Natural or Drugs?

[Mermum]

Inspired by our March chat, I thought I'd start a Poll and discussion about the birthing process.
Deciding on the birthing method natural, water birth, birthing centre or with the epidural and drugs and the whole wiz bang delivery suite?

[GeorgiaAnne]

I'm going to the birth centre again but this time i'm going to take an open mind along with me.

[hayleysmummy]

If everything goes to plan I'll be having a Natural Water Birth without drugs at a birthing centre :D

[Mermum]

I hope to go the Birthing Centre too. I plan to do some pregnancy classes to get me ready though.

Yes I have heard it is reaaaallly painful giving birth :hissy:and most of my friends are epidural advocates!

But I like the idea of a soothing bath and a caring midwife anyway.

Please note: the poll won't cover all our birthing ways, it's just an experiment to see where people are at with the birth process.

:yelclap:
The discussion will no doubt be detailed and colourful! :flowerz: and express more about our different choices and methods

Thanks for responding so quickly, even before I got the poll going xo

[cassvanm]

My reality was:
DD1 - 48 hour labour with gas, peth & epi - needed it!!!
DD2 - 10 hour labour with a tiny bit of gas when I had a manual placenta extraction (ouch!)
Bub #3 - whatever it throws at me, I will tackle as it comes. If I can go drug free I will, because my recovery with DD2 was much better. But that might just be coz she was almost 2 pound smaller and a 1/4 of the labour! Plus, 2hrs compared to 10mins pushing - big difference!

[kymmy]

I never had drugs with any of my babies so I don't think this will be any different. Though I did have the gas to deal with the stitches. I am not planning on tearing or stitches this time thank you.
Hoping on a homebirth/waterbirth/free birth

[loz10]

For me, a natural birth, I have never been offered any real pain relief except gas for a short period as my births have been very fast.

I hate the pain and usually panick and wonder what else there is but then it is usually time to push, which I prefer over the contractions, I can't believe I have to do this again, it freaks me out sometimes but our bodies have an amazing way of taking over and getting bub out.
DS1 - 19 days early - 2.6kg - 4 Hour labour, yes 4 hours which is quite fast for your 1st, I look back now and laugh, I left the house smiling thinking this isn't so bad, the smile soon went, but when they say your baby is coming it is a huge step to knowing the pain will end soon and your precious little one has safely arrived.

DS2 - 10 days early - 3.2kg - 1 Hour labour - I was 3cm dialated when I arrived, in under 1 hour I fully dilated and had delivered, it was full-on and very intense but over thank god and DS was jittery for weeks from the speedy delivery.

Plus, had stitches with both, size didn't seem to matter and they had small heads, listed to your midwife re pushing, I never do, I just push and tear, hope to be able to find more control this time. :crying::eek:

I hope to make the Hospital with the next one!

[stellarella]

I'm having a homebirth so obviously no drugs.
No VEs, no monitoring, no touching of my vagina, no breaking of waters....

Just a birth. :)

My first birth was 46 hours of posterior labour, 2 1/2 hours of pushing, a 2nd degree tear and an epidural. Horrible horrible. :no: I was in a birth centre and I won't be going back.

[Jel]

No. 1 - had a ceasar due to bub being breech
No. 2 - 5 hour VBAC labour with about 30 mins pushing. Used gas, had 1st/2nd degree tear..
This time I'll probably use the gas again if needed.

[fusion]

DS. 25 hr labour with peth and gas
DD1. 12 hr labour with peth and gas
DD2. 6hr labour with gas
#4. see how i go

with peth i never felt it worked and the gas didnt either just helped take my mind off the pain.

[hayleysmummy]

With my 1 and only DD I went into hospital not knowing I was in labour to be 8cm dilated my labour lasted 5hrs with no drugs, no tears everything perfect :fingerscrossed: #2 is the same :yes:

[Manz]

I will go as long as I can without stuff, but I wont be holding back on the Epi if it gets too ridiculous... had Peth. with first 2 at the start, but ended up with Epidural's.... both were VERY justified! hehe!
Wish I could be more brave, but nup.... I know how good an Epi is - especially when it didn't work 100% and i was still able to feel pushing etc.... took a major edge of the contractions tho! :yes:

[KatieLou]

This is my 1st so I have no idea what to expect or hope for. I will be in a hospital though, but I really hope I can handle the pain enough not to have an epi. I have a lot to learn about my other options over the next 5 months...

