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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Who had a straightforward, birth? and how did yu manage it?

92 replies

JTN · 11/04/2006 10:18

Last time i did yoga swimming etc etc and ended up with ds in wrong postiiton after 2 days of trying and an emergency cs. this time round what should i do to increase my chances of a straightforward dilate, pop it out type of birth, did you eat / do anything that you thought helped? that you would reccomend trying?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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Pruni · 11/04/2006 20:49

Forgot to say, keeping upright was a necessity for me and I am grateful to the Active Birth classes for understanding that.

However out of five women I know who went to the same classes, I am the only one who didn't have intervention (2 em-cs, 2 post-partum haemmorhages, various forcep/ventouse combinations).

Mosschops30 · 11/04/2006 20:51

i always thought that I would be moving around, sitting on a birthing ball, breathing with the contractions.
Instead I have hauled myself on the bed with both dd and ds and bloody well stayed there, plenty of gas and air plugged into me and I'm a happy camper.
straightforward vaginal deliveries for both

CarolinaMooncup · 11/04/2006 20:51

pupuce.

I wish I'd paid more attention to it when I was pg. I worked up till 38 weeks with 2hrs commuting every day and then didn't have the energy left to think about anything like that .

Like I said, next time it'll all be different...

foxinsocks · 11/04/2006 20:53

I was lucky enough to have 2 straightforward births but I don't believe anything I did really influenced how easy/difficult the birth was. I was ludicrously unfit at both times, had also put on loads of weight and attended only 2 antenatal classes - I did keep walking around for the first parts of labour and gave birth on my hands and knees but I don't think this made that much difference.

My sister, who is very fit, put on very little weight, had 2 horrendous deliveries so I'm not sure how much you can really influence what happens.

I think the key is to be prepared for anything and not to get your hopes set on a specific birth so you're not too disappointed if things don't turn out the way you want them to.

mumfor1standfinaltime · 11/04/2006 20:59

kitty4paws - thought you were my twin! Ds was 9lb 12 oz, I am 5ft 4 and was 8.5 stone pre preg too!
I felt huge!
Cant imagine how I would have had v birth!
(Had em cs though as ds was undiagnosed breech and preaclampsia)

pupuce · 11/04/2006 21:00

Actually as a doula I have come to believe that your mental state has a great deal to do with it but it is easier said then done....and I too ahd a hrad birth so am not pretending that it is easy to have the correct frame of mind. Interestingly midwives often have a good feel about who will deliver easily or not.... and I have come to similar conclusions....

Pruni · 11/04/2006 21:03

pupuce that's what my midwife said about me - and I have to say, it was encouraging to hear that, as a woman in labour: you'll be great at this, I'm not anticipating any problems. I appreciated it and I'm sure it had something to do with it.

pupuce · 11/04/2006 21:05

Pruni - some women you just know they won't have a problem and others you can't help but wonder - and those thoughts are often to do with the way the woman talks and views/feels about labour.... sometimes we can be surprised though!

GDG · 11/04/2006 21:09

My most straightforward birth was my 3rd and that was because I knew what to expect and I knew in my head how I wanted it to go - I know this doesn't always work though. Having been through one labour induced, epidural, ventouse and then a second very quick birth without pain relief - I knew I could do it 'on my own' and just needed to keep as relaxed as possible.

Unlike the previous 2 births, I told dh exactly what I wanted him to do and what I wanted him not to do. I kept in my head all the time that I could do it. With each contraction as I felt myself becoming tense, I consciously dropped my shoulders and relaxed. I stayed upright, sat on a birthing ball throughout and this was the best thing ever - I only really struggled at the very peak of the contraction. The one time I got up on the bed to be examined I was in agony and was pleading to get off - once back on the ball, I felt in control again.

I know that circumstances beyond our control can influence things and scupper even the best laid plans - but these things worked for me anyway. Helped of course by a marvellous midwife and dh - they were the only people there, it was the middle of the night with just a lamp on in the room (hospital though) and it was brilliant.

Oh, and just looking at your post, inbetween having ds2 and ds3 I swam most mornings - I don't know if my fitness level helped - I suppose it should do!

Good luck!!

magicfarawaytree · 11/04/2006 21:42

I read a bit on optimal feotal positioning when I was pregnant. I was worried I might have a stargazer ( back to back labour). I tried to follow many of the seating advice for the last 6 weeks and did some of the exercise dont know whether that helped keep it straight forward - but a back labour was my only worry about labour with any of my pregnancies.

handlemecarefully · 11/04/2006 22:15

My first labour was a back to back labour. It was the worst 26 hours of my life!

colinandcaitlinsmommy · 11/04/2006 22:21

I had 2. I didn't do anything, actually. I really should have though. DS was 9 lb, had 3 hrs of labor, no pain relief, DD was 7 1/2, less than 2 hours, and came out in just a few pushes. I just chose to ignore the labor and delivery part in the days before birth. Probably not the right thing to do, though.

beartime · 11/04/2006 22:25

they do say in the last month or so of pregnancy to make sure your knees aren't above your hips i.e. don't slouch on the couch and put a cushion underneath you in the car, to make sure your baby doesn't end up posterior.

