Any first time moms going for all natural birth?

[loveforlife]

Hi Ladies!

I just started my last trimester and the time has come to decide where I will be delivering my baby: hospital Vs birthing center.... my goal is to have an all natural birth, and are currently on the Bradley Method course... Being a first time mom and all, I don´t really know exactly what to expect from labor and birthing, I don´t know if the safest way to go would be to deliver at a hospital or at a birthing center.... I´m afraid I might have some kind of complication and then having to rush over to a hosp. or maybe just begging for an epidural.... geeez i´m getting really anxious!! help!!!

 

[Alyssa Drough]

Can't speak from experience as I'm a first timer too, but I'm going with the midwife led unit which is the equivalent of a birthing centre but it's actually in the main hospital so I've got the reassurance that there's doctors and epidurals just down the hall!

They wouldn't let you go there unless they were fairly confident there'll be no complications, and obviously they have procedures in place in case any problems do occur so I wouldn't worry too much about that side of things.

Do whatever you would feel most comfortable with. You don't want to be stressing and worrying that you've chosen the wrong place.

 

[Take2]

As the previous poster said, if you were in any way a risky pregnancy they wouldn't accept you at the birthing centre and if anything goes wrong they will very quickly transfer you, including if you really are not coping without an epidural.
I had my daughter with midwives and the hospital and only required gas and air but everyone is different. My sister had both her boys at a birthing centre, she had all natural water births and was so happy. She is a midwife too so was very knowledgeable on all the options. If we had a birthing centre in my town I would definitely be choosing that option.
Don't stress I'm sure you've made a good decision and the midwives at the birthing centre will be very supportive.

 

[Beanonorder]

I ended up having an all natural birth - although I have to say it wasn't exactly my choice. I was in labour for 24 hours and after 19 hours I was still at 3cm, in immense pain and was exhausted. They don't offer any pain relief at all (not even gas and air) for natural births here so I was begging for a c-section. I didn't see the point of all the pain if I wasn't progressing. To cut a long story short I ended up getting my waters broken by them and also had a pitocin drip.

I don't want to knock the Bradley Method but from experience please take the time to read some other books. I was keen on the Bradley Method and my dh and I practiced together - and then when it came to d-day he wasn't allowed in with me. Thankfully I had also read Ina Mays guide to childbirth and to be honest what I learned there was far more valuable than anything I learned with the Bradley Method.
Even though I was in labour for so long (yes I know some women go for even longer) the main thing that kept me going was to keep repeating 'this time tomorrow it will be over and your bundle of joy will have arrived'.

If you can go to a birthing centre - go! The atmosphere is far more relaxed than a hospital.

Good luck!

 

[loveforlife]

Thank you so much for supportive opinions and recommendations... I´m feeling more confident now, you´re totally right, if something doesn´t seem right they will not admit you.... so far i´ve been a very fortunate and happy mom, because my pregnancy has been great, so i am a candidate to give birth with the midwives.... I have an appointment tomorrow at the birth center and will be asking all of my (tons) of questions just before making the decision....

Thanks a lot!!! I sincerely wish you the best on your D days!!

 

[Shadowy Lady]

I had my baby a year ago all naturally, she was my first baby and I'm a first time mom. Going naturally is honestly not as difficult as some ppl make it seem. It is of course painful but imo worth it. I think my labour was shorter and recovery much less painful because of going natural. You can read my birth story here if you want

Sofia Calysta - Positive Natural Birth Story

 

[mh_ccl]

I'm a first-timer, currently in my first tri, and we are going with a birth center and trying for an all-natural birth. I really wished they offered gas in the US, but they don't, and my only pain relief option in a hospital would be an epidural. I feel pretty strongly that I want this baby to come on its own time, in its own way. Obviously, if there is an emergency that requires a medical intervention, that will trump anything else.

 

[bcos21]

I am a first time mom and I just had my baby last weds 10/2 and I had him all natural and it was awesome! Of course everyone's experience is different. I was nervous to say no to the pain meds because everyone always told me "oh youll be screaming for an epidural!" well i hate needles and i wasnt screaming for anything. I look back and feel really positive about my experience. I didnt tear and didnt need any pain meds following delivery. That being said if I really felt like I needed it, I would have done it, no judgement at all! The thing I remember the most is when it came time to push, in between contractions I kept thinking how tired I was and how much I wanted to sleep lol. The most painful part was how far the nurses pushed my legs back, I kept telling them that my legs arent supposed to bend that way and they kept telling me that they had to lol. I should have done some yoga or something.

If you want to do it, go for it!!

