Unmedicated Birth Discussion

[salmon2017]

Yep, yep, I know it's early for this, but too bad. It's Friday and my mind is wandering.

First, a disclaimer:

I chose to have a medication-free delivery last time and thankfully, the stars aligned. My body and baby cooperated. But just because this was my choice – it doesn’t mean it has to be yours. Pregnancy and birth is beautiful no matter how it happens. What matters in the end is healthy moms and healthy babies.

With that said, I am planning a medication-free delivery again and would like a place to discuss my preparation with other moms, and be a resource for those who are thinking of this option for the first time. 

[salmon2017]

Of course, I started this thread because I already had a question in mind

Has anyone used Hypnobirthing? I am interested in looking into it this time because I heard about "breathing the baby down" instead of pushing. Last time I did some pretty intense OB-directed pushing and ended up with nasty hemmorhoids (tmi) and a very very weak pelvic floor. I was thinking that a more gentle approach might help with that.

[leviosa]

I used hypnobirthing and it didn't work for me. I was with an OB and a resident was taking care of me and kept insisting I needed to just have a csection. I also had DH, my mom, and MIL in the room. I think there was just too much going on for me to relax. I was also on "the clock" because my water broke.

I had a med free birth last time. It was anything but calm, lol. I think everyone on the floor heard my screams. At one point the midwife said something that got my attention and I just stopped screaming and started pushing. I want another med-free birth but I need to mentally prep for it because holy crap that hurt! I had a much better recovery and experience all around and that is what I'm hoping I have this time too.

[salmon2017]

leviosa, do you think that hypnobirthing would have been more successful in a different environment?

I was definitely loud last time, but (I felt like) I was vocalizing more than screaming. My husband and anyone else on the floor might disagree haha. I don't specifically remember it being super painful (hooray for hormonal memory-wiping!) although transition was tough and there were times I felt like giving up.

My husband and I did the Birth Bootcamp video lessons together (I was on bedrest other wise I would have taken a live class). They were no nonsense and I thought prepared us really well. I think this time I need a better "happy place" to go to, though, because as you said - anything but calm!

[leviosa]

The problem for me is that there was no discomfort until I hit transition and then I was thrown into the shaking and transition type contractions. I literally had mild menstrual cramps until then. I would have liked to have worked up to the more painful contractions but it just didn't happen that way.

I don't think hypnobirthing is my style but that doesn't mean it won't work for you. I focused on my breathing and used the Bradley method breathing. I need to brush up on that.

[sarenu]

I wanted to try med free with my second. But I was induced with both. Once they broke my water I was in so much pain. With my second the epidural was placed badly and I could still feel and lift my own legs. The good news was that I actually knew when to push, I felt the pressure to start pushing and then I knew when each contraction was starting. And I was able to move around a lot quicker after the birth.

This one I'm going to try to stay home as long as I can. And if I do get an epidural, I'll probably have them keep it down to just dull the pain.

I'll probably do some research for books to read. I'll see what my Library has available and what I can request.

[salmon2017]

sarenu I can't imagine unmedicated for an induction. That's a whole different ballgame.

I was amazed at how fast my recovery time was with DS. It almost felt like nothing had happened (those magic hormones again).

[LittleStarSweeper]

I had an unmedicated L & D last time and I plan to do it again (assuming everything is ok medically for me to do so). I didn't use any sort of method last time... so I'm no help there. I am interested in hearing about all the different methods though!

[kellum]

I did unmedicated after pitocin for my first. I only took a birth class at the health department. Nothing fancy. My hope is I won't have to have pitocin this time since I'll be at a birth center. I think if I can do it after an induction, I can do anything haha

[salmon2017]

Is it worth having this pinned? How do I do that?

[leviosa]

sassypantzz, can you pin this please?

[sassypantzz]

Mar 24, 2017 16:57:32 GMT -5 leviosa said:

sassypantzz, can you pin this please?

You bet!

[magaroni86]

I've had an unmediated birth with both of my labors but they were completely different. First was 8 hours from when they broke my water to induce labor until she was born. I had terrible back labor and was ready for pain meds but that was because I was transitioning and it was time to push. Second labor was less than an hour from my first painful contraction until he was born. I'm hoping for this kind of labor again but would like my husband to be able to make it this time!!

I didn't do any special classes. The big thing that kept me going during my first was just being up walking or in the shower with hot water running over my belly and back.

