natural delivery?

Question

anyone who had a baby at a birth center or at home, free from medications can you tell me what your labor was like and can you describe what you pain was like? Im 34 wks and just wondering.

i know many women who delivered naturally, and they said yeah it hurts but it's not forever. But can any one describe, like i've heard the "worst crap ever" one but any others?

Answer 1

<~~had 7 children. My last one was the only one that was not pain med free. All the other children were with no meds at all.

I would describe the pain as "all consuming". There isn't a place on your body that doesn't feel horrible during labor.

It began with my body feeling so terribly uncomfortable that in my first few labors, I thought that it was the fault of my husband for making me feel bad during the night, asleep in bed. I nearly kicked him out of bed wanting more room so that I could find a better position to get some rest.

With every child, I felt this way for a good 5+ hours. Then the blood began to show as spots on my underwear.

One pregnancy, I actually got to see my mucus plug right when my water broke. (I immedietly went to the hospital then).

Stage 1 is the most irritating part of labor. Weird things seem to really bother me. It could be a certain touch, a certain sound ... it is all different for each woman. Your body feels so weird and uncomfortable that it is almost impossible to describe.

Stage 2 S*U*C*K*S!!
This is part feels like it lasts forever, but usually lasts (for me at least) a good 4 hours. This is where the contractions are slowly pushing the baby into the birth canal. You can see your belly harden like a rock at this stage. I prefer to sit on a "labor ball" during this stage because the position you are in on these balls makes it easier for your body to do what it needs to do.

***BIG TIP***
We timed my contractions laying down on the bed. They averaged about 45 seconds. Using the labor ball decreased the time/pain to 15 seconds per contraction.

Stage 3
Here you feel like you will die. It is the anticipation of the baby, and the sense of accomplishment of being able to actually feel the baby come out of the birth canal that sustains you.

While the pain can be great, the sense of reward is equally great which offsets the pain tremendously. For this reason alone, I was able to again and again - give birth with no pain meds at all.

***ANOTHER BIG TIP***
Do not push away pain meds all together. One thing I found out the hard way was that if you are emotionally stressed, the pain is A LOT WORSE!!!!!!!!! My husband and I were actually arguing at the time of one of my children's birth. This argument was so hard on me that I was passing out and mentally could not concentrate or handle the process of labor. So if things are tough for you, then go with the Epidural. All other pain meds do nothing for the pain, they just stop you from expressing your pain to others.

Lastly:
You may throw up, you probably will poop. At the end of stage 2 I always poop because THAT is where the baby is!!! The baby at this point has pushed everything to where you may end up with a mess. Don't worry about it please. This is natural (and embarassing).

After the baby is out, they will have to lift your bottom in order to clean you up. Hopefully you won't have any taring.

When everything is done, if you are breastfeeding, please remember this: Many new moms think that they are not producing enough milk for their babies so they switch to formula. The reason why they feel this way is because the baby will either cry a lot or doesn't want to stop sucking.

This is normal. I tend to let my new babies stay on the breast for as long as they want to. This means that sometimes they are on the breast for an hour to an hour and a half.

Having the baby on for such a long time will help your milk come in faster and will keep you and the baby quiet and content.

Answer 2

Well, I am 30 weeks pregnant and going to go natural (unless I need an emergency C-section, in which case, I will take the epidural to save my daughter... OR if I am in active labor for more than 24 hours). I can't speak from experience, but from what other moms have said (including my mother who had all four of us naturally, but we were all 6 pound babies...) it is only as painful as you make it. If you go in there with the thought that this is going to be unbearable... then your not going to make it without pain medication.

Good luck and I hope you have an easy labor and delivery!

Answer 3

I had a natural delivery with 2 of my 3 children and i took those Lamaze classes. It can be done!!!! I was the biggest wus and couldnt stand to stub my toe, but, with classes and a support person, it can be over before you know it. Just remember to breathe....
The pain is fairly intense at times but with the proper breathing you will make it thru.
The pain can not be described, it has to be felt. No need to question if you are in labor, you WILL know, believe me. the thing about it is, for some reason, the good Lord lets us forget the pain eventually.

Answer 4

I had an epidural but, with my 3rd son, it wore off. The pain was so intense. It felt like I was being ripped apart. I have never been in so much pain in my life. I have been through a lot in this life. It was hard to enjoy what was happening because of the pain.

I work in a hospital and have seen so much. I would put the safety of my baby and myself first and have the baby in a hospital where they can take care of both of you should something unforseen happen. Take it from me, I have seen a perfectly healthy baby in its mothers arms one minute and the next it is in the NICU on a ventilator. I don't want to scare you but childbirth is a serious matter and should be taken that way. Everyone wants to be around to see their children grow up. Good luck!

Answer 5

I delivered in a hospital, but sans drugs. If you've had bad cramps during your period, you already know what labor is going to be like. That's what my labor was like, just really bad cramps. Transition, the last stage is...intense...but it's because your body is working so hard to move the baby through the birth canal. I don't think it was as painful as just exhausting.

When they put that baby into your arms, that pain just fades away.

Answer 6

I had my first one with a shot for the pain and had some bad side effects afterward.... I wasn't able to go to the bathroom, my memory was really foggy for about 3 days, and I just plain didn't feel good.

My next two babies I delivered with no drugs... and I felt great afterward.

As far as the pain, I won't tell you it doesn't hurt, but the pain doesn't last....

Best wishes to you... my oldest daughter is also 34 weeks pregnant.

Answer 7

Well I had my baby in the hospital. But I did go free of pain meds for 18 hours. It really is as bad as you make it. If you fight the pain, it's so much worse then if you go with it. Just lay there and breathe. Don't fidget around, grab at things, kick around, or whatever it is you do when you are in pain. Walk (if you can), listen to music you like, and relax as much as you can. Save your energy for the pushing. It is possible to push out a large baby, I did it, my son was 9 lbs. My mid-wife just kept saying, "Go with the pain." At the time I thought she was insane, but now I know what she meant. When I calmed down it was so much easier.

Answer 8

I delivered without any pain medications. It did hurt but not as bad as I thought. The worse pain is when you are 8+ cm dialated and when you pop the baby out. I think if I have another one I would do it without medicine again.

Answer 9

Lady, if I were you I would opt for the hospital and have pain control on hand. Really, you never know if there will be complications or what might happen. I would play it safe. Trust me on this one! And to the poster who's Mom apparently delivered naturally, I suspect she is telling her daughter that for a reason. See if you can guess what it is. If one has not actually GIVEN birth, then one is NOT qualified to comment on this. Believe me on this one. Opt for a hospital and pain medication standby. And to the little twit who told you the pain shall pass. My guess is SHE HAS NEVER GIVEN BIRTH!

Answer 10

You just have to make a decision and stick with it. Keeping in mind that this pain too shall pass, and you will have a beautiful child to show for it.