Has anyone had a completely natural birth?

[stepmummamumma]

Hi all 👋

I am half way through my first pregnancy and have been looking at my options for childbirth. I feel very strongly about induction, sweeps etc and plan to refuse any interventions. I preferably would like to do it drug free but perhaps gas and air to take the edge off.

I do know that as I haven't experienced child birth before that I haven't felt pain like it before and that might change my mind, but I would like to have as natural as possible plan, assuming things are healthy.

I would love to hear some stories from women who have managed this to help me feel like it is possible.

Thank you so so much

I laboured naturally in a pool with just gas and air and it was fine. It hurt but it was manageable.

Towards the end, she was back to back and got a bit stuck so they asked me if it would be ok if I had an episiotomy. They seemed really reluctant to actually do it to be honest but I'm glad I had it, baby was born immediately after.

I think it's fine to have a preference not to have intervention, but just be mindful that things don't always go as planned and honestly you don't know how long your labour will be or how you'll deal with the pain so don't beat yourself up or think you've 'failed' if actually you do want the drugs, or you have medical intervention. A plan is a plan, it's not set in stone.

My first birth was I suppose “natural” no pain relief as labour was very fast and no gas and air as the one in the room was broken. Was the most horrific pain I’ve ever had in my life and I’ve had a burst appendix! Two subsequent births, one vaginal with all the drugs except epidural and an emcs. The second birth was probably the one I look back on with good positive memories!

I had 4 DCs, the first in hospital the next three at home. TENS machine for 1&2, gas and air. But I didn’t have an episiotomy or tear so got off lightly. I was very anti-intervention unless it was necessary. The hospital protocol where I was was to intervene after two hours of pushing. Given we were both fine and DC1 wasn’t in distress, I opted to carry on. Thankfully my birthing partner was experienced and knew to check in with me. The intervention wasn’t necessary in my case, they just wanted to move me along. I’m glad I refused and grateful my friend knew to question it.

I used hypnobirthing (a kind MNer posted me her CD) that was good.

A waterbirth might be something to consider.

I say aim for the best case scenario, but be prepared to take what you can get on the day.

Good luck. I’d do it all again tomorrow 😄

OP, basically you've bought a ticket for a train journey.
Some train journeys you get served drinks and you see mountains from the window and meet lots of lovely people, some train journeys it's standing room only and you can't see because the windows are fogged up and someone has terrible farts.
You don't know what you're going to get, a good birth is nice but the main thing is to get there safely.

I had an accidental ‘gas and air only’ Birth. I did the majority of it at home, then ended up being rushed into hospital in an ambulance, after the first paramedic turned up in a car, by the time I got there, I asked for drugs and they said it was too late, 10 mins later my dd was born. 14 hrs labour in total. Didn’t really know what to expect but thinking back it wasn’t too bad

3 births, all natural absolutely no pain relief, not even gas and air ! It did hurt at times a lot ! I have, however suffered bad migraines which have hurt more. I think if you can relax as much as possible and have total confidence in your body and baby to know what they are doing it helps. I consider myself very fortunate to have had the good chance to experience my births completely naturally.

I have twice and quite frankly I wouldn’t recommend it. My third was induced and I had an epidural administered right at the start and it was a wonderful experience, totally pain free, simple and pleasant.

My 2nd was without pain relief (including gas and air). Not through choice mind you, I wanted the gas and air but it was a mad rush to the hospital with baby being born 7 minutes after arrival. My first was with gas and air.

I've had two natural births with just gas & air (DC2 and DC3) and one with an epidural and an episiotomy (DC1).

The massive difference was the length of the labour - DC2 and DC3 were quick labours (3.5 hours from the first contraction), whereas DC1 was much slower (27 hours from my waters breaking / first contraction, 20 hours from 5cm dilated).

IME it's fine to cope with the pain for a few hours when you're making good progress, but if it's been going on for hours and hours and the midwife tells you you're the same dilation as you were two hours ago, it's hard to just keep going.

All three births had no complications (the first one was just long) and I felt empowered to make my own decisions each time, so I would count all three as positive experiences.

