Six days past due date and going strong. There’s a chance she may be gaining 2 lbs a day. Or maybe my chocolate-eating has just increased. Either way, she’s a biggun’. (That’s how you say “large and in charge” in Texan).
I’m thinking of going au naturel this time. (i.e. no epidural or other pain meds.)
I was blessed with two very easy, beautiful labors with my first two — had epidurals with both — and have thought that I would like to try going without it this time for several reasons. I’ve mentioned this to a few people lately.
One (who had a natural labor recently) said, “It was euphoric.”
Another said it was miserable and she would never do it again.
Another said it was miserable but that she’d do it again in a heartbeat.
Another made a constipated face and just looked at me strangely.
I stumbled upon this post from perhaps the world’s most popular blogger, The Pioneer Woman, in which she wrote in a Q&A:
Dear Pioneer Woman,
I’m due to deliver my first baby (a girl!) on July 10th. I’m a little nervous about labor and delivery…any advice?
Love,
Gestating in Georgia***
Dear Preggers:
You shouldn’t be nervous. You shouldn’t be afraid. Women have given birth for centuries.
That said, labor is TERRIBLE. The pain—the crampy, all-encompassing abdomen-and-beyond experience is like nothing you’ve ever experienced. The sheer intensity of it blew my mind. I felt helpless, desperate, and alone when my first labor kicked into gear.
THAT said, my most wonderful childbirth experience was my third, when I pushed through and made it without an epidural. I felt every single contraction and I got to scream a primal scream when my boy finally burst forth into the world. It’s the birth I think most about, and, ironically, the one I remember most fondly.
THAT said, it really does hurt. But it’s not a sharp pain kind of hurt. It’s an I’ve-never-experienced-this-sensation-in-my-life kind of hurt. In the throes of labor, I would trade it for needles being driven into my eyeballs.
But don’t let that scare you.
Lotsa Love,
P-Widdy
My husband and I have been enjoying a fun banter about him coaching me through this au naturel thing. Mostly because we googled a popular “method of husband-coached natural childbirth” and found a funny Cliff’s Notes-like blog post where they give you the 5-minute rundown.
The first tip:
Coach is to remind woman in labor what muscles to relax
(head, face, arms, legs, hands, back, abdominal, shoulder, etc.)
Matt: “So I’ll just remind you to relax your face? I can do that. Relax your face.”
(He’s been practicing this phrase a lot the past couple of days.)
Me: My feet are swollen.
Matt: Aww, just relax your face.
The second tip:
Coach is to remember that the first need of a Laboring Woman is Darkness and Solitude
Me: Please don’t leave me alone in a dark room.
Matt: Shh, just relax your face.
All joking aside, it is something that I’d like to try — so we’ll see. I’m just hoping the hospital is stocked on those yummy frozen rainbow Popsicles. Though it may make it harder for me to relax my face with brain freeze.
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Go for the natural birth!
We delivered our first baby (two weeks late) on Monday, and went all natural (with the exception of the inducing drugs).
Gus was 9 lbs, 5 ounces (or, as my husband likes to say, a giant)! There was a lot of pain – and a few scary moments where we thought we might end up with an emergency c-section. One of the nurses told me after the fact if I had had an epidural, I probably most certainly would have ended up with a c-section because I wouldn’t have been able to push. However, it wasn’t easy but it was worth it once we got to hold him in our arms!
We’ll continue to keep you and your family in our prayers!
Sara! You are a rockstar. I can’t believe you had a natural labor when you were induced — that’s supposed to make it so much harder. And wow, Gus is a big boy! So glad you didn’t have to do the emergency c-section. Congratulations to your whole family. And thank you for your prayers!
I did Lamaze with Phil, no drugs, nada. Sue was my coach.
Barb, come coach me!
