Unmedicated Birth

[kboyet]

Wondering if anyone on the board is planning to have an unmedicated birth and if so, what methods will you use?

I had DS1 unmedicated with the help of a doula and hypnobabies (and DH). Planning for the same type of experience this time but finding myself more nervous because DS1 had shoulder dystocia.

[rm2013]

Same here! Doula and hypnobabies. Worked wonders. I labored at home and when we got to the hospital I was 9cm 😂

Sorry about the dystocia, isn't that something that is related to baby being big?

[Cythe]

I'm so torn on what I'd like for a birth experience. I'd love to give it a shot, but I highly doubt I'm going to be sad or disappointed if I decide on an epi or something. Also, I'm slightly worried at the idea of going full force into med-free and I'm not sure why. I think I have commitment issues

[trinitrotoluene]

I've been debating this since i had DS. I was a 7 and still talking through contractions when we got to the hospital. I got the epidural, but i have been wondering if i could do it without it ever since.

[rm2013]

Cythe - don't feel like you're locked in to anything! You can prepare to go med free and if at any time during labor you're like, nope this isn't for me then you just ask for the epi. No one will judge you or say you can't change your mind.

[thechickencoop]

::slowly backs out of thread::


Drugs. Gimmie gimmie drugs.

[starmile]

We will be having a repeat CS but I used hypnobabies with my daughter to get through 24 hours of induced labor hell. I loved it! I think it's a great program

[kboyet]

Mar 7, 2017 19:08:34 GMT -5 starmile said:

We will be having a repeat CS but I used hypnobabies with my daughter to get through 24 hours of induced labor hell. I loved it! I think it's a great program

Agree! If nothing else it definitely makes falling asleep really easy!

Also, sorry you had to labor for 24 hours. That sounds miserable 😭

[kboyet]

Mar 7, 2017 18:25:24 GMT -5 rm2013 said:

Same here! Doula and hypnobabies. Worked wonders. I labored at home and when we got to the hospital I was 9cm 😂

Sorry about the dystocia, isn't that something that is related to baby being big?

He was only 7lb 11oz. It can be due to baby size, position of baby as they are coming down or small pelvis related. Luckily he didn't need intervention or get a broken collarbone but it still scares me. Just going to trust the midwife and doula at this point to guide me.

[ssm]

My whole birth with ds was a mess of a long story. I was mostly unmedicated for pain. My epidural was placed at the time to start pushing. So it barely took the edge off the final contraction, oh and it did take the pain for being stitched up though.

My next delivery is so dependent upon my health. If I am pree free, I may try for no epidural. I made it pretty much all the way with ds. Why not do it again?

But it all really depends on my health.

[kboyet]

Mar 7, 2017 18:25:30 GMT -5 Cythe said:

I'm so torn on what I'd like for a birth experience. I'd love to give it a shot, but I highly doubt I'm going to be sad or disappointed if I decide on an epi or something. Also, I'm slightly worried at the idea of going full force into med-free and I'm not sure why. I think I have commitment issues

I watched a documentary called the business of being born and found it really interesting. I didn't decide to try med free until I was 32 weeks and switched doctors at that time. I don't think there is a wrong way to labor but I did find my experience to be empowering and my recovery was really smooth.

[Rama]

I'd like to shoot for it, but have the option open to change my mind at any time.

My pain tolerance is pretty high, though, so I think I have a chance. (MrRama would argue because I cry wolf all the time while we're wrestling, but he's twice my size and, girl, I ain't gonna be in pain if I don't gotta be, yo.)

[mommabakes]

I'm hoping for another med free birth, but I won't be upset if I end up with an epi. No real plan, just supportive midwives and husband. I was in labor with my daughter for over 30 hours before giving into an epi, so if labor this time is super long again, I will not hesitate to do what I need to to get through it.

