Anyone had a non drug birth after narcotics previously?

[BoysBoysBoysAndMe]

Ds1 had pethidine, gas and air. 11 in hospital before baby arrived.

Ds2 (last July) had 3x diamorphine, 3x in pool, gas and air, emergency spinal block then ventrouse. ( was going to have a c section if vent didn't work) 26 hours in hosp before birth.

Ds3 due in 3 months and thinking of trying to go as natural as possible. As in hindsight I feel the diamorphine slowed everything down. I really can't remember much and just felt I couldn't cope all the time.

Was thinking if I prepare more, try using relaxation and control breathing etc so I'm more in control I might feel better?!?

I'm just dreading a ridiculously long labour an hoping lack of narcotics might help speed it up?

Any advice? Please?

I did, 4 weeks ago. It was fabulous. 2 paracetomol and a TENS machine. Neither did anything for pain relief, I'm sure! I read and re-read a book called 'Birth Skills' (Juju Sundin) and used bits from that that appealed to me.

I was 8cm by the time I got to hospital. DS was born 2 hours later. Brilliant.

In contrast, with DD 3 years ago, I was determined to have an epidural and didn't consider anything else at all. I did have it, birth was pain free. Very long, slowed down a lot by epidural, had to have syntocinon after epi, also had ventouse and episiotomy.

My attitude was diffferent although I'd still have had an epidural if I'd felt I needed it. I'm very pleased, still.

Congratulations belinda and thanks for your response.

I will look up the book you mentioned. I won't be able to have an epi as I'm going to a midwife led unit. You did so well getting to 8 cm before going in.

That's what I want to do! Enjoy your new baby

Had pethidene and G&A with DS1 (4 wks early) and vowed never again as I was so out of it. Was also confined to bed with baby monitor on. It took 6 hours from waters breaking (took pethidene then) to birth. Baby was stuck and had to have a VAC birth with cut. Pethidene took about 2 days to leave my system - felt really horrible for all that time.

With DS2 (8 wks early) I just did breathing techniques. I bought the book Hypno Birthing the week before and finished reading it while waiting for DS2 to arrive. It explains in detail what is happening to all your muscles during contractions and how to let the contraction happen without tensing up (makes contraction more painful). Obviously I didn't have time to attend any Hypno Birthing classes (at £200 a session - I don't think so!), but I found reading the book really helpful and the baby just popped out with a few pushes. Actually, the MWs were telling me to push before the contractions and I told them that I would push when I felt ready (go me). I felt so good afterwards, despite baby being premie, and was able to walk back up to my room (baby was taken to SCBU) and went home the next day. Baby came home 24 days later.

Yes, I gave birth with nothing but TENS and used natal hypnotheraphy CDs.

This is giving me a bit of hope for next time!

I had morphine just at the end of labour (I was actually begging to be given it a lot sooner!). I would really like the next time to be drug-free.

I had dimorphine with DS and I would never have it again - I felt totally out of control, unable to focus on the contractions or even what people around me were saying. It was horrible!

19 months later I had DD, I used my TENS and G&A and it was great - far less complicated birth admittedly, but I felt lucid and in control (to a certain extent) throughout.

Sounds encouraging.

There's hope for me yet!!