I have had 4 babes. All 4 I had to be induced (waters broken and not going into active labor on my own)– 3 of the 4 were natural childbirth. (interestingly it was the fourth that I finally had an epidural.) I have done a lot of thinking about natural childbirth as a woman of faith. Nothing has brought home to beautiful and hard truth of our Christian faith like childbirth (and subsequently, parenting). That truth being that true life is found through the cross (suffering). My husband, who is such an awesome birthing partner, actually brought a crucifix into the L&D room. He kept encouraging me to be in solidarity with Christ. Totally didn’t work for me in the throes of labor, but breathing through contractions, moving around, taking a bath, groaning like a dying cow when I needed to, and taking it one moment at a time without worrying about how far along I was, really did help. The truth is- I couldn’t over spiritualize natural childbirth in the moment. It is hard and very human. But, afterwards, those experiences when reflected upon, have made me a more mature Christian. I’ll pray that your labor goes as you desire. But I also hope that you trust your body and do whatever necessary to have a safe and good delivery. Peace from a fellow mama.
When your little baby girl comes, you do what you need to do to bring her into the world safely. It’s not about “mommy wars”…meaning I DID IT without DRUGS, it is about doing what works for you and your baby. Play it by ear. Go with what IS.
Incidentally, you are already ONE with Christ.
Oh my goodness! ‘Relax your face’ made me giggle out loud! I love this post. I’ve had 3 kids, had epidurals with my girls and my son came so quickly there wasn’t time for one with him. He was my biggest baby (9lbs 9oz). I was in SO much pain with this guy, I thought I was going to die… not really but… that was intense. After he was born and they laid him in my arms I thought my heart would burst with love. It felt amazing and his birth was the clearest of the three (he was the middle child). If you go through with no epidural, you won’t be sorry. With my third, I brought my Rosary and prayed while I was in labor and when it was time to push I was filled with a great joy. So, my two cents. No to epidurals, yes to the Rosary!! Many blessings to you and your family!
You can do it! Remember – it’s only one day of your life and if you can have a bath or jacuzzi during labour – it is like an epidural – have your husband push in your hips during contractions – the beauty is after the labor is over you can eat and do whatever you want!!!! No drugs! Good luck!
I say go with Martha…. you do what ya gotta do. If I were doing it today I might go for an epidural
AND, I would love to be your coach. I watch a baby story everyday when I am home for lunch. Talk about goofy over watching babies being born!! The whole process is amazing.
Glad you guys can laugh together! I’m sure you already have an idea of how invaluable that is to your relationship and sanity, especially in the ninth month! I’ve had seven unmedicated births (nine total, the first was an epidural and the third was premature, so medication was to try and stop labor, not pain relief). Four of them were at home. It may be too late for me to tell you this now, but hey, if you are so blessed again, or for your readers, here you go! If you go for going unmedicated, and I highly recommend it, collect as many coping techniques in your research as possible so that you will have a full arsenal. Even if you’re planning a hospital birth, don’t discount home birth and unassisted childbirth resources–they have some ingenious suggestions. Some will undoubtedly scandalize you (e.g. a literally au naturel birth, and beyond) and some will seem odd–like blowing through your lips like a horse during contractions, but darned if it didn’t help me a few times. Not every time, for every contraction or every birth, which is why it was helpful to have several options to whip through until I found one that worked right then. Good luck!
aw, go ahead and relax your face (and other parts).
I had mine natural. the first one feels like that scene with Sigourney Weaver and the alien. But after that, piece of cake. you’ll be fine.
Oh, you made me laugh! But really, if your husband reminds you of only one thing during labor, that thing should be to breathe (deeply and evenly). Breath is the key to control; if you don’t breathe you may panic or hyperventilate. You cannot relax your face or anything else if you forget to breathe. (This may seem obvious, but labor can be kind of intense.) Relaxation is the key to pain management. Imagine an athlete doing a hard task, wrestling for instance, if every muscle in the body is tense, his efforts are ineffective and he tires quickly. When you are in labor, you are an athlete (for the day at least) and the working muscle is the uterus and the task is giving birth. By relaxing the muscles not in use (ie. relax your face) you save energy and allow your uterus to open up without fighting all of the contrary muscles in your body. Try to enjoy yourself and good luck!! (A good library read- “Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way”.)
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