Getting through natural childbirth, what worked for you?

Question

OK so my plain is an all natural childbirth. No epi, no drip, no gas and air, nothing. 100% me and my son.

The problem is that I was unable to find ANY classes in my area ANYWHERE that were not filled up for months in advance.

Ive been reading every book I can put my hands on, Lamaze, yoga, meditation, the Bradley method, Anything!

I'm 38 weeks now and just want some general advice from moms out there who have given all natural childbirth.

What worked best for you? What helped you get through the pain? Did breathing? Walking? Stretching? The ball?

Thanks in advance for the story's and advice!

PS. Yes I know not everything goes to plan so I don't need that explained to me please...

Also please refrain from the "you will change your mind when the pain hits!"

Unless my baby or I are in distress, then hell shall freeze over before I get any medication. So I don't rely care to hear that thank you.

Answer 1

It is different for everyone. I sat on the toilet (because I thought I had to poop when I was having a contraction) or on the edge of the bed kind of hunched over with a pillow over my belly and hugged it until I was about 7cm. After that I don't remember to much after 7cm it isn't to bad. Your body and mind just go to a different place. I took Lamaze and to tell you the truth you do what works for you. I found it to be a waste of $. No one told me to sit on the edge of the bed and hug a pillow. See if you can borrow or find a Lamaze video. Just remember ELBOWS out and chin down when you go to push. ALSO STAY HOME AS LONG AS POSSIBLE OR UNTIL YOU CAN NOT WALK OR TALK THROUGH THE CONTRACTIONS. I waited until I just about fell to the ground during a contraction. Oh yeah tell your birth partner not to ask you if you are ok during a contraction you may say something not so nice.
If/ when you start to shiver and you are not cold then you are close to having the baby and get to the hospital ASAP if you are not there. Your body is gearing up for blood loss. Good luck to you and you can do it!!!!!!
Going natural is much faster and better. Getting drugs can make things slow down.

Answer 2

Good Girl!
We didn't attend any actual classes on natural childbirth, but relied on everything my family members and midwives told me.
I have gone through 3 to 24 hour labors 4 times and it is very do-able if you have a good attitude in advance about it. You will know what works best for you when you go through it - so just do whatever makes you the most comfortable and try to let gravity help you too, whenever you can!
For me, it was reminding myself to relax, thinking about letting my body open up and letting the baby be born helped. Don't tense up during contractions - which might be your instinct. It will make it feel worse. The pain only comes with contractions - then you get a break. Think about the break getting closer and closer. Don't focus on the pain. Concentrate on not holding your breath - breathe however you're comfortable during the contractions - try taking deep breaths too, rather than shallow ones. The baby likes oxygen and you need it too ; )
Transition is the worst - right before you start pushing. I would say even by 7-8 cms dialated, it starts getting intense. Transition is the shortest part of labor, so when you get there (if you think about it, I was always a little distracted to realize I was actually there) - know it's going to get better. Pushing hurts, but it felt better to be able to do something constructive - I was physically able to make it almost be over. I only pushed for 20 mins (breaks in between too - it wasn't 20 mins of solid pain) and it was over!
When it's done, it's done! It's so worth it! Epidurals have risks too - so I would have only considered it if I had been really tired or labor would have gone on past 24 hours or something. It's not something you can totally plan for. My view was hope for the best and put everything in place in case something comes up. I had 2 at home with midwives - but I had medical backup standing by just in case.
I wish you the very best - I know you can do it! I was never so proud as when I got done!

Answer 3

i used slow deep breathing and watched the clock. It was like instant relief when the contraction went away, and when they came i just reminded myself i would get a break when it went away. i also found that if you get up to use the bathroom and just stand for a little or walk during contractions, it feels better than sitting in your bed the whole time. My labor was 8 hours, after 5, i will tell you i got the epidural. It wasn't planned, its just some people cope with pain better than others. I didn't go in there planning on getting one, i tried my best and thats all that matters. I was really tired and wanted to be able to relax and have energy to push. I basically laid in my bed almost asleep because i was so relaxed from it and pain free. The doctors were telling me first time moms usually push for 1-2 hours and were telling me it could be longer because of the epidural. I pushed for 15 minutes, pain free, then i met my little girl!! Good luck to you, i'm not trying to tell you to get the epidural, because i was all about natural childbirth also. But just use breathing, and try to relax your whole body. I found that if everyone stopped talking while i had a contraction it made me feel better too. Quiet def. helps too. Good luckkkk and labor and delivery is DEF. not as bad as people make it out to be. :)

