| Author | |
MarilynW
Forum All-Star
Joined: June 28 2006
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4275
|
| Posted: Oct 24 2006 at 4:49pm | IP Logged
|
 |
|
After four children I am finally reading stuff on Natural Childbirth (not a good sign though when I almost passed out from cramps last week and had to take an Advil!!!)
Does anyone have any opinions on why Natural Childbirth may be better than having an epidural?
How do you get a doctor to support Natural Childbirth - I have a pro-life doctor but I get the opinion that he does not think much of Natural Childbirth.
Are Bradley classes necessary for anyone thinking of Natural Childbirth?
I would love to hear your stories. Any recommendations for books - I am reading Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way.
Marilyn
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
doris
Forum All-Star
Joined: April 24 2006
Location: United Kingdom
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1103
|
| Posted: Oct 24 2006 at 4:57pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
There are many others with stacks more experience and knowledge than me, but I can speak from my own experience. I had an epidural with my first baby (long labour, exhaustion, not coping). That was all very well, but I had a really long 2nd stage because I couldn't feel what I was doing, which I'm sure was the major contributory factor to the wretched state of my pelvic floor.
I had the second baby without anything, not even a whiff of gas and air (it was too quick!). It was so different, and I can honestly say that I enjoyed pushing my son out. It was *so* empowering. Third time, similar story. The second stage was very fast (just two pushes) which was very intense, but still overall it was so fantastic to know that I -- or my body -- could do it. (Not to say that it wasn't painful btw!)
There isn't Bradley in the UK afaik but I did do yoga classes with an emphasis on active birth. I also had a doula for the second one because I'd read about the positive effects of having another supporter at the birth. (She got there after my son was born (!) but it was good to know that she would have supported me if necessary.)
Sorry, a bit waffly!
Elizabeth
__________________
Home educating in London, UK with dd (2000) ds (2002), dd (2004), ds (2008) and dd (2011).
Frabjous Days
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
momwats8
Forum All-Star
Joined: July 20 2006
Location: Florida
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1084
|
| Posted: Oct 24 2006 at 5:09pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I am the opposite so am not very helpful. My NFP only doc in Michigan was very pro natural child birth and I had my first 5 that way. The 6th I had an epidural and it was simply heaven. Smooth 6 hour labor and I pushed twice and yeah a baby when I was not exhausted from pain and pushing etc. For me it is nice after 5 natural births to have had 3 with the epidural. Even my last babay they broke my water and gave me the epidural and she was born 3 1/2 hours and two pushes later. For me I was just soo relaxed. My labors are easy anyway so I think for me I could do either. I labor quickly and never have pushed more than 15 minutes. I am just wimpy in my old age and am over the whole feel it all thing.  Sorry if I am not a help. Many people like the Bradley method though when I had my first 5 we just used Lamaze.
Good Luck. 
__________________
Mary- Wife to Mike and Mother to Austin(92), Mikey(95), R.J.(97), Benedict(98), Kolbe(00), Ignatius(02), Christian(03), Margaret(05),&4 angels in heaven
http://www.momwats8.blogspot.com
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
teachingmyown
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 20 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5128
|
| Posted: Oct 24 2006 at 5:27pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I love natural childbirth! No, really, I know that sounds ridiculous, but I do. I like what Elizabeth said about it being "empowering". It is like working so hard for your reward.
My first 5 were natural. I think with every one I asked for the epidural when it was "too late". My doctor usually laughed at me at that point.
My 6th was an induction (my 2nd) and I opted for an epidural. The Pitocin sent my body out of control. My husband tried to talk me out of it because he knew that I really didn't want one. He was right. I found the birth to be very surreal. I didn't even know that she was born. I didn't have that feeling of relief and accomplishment when they put her in my arms. It was very strange.
So, my 7th was natural again. I did end up on Pitocin because I wasn't progressing and did ask for the epidural too late again. I guess that should be my sign that birth is imminent when I cry for the epidural.
Every doctor I have had has been supportive of natural birth to start with. What is helpful is to have a doctor or midwife who will help you stick to a birth plan even when things get a little scary.