[AmyLou]

Katie i'm with you! i am in the dark too... definately lots to learn! I'm hoping for a natural birth but we will see.. ohh i'm nervous just thinking about it!!

[neuralblokk]

i went natural with no meds for this bub, plan on the same with no2 eventually. my recovery was really quick!

[CJay]

I hope I can have this baby with the minimal amount of drugs.

With DD that was the plan oh natural... turned out to have every single drug pumped into me to get her out safely (Pre-eclampsia)

It was so quick 4 hours that I think I could do that natural if no severe troubles arise :fingerscrossed:.

[PinkAngel]

First bubba so don't really know what to expect...

Is it better to have no expectations or high expectations...

I'm trying to absorb as much information as I can and trying to avoid the 'oh its like pushing a watermelon through a garden hose' comments :laughing:

[mixy]

this is very interesting, i was just thinking that you didnt give the opion of natural pain relief. like massages, water, moving around/remaining upright, even continuity of care. just thought i would put that out there.

Any way, i am planning a home birth so no 'drugs' for pain relief, just my husband/best friends hands, the birthpool/shower etc, really looking fowards to it!
With Both of my previous labours i sat/stood in the shower with the gas, *bliss* with DS my husband was a better relief than anything else.
I know i can do this, birthing a baby is what my and your body was designed to do:)

The only worry i have is having a posterior bubs, as this is some thing i have never experenced during labour, if this was to happen i would hope to be able to turn hir with pelvic rolling etc.

I really like this thread, as it is a chance for us to share our opinions openly:) looking fowards to hearing back:)

[Mermum]

this is very interesting, i was just thinking that you didnt give the opion of natural pain relief. like massages, water, moving around/remaining upright, even continuity of care. just thought i would put that out there.....home birth so no 'drugs' for pain relief, just my husband/best friends hands, us to share our opinions openly:) looking fowards to hearing back:)
I agree with you Mixy, I made the poll very simple with only a few options(focusing on the drugs/no drugs) because there was a limit on how many characters I could use in each option.

I wanted to add lots of other things, but then I thought it would be more interesting to find out the kinds of things others will do and have done within the thread posts. I loved the way you explained your birth pain relief with the running water, gas and massages. It is really helpful to us first time mums who are still struggling with the idea of being pregnant let alone plan the birth.

and thank you everyone for all your valuable input, it really is very interesting and helpful. Looking forward to hearing more :)

:hugs:

Interestingly: today someone was telling me about music during childbirth, and also how some mums do a birth chant or song to their baby while pregnant and/or giving birth. Does anyone know about this or have they tried music or chanting?

[TrulyBlessed]

When I was in labour with my DS I was 8cms dilated before they even admitted me. I ended up with Gas for about an hr if that & then had to hand it back when it came to pushing.

I went in with an open mind & will do that again this time. My option is if I feel I need anything I will ask.

[loz10]

MummaDJ - Your birth with DS1 was similar duration to mine, but was 3cm then went fully dilated in the hour or less and pushed.

You did really well to be 8cm before being admitted :yelclap:, I hope you have a similar experience this time.

Mixy, your plan sounds comforting, I feel I need 2 support people as hubby was good but not great, he didn't always believe me as it was happening so fast and probably thought I had ages to go and needed to take more control. My sister (1 of many I have, I am 1 of 8 5 girls 3 boys) attended for about 25 mins, because it was rapid and she was also a good support for DH. I was thinking of having her again, she is local, has had 2 births recently and is very motivating during active birth, positive is what you need and a strong person to keep you going and tell you what a great job you are doing.

[loz10]

Also, Taree hospital is not very up to date and their spa bath for birthing has not been running for years, something wrong with it, so water birth is out for my local, being a water sign I think this would have sat well with me :hissy:.

Damn Regional facilities, no maternity clinic, $100's dollars of out of pocket expenses with u/s etc.