[danvers]

I thought I wanted to with DD but our tiny county hospital's policy is that once your water breaks you're on bed rest. Something about fears of prolapsed cords and all?! Not that those aren't real fears but it seemed a bit extreme. Anyway my water broke, I was only 3cm, and decided no way in heck I was going to make it to a 10 just laying there so I got an epi. Not gonna lie, it was awesome. But I do wonder if I could make it farther if I didn't have to lay there...

[arimaythea]

I waffled about going med free with my first, leaving myself open to the possibility. I got to the hospital around 7cm and got the epi around 8-9cm. When I was in active labor, the contractions made me super nauseated, so I ended up getting the epi more for stopping the nausea than for pain. I'll play it by ear again this time, but my epi experience with my first was positive.

[starmile]

Mar 7, 2017 19:30:48 GMT -5 kboyet said:

Mar 7, 2017 19:08:34 GMT -5 starmile said:

We will be having a repeat CS but I used hypnobabies with my daughter to get through 24 hours of induced labor hell. I loved it! I think it's a great program

Agree! If nothing else it definitely makes falling asleep really easy!

Also, sorry you had to labor for 24 hours. That sounds miserable 😭

Thanks. It was actually 30 hrs total but I was unmedicated for 24. My daughter was having decels off and on the whole time and I was stuck at a 7. It wasn't meant to be. It's taken me a long time to process it.

[NariaDreaming]

Mar 7, 2017 19:08:06 GMT -5 thechickencoop said:

::slowly backs out of thread::


Drugs. Gimmie gimmie drugs.

*sits on your bench*

But I will be the biggest cheerleader for all of you who choose to forego meds.

[bubblefan]

I had a failed epidural with DS and I was NOT prepared for that. I do not handle pain well at all. I will ask for an epidural again but I will also do some research so I am (hopefully) better prepared if things go differently again.

[augustblooms]

With DD I was induced and on pitocin and ended up with an epidural.. I wished that nurse had told me she maxed it out because those contractions were no joke they were every minute with 30 second to one minute break. I had to wait for the anesthesiologist because he was in emergency surgery. It was definitely a give me all the drugs situation. However they turned it off during the pushing stage and that was a whole other kind of pain.

This time if I end up in a similar situation I will get all the drugs. I'm going to try med free but l'll see how things go. I may try hypnobabies, I meant to try it last time but never got around to it.

[NariaDreaming]

Mar 7, 2017 21:38:56 GMT -5 caitost21 said:

Mar 7, 2017 20:33:52 GMT -5 NariaDreaming said:

*sits on your bench*

But I will be the biggest cheerleader for all of you who choose to forego meds.

Can I sit with you guys too? I planned to go med free for as long as possible with DS...I made it 30 minutes. I asked for fentanyl while I waited for the anesthesiologist to get there because that shit hurt like nothing I've ever experienced before. I'll be asking for an epi upon arrival.

I had an orgasm the other day that had me laid up for 30 minutes. After that experience I realize that if a pleasurable orgasm hurts that badly, there is no way in hell I'm going to make it through labor and delivery without pain medication

[riverraine]

Mar 7, 2017 21:38:56 GMT -5 caitost21 said:

Mar 7, 2017 20:33:52 GMT -5 NariaDreaming said:

*sits on your bench*

But I will be the biggest cheerleader for all of you who choose to forego meds.

Can I sit with you guys too? I planned to go med free for as long as possible with DS...I made it 30 minutes. I asked for fentanyl while I waited for the anesthesiologist to get there because that shit hurt like nothing I've ever experienced before. I'll be asking for an epi upon arrival.

Yep. Sign me up for the curbside epidural service.

[gamergirl360]

Mar 7, 2017 21:38:56 GMT -5 caitost21 said:

Mar 7, 2017 20:33:52 GMT -5 NariaDreaming said:

*sits on your bench*

But I will be the biggest cheerleader for all of you who choose to forego meds.