Now, please take my comments as personal remarks about my childbirth preferences. In my past life, I worked in L&D and saw many women have nice pleasant labors with an epidural. I see nothing wrong with that. Maybe I am just a glutton for punishment!!
__________________
In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
Remembering Today
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Jenn Sal
Forum All-Star
Joined: June 23 2005
Location: Texas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 897
|
| Posted: Oct 24 2006 at 5:35pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
You may want to talk to a Midwife. If that is too far of a stretch, some doctors have Cerified Nurse Midwives (CNM)on staff. They can be very helpful. I have had two children natural with CNM's in a hospital setting. My third, due this February, I am having at a Birthing Center with a CNM. There are several books out there through La Leche League on natural childbirth. You can check out www.lalecheleague.org
If you want to only know about doctors, I would still ask a midwife. They are pro-natural birth and would probably know what doctors support that in your area.
Good luck!
__________________
Jennifer, Texas
Wife to Mark, Mom to Cora 13,Kade 10, Sarah in Heaven 12/05, Colette 7, Corin 5, & Kieran 2
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Betsy
Forum All-Star
Joined: July 02 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1962
|
| Posted: Oct 24 2006 at 6:43pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I don't have time to write a long reply, but if you are going to hospital route get a doula!!!!
Otherwise consider having a home birth!
Betsy
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Jeanna
Forum Rookie
Joined: Oct 21 2006
Location: Nebraska
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 88
|
| Posted: Oct 24 2006 at 7:04pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
For my first I was induced with pictocin and I tried to go natural but the pain was so intense that I got sick to my stomach. I couldn't vomit at push at the same time, so I asked for the epidural. I remember everything from there on out a lot better and I like that. I do think it made it more difficult to push though and they ended up having to use forceps. Dh didn't think the situation called for forceps and was VERY upset about it.
My 2nd was c-section.
My 3rd was a v-bac and though I planned on getting an epidural couldn't because there was an emergency c-section at the same time. By the time the anesthesiologist was available I had passed the window. He ended up giving me an intrathecal (sp?). A good friend who is very natural had one when her ds was born and really liked it. She said it took the edge off, but she could still feel to push. She had hers 45 min before her ds was born though. I had mine about 10 or 15 min before my ds was born and I couldn't feel anything. They had to use the vacuum. Once again though I don't remember much about the the labor (maybe that's a good thing )until after I got the intrathecal.
I have a different friend who just recently gave birth naturally and said she didn't feel much pain until the very end. I don't know what method she used though.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
SaraP
Forum All-Star
Joined: Dec 15 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 531
|
| Posted: Oct 24 2006 at 7:59pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I have had three natural births and pretty much just hummed a few bars and faked it with regards to a 'method'. I think it's helpful to know the stages of birth and the normal range of emotions during an unmedicated labor, but women have been having babies for a long, long time and you don't NEED a class to teach you how to cope during labor . . . you will figure it out.
I don't think natural childbirth feels GOOD, but it also doesn't hurt the way I imagined it would before I had done it. The pain isn't like the pain of a broken bone or migrane - it's more like the pain from running fast and hard or carrying something really heavy for a long time. It's pain from work and effort rather than from injury.
I have to add, too, that I had to have a spinal tap a few years ago (I had an awful fever and the doc wanted to rule out meningitis) and if that process is ANYTHING like getting an epidural, then I am clueless as to why anyone prefers them. Give me labor pain any day!
I also think recovery is much easier from unmedicated labors. I have long labors (shortest was 10 hours, longest was 26 hours), big, BIG babies (smallest was 9lbs, biggest was 11lbs, 11oz) and two of them have been posterior, but I have also had very easy recovories and been up and around and feeling pretty normal within a few days each time.
All of my births have been attended by a CNM in a non-hospital birth center and I have been very happy with that arrangement.
__________________
Mama to six on earth, two in heaven and two waiting in Russia. Foxberry Farm Almanac
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
folklaur
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2816
|
| Posted: Oct 25 2006 at 12:39am | IP Logged
|
|
|
1st baby - I was fully planning on an epidural - but just barely made it inside the hospital -- she was crowning in the ambulance. The stitches hurt way worse than the labor that time  . So #1 was natural....
