Reply to Best things to do to prepare for unmedicated birth

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=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.[b] 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.[/b] 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.[/quote]

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! [/quote]

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