Natural child birth?

Question

My question is only for women who have had natural child birth by choice. I am planning on having natural child birth (except for numbing medicine for the crowning) and I was wondering if the pain is this complete horror that everyone says it is. I am VERY determined to make it through naturally and I need some positive feed back. All of my friends which have had Epidurals say that I'm not going to be able to do it naturally and it is very discouraging. Is the pain that bad if you are planning on natural child birth from the start? Is the pain so bad you could not find anyway to get through it?

I want to experience child birth the way God intended it to be. Not only that if you don't have any complications it is safer for the baby. Why do people question me for doing something the natural way? I never saw my cat have an Epidural. She made it through with six kittens.

Answer 1

I have had 3 natural births and I can tell you that even though it was hard work- it was totally worth it- not only for my health but
for my baby's as well. Recovery is faster, and breastfeeding is easier.

I have supported women during birth who get epidurals (I'm a labor doula) and I can tell you it does not make it easier and in most cases makes it harder to push out the baby and recovery is longer, the drugs in the epidural DO get to the baby and breastfeeding is more difficult. And an epidural increases your chances of having a c-section by at least 50%.

I would highly suggest looking into getting a doula to help you out- the more people there to support you the more likely you will achieve a natural birth. A doula can help keep you focused and determined to meet your goals and offer alternative coping techniques to deal with the contractions without resorting to meds at the first sign of discomfort. There are doulas that do births for free or sliding scale if you are worried about cost.

One key to natural childbirth is to surround yourself with people who support you in your decision. Look for a yahoo group about natural childbirth; go to the local LLL meetings and meet with other moms who have done natural childbirth; go to your local health food store and see if they have info on groups in your area for natural moms.
Attend a childbirth education class that isn't from the hospital where you are going to have your baby. Bradley is a great class for couples wanting a natural birth. And lastly, consider your care provider: are they supportive of natural birth? Will they let you make the decisions regarding how you want to labor?


There are also a lot of great books you can read to prepare for a natural birth and get positive advice from.
Here are a few-
Ina May's Guide to Childbirth
Birthing From Within
Gentle Birth Choices
The Birth Partner (for your partner and for you)
The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth

Most of these would be at your local library or you can find them cheap on eBay or amazon.

Don't let your friends put you down or dissuade you from your decision- its your body and your baby and obviously you want something better out of your birth that they did for theirs-
Birthing naturally may not get you a "medal" but it sure gives you a sense of accomplishment and empowerment- something that will stay with you the rest of your life.
Good Luck!

Answer 2

Ok, with my first I had a epidural after 12 hours of labor could not take it any more, and a labor continued for another 12 hours plus 5 hours of pushing...that was bad!!
With my second my labor was very fast & I have always said a epidural was a last resort, well I never needed it, it was a dream, my water broke went to the hospital 2 hours of mild contractions & his head crowned never even used a numming med. Dont get me wrong there is pain, but it was bearable. Also don say never a first child can be a LONG labor so tell the nurse when you are admitted that youplan to go natural but there is always a chance that you may use a epidual, that way you can pre autherize anistetics just in case, that will get you a epidural at least 30 mins faster if you find you really need it. Good Luck

Answer 3

Wow I guess people don't really read the full effects of pain medications and what it can do to the baby and all during child birth. Plus it slows down the labour and I don't know about you but I want to hurry up and get it done. And unlike some of the comments, I don't except a medal or a pat on the back b/c I choose to do natural childbirth. I am doing what feels right for my body and my baby. How would you like being called a wuss or a wimp b/c you can't handle what your body was made to do or what women have done for years. Anyway to answer you questions. Is there anyone who had a natural child birth? Yes I had a completly natural birth almost 9 years ago with my daughter she was 7 lbs and 4 oz Would you do it again? I plan on it, I'm due in april with number 2 and am planning for a natural birth Do the contractions actually feel worse then the birthing process? My contractions weren't ever regular some hurt worse than others some didn't hurt at all. Also could you describe all the pain in detail if you remember? Most of my labour was in my back and I didn't want to be touched but it felt better to walk around. The thing that hurt the most was whent he baby crowned and it was a searing pain but it is over (atleast for me in seconds) and you hear the wonderful sound of your baby crying. I was lucky and my active labour from the time the water broke was only 15 mintues. But I had been in the begining stages of labour for 2 days prior. My cotnractions were never regular, some hurt worse than others and some didn't hurt at all. Walking helped alot as did deep breathing and taking my mind out of the situation mediation. Honestly it wasn't the worst pain I've ever felt that was kidney stones, that was the worst pain. Child birth isn't easy and it does hurt, but to me the risk that come along with epidural and pain medicine outweigh making myself more comfortable Does it feel like you're going to die or that you're being ripped in half? No, there was a searing pain when the babies head crowned and came out but that was it. Did you have the baby natual without any Lamaze classes? Didn't take any classes, I might this time b/c I'm older and this will be my last baby and I want the full experience :P. I read alot of books though one of my favorites is A good Birth, A safe birth.

