Natural birth?

Question

I'm not pregnant, but when I am I would really like to have it naturally, I understand that it's easier to get an epidural but I want to make sure I can enjoy the very first moments w/ my baby and I've heard that and epidural can cause long lasting migranes and life long side affects, and if I have the child naturally I feel that it will be worth it. Family members advise me otherwise since I have a small body frame, but everyone of them have had a C-section or epidural. Can anybody give me some advice or tips from their own experience? Any advice will be wonderful.

Answer 1

I agree with Nunya..I had my son naturally, only had a tylenol after he was born. It is best to have a midwife..mine kept everyone at bay when they kept trying to push the epidural on me..I was 8 hours in labor (from the time my water broke until he was born). She kept my wishes and didn't try to sway me..of course she would of if I had had a serious problem. You can do it, just find someone that is going to respect your wishes and ask them what you can do if anything to help the fact that you have a small frame.

Answer 2

I had an epidural with both children. The first time, I was dilated to 4 cm and had very active contractions before I got it- I was miserable until they gave me the epidural- then I was able to talk with family and enjoy the birthing process. I was able to push just fine when I had to- I only pushed for about 10 minutes. With the second child- I had an epidural before I even started having contractions or my water broke. My doctor admitted me to the hospital to have me induced, gave me an epidural, then broke my water- I did not feel a thing the entire day- I had some slight cramping at the very end and he said that that was just a very hard contraction and that I was at 10 cm- I pushed for less than 5 mintutes.... it was beautiful- no pain, no screaming, i was actually talking and laughing between pushes... I never had headaches and have not had any other problems. I work for doctors who make sure their wives get them- so that tells you there that they are pretty safe. I will make sure I have an epidural for my next baby too...

Answer 3

I definitely agree with you. It seems nowadays everyone wants to take the easy route. I had both of my daughters completely natural and am very glad I did. Yes, it hurt, but it is supposed to. Labor is a natural process. But beware, the nurses & doctors strongly push epidurals because it makes THEIR job easier. Look into having a midwife deliver your child.

Answer 4

I am having my baby in 3 months, and I am having it naturally. I am taking a hypnobirthing class, which I STRONGLY suggest you look into. It helps relax you and keep you calm so you can deliver naturally without thinking about pain. They don't beleive in pain or drugs. It is really great, and definitly worth it. I think you should go natural, unless you really can't stand the pain. Don't get drugs just because. That's my opinion, and that's what I'm going to do. Also, don't listen to horror birth stories, about how much it hurt, because it will just make things a lot worse. :)

Answer 5

I was 19 when I got pregnant and 20 when I had my son. Maybe because I was so young and inexperienced, I felt the one thing I could do to be more aware was to read as much as possible about what was going to happen to me and my body. I read everything I could get my hands on about the birth, the options of what kinds of drugs I could have, how they would affect me, and the baby, etc. It seems like this is what you are doing right now, so good for you!

In the end, since I had read so much and talked to so many people, I wasn't nervous about the birth anymore. I had come to terms with the fact that it was going to hurt like hell, but it was going to be easier for me to deal with the pain, then hold my body still while hanging over a gurney with nothing to support myself against, as the area behind you is the sterile "clean area" (all while experiencing really painful contractions) while they stick a needle in between my vertebrae to insert the tube for the drugs. Then I would be "tied" to the bed because of the tube in my back, and the medicine would make my legs numb and I would be unable to move from the waist down. It is not like what you see on "A Baby Story" on TLC or the Discovery Channel. They make it seem so easy but the epidural can shut down your labor, and all the extra medicine calls for extra monitoring, and all the extra monitoring can lead to an over-reactive nurse crying wolf, and the next thing you know, you've just had an unnecessary C-Section.

So on that note, I suggest that if/when you do get pregnant, and you want a natural birth (good for you!) you should get a doula. A doula is like your own personal birth assistant. She will likely be more experienced then your partner with the whole hospital/birth/bodily functions/ is-this-supposed-to-happen? kind of questions, and although she can't advocate for you to the nursing staff, she can assist you with all sorts of things while you are heading towards your natural birth.

Anyway, our doula came to the hospital with us, she helped me walk around, take a few hot showers to soothe the contractions and relax me, and offer kind advice and support when I needed it. It felt like this really special womanly bonding thing, I can't really explain it, but in the end, having our doula helped my husband not feel totally guilty for going to the bathroom or running to the vending machine for a bite to eat. Because of her I had the confidence to have a natural birth.

The nurses, however well-meaning, sort of abandon you while you are working your way up to being completely dilated. There are other women who are farther along then you, are more high-risk, etc. and if you are just sort of grunting along, you're left to do just that- alone. When the nurse was in the room, she guilt tripped me a few times about being "more difficult" then the other patients who had epidurals. Yes, I was louder then the others, but I've never been a lamb, and I wanted as much control over my delivery as possible. The doula soothed my nerves after the negative nurse left, and kept me focused on breathing and relaxing. She just brought all kinds of positiveness, and kept up my confidence that I could go through with the birth naturally. We had made an agreement earlier that if she thought I was struggling, too tired, or it was in the best interest of me or my child to get an epidural she would let me know. Since she had been to so many births before, and I really trusted her judgement, I knew I could count on her really looking out for me. It was like a big sister who doesn't let anyone bully you on the playground. If my husband had been left with me, I think he would have completely panicked and I would have followed suit.

Instead, I made it through an eleven hour labor, birthed a 6lb 10.5 oz boy with AP GAR scores of 9 and 10, and to boot I got away with no ripping, tearing or cutting (thanks to the explicit birth plan directions for the doctor to do perineal massage and the weeks of massage we had done at home at the suggestion of our doula.) Plus I had the satisfaction of knowing that although it was painful, I overcame the pain, was completely in-control of my body (an epidural numbs your legs so much that you can't walk or stand) and was completely awake and aware in order to enjoy those first few beautiful moments of my son's life.

Answer 6

i hope to be able to deliver naturally as well. i think you should disguss your body size with your doctor. i'm small too but millions of women all over the world do it every day. i would suggest not confining yourself to a bed on your back. walk around. deliver in water use alternative methods.