#2 - figured first time wasn't so bad, so we would go natural...and he was turned kinda sideways, and it lasted a little longer, and was a little more intense, than I was expecting , but by the time I said, "Okay, maybe I will get that epidural thing" I was told, "Sorry, honey, but it is too late..." So #2 was natural too.
#3 - took a class called "hypno-birthing", but don't let the name freak you out. Just was controlled breathing, basically, and working with your body as opposed to fighting against the pain. Learned better breathing than had before. Went through a few hours of labor in what seemed like a VERY short time (dh later said I had been standing by the bed for like two hours doing the breathing....but I turned to him and said, "how can I be ready to push yet?" because I was didn't realize it had been that long - I would have guessed about 10-20 minutes. Worst part of that birth was ( and I am so sorry, I KNOW I should have felt more sympathetic  ) was the woman in the next room screaming -- and I mean SCREAMING her head off -- along with many words I would never say..... 
I know I have been told all the reasons why natural is better -- and honestly, I hate meds overall in any case, and will avoid them when I can  , and I guess I figure - in most cases - (though I do understand there are exceptions...) - our bodies know how to do this, whether we breath right or take a class or whatever.....
I think one of the biggest problems is so many women get scared beforehand, because it seems like some people like to share their "horrible birth stories" with pregnant women. I have never understood why they do this.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Philothea
Forum All-Star
Joined: Aug 15 2006
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 824
|
| Posted: Oct 25 2006 at 7:18am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I think the best thing to do is go into every birth with a goal -- healthiest baby and mom possible -- and an open mind.
My goal with #1 was "natural birth." I labored (horrible back labor) for 21 hours naturally with my son until I was exhausted from the effort and then they broke my water. The pain became so intense that I thought I would die. I asked for the epidural in desperation, which set off a cascade of interventions ending in a c-section, which was frankly a relief when it happened because I knew I couldn't hack it anymore.
The thought of a c-section had honestly not entered my mind before that point -- I assumed it would never happen to me. Had I been less insistent on laboring naturally, perhaps I would not have been too exhausted to push the baby out and I would have better memories of the birth and recovery. As it was, I get stressed out just thinking abut the experience and I feel so sorry for my poor husband, who was tired and scared himself and had to step up to the plate emotionally to keep me calm during the surgery.
I'm hoping to be pregnant this month .... with the next baby, I will go in with one goal in mind: deliver vaginally, for the healthiest possible baby and mom. Epidural, lamaze, hypnobirthing, water labor -- I see them as tools now, not ends or goals in themselves. I don't want surgery to put my or my child's well-being at extra risk. If drugs keep that from happening, so be it.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
MarilynW
Forum All-Star
Joined: June 28 2006
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4275
|
| Posted: Oct 25 2006 at 7:42am | IP Logged
|
|
|
[QUOTE=Philothea] I think the best thing to do is go into every birth with a goal -- healthiest baby and mom possible -- and an open mind.
That expresses very nicely what I think. With my first birth - I had no real preferences - labor took 3 days - I got Demerol (despite having noted an allergy to it) - so threw up the entire labor and was so exhausted by the end of three days that I had a vacuum birth.
With the second I had an emergency c-section to deliver premature twins. I did not like the c-section or the recovery period - and in mind it is linked with the pain of not being able to hold my little boys for 3 days.
My last child was a wonderful birth - with epidural! I prayed and prayed for a VBAC - though I did specify in my birth plan that whatever was best for baby and mom should be done. I was scheduled for an induction on the Tuesday (before my due date - to give me more chance of having a VBAC) - but I went into natural labor on the Sunday before. It was back labor (posterior baby) - and pain was awful -and once I had the epidural I was so calm and peaceful. I needed this - as this was the first birth I had to push - and the pushing stage was 2 hours! The pro-life doctor was great - and did his best to avoid the c-section which he knew I did not want. And #4 arrived smiling and chewing on the doctors fingers!!
