I've had the debate of whether childbirth is only the worst pain you've ever experienced or the worst pain you can imagine. It hurt. A lot. But here's the thing--the really painful part didn't last that long. Contractions were uncomfortable, but not painful. Transition and pushing hurt, and the baby actually coming out hurt incredibly (they call it the "ring of fire" for a reason). But the painful part didn't last that long, and just when I thought I couldn't take it anymore, it was over. And here's the other thing--when it's over, it's gone. As soon as the baby is out, the pain stops.

And the third thing--not all pain is suffering. The pain of pushing is productive--your body is making something happen. So it's pain, but without fear or other negative emotions, which makes it totally unlike the pain of getting sick or breaking a bone.

I read a lot of books and skipped the classes before my natural birth.

Won't the Bradley and hypnobirthing books suffice, I can't afford the classes but do so want a natural birth.

I had my baby drug free. It was like I had a broken toe for a little bit. It wasn't that bad.

Took a Bradley birth class, which I recommend to anyone wanting a natural birth. Understand how the body works during labor and you can work with your body, instead of against it.

Bradley says that when you know you're in labor, do 4 things in any order: eat, sleep, walk, and shower. I really wanted to go to sleep as soon as I knew i was in labor. If you sleep for half of your labor, how awesome would that be?!

Another key I thought to having a good natural birth and staying away from medication was not going to the hospital too early. Bradley said to go when the contractions was 1-2 minutes between contractions (4-5 minutes from the start of one to the start of the next), they were about 90 seconds long, and we'd hit the serious emotional signpost where I had couldn't walk/talk through contractions (had to stop), and I was really working hard through them. Work at home as long as possible. We were at the birth center for 2.5 hours before baby girl popped out.

I got very sick from castor oil. She was 10 days late, and I was at risk of loosing my midwives. I couldn't labor in positions that allowed me to minimize back pain or speed up labor. I would have like to have been on hands/knees for some time or over a birth ball. I couldn't lay down, so I had to sleep sitting up in 10 minute increments, because the natural labor stimulation immediately kicked me into major contractions. As a result, I was in labor for 34 hours. I knew exactly what was going on and I adjusted my expectations. So what if I was throwing up or couldn't get into those positions? I worked through it.

I also took a Hypnobabies course that gave me a lot of tools that i used during labor to get ahead of the contractions. The mental tools i learned were instrumental in helping me redirect the pressure from my back.

I had a very quick (3.5 hours and it was my first child) very intense labor and it felt like I was being cut in half with a chain saw during transition. I was vomiting and I thought I was going to pass out from the pain. I had no break between contractions, they just stacked on top of one another. I actually LOVED pushing and didn't feel any "ring of fire" despite not having an epidural. FINALLY, the pain was productive and I could bear down into it. I pushed the baby out in 5 pushes and she was 8+ pounds. The contractions were just so powerful--it was as if she was a rocket being propelled out of my body.

All labors are not the same! Many women push for 2-4 hours with baby #1. I pushed for 5 minutes and couldn't have held hera minute longer in if you tied my legs together. The contractions were that strong.

I'm also a marathon runner, had all 4 wisdom teeth broken apart and cut out with only novocaine so I don't think I'm a wimp.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had a natural drug free birth but I was 34. Now I am 41 and OB thinks may have need a c-section. If I have an epidural for pain management, will I need another one if a c-section is needed? How soon before it wears off? Thanks to any insights.

Does she think you'll need a c- section because of age only or for a medical reason!

I'll be having my third at 41 and plan for it to be my third without an epi.

I'm 42 and planning on an unmedicated birth with the GW midwives. I think they have many over-40 patients. Being 41 and having no other medical issues should not place you in a high-risk category.

PP, if you are opposed to the c-section that your OB is recommending due to age only, push back. You could also hire a doula or consider changing practices. There are OBs out there who do not automatically put you in a high-risk category for age if everything else looks good.

Anonymous wrote:So I understand they won't give you an epidural till you are at least 4 cm dilated but what is the difference between that and effaced?
And why do some women say the epidural didn't work? Is that possible in today's day and age where these things are all pretty set?

I am the PP who said that I was frozen in pain at 1.5. Baby was not in a good position (I think it was back labor, and I ended up having a C-section after getting to 10cm and pushing for 3 hours.)

It is definitely possible. The epidural was literally the most amazing feeling on earth after being in so much pain, but I didn't press my button regularly enough and it began to wear off, and then it took another 45 effing minutes for the doc to come back and re-up it. It was pretty terrifying (and terribly painful) to realize that your epi is wearing off as you are pushing, and that there is nothing anyone can do to help you.

Even knowing that this is a possibility, I would get an epidural again, hands down.

Anonymous wrote:

you are not from the DC-area.


I am!

My husband works at DOJ, and I am a doula.
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What does your husband working at DOJ have to do with anything? I'm confused.

Sorry, just trying to show we live here

you are not from the DC-area.


I am!

My husband works at DOJ, and I am a doula.
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What does your husband working at DOJ have to do with anything? I'm confused.

First labor was 36 hours, 2nd was 4. They were different in many ways, but the best I can compare was to running. The first was like running a marathon (should be noted that I am NOT a runner, but just borrowing the metaphor) and the second was like a dead sprint for a few hours. They were both extremely challenging, but I would say that it's more of a mental challenge than it is physical. You have to have your head in the game and be really committed to doing it without medication in order for it to work out like that. The other big factor was having my husband and doula there to support me all along the way. I honestly don't think I could have had unmedicated births without them. It made such a big difference.

I had 3 epi free births & they all hurt like hell. The labors were all different but had periods of excruciating pain. The first was fastest (<2hrs start to finish), the 2nd was easiest (woke up at 4am w conx <2 min apart), and the 3rd (biggest baby) had brutal contractions.

Anonymous wrote:So I understand they won't give you an epidural till you are at least 4 cm dilated but what is the difference between that and effaced?
And why do some women say the epidural didn't work? Is that possible in today's day and age where these things are all pretty set?

Effacement is shortening of the cervix. Dilation is opening. Both need to occur to get a baby through it.

Epidurals don't always work. They can work on one side, or work for only a little while, etc. They have never removed all sensations for me. They only helped make the contractions less painful. They did nothing for the intense pressure or the sensations of a baby passing through the vagina. The contractions were the most painful part of labor/delivery, so the epidurals served a purpose.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had a natural drug free birth but I was 34. Now I am 41 and OB thinks may have need a c-section. If I have an epidural for pain management, will I need another one if a c-section is needed? How soon before it wears off? Thanks to any insights.

Does she think you'll need a c- section because of age only or for a medical reason!

I'll be having my third at 41 and plan for it to be my third without an epi.

Just age

Anonymous wrote:I had a natural drug free birth but I was 34. Now I am 41 and OB thinks may have need a c-section. If I have an epidural for pain management, will I need another one if a c-section is needed? How soon before it wears off? Thanks to any insights.

Does she think you'll need a c- section because of age only or for a medical reason!

I'll be having my third at 41 and plan for it to be my third without an epi.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So I understand they won't give you an epidural till you are at least 4 cm dilated but what is the difference between that and effaced?
And why do some women say the epidural didn't work? Is that possible in today's day and age where these things are all pretty set?

Not necessary to wait until 4 cm. I'm the OP. I got my epi with baby #1 at 2 cm. I was having back labor and could not tolerate it.

Maybe not necessary, but your c/s risk doubles if you don't wait. Lots of good info about the risks here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1481670/