Tell me about your Natural birth. How was the experience and are you glad you chose to not have an epidural?

Question

I am four months pregnant and want to have a natural child birth.
this is my first baby and I really want to experience the whole thing and not be under drugs.
I understand the pain will be great and am curious to hear other's stories.
Thanks-

Answer 1

The pain isn't "great"--it's manageable for most women. There are some women who have painless births, and some who have excruciating pain, but most women find labor to be somewhere in between--painful but bearable.

I've had 5 babies, and I wouldn't do it any other way!! Once the baby is born, the pain no longer matters. You don't forget it, but it's just so worth it!!

Another thing to consider is that women who have an epidural almost always think labor is more painful than women who have natural births. This is true even if you look at women who decided before labor that they wanted an epidural (so it wasn't the actual amount of pain that was the deciding factor). When you are in an undrugged labor, your body naturally secretes endorphins--natural pain killers. An epidural interferes with this process. And when the pain is what leads to the birth of your baby, it is *meaningful* pain, whereas when it just leads to an epidural, it's just plain pain. I'm no athlete, but I've heard labor pain compared to "hitting the wall" in running a marathon--if you just continue, the ending makes the pain unimportant.

Answer 2

I have 5 children. My first 3 were natural child birth. I was terrified of the epidural, the thought of something in my spine was gross to me. My 1st two births went great, my labors were SHORT, I barely made it to the hospital, both times. I had over 9 lb. babies - and I am not huge. I tore pretty badly the first time and that was painful. The third child was induced. That was awful! All my labor was flat on my back in the hospital bed and it was uncomfortable, the pitocin makes the contractions terribly hard and painful. So after that 5 hour ordeal, I decided on an epidural for the next baby. I LOVED it. I do not think it took away anything from the experience, it actually helped me to enjoy it more. So, number five was definitely with the epidural as well. All my babies were big (9 lbs or over) so epidural made the birth so much more enjoyable. There is no major recovery from the epidural, there is no grogginess or anything, because it is basically a local anesthesia. I would not go back and redo my 1st two experiences, they were wonderful - pain and all, but after my 3rd, I knew I NEVER wanted to do that again. Since most labors - especially 1st labors - are long (I am just a baby machine, my body just pushes them out!) I would want an epidural to get through hours and hours of pain. Hope that helps! Good luck with your baby, they are such fun and such a wonderful blessing in your life!

Answer 3

I have had three amazing unmedicated births. I would never do it any other way without a strong medical reason.

Because I was able to stay active during all three labors and move around and position myself how I wanted, that helped a lot. I used a birth ball, the shower, a birthing tub (2 waterbirths), walked, squatted, rocked in a rocking chair, sat on the toilet, used a hot rice sock, used aromatherapy, used positive affirmations, etc. My husband and doula were great support.

The first thing I'd suggest to you is to find out how supportive of unmedicated birth your caregiver really is. What % of his/her patients have unmedicated births? How many have epidurals? How many have c/s? How many are induced?

READ READ READ
The Birth Book by Dr. Sears
Husband Coached Chidlbirth by Dr. Bradley
The Birth Partner by Simkin

Take a childbirth class that is taught by an independent instructor...NOT a hospital class. You want to learn to be a good consumer, NOT a good patient.

Consider hiring a doula. Some hospitals will provide them for free! I think they are really important if you are having a hospital birth.

See a massage therapist during pregnancy...especially one who does cranial sacral therapy. This will help you avoid many pregnancy aches and pains. It will keep your body in balance which will make labor easier. It will help you learn to relax, which will be helpful in labor. (I saw one reguarly through all three pregnancies.)

Consider seeing a chiropractor for many of the same reasons.

Crowning is the worst part and it only lasts a very short time. (And really, it was only bad with my first...probably because I fought it instead of relaxing and working with it.)

Pushing feels GOOD because it is productive and you are working with your body. (But only push when YOU feel the urge, not because someone is counting to 10!)

Answer 4

well i was 8 centimeters dialated and i couldnt take the pain anymore and i did get an epidural i know you've probably heard that there are so many risks included in epidurals but they help the hardest part is trying to be still and bend over while this huge needles going in your back and then your like ah!! finally but even still the right side of me didnt go numb so i felt my baby coming out on that side it was a strange feeling but its definently possible for you to have a natural childbirth without epidurals but it is very painful, but dont let people scare you to death it feels different for everyone. for me it jsut felt like really horrid period cramps somewomen say it feels like diarea that kind of pain everyone is different dont be scared though i had planned onhaveing no medication and when i got 8 centimeters i could handle the pressure, if you have ne more questions my email is [e-mail]

Answer 5

I have had two children, both induced, without any type of pain medication. I'm pregnant again and plan to have the third naturally as well. (Hopefully without induction this time.) I am so glad I didn't use pain killers. Not only was I more alert for the actual event, I believe it was much better for my babies as well. Both of them were having trouble with their heart rates and I'm glad I didn't add in anything artificial that could possibly have made it worse. I had a seven hour labor and a ten hour labor and I believe they were both so short because I was tuned into my body and able to follow my instincts. Pain medication might have blurred my instincts and made my labors longer, possibly even resulting in c-section. The pain is really bad but the surprising part is the ability you find you have to deal with it. I would recommend finding a practitioner who will let you choose your own positions for laboring. This helps a LOT with the pain, especially during transition. During both transitions, I labored on my hands and knees and it helped tremendously with making the pain bearable. If you are artistic in anyway, even slightly, you may find this to be helpful during the earlier stages of labor. With my first, I sang softly through most of the labor until transition. With my second, I drew with crayons and wrote a poem. It doesn't have to be a "perfect" work of art but creative expression seems to really help you focus on the creative act of birth, rather than the pain.
Another advantage of of natural birth is quick recovery time. I received several comments from relatives on how quickly I recovered. Even one of the nurses was surprised when she came in and found me showered, dressed, and ready to go home the next morning after my labor.
Good luck with your natural birth! If everything doesn't go as planned, remember to congratulate yourself on going through labor in whatever way you did and focus on the positive side of how you dealt with things.

Answer 6

the pain is not always immense. I gave birth to twins using only gas and air and the only pain I felt was when the second twin was moving down into position.

All labours and deliveries are different. I think the twins were so easy because I was relaxed and not panicing. When you panic, you tense up and feel pain 100x worse than it would be if you relaxed.

My best advice would be to relax and concentrate and you should find it ok.

Answer 7

I had an epidural 4 my first one it was awesome, it does not take anything away from being able to focus... anyways my second baby i had NOTHING( he came early) he was 4lbs 4oz.. it it REALLY hurt, now I imagine if my first one was natural it would have hurt a lot worse.(my first baby was 7lbs 7oz) I would recommend epidural to every woman...but good luck though! it's your choice though. congrats.. I hope you have the most memorable birthing experience which ever you choose:)

Answer 8

My experinces was terrible. My baby was stuck and i could not have a c section. Finally i been in labor for 5 hours and a miracle happen. The doctor finally decided to come and cut me. If that wasnt pain i dont know what is.

Answer 9

it is the most horrendous painful buring sensation that you can't imagine. Take the epidural it lets you relax and be calm and really enjoy waiting on baby to come..The epidural doesn't make you spaced out but the drugs they give you if you do not want the epidural do space you out...

Answer 10

i had a naatural birth, it hurt i wont lie. but 2 hours later i was walking around in the hospital. i had a 30 minute labour from start to finish, so i had to be transported by ambulance. but also keep in mind when you go in labour, theres always the drugs, and they might help you calm down. good luck. also i had no tiome for drugs. thats why i was natural.