Active Birth Experience's

[MammyShirl]

I am 32 weeks pregnant and i have decided to have an Active Birth, I am very interested to hear from anyone who gave birth this way. The idea of it sounds great but I am not sure if its realistic, would I be able to stand the pain?, The labour may go on so long that I am too tired for upright positions or there my be complications/emergency and then my birthplan goes out the window!!! Few of my friends who have children said when they gave birth they felt "so out of it" they did not know what was going on. I want to be aware and if possible somehow enjoy the birth. I am really looking forward to it and cant handle the anticipation of it all. Although I feel this little person move round all day and feel like I know them, I just cant imagine that in a couple of months I am going to meet this little person. What will they look like, what will their little voice sound like and what will the birth be like? I just hope I wont be one of those people who say "never again!".

[zebra]

What is an Active Birth Experience supposed to be?

[WideWebWitch]

Is it Janet Balaskas (sp?) and all that?

[lalaa]

MammyShirl
Active Birth classes are actively encouraged and promoted where I live, and I did a six week course with a qualified yoga teacher and ex midwife. I cannot endorse them enough. The classes covered labour and birth in lots of detail, yoga for pregnancy and preparation for birth, and options for active birth positions. We practiced the positions in the classes, and at the final session, with our birth partner....quite a strange experience when you're not actually in labour, but retrospectively, it was definitely helpful!

My birth was relatively 'easy' and I put that down to the yoga and active birth classes, plus keeping as active as possible throughout pregnancy. I sat on a chair the 'wrong' way round, for early labour, did lots of hip swaying early on too, tried all fours (didn't like it), and eventually found that being at about a 45 degree angle worked! Unfortunately for dh, this meant that I leant against his chest standing up for the last two hours of my labour - he had to have a pillow eventually as my head was bruising his chest (ha!). (Had the option to lean against the wall, but felt that dh should share the experience!!)

I did feel tired towards the very end, and wanted to sit down (not an option by then!). My labour was quite short too, (about 5 hours in total), so keeping as active and fit as poss in the run up to the birth is v. important. In terms of your birth plan, I know they are encouraged by all the books and the midwives, but in my experience, (and almost everyone I know!), they tend to go out of the window anyway, just because things happen and you have to go with them. Mine didn't even come out of my bag, although, admittedly, dh was well briefed, and my labour was not complicated. The important thing is knowing your options and understanding what can happen so that you feel in control if interventions become necessary. (Also learnt this on the course!)

The best thing about having an active birth is feeling in control. I understood everything, and once I got into the second stage, I got my 'business' head on, and I felt totally on top of what I needed to do.

I felt like you too re not being able to imagine the new arrival, and it was a shock (a nice one). My top tip would be to read about parenting as well as about birth - I didn't, and I paid for it!!!!!

Finally, if it helps, dh and I were talking about having the next one days after the first one had arrived.....
HTH

[Janus]

MammyShirl, I live in London and used to live in North London so went to the Active Birth Centre for yoga from about 4 months with my first. I really think it helped me with the first and most of the second stages of labour. I was never anywhere near the bed, walked, swayed my hips, lent against the wall, etc. I had wanted a water birth too but went from 2 or 3 cms to fully dilated without anyone realising and it was too late for the pool by then! The main thing too was the breathing I had learnt, it really helped me stay calm and focused.
Eventually my daughter got stuck and they asked me to get on the bed and I am sure this is when things started to go wrong, everthing slowed right down and eventually I ended up with an emergency c-section (which I have no problems with and I probably would have ended up with one if I had been upright anyway). Oh, I ended up with gas and air once she was stuck as it was all getting a bit too painful but until then had had nothing.
I am now 30 weeks pregnant and planning for an active birth this time, will look into water birth again, will also try and stay upright as much as possible too and hope to give birth upright as this definitely felt more comfortable last time.
What I would say is that I totally fixated on a water birth last time and was quite upset when I discovered I was too late to have one. I just hadn't thought about an alternative and I wish I had been more open minded as I wouldn't have been so upset about not getting in the pool. You will instinctively just know what your limits are and if it's all too much and pain relief is offered just don't be a martar (can't spell!), it's not a failure to have it! Also, make sure your birth partner is completely clued up on what you want. I became struck dumb when I went into labour but my partner explained my wishes to my midwife as we went along and she was an excellent midwife who totally went along with my wishes until complications set in and I understand her reasons for getting me on the bed. I hadn't met her before the birth but if you are in an area where you do meet your midwife at ante-natal appointments then I would definitely discuss with her in advance too.
Good luck with your birth, whichever way you go and do let us know.

[pupuce]

or you could get a doula Janus

More seriously... I'd say 2 things about this subject:

1. As Janus said - keep your options open but have an idea and be clear about what you would ideally like
   
2. This is YOUR body, you can do it - keep thinking this - I see too many women for many reasons give up... and the regret it! If you feel at any point that you are loosing control, some of the exercises (relaxation and visualisation) you will have learned are VERY useful tell your partner about these too so he can remind you of them durimg labour.
   