Yes, all of mine have been. My personal experience of birth has been great. I’m uncomfortable for an hour or so, then in real misery for a few minutes during crowning, then baby. I expected my first to be easy because my mother and sisters had similar experiences and was very pleased when it was!

I did, literally zero pain relief not even gas and air.

However it wasn't out of choice, it was because the midwife was a moron and didn't believe I was as far along as I actually was because I "didnt look like i was in enough pain" She was trying to send me home, so my mum shut us in the loo and refused to leave with me. When she finally agreed to check me over, I was 10cm, DS was ready to be born and 40 mins later he was here.

We've decided to stick to one child and I suspect that birth played a part in it tbh.....

I had 3 natural (2 with gas and air and one without as they didn't realise how quickly I was progressing so said to wait until I was further on and in a delivery room then didn't have time)
They did break my waters with my first and third as both had a heartbeat drop so needed to speed it up. I'd never turn down an intervention for a medical reason as I know I'd blame myself if baby ended up harmed by refusing it, but there's no harm in turning down pain relief.
I would also accept the injection after to help the placenta personally, reduces the risks with passing it so might be worth researching before you turn it down.

Id try to view any interventions as more about the baby than you, you wouldn't turn down treatment in nicu after the birth so I'd view it the same if you need intervention for the baby during the pregnancy.

Keep active and exercise frequently. Walking is good.
Look up epi-no. This can help.
Always eat right. If you have time on your hands, look up pregnancy friendly food in different cultures and their customs. If they seem reasonable and safe, incorporate them in your pregnancy lifestyle.
Spend time in the garden, forest or around the seaside. Natural environments.
Worth doing yoga and practising breathing. Breathing right can really help with the pain.
Raspberry leaf tea, cinnamon and cumin are said to bring on contractions.
A doula is sometimes a great birth partner that can help you through the process of giving birth.
I am not a health professional. Research anything I've said and do what resonates with you.
Things are unpredictable sometimes. Inductions or C-sections can sometimes be unavoidable and may be necessary for the well-being of the baby.
All the best.

OP, you can make all the birth plans you like, but your baby hasn’t read the script.
Your obstetrician does not perform “interventions” for fun. If your baby is in distress or you are suffering a complication such as major haemorrhage, then they will most certainly not leave you or the baby to die “naturally”.
By all means write down your preferences, but it’s rather like a Xmas wish list - there are no guarantees on the day that Santa will bring you a natural birth rather than an emergency forceps or Caesarian!
Try to be open minded, and trust your obstetrician’s professional judgment, experience and training.
A live mother and undamaged baby = a good birth experience, whatever the method required.

Also when it comes to inductions they won't normally do them unless necessary, and sweeps can reduce the chance of needing one slightly.
You may already have looked it up, but might be worth researching the risks of going too far overdue, and if its induction for reduced movements/gestational diabetes/pre eclampsia then equally its important for them to get the baby out and I'd rather go for an induction than end up needing a c section personally.

Hi OP, congratulations! As others have said, there are no guarantees with childbirth, but there is no harm in preparing for what you hope to have.

I didn't do any classes, but I spent my whole pregnancy reading about natural childbirth. I just had gas and air for the pushing stage and did most of my labour at home (4am-7pm at home and then baby born at 11pm). Read up on birthing positions, as lying on your back isn't conducive to an easy labour, keeping active and use gravity to your advantage. I did perineal massage with almond oil for a few weeks before birth and had no tearing so I think it worked! I didn't want any drugs other than g&a, and I wanted as little intervention as possible, my midwives were fantastic, I didn't even know the second one was there until she popped her head round to tell me that crowning DD had lots of hair. Keeping calm and finding ways to help yourself do that will also be useful, whether that is hypnobirthing or something else.

Giving birth to DD was the single most empowering and exhilarating experience of my life, but I am very aware that I was incredibly lucky. Good luck OP, I hope it goes as you wish.

I had a natural birth for my DC2 because she was born in the hospital corridor less than an hour after I woke up with a contraction, it was scary. I had both DC1 and DC3 in the pool with gas and air. These were much nicer experiences as I felt in control and despite being short (4and 5 hours from first twinge) I would definitely choose to have the gas and air and relaxing pool rather than nothing even in a longer birth than the hospital corridor one. Good luck.

