Natural Birth? You can do it!

This thread shows, above everything else, that no two experiences of childbirth are the same. After labouring for about 12 hours with gas and air, I had an epidural and it worked fantiscally well for me - it numbed the pain, could still feel pressure when I had to push. I didn't have any tearing or need an episiotomy, despite my ds having a larger than average head circumference. I had no birth plan, but made sure I was well informed about all possible proceedures and basically decided to go with the flow. At the end of the day, what is most important is yours and the baby's wellbeing.

This thread shows, above everything else, that no two experiences of childbirth are the same. After labouring for about 12 hours with gas and air, I had an epidural and it worked fantiscally well for me - it numbed the pain, could still feel pressure when I had to push. I didn't have any tearing or need an episiotomy, despite my ds having a larger than average head circumference. I had no birth plan, but made sure I was well informed about all possible proceedures and basically decided to go with the flow. At the end of the day, what is most important is yours and the baby's wellbeing.

This thread shows, above everything else, that no two experiences of childbirth are the same. After labouring for about 12 hours with gas and air, I had an epidural and it worked fantiscally well for me - it numbed the pain, could still feel pressure when I had to push. I didn't have any tearing or need an episiotomy, despite my ds having a larger than average head circumference. I had no birth plan, but made sure I was well informed about all possible proceedures and basically decided to go with the flow. At the end of the day, what is most important is yours and the baby's wellbeing.

I think a lot of women get swept down the path of interventions without feeling able to fight it or even realising it is happening. Consultants etc are MUCH too ready to intervene at the slightest sign of delay or non-text book delivery.

Personally speaking, I would go for a natural birth every time (which for me includes gas & air, but not pethidine) up to the point where some consultant said I had to be induced or given an epidural or whatever; at that point I would say - elective caesarean please.

I would never choose a caesarean before a natural birth and cannot understand women who do. But would prefer that to the other interventions.

I have been lucky. The only intervention I have had is continuous electronic fetal monitoring - this meant I had to lie flat on the bed when I would rather have stayed upright and moved around as this in itself would have relieved the pain. I have since found that was completely unnecessary in 2 out of the 4 births.

And I have had nothing whatsever to do with raspberry tea, wheatgerm oil whatsoever

After reading this, I dug out the photocopy of my labour notes and they seemed to bear little relation to my memory of the event.

I had excruciating back pain all through my labour and even though I'd done all the prep, the raspberry tea, yoga, labour positions etc - it scared the living daylights out of me. Nothing I did gave me any relief. One position - stood up with knees bent and pelvic tucked well under - made it a little better. So I stood like this for hours. There was no relief inbetween contractions. I found that the midwives didn't really help the fear - my baby wasn't back-to-back so they couldn't understand why my back was spasming. There was no massage or anything - is it their 'job'? (my husband tried but it had no effect - he ended up sticking his nails hard into my back to take my mind off the pain a bit!! I was covered in scabs...).

Plus my baby was 9 1/2 lbs with a 38cm head circ. and got stuck on the rim of my cervix. He swallowed muconium and had the cord around his neck.

I had an epidural eventually (but not lightly) and really would never ever want one again. It stopped the pain of the contractions but not all the back pain and when the back pain came back with a vengeance I was flat on my back with my legs in stirrups - it was even worse. But I felt sure I couldn't have coped without one. Catch 22. Couldn't feel to push and had ventouse then forceps - tore loads. Bloody epidurals.

ANYWAY, according to my labour notes you would have thought it was a walk in the park rather than a living hell! Apparantly I was 'comfortable with some backache' for most of it. I guess it's nice to know that the medical profession are unflappable and that I wasn't in any danger... I think I wanted to read that I deserved a medal for Worst Birth Ever or something!

