Active birth - for or against?

[TuttiFrutti]

I'm 32 weeks pregnant with my first baby and have been recommended the "active birth" regime, where you have minimal pain relief, move around a lot in the first stage of labour and stay upright for the second stage. I've read the book by Janet Balaskas and it makes sense in theory (force of gravity, etc) but I'm worried about the lack of pain relief.

Is there anyone out there who has actually done this? Or tried to do it perhaps without success?

[bathmummy]

I would say don?t waste too much time worrying about it all right now (I know that is easier said than done). Once in labour you are likely to find that it will either work for you or not. Be open minded, give it a shot if it feels right and take the advice of your mw.
Saying that, my second labour was much much faster so less tiring and more in control because I was active, moved around a lot, walked to keep the contractions steady and rested when I needed to. All about balance, not too much and not too little.
As has been said already, if you choose this route, no-one is going to deny you pain relief if you need it at the time so stop worrying about the lack of pain relief.
How about aiming to go for as little pain relief as possible but agreeing with yourself that if you need it, you will take it and promise yourself not to give yourself a hard time about it? After all, everyone and every labour is different.
Good Luck.

[HappyMumof2]

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[suedonim]

I'm for active births - my experience was the best of my four labours. But I'd always think about the alternatives, just in case you go down that road instead. Btw, my last labour was NHS and my mw was wonderful!!

[HandbagAddiction]

Can I add one thing to Fairyfly's comment about not being able to move around once induced....as I actually don't think it's that black and white. I was induced with a pessary for DD and apart from the first 30 minutes after the pessary was inserted, I was left completely unmonitored and free to do as I liked for the next 8 hours which was basically my entire 1st stage of labour. Even when I was given a drip and a monitoring belt for 2nd stage / pushing, I was still able to stand up and lean on / or kneel on the bed.

So...IMO you can often still be 'active' even though you have been induced.

[TuttiFrutti]

Thank you all so much for your messages. They have been a big help and I feel much more informed now! I will definitely try to go for an active birth but will keep an open mind.

[prunegirl]

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[bonym]

I read the Janet Balaskas book avidly when pg with dd and fully intended to have an active birth, use the birthing pool and have no pain relief. I managed fine at home with a TENS machine and was 5cm by the time I got to hospital. Unfortunately, as soon as I got to hospital I was told to lie on my back and was strapped to a monitor. I felt scared and out of control and was very soon begging for a epidural. This time I have planned a home birth and we are hiring a pool and I am hoping that the experience will be very different.

I think the support (or lack of) that you have in labour is crucial - my ex was worse than useless so I had no-one to speak up for me and I found hospital to be an intimidating and scary environment to labour in. I would say go for it but try to ensure that your birthing partner is fully aware that you want an active birth and can communicate this to the midwifes/doctors as you may find that once in the middle of labour you are unable to speak up for yourself (even if you would usually have no problems !)

[bloss]

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[Fran1]

Didn't know you needed to make this decision. At the hospital i had dd this is what you were encouraged to do!

So i'm FOR!

I wandered round and round like a mad woman for most of my labour, didn't want to talk to dp or midwife or listen to any advice, i just paced! lol i can laugh now.

Had woken at 6am with contractions, got to hospital about 9am, paced and paced, took gas and air towards the end, and got onto bed in all fours position (with bed head propped up and me hanging over it.) had dd at 1.50pm.

I did beg for pain relief but dd popped out about 10mins later! didn't realise i had already done all the work.

So go in with expectations of active birth, but be prepared to make changes according to your pain and length of labour.

[sunspot]

For. I have had 2 pretty good birth experiences (compared to many other horror stories I've heard anyway!!)
With DS1 had just planned to see how things went re pain relief etc. Tried one puff of gas and air but didn't like it. Asked for diamorphine but was too late so had nothing.
With DS2 again planned to see how things went but the final stages of labour went fairly quickly so again had no pain relief.
I stayed upright for both births which I would definitely recommend as every time I lay down contractions more or less stopped.

So just see how things go - don't make up your mind to have no pain relief as you never know how things will progress. At the end of the day it doesn't matter how they come out as long as you're both well at the end of it.

Good Luck

[FairyMum]

Just another quick thing....first babies are often induced and then you can't move around.

It also really depends on how LONG your labour is. HOw long can you cope with the pain? 5 hours? 10 hours? 30 hours? The best advise I would give and I have had c-sections after failing to progress as well as a natural birth with only gas&air, is not to let yourself get so exchausted you can't push at the end.

[treacletart]

blimey i did go on a bit didn't I ? - sorry

[treacletart]

I attended Active Birth classes but was unusual in my group in that I was planning a hospital birth and not a home birth (there's a very strong home birth unit where I live).

I was fairly sure I didn't want an epidural and like you Active Birth seemed to make a lot of sense, but not having given birth before I thought it best to keep an open mind until the event itself.

The classes were informative, very relaxing and I met some really nice people. A lot of the discussion concerned how to cope if you need intervention during labour and still feel in control. It taught me to believe in my body and know that my body was designed to give birth.

When the time came my ds was born very quickly (less than 4 hours from first twinge)and although I'd planned a hospital birth, I gave birth in my ds' own bedroom on all fours and I wasn't scared at all.

I was shocked at how strong the pain was, but more amazed at how well I could cope with it. If left to give birth in a confident and relaxed way your body will produce natural and extremely powerful pian killers of its own. Its almost as if you can somehow distance yourself from the pain a bit like its happening to someone else, whilst at the same time being totally aware of how painful it is (does that make any sense?)