So I am in two ways - on one hand I avoid medication unless absolutely necessary for anything. But my first concern is for a VBAC - the whole drug issue is secondary.
Thanks for all the advice. Ok - now I just have to keep praying for another blessing.
Marilyn
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
stacykay
Forum All-Star
Joined: April 08 2006
Location: Michigan
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1858
|
| Posted: Oct 25 2006 at 8:25am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Hi Marilyn,
getting in late on this discussion!
As a nurse, I was pretty well-versed on the assorted childbirth methods, and took classes in a couple (I tend to go overboard on some things! )
However, reality doesn't always follow our plans (I think Mother Teresa said if you want to hear God laugh, tell Him your plans!  )
I have a problem with "pregnancy-induced hypertension," and wound up being induced with dss 1-4 and 6.
For ds 1 (posterior and 9/3,) I had nothing. Intense pain, and relief when he came out are about all I remember (that and being miffed that the nurse turned off Johnny Carson, as I was distracting myself from the pain watching him .)
Ds 2 (posterior and 9/7,) induced, and didn't plan on any meds, because, hey, I did it the first time. After 14 hours I asked for the epidural, and he was born 10 hours later.
Ds 3 (10 even and posterior and transverse- head that is,) went witht the epidural, which only took on one side! Ds was facing sideways, making no progress, and I was more or less delirious from the pain. He finally turned and went from 0 station to born in 10 minutes. He was probably 30 minutes old, before I managed to show an interest in him, or anything else, as I really was out of it.
Ds 4 (posterior and 10/5,) got an epidural that worked, and had a great delivery.
Ds 5 (anterior-finally got it right! and 10/2,) went into labor on own, bleeding from a partial placenta previa, and had epidural as soon as I could, with another great delivery.
Ds 6 (footling breech and 8/15,) epidural, fortunately, because he tried to come out like a paratrooper (just one leg out,) but the cord too. Fast csxn.
I am grateful they are all healthy.
God Bless,
Stacy in MI
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Patty LeVasseur
Forum Pro
Joined: Jan 28 2005
Location: Ohio
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 238
|
| Posted: Oct 25 2006 at 8:53am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I had baby 1 natural in 2 hours pushing 3 times.
I had baby 2 with pictocin natural and in 5 hours. I had a great doctor and nurse and they were very supportive of giving me the pictocin at a rate that kept the labor moving but not so quickly I couldn't breath through it and I just pushed twice.
I had baby 3 natural in 6 hours, but pushed for 30 minutes because she flipped over the wrong way and I couldn't feel anything to push.
I had baby 4 in 4 hours with pictocin. This doctor was in a hurry (honest to goodness he had a golf game to get to ) and this nurse would not listen to me when I told her they were giving me the pictocin too quickly--she appologized, but told me she had to listen to the doctor and not me. I finally asked for an epidural. They gave me one and it only numbed one side. So they tried two more times and still only one side. The doctor who was in such a hurry wasn't even in the room when my son's head showed up without me even pushing so we had a very quick delivery.
I say all that to say that for me pushing had more to do with the baby's positioning. And getting through the pictocin had more to do with the doctor and the nurse and their willingness to listen to me. Having had four different doctors (husband was in the marine corps so we moved a lot) I really belive that the doctor and nurses make the biggest difference.
__________________
Patty
mom to four blessings
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
momwise
Forum All-Star
Joined: March 28 2005
Location: Colorado
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1914
|
| Posted: Oct 25 2006 at 9:30am | IP Logged
|
|
|
All I want to add is if you try natural birth, do anything you have to to stay in warm water up until you have to push (or while you're pushing as well). Warm water does something incredible to take the edge off of those final stages. I can't get out of it.
__________________
Gwen...wife for 30 years, mom of 7, grandma of 3.....
"If you want equal justice for all and true freedom and lasting peace, then America, defend life." JPII
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Jenn Sal
Forum All-Star
Joined: June 23 2005
Location: Texas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 897
|
| Posted: Oct 25 2006 at 9:55am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I second laboring in the water! It makes a HUGE difference. You don't have to have a water birth, you can just labor there. Though I would have given birth in the water if I could. I just couldn't get back there after gong to the bathroom!!!
