Natural child birth...?

Question

This is my first pregnancy. I want to have my baby natural for a number of reasons but I'm still scared to death. I know women have been doing it since the beginning of time but I don't know. Is there anyone who had a natural child birth? Would you do it again? Do the contractions actually feel worse then the birthing process? Also could you describe all the pain in detail if you remember? Does it feel like you're going to die or that you're being ripped in half? Did you have the baby natual without any Lamaze classes? lol Sorry I know this is a lot but I'm in desparate need of some answers ASAP! Thanks so much to everyone who answers some or all =]

24 wks & 6 days pregnant w/baby #1

wow to the second person who answered...you're very RUDE!

wow to Amanda ...you're very RUDE!

to Nic...don't answer my questions if you want to be a smart ***

Answer 1

I had four babies naturally using the Bradley method. Menstral cramps hurt much worse than labor. Labor feels like a dull ache that comes and goes, like the pain of holding your mouth open wide for a long time. The crowning hurts, but it only lasts for a couple of minutes. I don't see the need of medication to avoid a couple of minutes of real pain. The pushing contractioins did not hurt at all. Get the book, Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way. It even has the things you need to practice in it. I have had hunger pains before that were worse than labor. Over 90% of those who use the Bradley method do not need pain medication. The Bradley method uses total relaxation to prevent uterine cramps. My labor felt nothing like cramps.
You need to start practicing soon. Also you need to know about prenatal perenenial massage. It will stretch you in advance so you will not need stitches. I only had stitches with my first because of fetal distress.

Answer 2

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 3

I had my baby natural and yes it does hurt, and at the time I didn't think I was going to live through the pain. If you want details I will start with saying that it is a progressive pain that works up to the climax of the baby being born. The contractions were horrible, the actual birthing process was excruciating, it felt like I was on fire as his head was crowning. It felt like I was forever pushing and causing myself more pain, and the only thing that I kept thinking was that this will be over and I will see my baby that I waited 9 months to see. Then it was over, the pain was gone and I felt pretty good compared to two seconds ago when a small human was making an exit out of my body.

I did't get any meds until my doctor told the nurse to give me demerol to calm me down so he could stitch were I had torn, which after about 3 weeks healed just fine.

I will definately do it again, I can't imagine being out of my mind with the pain killers when I see my baby for the first time, or numb and not being able to tell my children how much I suffered for them... lol.

All in all it wasn't that bad once it was over I forgot how much it hurt, and you really don't feel it once you see that baby, I guess it is God's way of making sure we have more children, or we would only be silly enough to do it once.

You can do it, and once you do, you won't regret the experience, even if you decide not to go natural the next time around, you should definately try it the first time.

Good luck and congratulations!

Answer 4

I opted for the natural birth with my daughter. I did have a mild pain killer (once) for the contractions that as soon as they started getting real close together they gave me something that reversed it immediately. (Epidurals scare teh crap out of me, especially with some of the side effects some of my coworkers have had with them....migraines for weeks, back problems, numbness for months, etc) Don't get me wrong, the contractions were intense (the contractions were worse than the actual labor), but I plan to do the same with #2 (25 wks along). I didn't do Lamaze either. You are going to breath regardless. The pain was by no means comfortable or anything that is describable (sp?), but as long as you aren't in labor for a long time, you will be fine.

Each person is different as far as the pain. My first pregnancy, labor and everything included, I would wish on everyone. Especially first time mothers. My first pregnancy went great. I was only in "full" labor for about 30 minutes. The intense contractions lasted for about 2 hours.

I remember feeling like I was being ripped in half when they shifted my daughter to get her shoulders out. But the majority of the pain was more of a burning sensation. Not to be gross, but kind of like when you have a horrible bladder or UT infection and you REALLY have to pee. (my obgyn was 5 minutes late and the nurses couldn't do much except tell me not to push....like hell...babies come when they are ready LOL)

Good luck. Like you said, women have been doing this since the beginning of time and many women several times. Think about your great (or great great) grandmother who probably had like 8 kids without any of the new technology and drugs.

