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?

I had two, one spontaneous labour and one induction, didn’t use gas and air. Positive experiences as no complications or tearing etc.

I was prepared to ask for pain relief and knew my options (definitely make sure you know what’s available) but luckily it never got to that point either time.

I was able to manage without but only because of using these alternatives:

Hypnobirthing (cannot recommend enough, if nothing else it takes away the fear factor)

TENS machine (amazing invention!)

Birthing pools, water really worked for me, I know not everyone is keen.

Much preferred my induction as I was more active and it was much quicker, I actually enjoyed some parts.

I had both of mine with nowt but a tens machine and 2 paracetamol. Gas and air made me feel sick and I didn't want a bloody great needle in my spine thank you very much.
It hurt, obviously, but I enjoyed being in control and fully aware of what was going on.

My first was drug free. I used a tens machine for a bit. Water birth. It was fine. Technically my second birth wasn’t unmedicated, as I was induced. No pain relief, twins. Also fine. Just try to relax and call for pain relief if it’s needed. Take it one contraction at a time.

My daughter 2nd DC! Told to wait at home (no beds available) to get in the bath until contractions were 2 minutes apart. Long story short nearly gave birth in the back of a taxi no pain relief nothing waters popped on labour ward her head was there all while standing up not at all as bad as DS. Probably because didn't know what to expect the first time.

Also, both were 11 days late and I refused induction because I didn't want to be in hospital for hours/days on end. I was fully dilated by the time I got in with ds2 (that I wouldn't recommend - the car journey was a bit hairy)

First baby - 12 hour labour (2 hours of pushing). Spent most of my active labour in the pool on midwife led unit. Had about 2 mouthfuls of gas and air, made me feel sick, didn’t have anything else. Found the whole experience fairly enjoyable, although was exhausted by the end of the pushing.

Second baby. Two hours from first contraction to born. Pushing for around 10 minutes. Home birth with pool. Not a single bit of pain relief (no time!) beyond a Tens machine early on then pool. Best experience of my life and would happily repeat again.

I hate feeling out of control, have never taken drugs and although I drink I don’t get drunk so for me, the pain was better than the drugs

I had one huge 9lb baby with nothing, not even gas & air. Was begging for it but they couldn't get it working (was at home).
All I can say is that I wouldn't want to do it again. But I don't think painkillers really kills the pain, they just make you feel more distant from it.

I used gas and air for all three natural, no intervention births. 3rd was a water birth at home! All health and good recovery.

I have only experienced unmediated births, three at full term and one early birth. I was offered induction but declined it in two of my pregnancies, mainly the high risk ones. With my first I got a prescription for diamorphine ready in case I needed it, and I had someone ready to bring entonox in case I needed it. I really wanted to avoid syntometrine and a managed third stage which I did feel strongly about, but I would have accepted if it had been necessary for bleeding or retained products - especially for my very pre term birth which makes those things more likely (and because in that case it wouldn’t matter if they interfered with the physiological process/nursing). I didn’t have any anaesthesia or local anaesthetics or needles.

In my case none of the medication became necessary so partially by choice and partially by circumstance I have only had unmedicated births. I didn’t line up anything for my second and subsequent births so some of the medications just weren’t an option for me.

I was fascinated by the process and really curious as to what the feelings would be, having done it a few time I have no regrets. The biggest highs of my life and back to mostly normal life immediately after catching each baby. I would be quite happy to give birth again tomorrow. Does that help with your question?

I was induced for both of mine. First birth I just had paracetamol because things moved very fast (I gave up on my TENS machine because it made me feel queasy). Second birth I used gas and air.

I consider myself very lucky that I had two quick, straightforward labours - if it had gone on as long as I know some births can I think I’d have taken any medication offered 😅

I'm not sure why people are saying G&A is unmedicated. Gas is a drug so using it is, by definition, medicated. Nothing wrong with using G&A but it is not unmedicated.

I had three with nothing. Main recommendation is to try and stay upright. The pain is much easier that way. I gave birth kneeling on the bed which was great as I could use the headrest for support when needed. I also did ante-natal yoga so used the breathing from that. I was lucky that my births were quick and straightforward so I felt no need for drugs.

I also had one very mediated birth. I was induced and have never known pain like that. I really don't know how any one could deal with an induction without drugs.

I was 15 when I had my first child and the hospital were adamant I wasn’t in labour, eventually they told me to come in but suggested I would be going straight home as I wasn’t in labour. When I arrived I was 9.5cm and too late for any pain relief. Always say the worst pain was the sting of the stitches.