I have been following this thread with interest and wondered how I could contribute. I really feel for Boogs at the moment. All she has done is recount her amazing birth story and how it happened. Shouldn't we be pleased for her and recognise that there are alternatives to a medicalised birth! I am not for or against any type of birth or intervention - I am of the camp that it doesn't matter what type of birth you have so long as the mother's and baby's wellbeing is not compromised. But I am constantly amazed at how the whole birth process is taken out of womens' hands. I thought Boogs' tale was fantastic and I think she should feel very pleased with herself. Her story might help other women consider the options as in this day and age we should have access to all information, positive and negative, and feel empowered to make decisions based on the facts of the pregnancy itself, local/hospital services, family support, etc. I also think we should approach each birth with an open mind and (unless there is medical evidence to the contrary) approach each labour with as much information and support (partner, midwife, etc) and just see how it goes.

If I was pregnant reading this thread I would now be booking in for my epidural!

sorry boogs - this is a topic VERY close to my heart at the moment - this sort of blurb about natural birth actually doesn't make me feel like a failure, nor does it make me feel guilty! I'm sure you didn't mean to be patroniosing, but frankly, it feels like it.

Why should I feel guilty because I don't want my undercarriage to be ripped to pieces and sewn back together & hurt like hell for nearly a year? Answer - I don't. I look back at my c-section child, and my 'natural born' child & I know which birth I feel better about.

As for the children - their birth has absolutely nothing to do with how I feel about them. So 'guilt' or 'failure' is imo totally irrelevant.

I had an emergency c-section 1st time. 2nd time I had my 'natural birth' - no pain killers whatsoever, and I bloody wish I had never bothered. Almost certainly going for elective c-section this time.

I had all the 'natural' birth stuff too, did yoga, drank raspberry leaf tea. Did me the world of good.

Anyway 'natural birth' isn't natural, imo - our birth canals were developed before we humans learnt to be upright, and isn't really an ideal shape, which is why other mamals manage not too bad, & we humans tend to have so many problems.

Well I have had what I consider to be 2 "natural" births, I had pethidine and gas and air both times but what could be more natural than taking painkillers when you're in pain? The medical term on my notes stated both times "normal delivery" so I think that's what its called really. After all, to be totally pedantic Boogs even going to hospital at all is not "natural". Amd I truly believe that one of the reasons for these births was because my dd's were 6lb and 6lb 13oz respectively. 9 or 10 pounders were my babes at nearly 3 months old for gawds' sake!

But I do have to ask - why is it so wrong to be scared of pain? Pain is frightening. Sure, it's easier to cope with if you're relaxed - but lots of us (including me last time round) feel that on balance, we'd rather not feel the pain, or at least not as much pain as we're told it can be - and as it frequently is. I am absolutely terrified of my next birth, and am fully aware it'll probably be horribly painful, and actually I think that's probably a realistic attitude to take...

Bogs - I just wanted to provide some support and say that although I had to have a c-section, and totally defed any womans right to choose one for any reason, yours was actually one of the first posts advocating natural birth that I have read that didn't actually offend me.

Sorry, I've just read the rest of the thread and realise that you've got a lot of stick. Thank you for hanging on in there and keep posting!

Actually a lot of my problems were that I had to be induced at 42 weeks. (I persuaded the consultant to hold off for a week, but then gave in) I have since read a lot on induction a realise that my experience was similar to many others who were induced, and I have very mixed feelings about whether of not I should have been. BUT my baby was 10lbs, with a huge head. How much bigger would he have been at 43 weeks or more? At least in the end I pushed him out myself (with the consultant standing there saying "If it's not out in ten minutes I am DEFINITELY doing a ventouse" and the midwife (bless her) saying "no, really he's descending, nearly here, keep pushing" (very funny in retrospect)
I was wrecked physically. At 6 weeks, I could not make it all round Tescos without sitting down because my insides felt like they were collapsing. My SILs were both up and about in no time.
next time I'd love to do it all myself, but then as my Mum said, your muscles are all shot to pieces now, so next time he/she will come out like greased lightning!

