Any Tips/Advice on having a "natural" drug free birth?

[Tryharder]

Am expecting DC3 in July. Gave birth to DS1 and DS2 without any major complications but had an epidural each time because am a complete wuss and couldn't stand the pain.

I am interested in having a more natural birth without an epidural but I am really frightened of pain. When I was giving birth to DS2 in relative ease (couldn't feel anything), all I could hear was the woman in the next room screaming in agony, saying she wanted to die etc...

Has anyone got any tips/advice? I have relatives who live in West Africa who give birth without even gas and air and I feel so "pathetic" in comparison. I have considered hypnosis but it's expensive so if anyone has got any feelings on that, would love to hear them!

Thanks in advance..

my sil went through some pregnancy yoga with me, there are positions you can practise to help get the baby in the right position and to give you a break if you think its all getting a bit too much. It might help to make you feel a bit more in control of whats going on.

I think there's an interesting discussion surrounding pain in labour. I studied hypnobirthing, was calm and relaxed, ready for the birth etc. As things progressed I felt real pain. Pain that I knew was not right and not how a contraction should feel (no build, no easing to it, just instant and intense when a contraction started). I was encouraged not to think of it as pain, I tried to control and handle it. It got worse. At the very end when they opened me up for the em cs it became clear that dd was in the wrong position entirely and pushing on the wrong part of my cervix and moulding into one side of my pelvis, unable to descend. My natural instincts told me something was wrong but I wasn't listened to. I guess what I mean is that rationalising all pain in labour is foolhardy but knowing your body and respecting your instincts is very important.

I had: birth 1 with TENS (didn't work) and G & A (suspected it didn't work but didn't really know at the time); birth 2 with G & A (definitely decided it didn't work for me); birth 3 with nothing (couldn't be bothered even with G & A; birth 4 with the flipping works- general anaesthetic and c section.

I found that if you embrace the pain and don't try to keep things normal (ie don't try to not make any noise or try to stay in the here and now for the sake of your birth partner or attendants) and concentrate solely on birthing the baby, you just weather it. I visualised (not consciously as I've never had any training in it) the birth third time as me being tossed around on a stormy sea in a little boat, and rising to the top of a wave before breaking through and going down again. I was there but not there iyswim. Not sure if that's helpful.

have a water birth

it was marvellous - supported me, helped me keep warm and change position easily. I laboured really well

delivered DD with 2 pushes and gas and air

had a natural third stage as well

Baby animals don't generally have such big heads in comparison to their mother's pelvis, though. I think that makes a big difference.

I had constant pain with my first two labours - in between contractions I was still in agony. In my case there was nothing physically wrong. I could believe it was due to stress, though - the first time I'd seen a doctor a couple of days before who decided, based on my height that my pelvis was too small to give birth and booked me for a section on Monday morning. She was born - over 8lb, no forceps or ventouse - at Sunday lunchtime.

Um, more to the point - my third and fourth labours were far easier, Tryharder. I remember with my third I thought there must be hours to go because the pain was at a copable level - labour only took an hour and a quarter! You might not even reach the level of pain which made you ask for an epidural before. Have you thought of using a TENS machine? It's drug-free and I used one in my fourth labour and found it a real help.

mulled - I might help if you viewed it as your child not being able to get herself into the right position for being born, rather than your body failing her- it's essentially up to the baby to position themselves for exit. My 4th had been playing with her cord, to such an extent that she was literally tied by it to the roof of my womb (placenta was at the top, cord wound five times around her thighs, she couldn't reach the exit however hard she or I tried). I suppose I feel very, very grateful that modern medical management was there to help when I really needed it. I think that maybe the fact that I'd had three really uncomplicated births before this helped a lot in coping with it.

Think of crowning like the biggest burning itch you have every experienced and pushing (or allowing the baby to descend) as scratching it with a big metal claw. It hurts but is sooooooo satisfying.

It doesn't sound very nice I know, but hopefully illustrates why it is managable.

I had a very painful, long long labour with DS1, with every possible pain relief after being induced and tied to the bed with monitoring devices.

With DS2, I had a lovely, painful-but-very-managable homebirth when I walked about, rolled on beanbags, MW holding my space and bringing back into it when I got distracted. It was wonderful.

I am expecting DC3 in August and I plan on homebirth again using hypnobirthing techniques.

I am reading Ina May Gaskin's Guide to Childbirth - Highly Recommend! If you like the idea of natural birth or want to read about techniques to help avoid fear, pain and intervention in a normal delivery, it's quite hippy but fab reading.

Fear of pain, fear of something going wrong, fear of not being able to cope - all that fear actually creates pain and inability to cope. I suggest you look for resources that help you affirm what you and your body CAN do, not what you wont be able to do. There is always the possibility of intervention with any birth, but so there is with pretty much any life activity!

Enjoy.

I used a TENS machine for the birth of my PFB and would highly recommend it. It doesn't take away the pain but sort of distracts your brain from it, bit of a weird sensation but better than nothing & I'm proud I did it without drugs... I was popping the painkillers merrily afterwards though!

another vote for TENS machine - I lasted til 8cm with just that, and then gas & air on top.

Position yourself upright somehow - leaning over the back of the bed or leaning on a chair. Rocking helps a lot too.