[leviosa]

I hope this labor is faster than my last one. I just want to get in, have my baby, and come home. I'm only planning to stay at the hospital for 24 hours max. I did that with DS2 and loved being at home. My recover was pretty good though. I felt perfectly fine the next morning.

[lightside]

My labor was essentially unmedicated until I was transferred from birthing centre to hospital due to prolonged second stage (3 hours of pushing with no progress) and then had local anaesthetic for an assisted delivery. I went to an active labor class at my yoga studio and learned about toning, which was an amazing coping method for the 12ish hours I was in active labor. Essentially you focus on making long, low sounds through every contraction rather than screaming, which is counterproductive and can make the pain worse. My sound was 'haaaa' and I'm sure it sounded like I was mooing throughout my entire labor but I couldn't care less because it really worked for me! The most disruptive thing for my L&D experience was travelling to and generally being at the birthing centre/hospital so we're leaning toward a toward an unmedicated home birth this time with the same midwife and her partner. Of course we will have a 'transfer to hospital' section of our birth plan because sometimes that's just an inevitable outcome of this unpredictable process.

[kellum]

Mar 24, 2017 19:49:28 GMT -5 leviosa said:

I hope this labor is faster than my last one. I just want to get in, have my baby, and come home. I'm only planning to stay at the hospital for 24 hours max. I did that with DS2 and loved being at home. My recover was pretty good though. I felt perfectly fine the next morning.

We did that too. Staying in the hospital is super annoying. Baby would only sleep when held but we couldn't sleep holding the baby.

[caybeh]

Mar 25, 2017 8:20:17 GMT -5 kellum said:

Mar 24, 2017 19:49:28 GMT -5 leviosa said:

I hope this labor is faster than my last one. I just want to get in, have my baby, and come home. I'm only planning to stay at the hospital for 24 hours max. I did that with DS2 and loved being at home. My recover was pretty good though. I felt perfectly fine the next morning.

We did that too. Staying in the hospital is super annoying. Baby would only sleep when held but we couldn't sleep holding the baby.

I literally only slept maybe 2 hours my entire hospital stay with DD. I was there for a day and a half (including labor time). I could have stayed one more day but I said nope I'm going home.

[leviosa]

Mar 25, 2017 8:20:17 GMT -5 kellum said:

Mar 24, 2017 19:49:28 GMT -5 leviosa said:

I hope this labor is faster than my last one. I just want to get in, have my baby, and come home. I'm only planning to stay at the hospital for 24 hours max. I did that with DS2 and loved being at home. My recover was pretty good though. I felt perfectly fine the next morning.

We did that too. Staying in the hospital is super annoying. Baby would only sleep when held but we couldn't sleep holding the baby.

I totally sleep while holding the baby. I know big no no. When DS2 had his surgery at 2 months we had to stay in the hospital for 4 days and I slept with him in the recliner every night. No one ever said anything to me. Even when he wasn't hooked up to all the monitors we would sleep like that. He wouldn't sleep unless he was in my arms.

[luciddreamer]

With DS, my plan was just to see how it went and hold off on an epidural as long as possible. I had an induction and caved pretty early. Between the foley bulb dilation, pitocin, and not sleeping all night, I was done. I want to come in more prepared this time and try holding off altogether or as long as possible this time. I had a very difficult recovery last time.

[mambo]

I have a doula team since I'm hoping for a no pain medication delivery. Induction is in my future most likely but I would like to have more control over my delivery.

[leviosa]

Mar 25, 2017 12:16:35 GMT -5 mambo said:

I have a doula team since I'm hoping for a no pain medication delivery. Induction is in my future most likely but I would like to have more control over my delivery.

Don't assume you will have an induction. My first 2 labors progressed super slow after my water broke resulting in pitocin and then my third was totally different.

[mambo]

Mar 25, 2017 12:26:42 GMT -5 leviosa said:

Mar 25, 2017 12:16:35 GMT -5 mambo said:

I have a doula team since I'm hoping for a no pain medication delivery. Induction is in my future most likely but I would like to have more control over my delivery.

Don't assume you will have an induction. My first 2 labors progressed super slow after my water broke resulting in pitocin and then my third was totally different.

Meh cholestasis induction is likely. Unless I go into labor on my own at 34 weeks or something. I made it most of my induction with DD med free

[leviosa]

Mar 25, 2017 12:29:31 GMT -5 mambo said:

Mar 25, 2017 12:26:42 GMT -5 leviosa said:

Don't assume you will have an induction. My first 2 labors progressed super slow after my water broke resulting in pitocin and then my third was totally different.