I found a warm bath very helpful and my dh running a warm shower head over my back even more so. An ambulance crew arrived in the last half hour or so and I then had gas and air(Lovely, lovely stuff!)

I posted my full birth story here

I was very lucky to have had such a positive birthing experience. One things for sure, Its very rare that anyone gets the labour they planned, but I'm sure the Active Birth classes I went to would help anyone cope better with any labour.

[FairyMum]

Painkillers.....you know what I mean....

[FairyMum]

Best thing is not to plan as you have no idea what your labour will be like. It might be relatively easy and quick or you might find that you really can't do it without painkillers. IMO best to be opne-minded and educated about the various "options" open to you. Don't plan your labour too much as you will only set yourself up for feeling disappointed when it doesn't go according to plan.
I hear so many people who planned the "perfect" birth without pain relief etc and ended up depressed and feeling like failures because in the end the baby was a c-section.

[jamiesam]

Definitely for. At the very, least, you're informing yourself of some of the options/ choices/ decisions you might need to take/ be aware of on the big day.

For ds1 I had limited ante-natal classes and thought I'd rely on the mw when it came to it. However, as she was extremely busy, I didn't see much of her, apart from to race through pain relief options up to and including epidural, until it was obvious that I was failing to progress and eventually baby became distressed and I had a cs.

For ds2 I did pregnancy yoga and read more around the subject of what I now realise is active birth. Also had one to one care from an excellent mw! Ended up with third degree tear which is another story but they are very rare.

Find out about optimal foetal positioning - and I'd highly recommend yoga, if it's not too late (I did weekly, and also special half day 'one-to-one' session with dh so he knew what I was supposed to be doing too!)

Completely agree about keeping an open mind - I think you should see active birth as giving you best chance of natural birth but accept that you may end up having a cs (and a perfect baby!)

PS - if you get it right gas and air is GREAT.

[Surfermum]

I planned to have every bit of pain relief going if I needed it, but when it came to it I just had gas and air. I also thought I'd follow the advice of staying upright as much as possible, but in the event I just wanted to be lying down. My labour was 18 hrs.

I'd agree with others who say read up on everything so you can make informed choices, but keep an open mind. You really don't know what it's going to be like for you until it happens.

[Pollyanna]

definitely for! I did this with all 4 of mine, managing with gas and air (which, like dejags, I used mainly to help with the breathing). I'm not sure how much the activity helped with the pain, but all 4 of my labours were short. I do think it is instinct to move about in labour though.

[bobbybob]

Marathon runners don't prepare for a marathon by lying in bed though, they exercise. Therefore my theory was to keep active up until the birth, but then to relax in the pool. Personally pain killers make me more tired than natural endorphins. It's all about personal preference.

[elliesmoomoo]

For!! With my DD (my only at mo) I had a pretty quick labour - 4.5 hours.I was induced and I did lots of walking with my mum and sis and by the time I wanted any other pain relief (I used TENS and gas & air ) I couldn't have any 'cos I was 10 cms dilated. The pride I felt after was immense as I felt I did it all myself and I could get up and walk straight after I had her. I was awake and she was alert so It made BF easier too. The one thing I would advise is to not have any rigid ideas of what yo expect as things may change, and just go with what feels right. Good luck!!

[zubb]

Both my labours would fit under this - although like Paolosgirl, I wouldn't have known it was called active labour.
It really is whatever works for you, just be openminded.

[Amanda3266]

jesicasmummy.
Interesting theory - never thought of it that way but you are right - the rest on the bed to prepare for the days ahead is a good idea.

[jessicasmummy]

me personally - against - i need the back up of pain relief and the rest on the bed is invaluable for the days that lie ahead. only my opinion.

[Blu]

Tuttifrutti - if it feesl instinctively right for you, go for it. I did, for my first (only) baby, and even though we did need help at the end (baby stuck - ventouse delivery and I did ask for an epidural at that point) I am really pleased i went for - and managed - the labour I felt comfortabale with. The registrar said that had i been in hospital with a 'managed' labour my baby would have been born by CS. For me, i was happy to avoid that.

The point is that I remained calm and active and at home with TENS and pool unitl I really felt for myself that we did need serious help. Because of the active nature of my approach, I felt that my own decision - or agreement with the midwives' decision - at that point, was as active a process as all the leaning forward on the stairs had been.

The point about pain relief is that if you want it, at any time, you can ask for it! Active birth doesn't sign you into some sort of contract, you know! I did 28 hours labout includiong 3 hours pushing without even thinking I needed gas and air, but once in hospital, with the prospect of lying on my back, I demanded, and got, an epidural. No problem!

Open mind, and do what feels right for you - and the very best of luck

[bozzy]

I had my first baby at home, with a doula. I was extremely fortunate to be in a very stress free environment which I believe helped immensely. I spent most of my labour kneeling over the side of my bed (labour started 9pm with immediate contractions 5 mins apart) and had DS at 6am. The only pain I felt was at the end when I was pushing the head out - I was in doo-la-la land for the rest of it and although I had a TENS machine and a waterpool on standby, I didn't need it. I know I was very lucky but having a doula around made a huge difference as both my husband and I were both very relaxed. As it turned out, I had met 5 midwives and not one of them turned up for my birth (one wanted to but wasn't allowed...!) Do whatever is comfortable - squatting definately opens up your pelvis by a huge amount so if you are able to squat, I would. Like everyone else says, you have to decide what you want at the time...don't be afraid to ask for pain relief. I just didn't have the option as I was at home, but as my doula had predicted, I didn't need it. Best wishes for your birth!