But, the show must go on!

[OJandMe]

Natural, no drugs.

Our bodies release just the right amount of endorphins when we need them.. but you have to KNOW your body and TRUST your body..

it's actually the state of fear which women can develop during labour (fear of the whole labour process... which is NOT something to be afraid of) that makes births overly painful...

as fear, (and also a medical, sterile, unrelaxed environment where you do not feel secure, or relaxed) can contribute greatly to the amount of pain we experience.

I can honestly say that I'm so happy with the birth I had with Gabriel.. and I CAN literally say, that I LOVED birthing him... and it DID NOT hurt.. (well not that excruciating 'I want to die' pain... just like more intense period pains... and then a chinese burn when he was crowning.

So hoping for the same this time around...

Of course, using natural pain relief methods, like hot water, massage, postioning, essential oils.. etc etc.

[loz10]

OJandMe - You sound strong, I do panick, get through it but panick and say I can't do it and want to die, then I seem to be pushing.

I really want to try harder, my last labour was more controlled but still out of control for a while. I do fear the pain of the contractions but need some coaching.

Even you little bit of advice made me feel better.

Thanks for your input :).

[Mischief]

Im hoping to go natural and drug free this time. :)

Oliver was a long labour and I ended up having the whole kit and caboodle. :(

[mixy]

OJandMe, you had some really powerful yet very true word there, hopefully someone will get some of the strengh they need from them:yelclap:

[EquineMum]

We're hoping for as natural a birth as possible, but obviously will be flexible if/when something happens and we need to reconsider that! We're both very open minded and will do what is best for us/bub at the time. We've booked in to a really good birth centre with midwives who are very much of the opinion that we should run our own birth and they are there to assist, not the other way round! :yelclap:

We breed horses, and I have "midwifed" many, many births with our mares (and other people's mares too) and to watch a maiden mare (ie has not had a foal before) listen to her body and just labour naturally, with no drugs, no assistance (just me/helpers standing by to step in if needed) and only her instincts to tell her what to do (no internet or book reading for them!!) is so incredibly inspirational. I can only hope to be half as strong!:) I realise people are different, but at the end of the day, we are both mammals giving birth, and the process is not that dissimilar.

Best of luck to everyone with whatever plan they have - at the end of the day, no one should judge you for your choices! :thumbsup:

Cheers
Kayls

:flowerz: Due Sept 20 with Bub #1 :cloud9::smiliedance:

[jazzah]

I have given birth 9 times, and it is true when people say every birth is different, I have experienced the works when it comes to birth, natural(no drugs, no one just me), epidural, gas,c/s,vbac, and I can honestly say that my best birth was my first vbac with just gas, I would never go through another natural again, for me it was very scary having no one there with me, and the pain was unbelievable, I cried the whole time and then when my DD was born I didn't want to look at her, I still have panic attacks over it, anyway every one has their own ideas which way they want to go.Good luck to everyone.:flowerz:

[Mermum]

..and I can honestly say that my best birth was my first vbac with just gas, I would never go through another natural again, for me it was very scary having no one there with me, and the pain was unbelievable,....:flowerz:
Hi Jodie, It's interesting reading your post after having so much experience with birth.
Sorry I am new to all this, "what's vbac"?

[Mermum]

Hi Jodie, It's interesting reading your post after having so much experience with birth.
Sorry I am new to all this, "what's vbac"?
Hi, no worries just looked on Wikipedia
Vbac ='Vaginal birth after caesarean'
For any first time mums.
Best wishes

[jazzah]

Hi Jodie, It's interesting reading your post after having so much experience with birth.
Sorry I am new to all this, "what's vbac"?

Hi Mermum, A vbac is a vaginal birth after a ceasarean, I have had 2 vaginal births after a c/s and both were a good experience, one with just gas, and my 2nd one was with my good old friend the epidural (fantastic invention those epidurals), please PM me anytime.

