Positive experiences of unmedicated births?

[SallySummerPop]

I am considering a non-medicated birth (if everything goes smoothly), I understand I may change my mind at the time but all the stories online are about how bad it was. Does anyone have any unmedicated birth stories to share that are positive please?

What do you mean specifically by "non-medicated"?

I had 3 non medicated births. I was lucky, they were all fairly smooth and non eventful. I didn’t have pain relief because I didn’t feel I needed it.

Does this mean drug free?

You’ll have to define non-medicated - I don’t think there’s a MN consensus about if gas and air counts (or is there?).

First birth: induced, medicated to high heaven, assisted and episiotomy. It was awful. Baby ended up in NICU and I was waiting hours to be able to walk after the epidural until I could go down to them. Healing took 3 months.

Second birth: declined induction & waited for spontaneous labour, stayed at home as long as possible, and only used gas & air. Beautiful, empowering and healing birth of a giant baby. Fully recovered in 3-4 weeks.

Having the two experiences, I much prefer unmedicated. Being able to move, being able to be at home as long as possible, lowering the likelihood of assistance, all were massive pros for me. I also wanted to be able to run to NICU if that happened again!

It was very painful, not going to lie. I prepped for it like a marathon, and did the pop that mummas birth course - highly recommend. Leaned in to the pain, and honestly was one of the best experience of my life. Oddly I'd like to do it again. 😂

That was my plan. I changed my mind, wholly fuck did i change my mind!! You wanted positive stories so I’ll say nothing more.

Is the is your first time giving birth?

First birth 12 hours. Oxytocin drip due to merconium in the waters. Managed about 8 hours on gas and air before requesting diamorphine. Had I been told it would slow things down and baby would be out in an hour without it I wouldn’t have had it.

Second birth 3.5 hours. No pain relief, no gas and air, shoulder dystocia but ultimately fine and a healthy baby born. Didn’t need anything else just used a TENS machine

Had two, tough going but fine and able to be up and walking around very quickly after, no issues after and able to feed easily. I think you need to be pretty determined as the pain is intense but it’s doable! Wouldn’t consider anything else unless medically necessary for third.

Not sure if G&A counts as unmedicated but I had both mine with only G&A (and birthing pool - I found the water offered pain relief) - both really positive experiences! Good luck OP!

Yes - two natural births. Two healthy babies. Gas and air if you consider that unmedicated. First child - 8lb 8oz in labour a few hours - he was a bit stuck in the U bend but was threatened with a dr and he arrived in 10 mins. Baby 2 was a bit smaller. she was out in one hour and 2 pushes. Few stitches nothing terrible: How I did this? I was fit, clearly my body was good at labouring and I was determined. But that isn’t enough for many people. My speedy births meant I had zero milk for newly two weeks - almost like they happened too fast. Recovery took a while and a probably didn’t rest enough both times. Natural births are possible but much is beyond your control. You need a plan b and c.

Pretty much reflects my experience. I felt the pain but it wasn’t terrifying - it was the best experience of my life, weirdly!

Home birth with no drugs at all, amazing experience.

Mine was 100% positive. No pain relief, used visualisation throughout labour, and didn’t think it was anywhere near as painful as people make it out to be.

Yes. Had a small about of G&A but it just made me feel nauseous so delivered with nothing. Baby was 9lb 6 and delivery was straightforward (waters went 3 am, hospital 7:30am, baby born 10:30 am).
I never had any 'birth plan' though and would've done whatever I felt like at the time.

Had her in hospital with nothing- not even gas and air- I went from begging them to kill me during contractions to apologising for being so dramatic! She’s one of one so can’t compare it

First birth was 8 hours long. TENS machine strapped on in the second hour. I stayed upright for the whole thing, including the actual birth. A really amazing experience.

Second birth was 90 mins long. No TENS this time. She was born in the passenger seat of the car. I caught her. I was grateful I was wearing a skirt. XH carried on driving to the hospital through it all and only realised I wasn't being hysterical that she was on her way when he looked down to change gear and saw his daughter's head. Another amazing experience that's a great story to tell in the pub.

The important thing is that mum and baby are safe. Meds were in both my birth plans and I'd happily have had them if I'd felt the need.

Are you including gas and air? I have had two births on gas and air only - yes it bloody hurt at the time but oh my word, the rush when baby is born. It's amazing.

Btw, my births were not planned to be that way - at a certain point, it's too late to have an epidural. With the first birth, the anaesthetists were tied up and couldn't get to me in time. With the second birth, there wasn't time as the active labour section was only around 1hr. The anaesthetist was still setting up her equipment when I got the urge to push.

First baby had sepsis and needed NICU, second baby stayed on the postnatal ward whilst my preeclampsia stabilised but both times, it was good not to have to wait for anything to wear off and to get the catheter out ASAP (needed as I had a tear very close to the urethra and they wanted to make sure it wasn't damaged).

I went to a midwife led unit with no pain relief. I’ve never really had the option and have never missed it. I can say all 3 of my births have been perfect. I randomly enjoy labour (I’ve been very lucky!) In all 3 cases my recovery was really quick, I was on my feet pretty quickly after cuddles.

My last two children I was home within a few hours.

I've had two in the birth pool but I did have gas and air, does this count for you as in medicated? Doesn't really stop the pain just makes you feel like you have something as a distraction.
Anyway both of my labours were long but I survived 😂😂

First birth, in California, USA, heavily medicated, epidural which lead to drop in baby's heart rate and baby ended up in high intensity ward under a load of machinery monitoring condition. Quite a stressful experience. Second birth, in UK, baby face up so a little more difficult but no pain relief (just a lot of eye contact and encouragement from husband - lots of "Look at me, breath!" - which made a huge difference.) A much easier and pleasanter birth.

My very young dd gave birth last week.. Didn't even use gas and air... Very proud dm /dgm here!
I had 9 drug free births with some g+a...
She well outdid me!

What do you mean by unmedicated? Interpretations of that will range from free birthing to delivering in a hospital with gas and air.

All three births with gas and air. All were positive - but my labours were very fast. I was very uncomfortable/in pain for less than an hour each time. An epidural was never an option for me. My decisions may have been different in different circumstances.

2 totally non medicated births (including no gas and air), 1 home birth and lovely, 1 attempted home birth, transfer to hospital and very painful birth. I didn't want gas and air because of the risk of vomiting.

Those were both after an emergency c section with ds1 which was unmedicated apart from the epidural for the section.

If you dislike the idea of medication then you can plan to go without it. It isn't a failing if you change your mind during labour. I planned home births for all 3 of mine because I dislike hospitals and would only choose to go if I thought I really needed to (which I did for 2 of them). The community midwives were horrified that I wouldn't consider "planning" a hospital birth.

If you're experiencing something similar re pain relief then you are free to ignore it. Your body, your baby, your decisions.