Answer 4

This is the same reply I gave someone else. It is very mental process and YES you can do it. I had a 100% natural delivery. If you have time read books on natural births. I read a book called, "Mind Over Labor." You must be confident and trust your body. I prepared by reading, meditating, and exercising. The biggest benefit to me was my midwife. Although my hubby was there she really couched me along. If you are giving birth in a hospital you can still get a hire a midwife or doula to help you and offer you that extra support that doctors and nurses just won't have time to do.There are also great benefits to doing it natural. You avoid medications which could be harmful to your baby. Also I have read that mothers who give birth natural recover faster and experience less postpartum depression. Think positive say to your self "I can do this. It's the way mother nature intended and it is good for me and my baby." Good luck and although it may sound contradictory, it will be a painful but most positive experience you will ever have. I know you can do it. It will be fine. hey I did it and I will do it again.

Answer 5

Breathing works well and focusing on the fact that the pain and contractions are working towards getting your precious cargo into the world safely. I used a birthing ball with my first (but I ended up having a shot of demerol to sleep because labor was 25 hours long) and it helped a lot. I had a ball at home with my second (who was completely natural) and my second (who ended up being an emergency c-section). I used mostly Lamaze breathing. Walking worked with both my vaginal births but I was more limited with my second because they had me on an iv and monitors most of the time (which I hated!!). Having a good support system in the delivery room is a big plus! Your husband/significant other and some one who is experienced in helping you relax and concentrating on the labor process like a doula are great people to have in the delivery room with you. I am lucky enough to have a mom who was a certified midwife's assistant and was with me during both my vaginal births (they would only allow my husband in the room when I had the c-section). I hope this helps.

Answer 6

Even though labor and delivery is intense and very very painful it can be done!!!
A thought about not wanting oxygen...if the babies heart rate starts to drop and not coming up as hoped that is when they give you air so that it helps the babies heart rate go back up. So don't lump having oxygen and pain meds in the same group. One is for your benefit one is for the babies.

I used the Bradley method and way before (now is a good time for you) I went into labor I started working on relaxing. Laying and seeing how fast I could get my body to completly relax. Course in labor I used this for a time till it got too intense and then I did some walking but the best was being in the jacuzzi tub! Made a huge differance! Didn't make labor less painful but the heat from the water forces the body to relax and helps you to start being able to breath through the contractions easier.

Breathing was a HUGE part of it. I never did the fast breathing like they teach in Lamaze...made me dizzy, but I would breath in through my nose and release through my mouth. When it got really intense I would breath the same but with the exhale I would almost moan. For some reason this helped me make it through one contraction at a time.

I did use the ball with my first baby...only worked for me for so long but every woman is differant and so as you are laboring you will be able to find more what works for you! When I was in labor with my first I wanted my husband by my head but don't rub my body anywhere....didn't feel nice at all! With my second it helped when he rubbed my thighs down to my ankles. With my third she came early and had to have an emergency c-section.

So every delivery is differant but just remembering that as hard as it gets it can be done naturally!

Good luck and congratulations!

Answer 7

I think thats a great attitude to have and i wish you all the best.
I have not yet had my baby (being induce monday) but i too am hopeing for a natural child birth.

I guess i cant offer a lot of advice as i havent actually been there done that yet but some of the things i have in mind are

im going to be using the bath helps relax your mussels
keeping relaxed & as calm as possible
make sure you have a good support person
massage
keep active it will help move the labour along
give birth standing

Answer 8

I had a natural birth with my daughter 22 mnths ago but i hadnt planned it so i hadnt been 2 any classes or dun any breathing exercises! I used gas an air with my son 3 years ago an it left me pukin so i knew i wudnt be using it again! The whole thing just comes totally natural 2 u. Everytime i had a contraction i lay up over the back of the bed an pulled myself in against the pillows. I found it quite difficult to breathe through each pain but holding my breath slightly didnt do me or my daughter any harm! Good luk an stay strong! x

Answer 9

Hey! when my daughter was born, i had NO pain med...nothing!!! It was totally natural..it was difficult ,I won't lie...but it was worth it.. i just tried to stay focused on something other than the pain..( which was hard) but i breathed!!!!lots of breathing!!!good luck!
My nurse told me to close my eyes and imagine myself on the beach and as the contractiond got intense picture the waves coming over me to wash away the pain..as weird as that sounds it did work.. try it.. hopefully it will work for you too!

Excercising moderatly did help speed the labor and i did not have near the leg cramping because i would walk track for 40 min. everynight.. that does help...

Answer 10

I think remembering to try to relax through the contraction works the best... Yes it is going to hurt... but planiing to to relax each time the contraction hits, helps....