Answer 4

Don't be discouraged by what your friends are telling you, do what you think is best for you. I have had 3 children, and all 3 labors were totally different. My first, I had an epidural (I was in labor 21 hours, so I was very grateful for it!!). My second, I chose an epidural and I had such a horrible experience with it that I decided to go natural for my third one. I was totally scared, but determined. I'm not going to sugar-coat it, it was extremely painful, but like some of the other answerer's have told you, you need to focus and relax as much as possible. I know that seems impossible when you are in such pain, but it really helps! Only you will be able to determine the best course of action when the time comes. I hope everything goes well for you. Good Luck!

Answer 5

Have you talked to your hospital about numbing medication for crowing? Our hospital has strict policy against it, this is because the skin of the paraneum is stretched so thin that there is really no place to insert a needle and the chances of the doc slipping and putting the needle into the baby's head is so great (and that means numbing medication directly into your baby's brain being fatal!) that they don't do it, at all... ever. Be sure to check with your hospital first and foremost before assuming they will let this.

To answer your question, the first time around I planned all natural childbirth right from the beginning... i ended up having to be induced though and pitocin is the SUCK for pain and I had an epidural. I was disapointed beyong belief, which made it even worse. This time around i'm going to let things come and happen on their own and we'll see how i fare. I've taken classes etc so i'm prepared to handle things naturally but if it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out.. as long as my baby's healthy.

I say if your determined to do things naturally then go for it! But don't be too disapointed if things don't work out ok :)

Answer 6

i was VERY determined to do it the natural way with my last birth (1st was c-section, second was natural, but premature birth, so not by choice). i'm not going to knock it, i just think anyone going into birth with a "plan" of any kind really really need to keep an open mind. you just dont know whats going to happen in any given labor.. You could have a very long labor (mine 3rd one was my longest, 26 hrs!), a large baby, bad tearing, and/or just cant stand the pain anymore.. im just saying be OPEN to the epidural, its not a bad thing. Why is it that you are so against pain control if i might ask? Anyway in my last experience the labor was just too long to bear, i gave into the epidural 21 hrs into labor, and i'm very glad i did in the end b/c i ended up with 4th degree tearing, a lot of blood loss and more stitches than i could count.

I think natural childbirth is often easier when you have a quick labor but you cant always guarantee that..

Answer 7

I was in labor for about 10 hours or more before asking for an epidural.

Getting the epidural hurt much worse than any contraction that I ever experienced, and they were registering pretty high on the charts.

I'm pregnant agian and plan not to get the epidural because of the pain involved getting it in.

Granted it no longer hurt after the medicine took effect but it just wasn't worth it for me.

Contractions, for me, felt like I was doing sit-ups all day long.

Answer 8

Yes, the pain is bad, but I don't think it's impossible if you are truly determined. This is kind of a round-about way of getting to the point, I admit, but follow me. I had an emergency appendectomy once. The doctor put off my surgery until the morning because the nurses told him I didn't act like I was in a great deal of pain. So, I was his second surgery in the early morning. He apologized afterward saying he should have come in in the middle of the night because my appendix was 3 inches wide and oozing. He asked my husband and I if we had kids. We said, "no, not yet". He said, "wow, she's not going to have any problem without drugs. I can't believe her pain tolerance". I also once tore 2 ligaments in my knee and shredded the cartilage, I walked on it for 7 months. I had false labor with my daughter for about 2 months on and off before I had her (7 hours of it the morning of my due date). I finally officially went into labor that night, and after just a couple of hours, I was screaming and begging for something. They gave me something to ease the pain so I could rest because I wasn't dialating much (still at a 2 after 12 hours) and it would take a while. Then after 12 hours I got an epidural, and I actually enjoyed childbirth. It was unreal. I don't know how women do it without it, but I wish you the best. Also, some are worried about the side effects on the baby. My munchkin was fine, came out screaming, not groggy, fed right away. The nurses told me too that if the baby is groggy, it wears off, no permanent damage.

Answer 9

Well when i had my son i had no drugs whatsoever. Nothing for numbing or taking the edge off. But i dont look down at women that take the drugs. I found that i was more alert after the birth to bond with my son. I was ready to walk out of the delivery room haha. The pain is really really intense but its nothing that you have ever gone through. You seem to find a natural strength inside to get you through it.
I will say this, different women have different pain tolerances. If you find you cannot handle the pain, take something. You dont want to tire yourself out needlessly or stress out the baby. Dont try and be a hero. No woman fails, even if she needs a C section. Good luck and dont let other women tell you that you cant do it. You can and you will, even with a little bit of medicinal help!

Answer 10

Your friends are wimps. You don't need anything. The fear of the 'terrible burning' that my mother warned me about slowed my labor down a lot, my daughter crowned about 5 times. I had a midwife and when the last moments came, i thought,"This isn't terrible, I finally get to see this baby." It wasn't so bad and those first moments when you see the baby and her eyes and all her other precious parts are best uninterupted by anything, because you only get them once. They live with you all the kid's life, even when she is nearly 30!
You need an advocate to tell them where to put their drugs. Or give a truly good reason why they want to intervene.
I was so happy not to be in a hospital, because the only doctor that would see me had a 66% C Section rate, so I stopped seeing him and went to the health department and to a neat Women's clinic towards the end.
Spiritual Midwifery.... I can't remember the author.
and one by Suzanne Arms... Immaculte Deception
Those two books had a lot ot do with my birth being a bright spot in my mind.
I think the hospitals have really comne a long way since then.