__________________
Jennifer, Texas
Wife to Mark, Mom to Cora 13,Kade 10, Sarah in Heaven 12/05, Colette 7, Corin 5, & Kieran 2
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
momwats8
Forum All-Star
Joined: July 20 2006
Location: Florida
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1084
|
| Posted: Oct 25 2006 at 10:39am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I keep reading your replies and you all are good. The water made me feel clauster phobic when I went into transition and I freaked out in the tub. I made them get me out. I am a mover in labor though - unless I have my epidural. When I am laboring natuarlly it makes me feel in control to walk aroud the room and move until I have to push. I also limit the amount of times they check me. I do not like to just lay around in water or in bed. The moving also uses gravity to help the baby come down faster. Everyone is different though. Some love water but it just freaked me out when I hit transition.
__________________
Mary- Wife to Mike and Mother to Austin(92), Mikey(95), R.J.(97), Benedict(98), Kolbe(00), Ignatius(02), Christian(03), Margaret(05),&4 angels in heaven
http://www.momwats8.blogspot.com
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
SaraP
Forum All-Star
Joined: Dec 15 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 531
|
| Posted: Oct 25 2006 at 1:45pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Mary wrote:
| The water made me feel clauster phobic when I went into transition and I freaked out in the tub. I made them get me out. |
|
|
I felt that way with my first two. With my third I loved the water and she was born in the tub.
Every woman is different and every labor is different so, like someone said above, a plan is good, but be flexible.
__________________
Mama to six on earth, two in heaven and two waiting in Russia. Foxberry Farm Almanac
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
humanaevitae
Forum Pro
Joined: May 31 2005
Location: Minnesota
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 411
|
| Posted: Oct 25 2006 at 6:47pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
1- unmedicated and found it a bit helpful to rock in the water.
2- unmedicated, not by choice as I flipped out from the pain and was out of my head. Tried water again but hated to rock, wanted to splash and knock my head against the wall
3- induction and epidural. The IV kept blowing my veins and hurt horrible. Was unable to move my hand after labor for hours and really hindered breastfeeding.
4- induction and epidural that was absolutely wonderful! Unfortunately we ended up in the OR but narrowly managed to avoid a c-section. The Dr. was willing to let me labor/deliver with help only because I had the epidural. (Otherwise I would have passed out from the pain.)
I am an hr away from the hospital and my body skips the first labor stage. We will probably have more inductions/epidurals.
__________________
Nicole-Zane 10, Elizabeth 7, Xavier 4, and John Patrick 2
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
MacBeth
Forum All-Star
Probably at the beach...
Joined: Jan 27 2005
Location: New York
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2518
|
| Posted: Oct 25 2006 at 8:39pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Can't tell you why one is better, but I'd rather have a C-section with one than without one (as opposed to general anesthesia  ). Had my v-bac with epidural, and it was lovely.
__________________
God Bless!
MacBeth in NY
Don's wife since '88; "Mom" to the Fab 4
Nature Study
MacBeth's Blog
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
ElisabethGrace
Forum Pro
Joined: Aug 17 2005
Location: Texas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 130
|
| Posted: Oct 25 2006 at 10:38pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
All of our births have been unmedicated. Our babies were all big, the last being 10lbs14ozs. However, our births were also without any complications. If we had any MEDICAL reasons for medications, we would have done whatever needed to be done.
I agree about the feeling of "empowerment" from childbirth. During my last birth, I offered up my pain for the Holy Souls in Purgatory, which I feel gave me a great feeling of peace during the pain.
As far as convincing your doctor to support you, I'd be sorely tempted to remind him that he's working for you. (I don't know if I could say that , but I would be tempted!)
I think arming yourself & DH with as much information about the benefits of natural childbirth before speaking with your doctor may help.
Angela
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
|
|
Forum Locked) 
4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: Natural Childbirth vs Epidural/other
