Did you do it naturally???

[alicesmum]

Hi everyone
I just wanted to see if there are any other women out there who pushed their baby out without any drugs?? What did you think? How did you feel?

Most women I know had an epid, peth, or ceaser. I don't know many who went without. And I was SO PROUD of myself that I did it , and that i was active for the whole birth (BTW - The RBWH midwives are great!!). I could have so easily asked for the something (it hurt way more than i expected)

It doesn't seem very PC these days to say how proud you are to have given birth completely naturally (sometimes i feel like I have to be careful in case someone who didn't gets offended). But, I have to admit that I was rather chuffed with myself for a long time (as I have never been too great with pain !!). The best thing about natural birth is being able to get up straight afterwards and have a shower and walk around. And such a quick recovery!

My labour was 36 hours (only about 6 hours of hell though!!:-)

Everyone also told me many horror stories. I was a little surprised at how horrendous the last few hours of pain were, but it all seemed to be over so quick!! It was so amazing to see that my 8 1/2 pound baby was alert and pink and not affected by any drugs. I will definitely do it next time and would like to get into the Birth Centre at RBWH. Anyone have any tips for how to get in (was 69th on the waiting list last time!!).

Pls write about your nat birth story if you have one...

Rachel
Mum to six mth old girl

[Miss_Vicki]

Hi ya there.

I like to think Mine was natural as i Felt all of the pain , but i was induces with some sort of drip. I had some Gas but all it did was make me Giggles an slight ( an i mean Slightly ) take my mind of it , Even thou contractions started well before i had Jaz , they said My labour was only a 1hr ! That last hour felt like hours ,
Mind u the experience was Nuffin like i was expecting But i put me off babys for a Long time .Ialso had to have a c sections but was to late she finaly came out )

[Kassiasmum]

I was lucky enough to be accepted into the Birth Centre at the RBWH. i had my daughter 12months ago, I was induced and therefore could not give birth in the birth centre but was lucky enough to still have my midwife with me for the whole time. They were wonderful, made up the birth suite similar to the BC. Because I was induced and hooked up to the sintosin (not sure of the spelling) drip, I could not have as active a birth as I had planned but still used the opti ball and the bean bag for giving birth. I had the gas but it did nothing for me, it was more like the mouth piece (I had a mobile gas tank) was a distraction that I could bite down on during my contractions. I still like to say that I had a natural birth even though it was induced and I was monitered the whole time and I to am very proud of the fact that I gave birth vaginally ( the most natural way), but do understand that many women would like to give birth this way but due to circumstances beyond their control couldn't.
As for getting into the BC, all you can do is put your name on the list and hope that your are on of the very lucky ones that gets their named pulled out of the hat. As you said you were 69th on the list, this is why we need to lobby our politicians about the model of care and try to get more women into the sort of care that they want.

Tracey

[BJelly]

Hi there,

to get into the birth centre, you need to book ASAP - when you are about 6 weeks pregnant - (you need to ring them first, then ring your Significant Other just about) . They book up that quick.

If you were like me, and found out later, you have zero chance of getting in.

But the RB&WH does have midwife-centred care available - Phoenix and Pegasus groups. This way you get some continuity of care, you get to meet all the midwives on the team - so the midwife(s) on the day will not be total strangers. And you have all the back-up the hospital can provide if you run into complications. They are very supportive of active birth/natural birth . But they still won't let you use the deep baths- not even for pain relief

We definitely need more choice in this important area.

[Ffrenchknickers]

I dont have time to write out my birth stories right now but all I have to say that natural birth is FANTASTIC. i had an epidural for my first and NOTHING for my second (out of choice). Natural wins hands down - it's the way it's supposed to be. If I dont get into the Birth Centre next time I will be having a home birth for sure.
Having a natural water birth made me appreciate the process of birth. The recovery is sooooo much better and I didn't see a doctor the whole time. I would be more scared of intervention than of the pain next time...

[mamafelix]

Yep I had a homebirth, it took me three days and 21hrs of active labour but I DID IT!! and that made me feel fantastic, I can tell you.
I had a waterbirth too, which really helped in those late stages when I was just so tired, I kept passing out between contractions.
I've posted my birth story on another forum you can access it on:

http://www.forums.naturalparenting.c...ead.php?t=2390

It's really way too long to post here- there's a limit on the amount we can post, so please excuse me for just giving you a link. At that same forum you will also find a bunch more birth stories- a real mixed bag but all really from the heart. I love birth stories!!

[mama2four]

We have three kids, all births were different, but in all honesty the natural birth was the best for me. It was not by choice, it was purely a time thing. Our first was born, using all kinds of pain relief. It was really quite bad. The pethedine made me "high" and the gas made me sick. I swore I would not take either ever again. I was so out of it I really don't remember much of our daughters birth. The second was the natural birth. After refusing the drugs at the beginning of the labour, I had finally reached a stage were I did not think I could go on much further without some kind of relief. I asked for an epidural, but by the time the doc got to me it was too late and our second daughter was crowning. The pain was very intense, but worth it. I am 6 months pregnant now, and our youngest child is 8 years old. Even though it has been some time since his birth, I plan to go as long as possible through the labour with the drugs, but will ask for the epi if I need it.

[Mumoffour]

I used gas for my last two, does that count? Better outcomes for both mum and bub birthing without the drugs. Yes it HURT but after bub is out you quickly forget it. For this one I want a home birth and a birthing pool- my research has shown me they are pretty good. Girlfriend of mine was in labour for 4 hours in a private hospital and the ob came in and said if she didnt birth in 1/2 hour he was getting the forceps out!! nothing like pressure. We got her to squat and bub was out within the allotted time! phew!!

[Ivy-Rose]

Hello,
I have had three children and they were all natural.
I have to say though with my last I did seriously ask but it was to late. I like to think I wouldn't have gone through with it though if I did have the time.
I think it was an advantage that my labours aren't all that long from start to finish ongest being 5 hours counting from no pain butthey broke my waters at 2cm as I was being induced. I think I am one of the lucky ones too because I haven't had any reason for stitches with any of them either. Very lucky. I hope all you lovely pergnant women out there are as lucky.
Emma

[alicesmum]

You were v lucky Emma. Wow! Though I have heard that quick labous are extra-intense!! At least with a long labour, although you're exhausted, you have time to get used to the pain and it increases gradually. I had no stitches either even tho DD's head was 37cm and rather round! I put my great birth experience down to lots of preparation: psychological (reading EVERYTHING and doing meditation t/out pregnancy) and physical (exercise, yoga, perinium stretching, raspberry leaf tea...who knows about that one tho ???).

I went through the Phoenix Program at the RWBH as I was too late for the Birth Centre too, and would highly recommend it to anyone who wants a midwife-based program. They were all excellent. I had met 6 of the 8 midwives during my pregnancy and over the course of my labour, got the 2 midwives I hadn't met but it didn't matter...they were great!

Can anyone tell mw how you go about finding a midwife who will do a home-birth?