I've done both OP, birth without epidural and birth with epidural and the only significant conclusion that I can draw is all that truly matters is the baby and mother alive and healthy at the end of it.

To me, people who obsess about the "birth experience" are similiar to those who obsess about the wedding. It is the life long love and committment to your child, such as it is the life long love amd commiitment to your spouse, that matters. The birth amd weddings are just the vehicle to get you there.

Okay, this is hokey, but it's worked for me.

In addition to hynobabies course, I imagined my little baby inside wanting to come out. I imagined meeting her for the first time. I imagined her all squished up in there, wanting her mama and papa, needing us to be calm and carry on. I thought about my baby, and talked with my baby (yes, I probably sounded CRAZY and am a little embarassed about how I might've appeared to the delivery staff ) things like, "Mama's going to relax and breathe, now, little one."

And I'll tell you, I wasn't for one minute thinking about now noble I was being, how "superior" to mum's who chose to medicate. I wasn't thinking about ANYONE but myself and that baby.

Oh, and once or twice about my husband (who needed to brush his teeth if he was going to get within ten feet of me, heh. See? Told you I was crazy!). And listened to my doula a lot, who told me every step of the way that I was doing great. I don't care if she lied.

Everyone who believes this bs about the dangers of ob assisted and medical assisted births and who is a doctor certified in childbirth raise their hand.

Get hit by car and shatter all bones in legs, refuse surgery and pain medicine to do it natural and unmedicated.

I moaned through the pain. Just keep them low and don't be afraid to sound like porn.

Anonymous wrote:Again with the, "hit your hand with a hammer" shtick? I hate to quote granola, but labor pains are toward an end. OP has decided she wants an unmedicated birth; she has not denigrated your epidural experience. Why not start a thread about how much you enjoyed your medicated birth? Because when you come on these pages to share your understanding about natural birth, you just come off defensive and judgmental.

Not the hammer poster but I thought it was pretty funny & I've had 3 no epi births, one on pit. No two ways about it, it hurts. I didn't go into it "trying" for a natural birth - I just told myself that's what I was doing, epi not an option unless emergency.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

There is some evidence that epidurals can cause slow the baby's heart rate and that can create a need for a C-section.

Can you provide the links to the peer-reviewed research that supports this assertion? I'm not disputing it necessarily, but just claiming there's "evidence" isn't good enough.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11574125

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1471-0528.1972.tb15805.x/abstrac

Not peer-reviewed, but helpful:
http://www.med.nyu.edu/content?ChunkIID=101215

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8304890

There are other studies that go the other way, though.

Anonymous wrote:

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.

There is some evidence that epidurals can cause slow the baby's heart rate and that can create a need for a C-section.

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/news/articles/2012/02/03/epidural-plus-fever-in-mom-may-raise-risks-for-baby

My sister developed a fever from her epidural (somewhat common, I guess, although I fortunately did not) and it meant there were some problems immediately after birth with her baby. I will have to double-check with her to see what happened, but she said it was fairly traumatic for her to have to watch, scary enough that next time around she will try hard to do it without an epidural. That said, her son is now a beautiful, happy, healthy little guy! Also, although I'm totally content with my first childbirth (see: my baby is now a happy, healthy little girl!) , I ended up needing assistance (vacuum), and my baby's head was bloody and swollen when she was born. She also developed jaundice, which my OB told me is one of the things she hates about having to resort to the vacuum-- jaundice is quite common in babies who have had vacuum-assisted births. And, of course, the likelihood of requiring assistance does statistically go up with epidural use.

I am not a big natural childbirth person, but there are definitely legitimate reasons to avoid medication when possible. That said: birth can be horribly painful, and epidurals are a marvelous invention. Let's keep improving the options we have available to deal with the pain of childbirth safely for both mom and babe.

I delivered naturally with the help of a midwife and doula. However, I was also prepared that if it was a long labor or there were problems I might need medication or a C section. I kept my focus on having a healthy baby.

Read Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way. It prepared me way more than the way too new-agey class I took. Carefully read the sections on visualization during contractions. Also, Ina May's Guide to Childbirth. Remind yourself constantly through labor to breathe and keep the tones of your vocalizations low (i.e., moan, don't scream). It's these things that got me through two unmedicated births.

Anonymous wrote:

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.

There is some evidence that epidurals can cause slow the baby's heart rate and that can create a need for a C-section.

Can you provide the links to the peer-reviewed research that supports this assertion? I'm not disputing it necessarily, but just claiming there's "evidence" isn't good enough.

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.

There is some evidence that epidurals can cause slow the baby's heart rate and that can create a need for a C-section.

Does anyone have any recs for good prenatal yoga videos that include poses to help prepare for/ work through labor?

oh, and don't bother with lamaze.

i second pps who have mentioned the books: the two main bradley books, the ina may garten book, henci goer's was a good one for me too.

Practice breathing and seriously practice relaxing tense muscles. I thought it was hooey but it really helped me -- but I was serious about it and did in fact practice as the Bradley books recommended (I did not take a course, but did have a doula for my first)

I know it sounds silly to say "practice breathing" but PRACTICE BREATHING. Throughout your day, esp if yuo find yourself stressed or yelling, stop and take notice of what your body is like: muscles tensed, shallow breathing or holding your breath. Then take a few deep breaths, really deep, belly breaths, see how that feels. Deliberately and mindfully assess your muscles and relax them as best as you can.

I know you already have a child, but the single most important thing for me was prenatal yoga and keeping active (well, you'll keep active with your toddler but I know it's hard to get to yoga classes). Even if you do a tape at home, I highly highly recommend it. It will make your body stronger, stretch you out, help with stamina, give you mechanisms to deal with the pain.

On the day/night of .... walk as much as you can, stay off your back as much as you can, verbalize (moaning) your pain, remember to breathe through the contractions, and use the shower or tub. I stayed at home as long as possible, but that may or may not affect you given that you are with a midwife practice.

Our bodies were created to do this. You can do it if you prepare yourself. But remember the most important thing isn't medicated v non-medicated but healthy baby and mom.

Good luck.