   Good luck

[SoupDragon]

Make sure your partner also knows when to STOP reminding you about them though

[Jodiesmum]

Mammyshirl - here's another perspective. I was interested in active birth with DD1 - didn't attend classes but read stuff and practiced excercise and positions. When it came to it, I managed 8 hours of moving around, leaning over a birthing ball, etc etc with just a TENS machine, but then opted for an epidural which I can honestly say was a fantastic decision. I actually felt much more in control after I'd had it as the pain had become really overwhelming, to the point where I was starting to panic. With all the pain taken away, I spent the next 5 hours in a state of blissful happiness and excitement, looking forward to my daughter's arrival. When the midwife told me to start pushing, I had no problem doing so (could still imagine how to work the right muscles even though I coulnd't feel them) and she came out in 20 minutes flat. It was a completely ecstatic experience and the fact of being pain-free and not afraid, was a huge part of that. This is obviously something people really differ on and I've spoken to lots of women who went through all the pain and feel that I somehow "missed out" because I chose to turn it off. For myself, I'm really glad that choice was there and I think it's a shame to put "natural birth" on a pedastal as people's experience of pain varies so much and a drug-free birth is not the best thing for everyone. I'm really looking forward to the birth of DD2 now and praying the experience will be as good as the first time around. Very good luck with yours, however it turns out.

[NickiB]

Mammyshirl

I had my first baby 20 months ago in the Alexandra Birthing Centre (part of Watford General Hospital) where they encourage active / natural births. Due to the associated risks and increased likelihood of needing further interventions, i wanted to avoid an epi if at all possible. I do not have a particularly high pain threshold BTW and am not in fact very fit either.

In preparation, I read loads of birth stories on line about natural births, articles and did yoga classes for pregnancy. However, nothing can really prepare you for how it will feel as there is nothing like it. Nonetheless, the more you know in advance, the less you are likely to be surprised / panic on the day. Information is power!

Please don't think this is said to frighten you but you do need to anticipate that it will hurt more than anything you have been through before. This is often skirted around a bit and referred to as 'pressure' or 'sensation'. However, studies have proven that women who have the most realistic expectations are least likely to need high level pain relief and to end up with further interventions.

For me, it helped to be in an environment that supported non-epi women and was geared up to help and encourage me in that, along with my husband. You will need lots of alternatives to try and relieve the pain - I used pelvic rocking, position changing, baths, birthing pool, low sensory rooms, vocalisation (aka moaning!), massage, birth balls, gas & air and every other thing offered to me! I never lay down at all as I found being horizontal out of the water made the pain much worse and in fact found being almost completely upright the least painful. My midwife was concerned I would get too tired but I just couldn't manage any other way and in fact felt OK as the whole thing lasted about 8 hrs.

Also, if you know that this pain serves a purpose (your cervix needs to open up and you will probably position yourself and push better if you can feel what is going on and non-epi labours are normally quicker with fewer problems), then you know why you have chosen this route. Secondly, you need to remember that the very moment your baby pops out, then the pain stops absolutely instantly. It is unbelievable. No catheters, no numb legs, no interventions, nothing. Your recovery will probably be much quicker (I went home after 6hrs and was actually ready to go after 4) and your sense of achievement will be huge - I was sooo proud of myself!

This is not to say that there are no circs in which I would have had an epi but I wanted to do everything I could to avoid it. Baby 2 is due in a few weeks and I'm booked into the centre again and hoping that things run a similar course.

My overall advice would be to decide what you would ideally like and why then give yourself the best chance of achieving this. The people around you are probably the most important so make sure that everyone is aware and supportive of your wishes in advance.

Good luck!

[Katherine]

Although lots of people are neagtive about birth plans I do think its good to think about the sorts of things you would like to try and what you would like to avoid, but at the same time you've got to keep and open mind. No-one can predict the way things will go on the day but if you read up on things at least you'll have a better idea of what to expect. I've had one very painful labour with not much moving around and lots of panic - the panic because I felt I couldn't go through hours of this. If only someone had told me that the rate things were going it would soon have been over I could have coped with anything. You've just got to keep in mind that they will only let it carry on for a finite amount of time and at the end you will meet your baby. With my second labour I knew what to expect so didn't panic. I wouldn't even really describe it as painful. I moved around a lot (it was a homebirth) and it was all over in little over an hour. I couldn't wait for the next one. It all depends on your baby, your body and who is on duty. Just try to keep calm and focus on the end point. Whatever happens you will have a baby at the end and the calmer you can be then the easier it will be, whatever happens.

[aloha]

Oooh, Virgo, what a lovely, refreshing viewpoint! And of course, one I share completely. I mean each to their own, but I had a c-section due to placenta praevia, but would definitely choose to have one again for any subsequent child just because it was so wonderfully quick, calm and totally painless. I don't really get this being proud of withstanding pain business at all. To me it implies that people who choose not to should be ashamed.