First was induced and had gas and air. Very painful but as it was my first I had nothing to compare it to.
Second was completely unmedicated as I gave birth in the car on the way to the hospital whilst my husband was driving.
Both were positive experiences but not sure I’d want to go through that pain again 😬

Both of mine were because I hate needles and heeded my mother's advice to give birth naturally with as little medical intervention as possible.

We were all born at home but I had mine in hospital and both were straightforward labours.

I had a very long labour (36 hours). It was unmedicated (no gas and air, no nothing) until the last hour when unfortunately I had to go to theatre.

It felt painful but manageable until the pushing phase, which was impossible for me due to the position of the baby's head (hence theatre).

I don't drink alcohol and hate the idea of using any drugs likely to make me feel less in control. I don't regret my decision.

Best position for me was sitting learning slightly forward like I do on the toilet.

I did find one of the midwives quite annoying, trying to push me into having pain relief.

Woke up at 7:30 having contractions, went in for observations (planned) at 10:30 and told that they around see me tomorrow! Went home, husband went to work. Wanted a bath and forgot to put my tens machine on… called husband home, phoned hospital for advice because it was getting quite painful, told to wait and as I was in Good spirits so not close. Watched some tv, had the bath, sat on birthing ball and had my tens machine on. Called hospital for the second time as it was getting really strong and v uncomfortable. Told to stay home as clearly not ready but come in for a check if worried.

left home at 7pm, got to hospital at 7:30pm, checked - 9.5cm!!! To her credit she said I looked worse than I sounded!!! Birthing pool run, got in, hypnobirthing track on, 2 swigs of gas and air (hideous) and pushed baby out in her sac. She was off to SCBU as she breathed in meconium. 5 days in hospital with baby on antibiotics. I had a second degree tear but was up and about very soon after.

nothing to compare it to, but was booked for a c-section later that week (with requested GA) but didn’t need it.

often it will depend on staff, your preparation and flexibility (ie knowing what’s available and managing expectations) and speed.

my consultant wanted to induce me, but I flat out refused (hence the c-section). I’m grateful I had the birth I did as I knew I was a one and done.

however - don’t put pressure on yourself, I though gas and air would be fab, but it was awful for me so I had barely any. Have a look at what each medication offers and be open and don’t be so ridged to think your a failure if it doesn’t go the way you expect.

Two drug free births, one a 9.5 pounder, did smart a little but no drama. Recommend staying on your feet walking around for as long as possible to help things along

Had two births with no medication, first birth contractions were the worst part and I didn't feel anything when pushing apparently natural numbing!! My biggest tip would be moving around not laying down, squat and push down with contractions gravity helps massively. Doesn't always go to plan though.
i had no stitches either.

I had all 6 of my children without any medication, the first birth was manageable until transition but then I was at home and didn’t have any access to even gas and air which I definitely would of had at that stage if it had been available. The subsequent births were much less painful and didn’t opt for pain relief although available. Although I say much less painful, they were still painful and intense (particularly my last one) and transition is always a bit scary and intense but I got through it without feeling traumatised. I never had to ‘push’ like you see in the films, it generally is an involuntary urge to push if you are unmediated, also all my babies went straight to the breast feeding fine after birth. No issues with pelvic floor until my last baby but has improved over time. P.s. to add, I was extremely lucky I was in an environment and with people I felt comfortable with and allowed to do my own thing entirely with no additional medications or procedures I felt uncomfortable with and feel of I’d asked for medication it would have been respected. It is an extremely intense time and you are/ feel extremely vulnerable and the freedom and care you receive matter an awful lot

I had an unmedicated birth with my first in the pool. I was saving the gas and air until it got really painful and it never did. I think it helps that I had an extremely painful miscarriage before I had my eldest so I thought Labour would be like that but about 5x worse and it really wasn't. I nearly had an unmedicated birth with my 3rd as well but I wasn't allowed to use the pool so I needed some had and air near the end.

I did it with gas and air, four hours start to finish. The first two hours weren’t too bad and I remember getting through a lot of tea and toast and chatting with the midwife in between contractions.
As it progressed she dimmed the lights and stroked my hair and sung me Jamaican songs whilst rubbing my back and telling me to wind my waist (Beyoncé style) The pushing was painful but quick, 37 seconds!

One very quick labour. A few mins of pushing. 6.5lb baby. 2nd degree tear. Nothing administered at all.

One induction. 2 pessaries, one drip. Contractions for I can’t remember how long. Over a day I think. Back to back, over an hour of pushing, baby just shy of 9lbs. Gas and air right at the end. 3rd degree tear.

They both smarted a fair bit, but babies were fine.

Non medicated means not having any medication 👍🏻

So no antibiotics? Or no painkillers? What counts?

I’ve had 3, though if you want to get technical I had gas and air with my third, which I loved.
No complications of any sort with any of them, no stitches either.