Answer 5

I have two kids, ages 23 & 25. That long ago the push was for natural births. I took holistic birthing classes the first time and lamaze the second. I had my births at a birhing center where there were no epidurals or other pain meds available. (the hospital was right next door in case of an emergency). My first was a long labor ans yes it does hurt; kind of like the WORST period cramps combined with stomach cramps. like you get if you have a stomach bug/diarrhea. Pushing felt great...hurts/burns, but helped relieve all that pressure. My second was a very hard & fast birth (I'd rather have it long!), very intense. I had back labor and the baby was facing up instead of down which makes for a painful birth. Both times breathing saved me and helped me stay focused on getting thru the pain. The actual birth/pushing seems to burn, but again it is a relief kind of feeling. That all said, I'm a nurse also and have been at the bedside of many births, most had an epidural and I'm telling you, their experiences were great...the decrease and/or lack of pain was incredible....and their babies were alert and responsive...just as much as mine were after natural births...Bottom line..however your little one gets here doesn't matter as long as he's healthy and so is his Mommy. Congrats!

Answer 6

I had a natural birth and to be honest after it was done I was happily surprised that it wasn't bad at all. I'm guessing your body size has a lot to do with it. I am 5'8 and normally weigh 145 lbs. I was about 168 when my son was born. If you're a small lady, I'm going to assume it's going to be harder for you.

I did not take any Lamaze classes and a nurse gave me a quick run through when my water broke. During labor, I just relaxed my mind thinking of the joy that's coming and how it's all worth it.

I would compare the labor pains to the worst menstrual cramps you'd ever had and we all get through them. When the intense labor pain kicked in, I'd concentrate on a small speckle that was on the wall and would curl into a fetal position with my knees tucked in a bit to take some of the pressure off and it would make ease the labor pain. It was more mind over matter for me. For the last 3 months of my pregnancy I just told myself that baby is coming out no matter what and it helped me prepare.

There are a lot of horror stories out there but it all depends on how much you can take. Don't be scared, it takes seconds to forget about the labor pain you just went through when they hand you that precious baby.

Answer 7

I've never taken Lamaze or Prenatal classes and my 1st I wasn't sure what I wanted, so I decided to wait and see...I ended up with only 42 mins of labor and the pain wasn't as bad as some had said. To me, it felt like really bad menstrual cramps or diarhea(spelling?)! Since I delivered so quickly I was unable to have anything for pain, and afterward I was happy that I chose nothing b/c I didn't want it to affect my baby. My next 2 were delivered in 50 and 13 mins. However, if my labor was longer, I do believe I would have opted for pain meds b/c if I were tired, it would have been unbearable. But, just wait and see. Start with nothing and if it does become too much, take pain meds through IV and then lastly an epidural! I will say that a slow breath in through the nose and exhaling out of the mouth slowly helps to get through contractions...better than quick breaths! Good luck. I would love to hear how it goes!

Answer 8

My mom had three natural, and she regrets is completely.

I went natural for the first 37 hours of my labor. After that point I had everything under the sun.

If you're progressing normally, theres no reason not to have some pain killers, a spinal morphine is excellent. It does NOT effect the baby at all, you can get up and walk around, and still do water birth if you want. Its great. Stadol is wonderful, it has a VERY short half life, so baby doesnt get hardly enough to effect it, and you are not groggy AT ALL.

If you absolutely will not take a pain killer, water birth is excellent.

Answer 9

i do not want a medal or kudos either but my first child was all natural and early they tried to stop my labor but only stopped my dilatation i contracted every 5 to 9 minutes for eight straight days i added it up once to amuse myself it was 192 hours total i was tired at the end but felt wonderful and awake and alert after she was born if i had a choice i would have had all of them natural but it did not work out that way you can stand the pain trust me it is not that bad

Answer 10

Everyone is different but i had severe back labor and I took the pain medication, epidural. I was scared of the pain. That worked for me. It was my first child. My sister had natural but she said that it wasnt that bad but for me, I cant tolerate pain well so thats the option i chose. Hope that helps.