Natural Childbirth techniques?

[SliverCheer]

Hey Ladies! I'm now 32 weeks, and am thinking I'm going to have this baby the end of May although I'm not due until June 13th. Anyway I live in GA and insurance wouldn't cover a midwife or home birth which is what I really wanted. I have to deliver in a hospital again like I did with my first. I really want a natural birth but was unable to take a natural childbirth class. Anyway I was disappointed with my birthing experience with my first. My doctor pressured me to take the epidural saying if I didn't take it and take a nap I wouldn't be able to push. I felt vulnerable and of course in pain so I caved.

This time I don't want that to happen! But I'm afraid I'll cave again when the pain comes. I want to experience everything naturally and not be afraid. Just looking for words of wisdom from those who have had natural births.

[SliverCheer]

thanks. I'll have to remember to have DH tell me to get through 2 more or 3 more contractions... I think the short term goals will help.

nickieb85 - after I got the epidural with my 1st I was happy and asked myself why was I against this? but looking back now I wish I hadn't caved, and knew I was strong enough to get through. They kept giving me pitocin to counter the epidural that was slowing things down. I'm hoping things will move quickly this time so it will be easier.

Thanks everyone!

[nickieb85]

Hey girl. I kind of did it backwards....I had a completely natural childbirth with my first baby and it was horrific! I was in labor for 14.5 hours and baby was facing the wrong way so I had tons of back labor... My doctor almost had to decide to do a C-section because I pushed for over 3 hours and couldn't do it anymore. I was so thankful that there was a nurse that was sooooo wonderful and they ended up playing tug of war with a sheet and laying on my side. I had him about 6 rounds after the tug of war. With my second baby, they asked at around my 20th week appointment and I told them I wanted to be numb as possible. I had my baby in the early morning hours of the night (so I was tired of course) but not as tired as with my first boy. I was so thrilled that it was quick and only took 3 pushes and I got to enjoy every second of it. If I can get an epideral this time (my labors have gotten considerably shorter with each baby) I definitely will because I enjoyed the last experience so much more =) Don't feel like a failure if you can't do it, but if you can more power to you!!!! It is all up to you and if you want a natural labor then you can do it!

[jenkaye21]

BTW, you are completely adorable pregnant!  Love your pic! =)

[jenkaye21]

It really helps if you have a supportive doc (or midwife).  Mine never even offered an epidural, which I would've refused anyway, during any of my four L & Ds, even though my labors were looooong and quite difficult!  While my labors certainly were not "enjoyable", i was always glad that i did things on my own terms.  I can understand why you were upset about being talked into an epidural.  With my last, my midwife kept saying, "Ok, let's get thru 3 more contractions, just 3 more."  And it helped me see a short-term "light at the end of the tunnel" so to speak.  Then she'd go, "Ok, 3 more." and before I knew it, it was time to push.
You can do it, just make sure your doc or midwife knows IN ADVANCE NOT to offer you an epidural.  Put it in writing.  Remind them frequently during the earlier stages of labor.  Insist that YOU will be the one to ASK for it if you need it.

Good luck!

[cocacolapanda]

My insurance covers a Certified Nursing Midwife but not a Midwife.  I think it's because they want you to deliver in the hospital, and I have the person I want delivering my baby so I'm happy!

I'd say Chiropractics and Yoga are two things that can help.  There are some Yoga poses that can help with pain during labor.  Since you'r so close It might still help.

Also, you can look into a dula (Not sure how much they cost), but I've heard a LOT of good about them.  Or you could look into Hyptmobirth.

I too didn't have the experience I wanted with my first birth, so I've been looking into what I can do this time around to help make it more natural.  Good luck!

[cherylsangel]

I have read that your body will create something like endorphines to help you along. Also they say having a childbirth naturally lets you know whats happening. Example, if your having bad back labour, then you can get on all fours to help, you can use the pain to help you understand what your body needs! I am just trying to read all different websites on natural childbirth and pros vs cons of epidurals and natural childbirth.