Can I sit with you guys too? I planned to go med free for as long as possible with DS...I made it 30 minutes. I asked for fentanyl while I waited for the anesthesiologist to get there because that shit hurt like nothing I've ever experienced before. I'll be asking for an epi upon arrival.

I go here too. With DS, I told them to have the anesthesiologist waiting for me with an epi by the time I made it to my room from triage. I was at a 4. Med free is not the way for me.

But +1 to being a cheerleader for those foregoing the meds.

[mommabakes]

Mar 7, 2017 22:23:05 GMT -5 @moonandback141 said:

With DD, I knew from the beginning I would want an epi and it was wonderful BUT I learned I am one of those people unable to push with one.

They turned it off and it wasn't until it completely faded away and I was basically unmedicated that I could finally feel the urge to push and use the right muscles to do so. And actually, pushing felt good and make the contraction pain go away.

So in some weird universe, I am considering attempting birth without the epi this time around since it really only gave me temporary relief and a nap.

You might be a good candidate for a walking epidural.

[rm2013]

I also just want to throw this out here - of course each decision is based on your personal situation and what is important to you. Since I desperately wanted a VBAC I didn't do any meds because it can increase the likelihood of failure.

For both my kids I had issues with them being not an optimal position. DD1 was face up (sunny side up / occiput posterior) and stuck and I had an unplanned c/s. With DD2, she was turned where her nose was facing my hip instead of my spine (asynclitic position). Even though I was 9cm when I got to the hospital, she couldn't get out. It took 6 hours of walking, bouncing, squatting, dancing, doing every position in the book to finally allow her to rotate and come out. (This is where the doula and midwife were amazing) I also didn't let them break my water so she had more ability to move.

If I had an epi it just couldn't have happened. Every time they had me lay down on my back to push all progress stopped. She ended up being born with me kneeling with my back straight up (like the cowgirl position).

Here's a good link on asynclitic position if you're curious : spinningbabies.com/learn-more/baby-positions/other-fetal-positions/asynclitism/

[CoachTsWife]

I had a med free delivery with DS and my plan will be the same this time. I agree with knowing what you'd prefer, make a plan, but know that things might change. You have to be flexible. I know people who wanted all the drugs but things happened to prevent it and everything turned out just fine. I also know people who wanted med free but things happened to prevent it and everything turned out just fine. So, decide what you want, but realize there are a lot of things out of your control and you need to be flexible.

I give my Doula a lot of credit, and she was one of the first people we told when we found out we were expecting again. I cannot recommend a highly qualified Doula enough.

[kboyet]

+1 to the doula statement. Life changing for me.

[keen]

I've had epidural and no epidural (because I was 10cm when I finally asked for it and it was too late).

After it was all said and done, I preferred no epidural. I think my preference had a lot to do with the fact that I had already delivered vaginally.

For baby #3, I think I'll have the same mindset of trying to go as long as I can without pain meds, but we'll see.

Any method of getting your baby outside of your body has pro's and con's. None is better than the other as long as gets your baby safely in your arms.

[kj808]

I have absolutely no desire to go med-free. I've had drugs with all of my deliveries and will do the same this time. Give.me.all.the.drugs.

[yogini kiki]

If I get to try for a VBAC I will go for no meds, otherwise I'm loaded up for my C. I had a doula for my first and went no meds for the first couple days but I didn't progress and had a Csection in the end anyway.

I'm going to be breezy about the whole getting the baby out this time because I know how awesome it is going to be to not be pregnant.

[Rama]

Mar 8, 2017 18:08:05 GMT -5 @chitownsully said:

Last time I went into it with a very open mind. I had a plan for meds and without, CS or vaginal, so no matter what happened I was ready. I will do the same this time.

Spoiler: I went for the epi. ;)

This was one of my friends.  She wanted to let her body do what it was supposed to do.  Not an hour in the hospital she made the nurse call the doctor and beg for an epi, hahaha.