[aloha]

I know my last post will annoy, but though I think anyone should be free to have the birth they want (medical circumstances excepting) I do find it hard to listen to Davina McCall going on about having a baby without pain relief and thinking she's so all that and so proud and pleased with herself. If you had root canal without pain relief you wouldn't go on and on about it, would you? I don't think the pain relief/no pain relief debate is a moral one at all. What's important here is that you end up with a live, healthy baby and how you get there, to me, is far, far, far less important. Though I think that not suffering pain seems more sensible than going through agony if at all possible.

[jasper]

Aloha, not annoyed at all

[robinw]

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[bells2]

I wouldn't say I'm 'proud' of having no pain relief just very pleased I didn't. This is simply because most forms of pain relief aren't without actual or potential side effects, however minor. Having done it twice, third time around I would definitely try to do it again without pain relief as both times it was quick and I was up and about immediately.

I generally don't think there's anything strange in people wanting a 'natural' childbirth as such. It wasn't a particular priority for me but I can certainly see why people would want to do it that way.

[bundle]

I think it's best to be prepared for ANY kind of birth...ie if things go 'your way' or if anything happens inbetween you & say max intervention eg caesarean. I had an emergency c-section and I'm very glad I had some knowledge of the procedure/who might be there etc. For me the most empowering bit of my dd's birth was knowing when to listen to the advice I was given and go through an invasive procedure in the end to get the result we all want ie a healthy baby. I haven't ruled out a VBAC this time, I'm even more open-minded than ever. good luck

[aloha]

I was a bit nervous about looking at this board today. I do have a real bee in my bonnet about 'competitive birth' syndrome - ie 'my birth was worthier than your birth'. Luckily I didn't go to any antenatal classes (no need!) so didn't get any of the sneery comments my friends had about 'taking the easy option' or the wild congratulations another baffled friend got for having a birth without epidural - in her case it was all over in four hours and there was no time for anything - no question of 'heroism'! By all means, try for whatever you think will make you happiest and have the best outcome for your baby, but do keep an open mind. Not everyone can have the birth they think they want and I think being too excited and sure of what you want in a birth can leave you open to being terribly disappointed if it doesn't go the way you plan. I always feel very sad when people are bitter and upset or feel a failure about, say, having a section when it was by far the best thing for their baby. If we focussed more on parenting rather than almost solely on birth, I feel it might be a healthier way of preparing for motherhood. For me, the fantastic bit of having ds was seeing and holding him for the first time - everything else is just a run up to that.

[bells2]

I would also say that those of us who did without pain relief occassionally get sneery comments too. I remember reading an interview with someone who had an epidural saying that she had no interest in "squatting naked in a corner wailing like a banshee". The "earth mother" perception does seem to get up people's noses, however far from reality it might be.

[Marina]

I'd agree with Bells on the sneery comments no matter what you do front. My situation's a bit out of the ordinary but I have to say that as a physical experience for me, giving birth (albeit to a tiny stillborn son) just using gas and air was a much more physically easy and bearable experience overall than the aftermath of my elective c-section first time round.
I expect it was mostly hormonal but even though the morning after Tom's death was possibly the worst of my life emotionally, I could not get over being able to walk to the shower, go to the loo, and best of all, walk out of the hospital pdq. I was so grateful for that little mercy. But more than one person, unbelievably, has said to me since that they thought I was "masochistic" and "putting myself through needless pain" to choose that kind of birth. My mother, for one.
I think that like many other women I don't tolerate morphine-based drugs well. As they are a necessity during and after a C-section,they made me feel truly crappy for days. So I hope to avoid them, as far as possible if I ever have another birth experience, and I guess that makes me choose "natural" childbirth. But at the end of the day, like others here, I think all women should be free to choose the type of birth they want, and supported in that choice not just by health professionals but also by their family and friends.

[CAM]

I think it depends what we're most frightened of, to a certain extent. In my case, I would have been very fearful of having what I perceive as a surgical operation. Some are frightened of what they percieve as long hours of intolerable pain.

[aloha]

What can I say Marina? How dare they!

[Katherine]

I think the point of this thread was about active birth rather than natural birth and there is a bit of a difference. I understand the theory of active birth that in moving around more you help it to be less painful and more straightforward so that you need less pain relief which is surely the best option. However of course you've got to play it by ear and if you do find it painful then you need to do whatever to make it easier. For some that might just be moving around. For others it might be an epidural. There is no shame in either. At the end of the day giving birth is touch - there is no getting away from that but there are some things you can do to make it easier and less invasive, although sometimes its just down to luck of the draw!

[Katherine]

Giving birth is tough that should be!

[SoupDragon]

This thread has made me smile as I remember my birth plan confidently stating that I wanted to be mobile and choose my own positions (ie be active). The position I chose was whimpering at the foot of the bed

[Wills]

nice one soupdragon! . I know this thread is about active birth and with my dd I was desperate to remain active but in the end was persauded to have an epi to reduce my blood pressure which was dangerously high. BUT - the epidural I was given was special and I could continue to walk around and therefore remain active. The pain was reduced so significantly that I had a half hour of sleep before being woken up to be told to push but I got myself off the bed and walked around and gave birth using a birthing stool. So an epidural does not prevent an active birth