ShaysMummy · 11/04/2006 22:31

I am a big baby when it comes to pain and usually panic.
I had DS in the hospital's birth pool and was pleased as it all went to plan.
I had my husband and my mum there. Mum looked after me at my end so DH could see the 'action' at the 'business end'.
If I had not had someone my end I don't think I'd have managed it.
They both helped to keep me calm.
Just before we went up the hosp, DH fed me chicken and chips (my last request!)
I may sound like a loon/hippy but I managed to control my fear and pain by thinking about it as positive pain. Every contraction brings you nearer.
I am hoping I manage to keep it together in Sept when no.2 is due.
Good Luck.
:)

PS: Don't forget, apparently, births get quicker the more you have- that thought is helping me!

ShaysMummy · 11/04/2006 22:33

DS was 9lb9 and I used G&A.

juuule · 12/04/2006 08:27

Nettle tea for iron during the last 3 months.
Glucose drinks (lucozade)during labour to provide uterus with energy.
Good interesting book to distract.
Upright position.
Stay at home until feel transition coming on. (Read, relax, potter about)
(Couldn't for last baby as I was induced).
Birthing ball (fantastic).
And for me - not to lie flat on my back at all!!!!

Original poster

JTN · 12/04/2006 12:55

thnalks everyone for responses I must try and be more positive its just i dread it s much. and that the prep you put i n doesnt equate to the final result - so unfair

OP posts:

homemama · 13/04/2006 20:11

JTN, I was terrified of being induced. I didn't want to be stuck lying on my back, hooked up to a drip. I decided to do everything that I thought might help.

I dragged DH out for a 45min walk every evening.
I spent 1/2 hour every day on my knees, leaning forward.
From 36wks, I only ever sat on the birthing ball,never on the sofa.
I drank 2 cups of raspberry leaf tea each day (yuck!!!)
I massaged my perineum twice daily with wheat germ oil.

DS was born on his due date. I had no problems in labour and didn't need stiches. He weighed 8lbs and his HC was on the 95th centile!

I'll never know which, if any, of the above worked. Perhaps I was just lucky. However, if nothing else they made me approach the birth with confidence. The darkness of the room helped me stay calm too as the MW just used a lamp at the business end.

I also gave birth standing up which even if I can't be sure about the other tips, I know for sure that this helped me as I could feel him sliding down as well as being pushed out.

Good luck and try not to worry. It does bloody hurt but if your body is able to do it naturally then you'll cope with it. If not then you shouldn't feel a failure for accepting whatever intervention you need.

Hattie05 · 13/04/2006 20:12

Lots of raspberry leaf tea, spent a lot of time on all fours (dd was breach until quite late), did loads of walking the day before i had her because i was desperate to labour before my induction the following day.

Had a 6 hr labour with gas and air.

dinny · 13/04/2006 20:13

walking round loads in labour and pregnancy.

50 pelvic floor exercises every day - religiously.

Original poster

JTN · 16/04/2006 10:40

thanks all making my list of things i nweed to do and have started with a carol smilie exercise video and have started sitting on a cushionn to raise my hips higher than my knees.

OP posts:

nowanearlyNicemum · 17/04/2006 10:32

so what does raspberry leaf tea do exactly ?

beetlejuice73 · 17/04/2006 23:02

Completely agree with Shazronnie that positive-thinking and open-mindedness are invaluable. I've only had one labour, but it was a good one - 4 hours, no tears, only gas and air. I went in feeling complete trust in my birth partner and ready to take it as it came. DD was 3 weeks early, so I hadn't got round to a birth plan, and I'm not sorry about that - I didn't have to worry about sticking to it or making sure that they did.
Also agree with others about keeping moving. I paced the length of our flat about 200 times before finally leaving for hosp. Good luck, and remember above all that however it goes it's basically luck of the draw and you'll have done an astonishing thing.

nowanearlyNicemum · 19/04/2006 10:29

err, can ANYONE tell me what the benefits of raspberry leaf tea are? please?

beansmum · 19/04/2006 10:33

I just didn't worry about it, assumed it would be straightforward and I was right. I'm sure it usually is, you were just unlucky last time. Didn't like my midwife so trying to show her that I wasn't totally useless just because I was on my own might have helped. not sure how you can arrange that in advance though.

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