Crazy hallucinations during drug-free birth... anyone?

I had something similar with my second child... I had a long latent labour and was drifting to sleep in between contractions... it was only a little lull in between each contraction so it was like sleeping while semi conscious/experiencing nothingness but being somewhat aware of it. I've always put it down to just being so tired!

I did a hypnobirthing course and I remember them saying that you can "get into the zone" and it can be like a bubble. Either way, it's very common not to really be aware of your surroundings and retreat into yourself during birth (I've definitely experienced that too).

The mind (and associated/individual coping mechanisms) is powerful.

Yes I had the same type of thing in a birthing pool.

Was fully alert, but drifting out of being present in the room, to travelling and even communicating with ancestors.

Was not in a lot of pain, a bit odd really. Only happened in the pool.

It sounds like a hypnotic state. I did training in self hypnosis prior to giving birth in the 80's. In the US at that time there were no epidurals, and only some pain relief prior to reaching a 7. I actively used it and it worked.

The pain can do very peculiar things to you. I had a water birth and gas and air made me sick so I did it without drugs. At the point of transition, I felt like I was turning inside out. They had to break my waters and the pain was way more intense than physically pushing the baby out. Much like you, I went into a dissociative state and went somewhere else in my head. I think it’s basically that your body goes into shock, and your reaction to that is quite unique to you. I went into shock again afterwards when the placenta was manually removed and I found myself shivering uncontrollably, but that’s different story. It might not be glamorous but women’s bodies are truly amazing, aren’t they?

My first labour was only 3 hours from start to finish and only went to hospital 1 hour before baby arrived, so no time for any drugs. I’m talking 30 years ago and I had been watching soldier soldier when contractions started and was pleasantly surprised when Robson Green arrived to help me through the horrendous pain.
Everyone always says how lucky I was to have such a short labour but to me, it just meant there was no build up to the pain, it was just there from the off. Thankfully Robson was there 🤣

My first birth I had gas and air.was in labour for 12 hrs.i was exactly the same drifting off in to a dream like daze,then awoken then drifting,i felt like it lasted forever.i had four more children after and never the same again.

Not sure why u need to change your name, nothing to be shameful about ..

I had a drug-free birth that ended in a c section with spinal block. I was just happy, then after the contractions came (once the midwife broke my waters) I thought I was going to die and kept thinking I wish I had all the drugs. Turned out my uterus is fused into place by scar tissue from a late- treated ruptured appendix in childhood, so my uterus couldn't do the movement to expel my baby. Also explains my unexplained infertility as my whole abdomen is scar tissue.

Your experience sounds lovely- I really hope more women experience lovely, trippy, drug-free births.

Sleep deprivation, exhaustion, pain, possibly beginning to hyperventilate with the stronger/closer together contractions.

Nothing magical or otherworldly about it. Just a normal physical reaction to the extreme process you were going through.

I had a drug free birth for my third at home and I delivered her myself (with the midwife standing right next to me). There's a painting by Matisse, a woman, like just blue brush strokes, and I remember getting well lost walking down these blue roads outside of space and time.

I would assume a coping mechanism - trauma dissociation is where an individual disconnects from themselves or the situation mentally

I had a drug free birth but didn't have any hallucinations. Maybe because it was super quick. But these are very interesting. I am wishing I did have some stories to tell

I didn't have any drugs when in labour, either. My husband said I frequently looked around the room and said "what are you all doing here, I haven't defrosted enough spring rolls!" So I assume I was hallucinating! I don't remember it at all 😂

Probably sleep deprivation/ delirium/ dreaming. I had lots of drugs during mine so my delusions are understandable. However a few months after my very long first labour I was chatting to my husband about DD birth. I had ended up with an emergency forced delivery and was rushed to theatre very quickly. We were reminiscing etc and he came out with “god that other family in the theatre must have been wondering what the hell was going on”. After a bit of probing it turned out he “seen” another labouring women and partner giving birth in the theatre, I reassured him that absolutely definitely 100% did not happen, 2 patients would never be in a theatre at the same time yet he still insists they were and he “seen” it. I can only imagine 3 days with very little sleep messed with his brain.

I tried hypnobirthing for DD 24 years ago.
During one particularly strong contraction, I went through the whole ‘white sand, cold water’ thing, and while I was waist deep in the water, a gas and air canister came floating by. I grabbed it with both hands.

A friend of mine is a doula and very experienced womb healing and alternative births, she might be able to shed some light or you might be interested in her blogs etc on Instagram

the.womens.witch

Hi, I gave birth both times with no drugs. I wouldn’t say I had hallucinogenic experiences, but I was very aware it was me and the baby working together, both times. I will say that I’ve always found it easy to live in my head, so I think that helped with being able to dissociate from the pain.

I also have never met anyone IRL who has had a drug free birth, and you’re the first online!

Can relate- I had dreams in between contractions, before getting any drugs.

In moments of extreme pain or stress your body excretes hormones to help protect you physically and mentally. That's how I rationalise it. I've had it happen a few times. I had an episode of dissociation once after a very stressful experience where I feared for my life, I wasn't in physical pain but I was terrified. It was a surreal experience.

If you were falling asleep in between contractions, it is just not a case that you were having a regular dream and you just remember it vividly because you were never going into deep sleep?

sounds lovely though!

It happened on my second.

The first labour was stressful, and I had some pain meds that made me woozy but no hallucinations.

Yes, with my 2nd child but not my first. It was like I was floating above my body, watching what was happening, at the same time as planning my older DCs birthday party. No drugs.