Meh cholestasis induction is likely. Unless I go into labor on my own at 34 weeks or something. I made it most of my induction with DD med free

I totally forgot about you having cholestasis. Just ignore me, lol!

[springbeduk]

Lurking now but ...Have lots of feels on this and think it is really important for everyone to be able to go for the sort of birth you want (as long as you are also prepared for the chance things won't go as planned, like planning unmedicated and then baby is breech or other issue and you need a C-section, or planning for all the meds and then things just go too quickly ... Etc)
With dd I had a mostly unmedicated birth -i say mostly because no pain meds but I was on Ambien for most of labor because I'd already been in for a day and a half for induction due to low fluid and sleeping well in the hospital is, well, not the norm. They had just been doing cervadil for induction but were planning to start pitocin in the morning so wanted me well rested. Well, then I went into labor probably half an hour after taking the Ambien. Oopsie! But anyway, overall really it went well and I was very happy with the experience. Warm compresses are awesome. And perineal (or whatever that word is) stretching. Almost no tearing at all!

I didn't do hypnobirthing or Bradley or anything official (I'm not too good at picking and sticking to a program and no way was my h willing to go to any classes!) But was in the care of midwives and in a hospital where most of the births are done by midwives so that is the practice and perspective all the L&D nurses have too. So that helped. Not being put under artificial time pressure is huge.

I had back labor and counterpressure (h pressing on my back with each contraction) helped a lot. Pretty completely actually.

I read the ina may gaskin book and it was helpful - lots of it is too hippy-dippy even for me but there were still many things that were helpful mixed in. Like low, relaxed-jaw vocalization being better. And lots of reminders that really, yes your body can stretch and open enough.

And the book "pregnancy childbirth and the newborn - the complete guide" was really good too. Though maybe too much of a push for having a doula (as in making it seem almost necessary - rather than an option to consider among many). And then read various random other things which were helpful but I don't remember the exact source. But articles from which I learned that the standard rule of gotta give birth within 24 hours of water breaking (which leads to many C-sections) doesn't really have solid research backing it up. And that it is normal and ok to be in active labor and even pushing, especially for first births, for a lot longer than many docs think it is (so they then push for interventions that probably aren't needed, though of course could be options if the mother actually wants them). Stuff like that is good to know to be prepared to advocate for yourself. And also to not worry.

Best wishes for the birth experience you are hoping for!!

[kboyet]

Lurking from Oct 17... my EDD is Oct 1 and I was measuring in Sept at my last ultrasound.

I used hypnobabies for the birth of my son and it made a huge difference for me. My H, doula and doctor were very instrumental as well. I will say that I still felt pain but that my cue words helped me relax and make it through. My recovery was amazing and that is why I'll be trying for the same birth plan this time around.

Not sure what the difference is between hypnobirthing and hypnobabies, though.

[salmon2017]

Catching up after a weekend away and let me just say: WOW. I am so excited to be hanging out with so many like-minded mamas, and really looking forward to supporting each other as we prepare.

I admit I am a little surprised - probably because most of my friends IRL think I am crazy (if they have't had kids) or get defensive (if they have had kids) when I talk about my birth experience/plan. Last time I didn't tell people much either before or after, because I worried other moms considered it a judgment on their choices or outcomes.

MH on the other hand basically thought I was Wonder Woman and couldn't stop himself from telling everyone and their dog how his wife had given birth WITHOUT DRUGS. How embarrassing/nice

[salmon2017]

springbeduk MH squeezed my hips together through every contraction for eight hours. It was sooooo helpful. Poor guy could hardly move his arms the next day haha but I had very little sympathy. At one point he tried to take a break mid-contraction and I swore so loud at him that a nurse ran in!

[salmon2017]

luciddreamer I definitely recommend a plan - but more than that I recommend studying in detail the mechanics of childbirth. For me that was what made the difference. No matter what I was going through, if I could tell what my body was doing and why, what stage I was at, and so on, I was able to pace myself better and handle the pain. For example I recognized when I was entering transition, which was a light at the end of the tunnel (also the point at which I knew I couldn't get an epidural anyway haha).

[salmon2017]

kboyet, thanks, I will look into hypobabies - not sure the difference either.

[salmon2017]

lightside I made similar noises, although not intentionally. I found it helped me to focus on being open and not to tense my jaw, shoulders, or any other part of my body. The drive to the hospital was the worst for me too - being strapped in a seated position during a contraction? Not cool.