Natural birth experiences?

Question

I want a natural birth this time round and I wanted to hear from people who have given birth with no pain relief and how it went.
I am planning to use water, a birthing ball and breathing excercieses.

Answer 1

With my first child i was in labour for over 8 hours. I had no pain releif..even gas and air! I wanted to do things as natural as possible. I just made sure i kept active to encourage the labour to move quicker. Because it was my first i wasn't very relaxed..so i was pushing for over an hour....not nice. With the second i was in labour for 12 hours. Again i just kept active, changing positions..walking around. I pushed a total of three times and there was the baby! i lost a lot of blood though. I think it helped i was much more relaxed with the second as i knew what to expect. All i can suggest is try and be as relaxed as possible and let your body do the work. Its knows what to do naturally

Answer 2

I have had 5 natural labours, the first one I had pethedine in hospital (never again!) but went on to deliver normally.
The experience left me totally shellshocked if I am honest, the treatment I received was better suited to a dog, so that is why I made the decision to have the next baby at home.
The first sign of labour was when my waters broke, and within 2 hours my second daughter was born, I had a TENS machine which helped a little, but as it was so fast, it was pretty intense, but moving around helped.
Baby number 3 I hired a birthing pool, again at home, the relief I found getting into that water was indescribable! Almost total relief, I delivered him in the water and it was the most serene birth I have had, he came to the top and I cuddled him and he just kind of looked around, no crying, just having a look at his mum and dad and sisters, a truely memorable moment.
Baby number 4 arrived before the birthing pool! So again the only option was to keep moving and find a position that made the pain bearable, I felt much better being on hands and knees, that delivery was also pretty quick.
Baby number 5 was a different story altogether and a bit of a saga! Long story short, we had to go to hospital as we had moved and the new area didn't have provisions for a homebirth, so after several false starts, (everytime we got to the hospital it would all stop!) labour kicked in and I asked to use the birthing ball, what an amazing piece of kit!!! Once you get your balance, it allows you to rotate your pelvis as much as you like, giving me much relief from the real peak of the contraction, I have to admit to using Gas and air, it went on for so long I needed something, and even though it doesn't really take the pain away, it is something to concentrate on, and hubby and I were laughing all the way through! It may have been the longest and possibly most painful labour, but it will always be remembered for the fun we had!
I think a lot of it depends on your attitude to the whole thing, and the type of midwife you get.
I had a wonderful midwife for the homebirths, we saw so much of her she was almost part of the family! I trusted her with my life and I believed my body was capable of a natural birth.
The hospital births were harder, simply because the trust wasn't there.
Go in with an open mind and the belief that women are made for this, and you will be just fine!
Good Luck!

Answer 3

My daughter is now 9months old and because she was my first I panicked like mad and expected to be having every drug going but as the contractions got sharper and closer together I made the decision that I'd coped so far and I was gonna finish without having any help. I was in labour 8 hours and it was only the last 2-3 which were more uncomfortable. I didnt use a ball/water but looking back a Ball would have been great as I felt the need to push the base of my back down onto something as I had a contraction.
Although for a few seconds as the head was coming out I changed my mind completely and demanded everything going, Im so glad I didnt and was so proud of myself afterwards and even now feel that I gave birth how it was many years ago and it wasnt helped along.
I will say though, if your health is at risk or you do become very uncomfortable, dont be afraid to ask for some pain relief as alot of women do and the outcome will still be the same..Its such a beautiful thing!!!!
Pain wise, contractions feel like quite sharp period pains and as they become quicker, it felt to me like I had a bad bout of trapped wind. They are painfull but not in a nasty way...if you keep thinking that they are happening for a reason and your baby is wanting to arrive it will help you cope with them much more easily. The most painful part was pushing out the head but as soon as the head appeared, the rest is nothing!
Id do it again tomorrow and hopefully will in a few years. I wish you the best and please dont panic like I did, I wasted months worrying about the birth and its such a special time.

Good Luck Hun xxxx

Answer 4

my last baby was a natural birth and at home on the sofa. I did have gas and air towards the end though. I am a massive supporter of home births, tried with all 3 but only managed the last!. Make sure you write up your birth plan..the midwives do refer to it and state what your ideals are. A good midwife will follow this and only recomend alternatives if the believe you really need it!.Look at www.activebirthcentre.com. The only bit I didn't enjoy was towards the end..I was advised to take frequent loo breaks ( it helps to open up the pelvis and allow decent...an empty bladder makes it easier)., the babies head moved down and it became more painful...so I waddled out elagently ( not!) and requested that I would like to have pethidine now ( I suggest if you aim for a home birth get the pethidine...you dont have to use it, but if you want it it's there!) . They took one look at me ( 2 midwives plus mum who retiring after this birth!) and said no way..too late!. After I got over the hysterics ( transition period----- you can get a little un reasonable!) I plunked my self on the sofa and with in 30 seconds out popped my little princess!...It was all brilliant..hopped into my own bath and then was toasted with bubbly and eating pizza and curry with in the hour ( I know how to celebrate!!!!) . . Hospitals are more in favour of a more natural birth and don't intude as much as they do not intude as much as they used to. But if they stress that intervention is needed .... don't feel let down..its all about you and the babies safty. All the best and enjoy!
Jx

Answer 5

Good luck, you're brave! I wanted a natural birth the first time, was just tired of the discomfort/pain and decided it just didn't matter anymore. This baby I want to try to go natural, especially because of my emotional issues, I want to do something that proves to myself that this is my baby and he/she is worth it!!! But I don't have water and birthing ball options, and may not even have anyone to be there with me, so who knows if i will be so brave when it comes down to it!!! Good luck, I hope everything goes well, and you have a short, manageable labor!!

Answer 6

heya. i have just had my first baby by nataural birth,i was in labour for 8hours but only pushing for 10 mins!i ended up having a vantouse at the end as my baby had the cord around her neck and hear rate was dropping. i would have another baby without any pain releif unless i needed a vantouse again then i would def have some sort of pain relief as the pain of fitting the vantouse was unbearable. goodluck!

Answer 7

I have had 6 natural births without pain relief as my labours were so quick i didn't have time for anything.I found walking around sped up my labours and i could cope with the pain easier. Good luck.

Answer 8

I had a natural birth with no pain releif, for the duration of the labour I went to the bathroom numerous times to make sure my bowels/bladder where empty. During the pregnancy I had my partner do a perineal massage to help with not having to need stiches.
I found that walking alot helped, heat packs, hot showers etc. Its all in the mind, you need to prepare your mind just as much as your body.

Answer 9

Good for you.... personally in my experience, the best birth out of 3 children was the last one in which I had an epidural. It was somewhat painless and it was a very quiet and calm birth. I had my the others naturally, not by my choice, and it was not a good experience for any of us. I just don't see why women do this natural thing? Sorry just my opinion.

Answer 10

I had my daughter 7 years ago, with no pain relief, I loved every minute of it. It was great to get out of hospital, and go home and enjoy ever moment with her. Good Luck