Hi, just to add my positive experience giving birth. Both deliveries quick and straight forward. No gas and air as I felt I was in a ‘zone’ and didn’t want to be distracted by anything other than mself.

First born in hospital (but only in hospital for 30 mins before she was born). The lovely midwife just left me to get on with it. Second one at home as labour was a total of 35 mins from first twitch to being born. Only husband present, as the midwife had not arrived yet.

I did pregnancy yoga with a lovely yoga teacher who taught us relaxation techniques and simple little tricks to let everything that happens to your body happen. I fully believe that is was hellped me a lot during labour. I just kept repeating to myself that millions of women have done this before me, and thousands of women were in labour at the same time as me somewhere in the world.

And relax your jaw as the yoga teacher said your jaw and birth canal is linked ?! No idea if thats true but hey, if it works ;)
Good luck x

Water births are lovely.

I had a drug free 2nd and 3rd birth. I wanted the first to be as well but I gave in to panic as it was taking so long. I had a shot of pethidine and it really helped take the edge off things and the fear away.

Once I knew I could do it, I had more resolve for the other births so stuck it out.

It's bloody painful and can be scary though - make no bones about it.

Hi, I had a "birth in a box" at home. So we had a waterbirth in the front room. Hypnobirthing I didn't really do any of I just kind of thought I'd see what happened.
5 hours start to finish and I did end up having gas and air towards the end. I needed stitches so had some more for them but lucky I didn't need to go to hospital and could go straight to bed with baba afterwards.

I found I was really open minded. What would happen would happen and it went well for me.

I'd do the same again also, so can't have been that bad x

I had an epidural with my first but no pain relief at all with my second. I never think of the experience as 'natural' as it was on a labour ward in a hospital with every drug and equipment on stand by. I didn't 'plan' to have no pain relief- there just wasn't time as he was born 40 mins after arriving at hospital (the second labour was relatively short 7 hours and I knew I could bear the pain because , for me, it was the contractions that hurt not the actual birthing.)
I didn't 'choose' to have no intervention- I was just lucky enough not to need it.
I think it's great to have an idea of what you think you want in your birth plan but you must be prepared to be flexible and to go with the circumstances.... or you could end up feeling like you have 'failed' if it doesn't go exactly the way you hoped.

I planned for a natural birth all 3 times and was very lucky to end up with gas and air.
I had very quick labours and wouldn't have had time for anything else.
I think you can plan but understand that it may not happen that way.
If my labour had been longer, no doubt I'd have been screaming for as much pain relief as they'd give me.

I had DS with no pain relief and I didn't want interventions. However during the pushing stage, DS was back to back and his heart rate dropped. I had an episiotomy and ventouse. I can't remember if the doctor even asked my permission, but I trusted that he was doing it to get DS out as safely as possible. I highly recommend hypnobirthing.

Thank you sooo much for all of your replies, I have just read through them all. They have really helped and really make me feel like having no interventions is a real possibility, rather than a complete dream.

I am so sorry if using the term natural birth is offensive, not intended at all, I was just at a loss as to how to describe what I meant.

I have done a 2 day hypnobirthing class and found it incredibly useful for preparing me and making me aware of my options. Unfortunately a water bath is not available at my hospital so I will have to make do without that which is a shame.

I also completely agree that if the baby is in distress then I will have whatever intervention is necessary but will avoid intervention for me if possible.

I definitely do not judge anyone for how they have given birth...I am yet to do it so who knows!!

I plan to keep practising my hypnobirthing and hope for the best. Whatever I choose I won't put pressure on myself as I don't want to feel any guilt for my choices.

Husband is very supportive so hopefully he will be the birthing partner I need!!

Yes, second time around didn't have as much as a paracetamol. Maybe I'm lucky but neither of my deliveries took long, I didn't get pain beyond period cramps and didn't tear enough to need stitches.

First time had gas&air and it made be nauseous.

A birthing ball helps to rock through contractions, didn't lie down until about to give birth. I'm pretty good at mind over matter and very determined which probably helps.