boogs, haven't had time to read the whole thread, but I have to agree and disagree! I had fully intended to do it all naturally, I didn't want any intervention at all, and had spent loads of time doing squatting exercises etc, and planned to stand/squat to deliver etc, etc.
I took all the natural remedies, I was in labour on all fours (suppose to help back labour) my dh massaged my back etc etc
But it doesn't always go according to plan, and after 24 hours in a lot of pain I was only 3 cms dilated and there was concern for the baby. In the end it was very high tech, and it turned out my ds was 10lbs with a huge head and the cord wrapped around his neck. I was just so greatful to have this beautiful baby, that I didn't care.
If you go into labour insisting on it being natural and something goes wrong, you can end up being very disappointed, and feel guilty.

Boogs ... I am not offended by your post at all and I think you are a great person etc etc
BUT ... when you said "Does anyone want a natural childbirth" I thought I would post my view on it.
I wanted a natural birth ...Oh, I can't tell you how much I wanted a natural birth ... in fact it never occurred to me to go any other way ... wanted no epidural (was happy with a bit of gas and air if necessary) or any other drugs ... I was going to be mother earth ... I didn't read any of the sections in any of the books about complications as IT WASN'T GOING TO BE RELEVANT TO ME!
Went into labour ... hooray I thought ... I'll have a baby by breakfast time! Ho hum ... yes I did have a baby by breakfast time 3 DAYS LATER!
I was in labour for over 50 hours ... I was still refusing an epidural after 35 hours ... it was only when my DH (who is not an emotional person AT ALL) burst into tears and BEGGED me to have an epidural and a sytocinon drip to get me to dilate that I finally agreed. Still no progress (but mercifully free of pain) and after another 10 hours my midwife went to get a doctor and he persuaded me to have a C/S ...
The whole experience was the main thing that caused my PND ... I felt robbed ... I felt I had failed ... failed my son, my husband, my parents, every woman in the whole sodding world.
There was NO WAY my baby was coming out ... he was 10lbs and a star gazer with a huge humungous head ... I posted on the other thread that had we carried on both he and I would have died ..........
The guilt was more than I could bare ... I had fallen at the first hurdle of parenthood - giving birth!
If only someone had spent a few minutes explaining to me BEFORE I went into labour that not all births are easy ... that I might need help and god forbid a c/s then I might not have beaten myself up about it so much ...
You are very lucky boogs ... and so are all those who have managed it naturally ... but please understand that not all c/s are due to the selfishness of the mother or for the convenience of the hospital. My midwives went out of their way to let me do it my way ... I will always be grateful to them for that. But my c/s saved my life and DS life and it took over a year for me to stop feeling bitter about it ....
So ... most of us do want a natural birth ... BUT NOT ALL OF US CAN MANAGE IT HOWEVER MUCH WE WANT TO ....
Please believe me and be nice to us ....

Message withdrawn

hi boogs and others - brave post!
I feel very out of touch - everything I read when I was pregnant encouraged me to believe in a 'natural' birth, in water, dim lighting etc etc. So just my perspective, but it seemed to me that if you didn't achieve this, you were copping out in some way. Look at the attitude the press take to caesarians for example 'too posh to push'!! I wish more people would talk about the fact that you might need a c section for example or that you could be v badly damaged by getting one too late or not getting one when really you should have - apparently our perinatal record is appalling in the UK so this happens more often than it should.
Before my ds was born I was v pro 'natural' but I had preeclampsia and was given the choice of c section or induction. i tried induction but ended up with a c section anyway. sorry - I had no info about the risks of induction but even if I had there is no way I would overrule my obstetrician just so I could get the birth the magazines talk about or because I read some statistics about inductions being bad. I guess that maybe they are but I could never risk it - I would just feel too terrible if things went wrong because I thought I knew more than my doctors. I know that might sound offensive to some and I truly don't mean to - It's my honest feelings about how I would feel. If anyone needs educating and training more its the specialists so they can make the right decisions
Anyway, I obviously still am quite touchy about the subject because reading this made me upset (know it wasn't meant that way); I suppose what I am rambling about is that I felt all through my pregnancy because of magazines, midwife pressure etc that if I didn't do it pain free and vaginal then I had somehow failed and that is just not true.