[waahoo]

Since I'm not back in the country where I will be giving birth, I can't exactly say where it will be, but I expect it will be a hospital. I'm actually sort of torn - I really don't like hospitals. When I m/c'ed in 2005 I had a d&c and hated every second of being laid out on a table, mostly naked with a bunch of strangers around poking needles into me. I'm a bit scared that it might be a similar experience giving birth in a hospital. However, I would actually like to have the option of an epidural available, so that pretty much limits me to a hospital. I was thinking about using an obstetrician and then getting a doula, but we'll see what the hospital is like when I get there. I'd really like to know the caregiver who's helping me give birth and if it's going to be whoever is on call, maybe I'll get a midwife.

[missmilliesmum]

I plan to go drug free for as long as possible, but I am open to an epidural if I need one. Being a nurse myself, I am a bit tainted. I see how well epidurals work, and I don't see the point of being in agony (If that is the case) unneccesarily.

I think it is wonderful that we have such a diversity in what we want for labour/birth. As along as we all respect eachother's opinions/decisions, which I am sure we will all do!

[mixy]

I think it is wonderful that we have such a diversity in what we want for labour/birth. As along as we all respect eachother's opinions/decisions, which I am sure we will all do!

:iagree: i think we are all very respectful of other decitions.

I would just like to point out, that i am all for freedom to choose etc, so i would really love it if you are thinking of having an epi, or the peth etc, that you do some research into the side affects, on you and the baby, i truely believe that if it is an informed decition then you have the right to choose what you like. does that makes sense? this is not me saying, oh its so bad dont have it, i just think that to make an informed decition you need unbiased information (that you MAY get from the hospital)

[OJandMe]

I recommend everyone read "gentle birth, gentle mothering' by Sarah Buckley.

Especially the birthing sections...

It was the book my midwife told me to read when I was preparing for Gabriel's VBAC...

and it has been the most inspirational book about birthing I've ever read.

The science and common sense in having a natural, physiological birth (delayed cord clamping, not inducing the placenta) is backed up with research and fact.

:thumbsup::thumbsup:

[3KIDSMUM]

DS 1 was 13 hr, induced epidural, peth, gas, forceps. Whatever I could get!!!!
DS2 was 3.5hrs natural start of labour, Gas and lots of manual pulling from DRs for sholulder dystocia (sorry cant spell)
DD3 was 8hr induced, gas.

#4 will hopefully be natual start of labour with as little pain relief ( see how I go,im a bit of a woose!) I would like to find more about hynobirthing and try that!

[mixy]

I recommend everyone read "gentle birth, gentle mothering' by Sarah Buckley.

Especially the birthing sections...

It was the book my midwife told me to read when I was preparing for Gabriel's VBAC...

and it has been the most inspirational book about birthing I've ever read.

The science and common sense in having a natural, physiological birth (delayed cord clamping, not inducing the placenta) is backed up with research and fact.

:thumbsup::thumbsup:

I am really looking fowards to reading this book i keep hear how great it is. My middy is leanding it to me, i should have it on monday then i wont be on here for a while lol....

[Mermum]

Sounds like a great book, I looked for it at Dymocks today but they didn't have it, anyone know where to get it?
:wizard:

[mixy]

A&R can order it in i think they said it would be $41 but ask them i cant remember for sure. the publisher is a smaller one some of the big stores dont stock it or order it. also try googleing it, i think you can get it that way, gee i cant remember.

[Mia]

I just got that book from the library and I have to say it is a bit "out there" for me, and I am a natural birth enthusiast. But I think scans are a good/lovely thing and I am happy to say goodbye and thanks to the placenta after birth.

My first birth was just 3 hours with no pain relief at all, and that was in a private hospital with an obstetrician - so it can be done! I am hoping it goes the same way this time, and the odds are in my favour, so hopefully that.

[loz10]

Mia - My 1st birth wa only 4 hours and 2nd 1 hr at hospital and 45mins at home, I was only aware for 45mins that the labour had started.

You should be aware that this one may be quite quick :yes:.

[Mia]

Omg, I know! The midwives told me I better camp out on the hospital lawn next time lol.

[tyler's mum]

I had the gas i wanted a epidural but they could'nt get it in my back:( I was induced, was a 13 hour labour i had a episiotomy it took them over a hour and a bit to stitch me up. Also they used the vaccum to get tyler out as she was stuck