be in pain but put yourself in a yoga position that requires a lot of muscle use, hold it, and try to breath into it instead of tensing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had two unmedicated births. I'm a lawyer and I have a bad case of lawyer-itis about epidurals. I really didn't want anyone poking around on my back, and other kinds of medication aren't good for the baby.

I was a distance runner (half-marathons) before I got pregnant and I continued to run during pregnancy. I found the mental toughness of running really helped with delivery. I was used to dealing with physical pain and pushing through it. It helped. I think being in good physical shape helped with the delivery as well. I had more stamina.

you're a lawyer not a doctor therfore you are uneducated and stupid when it comes to childbirth.

LOL

I did my research. Clearly, you didn't.

I'll just leave this here for you, dear.

http://www.americanpregnancy.org/labornbirth/epidural.html

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/labor-and-delivery/PR00105

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Prepare for the unmedicated, and discuss how you feel about interventions.

I was seeing a midwife, planned on a birth center, then my water broke 3 weeks early, and labor didn't start (even after trying every natural thing possible at the birth center). Had to get pitocin, and after those contractions started, I begged for the epidural (I have a high pain tolerance as well). They had a hard time monitoring her heart rate, and we almost ended up with a c-section twice. The second time they had to put in a scalp monitor so we could make sure she was okay.

I had to push for 2 hours, she was stuck behind a bone. Thankfully we didn't need any help there (forceps or vacuum), and if the doctor would've suggested one of those I would've opted for the c-section instead. DH and I discussed all options so we knew where we stood incase something happened. My pregnancy up to that point was 100% normal (all scans looked great, negative for gestational diabetes, normal weight gain, etc), she just wanted out early.

That's totally fine, but just a reassurance for anybody who ends up in this situation-- the vacuum really is not so bad, can be used to avoid a c-section when the baby is fairly high up in the birth canal and just won't come through because of bad positioning, and does not require an episiotomy w/ a skilled practitioner-- I healed just fine after mine. It can also be part of an unmedicated birth if you so choose. Having birthed with the assistance of a vacuum once, I would never choose a c-section over a vacuum; my recovery was quick, and my baby came out within 15 quick seconds of when we finally agreed that I needed some assistance.

One book that will help you make informed choices, no matter what comes up: The Birth Partner, already mentioned in this thread. It neutrally discusses choices like this that you may (but hopefully won't!) have to make during your labor, so that ahead of time you can think positively, but also come up with the "worst-case scenario" birth plan-- there are some cases, though infrequent according to my lovely OB*, when an epidural can help relax a mom or get her to rest enough to push her baby out vaginally, for instance. This book really helped me feel empowered no matter how my birth went!

*She told me this bluntly when I was trying to convince her why an epidural might be a good idea for me-- I'd told her I really wanted an unmedicated birth. And this is the most important preparation you can get: a care provider who is on your side!

[Anonymous]

Here is what I need clarified. I keep reading about "low" risks of epidurals to babies but what are they? it seems like the very very minimal risk is really to the mother. Are there really any long term risks of medicated births to babies. I don't think so, I have no idea what that idea has gained so much traction. Jesus, novacaine and a root canal probably has more risk. I did click on the epdiural link from PP and didn't see anything in the "con" section from Mayo clinic about effects to newborns. again, I just don't get the obsession about suffering to to make a point. I am guessing that the overwhelming majority of us on this board we born with medicated moms and we still managed to grow, finish college and then write crazy stuff on an anonymous blog.

[Anonymous]

I've done both medicated and non medicated and the one piece of advice that stuck with me is when a contraction hits, focus on being limp like a wet noodle. Just focus inside yourself and ride the wave. I never thought I could have a natural birth but I did with an almost 10lb baby. Not saying I'd do it again, but I lived.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here is what I need clarified. I keep reading about "low" risks of epidurals to babies but what are they? it seems like the very very minimal risk is really to the mother. Are there really any long term risks of medicated births to babies. I don't think so, I have no idea what that idea has gained so much traction. Jesus, novacaine and a root canal probably has more risk. I did click on the epdiural link from PP and didn't see anything in the "con" section from Mayo clinic about effects to newborns. again, I just don't get the obsession about suffering to to make a point. I am guessing that the overwhelming majority of us on this board we born with medicated moms and we still managed to grow, finish college and then write crazy stuff on an anonymous blog.

No one is trying to make a point from suffering. The main risk people are trying to avoid is a c-section, the risk of which is increased by epidural use. If you don't know that, then you haven't done enough reading to come on here and berate the rest of us who are just having our births the way we want without controlling you. C-sections have some risks to the baby, although of course they are the bomb when medically necessary, and vaginal births have some benefits to the baby.

I've given birth twice without an epidural and I find the experience intense and interesting. It's not just suffering. I hope everyone experiences their births positively.