Hi Boogs

Another supporter.... why is it that in Holland women have very happy and healthy babies and a epidural rate of 7%? Gas and Air is only used in GB and Australia.... so how do all these women do it????

I had a very difficult labour but if anything, the MW made me stick to my wishes.... and I am damned glad she did. Had an OP baby with a 24 h labour and 6h1/2 of pushing. Did have an episio...
Second baby a breeze (well YKWIM!) - in water in 5 hours.

I do feel women are ill informed.... and are a bit "naive" (first timers only )
Why is it that many (inclduing mumsnetters start asking for inductions at 40 weeks.... I have on many occasion challenged some mumsnetters who wanted the baby now... fed up of waiting - and I am not talking about the 43 weeks+)
Also getting the right support is very important.... to have a scared/anxious husband is not helpful or a negative MW either! If you are with people who KNOW you can do it... then you are much more likely to achieve it!
.

When I was pregnant with my dd I remember the midwife asking me at an appointment what sort of pain relief will you be having during labour? I told her I'd see how it went but I thought I'd be ok with gas and air, but not to rule anything else out just in case. My mother got through both her labours with just gas and air and we were similar body shape so I thought I might be able to go the same way.
I went 10 days overdue waters broke with slight contractions that were never regular. Then after a few hours gave a lot of pain but were still never regular. I ended up with diamorphine, some gas and air and an epidural that was topped up. In the end my dd, it was discovered, was in the op position and she wasn't going to turn on her own so I was rushed to theatre for a forceps delivery.
Afterwards I remember thinking what happened to my nice natural birth with a little bit of gas and air to take the edge off and I felt a failure for a long time because I hadn't managed to deliver her by myself.
I know now that it wasn't my fault and I hate to think what would have happened if they hadn't got her out when they did as I suspect she might have been verging on distress. I'm just happy that she was born happy and healthy and I'm hoping that when we get round to having baby#2 things will be different.
Not everyone can have a birth without intervention due to medical condition, mothers body shape and baby's health etc, but I understand the point that you're trying to put across in trusting in yourself and believing that you can do it. I honestly thought I'd manage but my body had other ideas. Here's hoping next time round it will be quicker and the baby will be in the right position.

BTW, I do agree that all women should know that natural, drug free labour does happen for plenty of women. However, your original post just cam across as though everyone should do it that way. I just wanted to let people know that it doesn't always work out that way.0.

Boogs - unfortunately not all women can do it the natural way I am afraid. I am glad you had such a great experience but I wasn't that firtunate. However, I don't regret the way my DD came into the world and I simply don't feel like I have missed out either - the end result was the same = a beautiful, healthy little baby.

I had an induction as I was 2 weeks overdue with no igns of baby arriving. Induction overs 3 days didn't work and only got me to 2cm. Induction on final evening brought on the most awful pain I could have imagines - no contractions, just one long pain which made me violently ill. After a few hours of this I had pethidine which allowed me a couple of ours sleep. I still had only gotton to 2cm after this. They couldn't break my waters as baby's head was in the way - she still has scars a year on from their attempts. The drip didn't work much either. I then opted for an epidural as I was in so much pain. That evening still nothing had happened so I had an emergency cs. Within the hour I had had my baby, she was perfect (APGAR of 10), and I was in recovery feeding her. Although I lost a lot of blood and was very aneamic my recovery was very straight forward and I suffered no ill effects from the birth.

If I have another I am not sure of what I will do. I haven't ruled out either a VBAC attempt or an elective cs. BUT, I will never have an induction again!!! AND, I will have drugs if I feel I need them.