[SliverCheer]

You are lucky. The United States is not very supportive of midwifery or of homebirth :( which makes it extremely difficult. In many states like GA they refuse to recognize midwives!

trying - I think whatever your body tells you to do you should do. I think you'll be surprisingly strong and agile when your body is so focused on getting that baby out!

[trying_x_3]

I am pregnant too and thinking about a natuaral birth because I want a squatting or standing birth and I really want to help deliver my baby - But DH says "NO, you're way to clumsy to be standing up" he's right about clumsy of course lol!! I just don't know though, I am still so early along but anyone know anything about those kinda births?

[rebekah385]

LOL I understand what you mean abot your husband and pain medication, my husband knows what I want and is ok with it, but  if he were having the baby he says he would be asking for medication before getting to the hospital! I can somewhat see why they say that, I mean who wants to be in pain, but i think that natural child birth is healthier for the baby, recovery is usually quicker for the mother and pushing and labor length (in hours) is usally shorter too! hopefully if it's what you really want they won't be able to talk you into it this time!

[cherylsangel]

I am the same again, I told my BF I want to go to the hospital at the last minute...lol...he was not to impressed about that one. I also told my family I want to give birth in the squatting position as gravity will bring the baby down on its own and it opens the cervix or something like that. I do not want to push the baby out lying on the bed like thay normally do in the hospitals, I think it is difficult cuz the baby is not going down its almost going across you...and I also want to be able to walk around, that helps labour and such. All the best!

[cherylsangel]

Hi there, I am totally with you. I am pregnant for the first time, due in September and I want a totally natural childbirth too! I hope everything goes exactly as planned for you. I too have not taken any kind of classes as of yet, hopefully I will find something worth while. I have read some articles about changing positions, labouring in water and such. Its too bad you cannot get a midwife, there covered by OHIP here in Canada so I wiil be firtunate enough to have one, however I will be at the hospital as well. I hope the best for you and your baby!

[SliverCheer]

thank you.

My husband will be there but he doesn't quite understand my wishes so if the doc says there is some reason which they tend to do when they want to speed things up, I'm afraid he might not hold strong. He will encourage me no matter what I do but I know he doesn't understand why I want to go naturally if it were him he'd have all the drugs they'd give him! lol I'm hoping that because the second child is usually quicker I won't have as much time to change my mind.  But in the hospital they always just automatically try to hook you up to an iv and all that... I don't want to be tied down, and I want to be free to get up and walk around or push the baby out squatting if I feel that will be best.  I'm hoping to just wait to go to the hospital until it is almost time to push and then there will be no time for anything, but I also don't want to give birth in the car! lol

Thanks for the advice about the video's I'll check it out.

[rebekah385]

Are you going to have a support person in the room (like your husband, mother, sister, ect.) if you do make sure they are aware of what you want so while you are in pain and not thinking clearly they can help make your wishes known, and help keep you on track.  also it is a good idea to have a birth plan (a paper one) with everything you want in it although be aware that things might not go as planned, also just because you have on does'nt mean the hospital will follow it, but they are more likely to realize you are serious about your plans for natural child birth. Don't let anyone tell you, that you can't do it unless there is a medical reason, I have had 2 of my children completely natural and my last on i just had something in my IV it lasted for like 45 (and just made me drowsy and took the edge off) and then I think it was worse after since i had'nt felt them building up! I am currently pregnant again (22 weeks) and am planning to have an all natural birth again. If you can get through the pain usually you feel great within a short time after the birth, I was up and walking around feeling just fine within an hour of all of mine (the nurses had to tell me to take it easy). Also (sorry this is getting kind of long) if you did have a chance to take child birth classes, but are still interested (the breathing does help most women) then you can try checking out a video about natural child birth and breathing techniques from your local library or usually the hospital has ones that they will lend out to pregnant moms. Good luck and you can do it!

[neasyc]

i have had my 3 girls naturaly they were 8lb 14 oz 10 lb and 11lb just remember every contraction is one closer to having your baby and millions of women have been doing it from the beginning for time and you can to good luck