My oldest child was born when I was 18. From the moment I discovered I was pregnant, I was consumed with fear about the birth. I hate pain. I wanted to learn everything I could to avoid pain. I wanted to find some strange medical condition that would encourage my doctor to knock me out at 8 months and revive me 2 months later (because I heard recovery was painful, too. So I read EVERYTHING I could get my hands on about childbirth. When I had read everything at the public library, I went to the local University library and read all the medical textbooks. When I finished, I began to read every birth website I could find. What I noticed was this: The people who spoke of birth as horrible, were the ones who had used the drugs. All of the natural birth stories I was reading spoke of labor very differently, one woman even referred to her contractions as “baby hugs” what could be sweeter? I was also now more afraid of the consequences of the drugs than I was of the pain. Drugs lead to increased C-section likeliness, increased use of forceps and episiotomies. Drugs can lead to difficulties nursing. My mind had shifted, and instead I became more interested in natural birth. I took a Bradley childbirth class, which was very helpful. I chose Bradley over Lamaze because I learned that Bradley defines “success” as a drug-free birth, while Lamaze more or less just prepared you for what the hospital would be like ( maybe so you’d be a more compliant patient.)

It’s time to make a long story short, she was born in the hospital after 17 hours of labor with no drugs, no IV, no episiotomy, no nothing. I was so proud.

Baby #2 was a much shorter story. I ate 5 Arby’s roast beef sandwiches for $5.00 and picked up a movie, Dr Doolittle. My husband fell asleep on the couch watching Dr Doolittle and when it was over (I didn’t see any of it, I was in the bathroom) I woke him up and suggested we leave for the birthing center. It was 45 minutes away and she was born on the highway 15 minutes from our house.

Baby #3 took a little while longer. I knew I was birthing when I awoke at 8am, but I didn’t have any contractions, I just “knew” and sure enough by 4pm they were getting stronger. We had a home birth planned and I started having second feelings about the midwife we had chosen. I simply didn’t call her. The baby was born in my kitchen, surrounded by my other kids, and my 10 best girlfriends, and my in-laws.

Baby #4 was born after laboring in the bathtub at home for about 3 hours. I got out of the tub, got into bed and pushed (without an urge to push) for about an hour. I really was in pain. I couldn’t understand why it wasn’t working. Finally, my water broke (exploded) everywhere and she was born (without pushing) in seconds. IN retrospect, I should have just relaxed since I didn’t have a pushing urge. If there had been a midwife present, she probably would have broken my water before that point, but the baby was repositioning herself a lot during those contractions, so it was probably for the best that she was allowed the waters to move around freely. Some advice- NEVER push without the instinct, it was pointless, I wore myself out and ended up with like the only hemorrhoid I have ever had.

Baby #5 was born in my bathroom. I was overdue, my husband came home from work around 2a.m. and gave me a head-to-toe massage, then we went to bed (great way to induce labor!) I awoke about 5 hours later with contractions about 2 minutes apart, I couldn’t catch myself, I stumbled into the bathroom (It took me 4 contractions to walk 12 feet) I got into a hot shower and swayed my hips until the hot water ran out. When I got out I was dizzy and nauseous. I called for my husband in between contractions (still 2 minutes apart) and laid my head on the cold porcelain tub and, I believe, I passed out momentarily. When I came to, I could feel her passing through me. I called to my husband again (he was sound asleep) and she was born at 8:02 AM. She let out the teeniest little squeak of a cry and he flew out of the bedroom to investigate this unfamiliar sound. (As if my cries were so familiar!)

Baby #6 is due later this year, I wonder what special story will be added to my collection.

also, see
http://www.birthasweknowit.com
http://www.pregnantinamerica.com
http://www.thebusinessofbeingborn.com

My advice is to take it med-free as long as you can, if you really feel you need medication then take it… but at least try NOT to! (I’m pro-natural birth, but I know thats not always realistic, I’m not an all or nothing die-hard!) You just have to breathe through the contractions and try to rest when you can; take it one contraction at a time. Its not THAT bad. Don’t let anyone freak you out about it–I had people telling me the same things your friends are telling you, but I’ve done this 3 times now. It can be done.

everyone told me the same thing too. it is going to hurt like hell. even the nurses were trying to convince me.

it depends on your tolerance level. but to me natural is the way to go. the contractions were painful but with right breathing techniques you can control some of the pain.

take lamaze classes to help you deal with the pain.