Well, I birthed both ways. First time was your standard issue flogging, with the drips and the epidural. I felt very satisfied I had pushed her out. I enjoyed labour once the epi went in.
Second was completely natural, although in hospital. I had a bit of gas and air, but mostly clary sage on a hankie.

Now, I am chuffed to bits that I have a sense of achievement with that 2nd birth. I really am. If I hadn't done that birth, I'd be left with a feeling I had too.

However, in terms of experience. I'll be honest and say the epidural birth was more enjoyable. Once it was in that is. I completely realise that is isn't really meant to be enjoyable, but satisfying maybe. WEll, with dd2 [bit of G&A] I shook, and when dd was handed to me I wanted to just shake. Not meet a baby, not be touched or moved or spoken too. I just felt such pain and intolerance. It lasted a while too. A good half hour, maybe more. It was great to labour natures way - but sheesh. That delivery. Whoah!!

With dd1 [epi] I felt her head crown, I looked and watched myself push her head out. I saw her head rotate and deliver, then raeched down and lifted her up. I had no pain postnataly, no tear [did with dd2] and was up and in the shower after an hour or so.

I feel good about both the births, they were both utterly brilliant in totally different ways.

Just a pov, but I hope you have a great birthing whatever the path you choose, and the path it takes.

Ooo yes. Tens, found them great in both to about 6-8cms, when I got epi with dd1 with the drip. That was about 12 hours in.
About 8cms with dd2 when I started with gas and air and getting pushy.

Forgot about that!

Had epidural with 1st - took ages etc. Epidural only worked down one side, so still hard.

2nd was over in 2 hours and no time for pain relief.

I'd choose 1st one every time.

Everyone is different and for goodness sake go easy on yourself. You need what you need at the time.

People who have needed CS have still done as much of a 'good job' imo

Had a natural birth for my second. The thing that helped me hugely was walking around for the the labour - all of it, including contractions. I found the contraction part of labour much, much easier than for my first child. Midwife turned up at 7cm.

And standing up to deliver. Although everyone is different what works for me might be different for you.

I did find the transition stage painful, but the midwife helped me through it by telling me not to panic. The pushing out was a relief.

Oh my yes. All births are a huge personal achievement. And we are all individuals.

OP -I can understand your fears re: the crowning as this was the most excruciating part for me. If it were possible to have an epidural just for the crowning, I'd have done it like a shot! But as we all know, an epidural needs to be sited well in advance of crowning,and it's aan invasive medical procedure which then leads to increased risks of further intervention etc

On this basis, I feel it's worth the short lived agony of crowning for the sake of having a non-medicalised birth.

As someone else said, it feels like intense burning. This is your second baby, so everything has stretched that big before, which makes it easier. I tore as well, which hurt, but it doesn't last long, and then the baby is out, and believe me, nothing will ever hurt as much again. I even had a couple of stitches without pain relief, and if you'd told me before giving birth that I'd have a needle stuck in my fanjo without pain relief I'd have laughed in your face!

I think if you are keen to try for a natural birth, that shows there is something inside you that feels the need to try to attempt it. There are no guarantees, but you will feel such amazement, I would definitely recommend it.

Thanks for all posts - really inspiring. As others said, i actually enjoyed my epidurals (spent labour dozing/sleeping) but have read that the epidural can had a bad affect on breastfeeding plus have heard so many great things about the natural high from a natural childbirth so really want to try it!

Marsha, if you are still reading this, if you delivered standing up, was there someone squatting by you to catch the baby? Sorry, i am just trying to imagine the scenario.

Tryharder, I was on all fours (completely med-free birth) - was the only position I felt ok in, lol. And as others have said, just let go and go with the flow!!!!! DD was born fully alert, gave a token cry and then came to my lap where she stared up at me with big, open, curious eyes - priceless!!!!

i had second labour drug free by having a home birth. i was so much more relaxed. the MW told me i wouldnt need pain relief at home and i really didnt believe them at all, but its true.

would a home birth be something you would be interested in looking at?

Tryharder, yes! The midwife was squatting. I didn't take any much notice of her as I was too busy gripping onto dh's shoulders (he helped alot by being there at that point, had to have silence and isolation for contractions.)

Afterwards she asked me to sit on floor as the umbilical cord wasn't long enough and she had to put the baby on the floor and I couldn't, my knees were locked! After all that pain etc I found the very simple instructions hard to follow!

It was also funny as the second midwife turned up just as the baby was coming out and they had to prise my hands from dh's shoulders to let her in. They only just did it.

These sort of things feel like silly moments of joy afterwards, it is all messy and wonderful and terribly painful, but the small things do come back.

Also I had an epidural very late with my first so didn't experience the pushing stage properly, I felt a little unprepared, but it was fine. The pain did surprise me in comparison to the contractions but it passes quite quickly. And the feeling afterwards.. well it was good with the first too, but so good with the second.

I was at home btw, so in my bedroom.. standing on a tarpaulin thing. Very messy.

oohh... I remembered another one.

DROP YOUR SHOULDERS.

get your OH to remind you of this with every contraction. If you can drop your shoulders, the rest of your body will relax too. It's very easy to tense up with the pain.

This was the single best thing my DP did when I was in labour - that, and keep a constance supply of water coming. (gas and air really dries your mouth out - you'll need a straw)