I really really want a birth with no pain relief...?

Question

This is my second birth last time I had gas and air and pethedine which were both horrible and I definitely dont want an epidural. I ust wnat to do it naturally. How am I going to make the midwifes listen to me and not try to persuade me to have some, and what if I forget about it when I am in labour and end up having some drugs that I will regret because I hate the feeling they give me.

There is no continuity of care where I live the midwives at my birth will be complete strangers.

Answer 1

If you can't be assured that you will know your midwives during labor, write a birthplan. Have your caregiver put a copy in your chart and you pack a copy in your hospital bag. Write your wishes for a drug free labor in it. Include that you do NOT want to be offered drugs. Include that, if you ask for drugs, you want to be reminded of your wishes and encouraged to try a different coping technique for 30 minutes before resorting to drugs. Make anyone who comes in your room read it. Make sure your hubby knows your wishes and will advocate for you. Consider hiring a doula to support you in labor. Some hospitals will provide one for free if you ask in advance.

Answer 2

I have had 4 kids 1 using pethidine, it made me and baby sick, 1 with an epidural, no choice here baby was breach, and 2 with only gas n air.
Like you my first delivery was with pethidine, not knowing what to expect I simply went along with the midwifes recommendation.
I wanted the second to be as natural as possible but ended up using gas n air for the last few minutes. As I said the third was a breach I opted for an epidural so I could still give birth naturally opposed to a cesarean.

Have you thought of trying a 'Tens' machine it works by sending a small electric shock through your nerves enough to lessen the pain, but not enough to do any harm, I didn't get the chance to try it but I believe you can now buy them in the shops.

Whatever you decide to do make sure your birth partner knows how you feel and tells the doctors/midwifes.
Every birth is different so don't be disappointed if you do wind up using some sort of pain relief, at the end of the day the goal is to have a happy healthy baby.
Good Luck.

Answer 3

Make a birth plan and have it clearly state that you do NOT want to be medicated for the delivery unless absolutely necessary (i.e. if you need to have a c-section). Make sure your doctor and midwife knows well in advance (in other words: Tell them NOW) that this is your plan and you would like his/her support in following it. Most doctors and midwives are very supportive of their patient's wishes when it comes to their birth, as long as it doesn't put them or the baby in danger.

I also recommend taking some Lamaze classes to prepare you for a natural childbirth. The breathing exercises may come in handy when you go into labor and aren't using any sort of pain relief.

Good luck!

Answer 4

I had a totally natural birth, and it was great! Make sure you have written your birth plan, and the midwives at the hospital will read it and know what u want, try to practice some other techniques, for example visulisation. That worked for me. I imagined my cervix was a flower with 10 pwtals on, and everytime i was 1 more cm dilated, i visulised the petal opening. Sounds very strange, but was the best thing ever for me. Good luck!

Answer 5

Make sure the midwives get your birth plan ASAP. Clearly indicate that you want no pain relief unless you specifically ask for it. I find midwives are a lot more willing to try positions and breathing techniques rather than jumping to drugs and epidurals right off the bat.

Answer 6

As a nurse myself, we only recommend alternatives because we might see the patient in pain, you dont have to consent to having demerol, pitocin, or even the epidural. If you want to have it natural then go for it more power to you. To make it easier you should have a birth plan and let your Dr. or midwife know EXACTLY what you want to do. Let me remind you that sometimes your birth plan will sometimes not go out the way you expect it. For example you might want to have the labor natural, but then there is some complications in where they might need to do a c-section. I'd give the dr. a birth plan around 34-35 weeks and keep one for your reference.

Answer 7

You need to have it clearly written in your birth plan that that is what you want. Also speak to your midwife about it before hand.
Your birthing partner can act as your advocate and tell the midwife on the day about what you want.

Answer 8

Write a birth plan and tell the midwife clearly when you get there. Good luck to you and the baby

Answer 9

Honey, you've just got to be strong, about resisting drugs, is all !!! With my oldest daughter, I went into labor 2 & 1/2 weeks early, and I was only 18, and scared, and thought they were just going to send me home and tell me it was false labor.. Atleast that's what I was hoping anyway!!! Well, 6 hours later she came into this world with not ONE single pain killer, or shot, at all !!! But, then I had 3 more children later and with them it wasn't so easy, and I did opt to have epidural's and have had back trouble ever since!! Just be as strong as possible , and do your breathing's and walk, walk, walk!!! That's what I did with my Oldest daughter!! I walked everywhere, because I heard in the 80s, that it helps lighten your labor, tremendously!! And all of my friends who told me that, weren't kidding either!! I had her so easy, I dont even remember so much as "Grunting" one bit, with her!!! My mom said I was as quiet as a "Church Mouse!!" HaHa!! Well , good-luck, to you & your's !!! Smile, it'll all be just fine, you'll see!!!

Answer 10

i had my son a year ago on the 19th i was 16 i didnt want pain realif but i had diaorphine which did nothing and gas and air it wore of at 2.00 in the moring and they asked me if iwant anymore i told them no i stopped the gas and air i didnt have him until 5.09 amand its not that sore so dont worry just get ure birthing parter to keep saying no good luck hope everything goes well for u