Please tell me about your labor experience...?

Question

I'm just curious about knowing if anyone who had a natural childbirth prepared for it beforehand by taking classes or if they just "winged it." I'm kind of wishing that I would have taken a class at this point...maybe I'm just afraid of the unknown.

I'm 37 weeks along

Answer 1

I have had 3 completely natural unmedicated childbirths. All 3 went absolutely beautifully. I did not take any classes because in the town I lived they were all given by doctors and the first question they would ask me was what I was planning on doing about medication. When I said I was planning natural they literally laughed at me and said good luck. I read a book called "Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way." I am actually reading it again now in preparation for my 4th child. It is an absolutely wonderful technique. It teaches you techniques you can use to have a completely pain-free natural childbirth. Even with all my practice I was, naturally, nervous before it actually happened. But in the end it was worth every sweaty moment to have them naturally. They come out so much better off than they do when the mother is medicated. And, the best part of all is that you will forget most of it anyway! You will be left with only little glimpses of what it was like. In the end when you see that tiny little baby it is all gone *whoosh* just like that. Good luck! You really CAN do it if it is what you really want. Congratulations!!!

Answer 2

i've had 6 kids and each birth was different and I winged them all. How can you know what your labor is going to be when it hasn't happened yet. I think sometimes to much preparation and knowledge opens the door for anxiety. I had my 1st in 24 hrs with an epidural, the 2nd 3rd and 4th in under 2 hours with no drugs, the 5th in 4 hrs with an epidural and the 6th was an emergency c section and well who can plan for that ! You'll know what to do when you're in labor. If you want pain relief take it, if you don't don't. A few things that worked for me were walking while in labor, ice cold water thrown in my face during contractions, and having faith in God and my body that womans bodies are made to give birth and medical technology can usually ensure a successful birth even when there are complications.

Answer 3

I took a lamaze class for a week out of a 6 week course. It seemed pretty pointless and I had my mind made up. I was induced 3 weeks early because my son was already 9 lbs. I was in labor for 3 hours and had no drugs with him and he ended up weighing 9 lbs. 3oz. My 2nd son didn't want to join the world just yet but they had to induce me 2 weeks early because they THOUGHT he was 8 lbs 6 oz but when i actually gave birth he was 10 lbs 4 oz. and I HAD A LOT OF DRUGS!!! Nothing really to prepare for. Get you a little bag ready for the hospital and go when it's time. Cuz you won't do a darn thing those people in those classes tell you to do when it comes down to it. TRUST ME!!

Answer 4

I didn't take any classes at all. My water broke at my 38 week appointment, before the doctor came into the room. He came in and checked me and I was dialated to 4. He walked me across the street to the hospital. I hadnt had any painful contractions yet. As soon as I laid down in the bed my contraction started. I was fully dialated an hour later. I pushed for 20 minutes and she was out. My entire labor was 2 hours and 15 minutes. I had Stadol through my IV to help relax me, and a pudental block which numbs the birth canal so that the pain wasn't too bad. I didn't want an epidural though. The nurse told me had to breathe, and it helped at first, but I went so fast that the pain go too intense and the breathing didn't help anymore. and that's when I got the Stadol.

Answer 5

iii have had 5 children and i took a chidbirth class the 1st time . it was a total waste of time . i never once used any of the breathing techniques . i do have one piece of advice . DO NOT LET THEM GIVE U AN EPISIOTOMY !!!!i had 2 of them and it is a totally unnesacerry procedure that alot of doctors perform to hurry the process along . it is very painful afterward and the healing time is much longer . a tear is often better than an episiotomy . let your doctor know beforehand your feelings on this and everything else and your labor will go alot better . GO TO BIRTHPLANS . COM . fill out one of the plans and give one to your doctor and one to the nurse when you get to the hospital . this is really worth taking the time to do . good luck !

Answer 6

I took a class with my 1st pregnancy and it didn't help much. Nothing prepared me for the pain...but I was determined to have a natural birth! I ended up giving in and getting an epidural. But my 2nd was anatrual birth and my last was a C- Section.

Answer 7

While I didn't take classes, I had been present at the birth of my nephew and read multiple books on the subject and seen a couple of videos. So halfway, I'd say. I had a midwife attended homebirth and felt like I knew what was going on and was prepared for what happened.

Answer 8

You must be getting close to your due date. The reason why I am saying this is it's normal to start getting nervous and wondering how is your delivery going to turn out. You will be fine. I have seven children and I was nervous with each child. All were natural childbirth and I winged it with each one.

Answer 9

In my opinion you dont need a class, my labor (natural) went great. Just practice at home, breathing techniques. I winged the classes. DOn worry when you are in labor you will know what to do, the main thing is to keep calm and breathe and know that every contraction comes and go's.
Good luck!

Answer 10

Check out a book at your local library---everything from the class would be in a childbirth book. And believe me, there are plenty of books.