 

[Eternal]

I'm not a first timer, but with my first I wanted a natural water birth, and arrived at the birthing centre, unfortunately things didn't run smooth and I was transferred.

They know when to transfer if things are not panning out smoothly, so I would totally use one again (I can't as my second was section due to breech twins and that's makes this VBAC and won't allow me at a birthing centre to VBAC).

So I'd go for it, it's not a case of if something goes wrong because they know what to check for and will transfer if needed, also if your not coping without pain meds they will transfer you.no it's not ideal to be transferred but at least it's an option of things not pan out as planned.

 

[Princess Lou]

I'm having mine in a hospital as I like the idea that there are doctors around in needed etc.

I plan on having a natural birth but if I need pain relief I will start with gas and air and work from there. I really hope that I can do it without pain relief though.

 

[Perseids]

I'm a first timer hoping to go all natural too. The midwife I'm using delivers at a hospital but she is totally supportive of me wanting to do it naturally. Everyone that I mention wanting to go all natural to tells me that I'm being silly and that I should just get the epidural because it will be so painful. I hate needles and I like the idea of my baby coming out in it's own way. That being said, obviously, if there was an emergency I would do what is best for the baby.

It is so refreshing reading the replies here. It makes me feel a whole lot better about opting for the all-natural route.

 

[loveforlife]

Hi girls!!

It´s been really helpful and encouraging to read about your stories and decisions.... I decided to go for it and had my first prenatal care visit with a midwife at the BC yesterday.... So far so good, the staff is really friendly, not to mention the midwife I met, she´s great!!

I also think it´s reassuring to have doctors around, but actually all midwifes at the BC are certified nurses with a masters degree in midwifery! so they must really do know what they´re doing.... hihihi

I´m very excited and can´t wait for the big day!!!

Wishing you all the best with your pregnancies !!!

 

[loveforlife]

I'm having mine in a hospital as I like the idea that there are doctors around in needed etc.

I plan on having a natural birth but if I need pain relief I will start with gas and air and work from there. I really hope that I can do it without pain relief though.

OMG Princess Lou!! You´re one day to go!!! Best of lucks on your big day and do let us know how it went!!!

Hugs!!

 

[OperationBbyO]

I had my little boy 4 weeks ago, all natural at a birthing center and I am a FTM. My birth story probably isn't typical though. I didn't do any classes, etc. I read Ina May and a couple months before delivery I got in the zone. I intended to labor at home as long as possible and I succeeded. My labor was only a few hours. I kept googling "Am I in labor" because it wasn't that bad. I thought it would be really painful. When I started projectile vomiting everywhere I knew I was in transition and I sort of freaked out. I got to the birthing center fully dilated and with the urge to push. I labored in the water (which was sooooo great!) but my LO got stuck so I ended up pushing him out on my side.

About 5 minutes after he was out I declared natural birth wasn't that bad!! I had no tears or anything and went home a few hours later with my new baby.

Transition was painful. Crowning was painful but that lasts like a minute. Sure contractions aren't fun, but they only hurt while you are contracting. In between there is no pain at all. I fell asleep. As soon as your LO is born there is no more pain. I would do it again at a birthing center without hesitation.

 

[bcos21]

I had my little boy 4 weeks ago, all natural at a birthing center and I am a FTM. My birth story probably isn't typical though. I didn't do any classes, etc. I read Ina May and a couple months before delivery I got in the zone. I intended to labor at home as long as possible and I succeeded. My labor was only a few hours. I kept googling "Am I in labor" because it wasn't that bad. I thought it would be really painful. When I started projectile vomiting everywhere I knew I was in transition and I sort of freaked out. I got to the birthing center fully dilated and with the urge to push. I labored in the water (which was sooooo great!) but my LO got stuck so I ended up pushing him out on my side.

About 5 minutes after he was out I declared natural birth wasn't that bad!! I had no tears or anything and went home a few hours later with my new baby.

Transition was painful. Crowning was painful but that lasts like a minute. Sure contractions aren't fun, but they only hurt while you are contracting. In between there is no pain at all. I fell asleep. As soon as your LO is born there is no more pain. I would do it again at a birthing center without hesitation.

I did the EXACT same thing!!! I kept telling my husband to grab my laptop so I could google what contractions feel like because I wasn't convinced I was in labor. I wouldn't change a thing about my labor either. I think there's something awesome about laboring at home and arriving just to push. You have the security of medical people but then you have your own security in being able to just shrug people off when they tell you that you are too far along for pain meds. I remember looking at my doctor and laughing when I told her "well we are beyond the point of no return!" she just laughed and said "I guess so."

 

[OperationBbyO]

I'm glad I'm not the only one googling labor pains! I really thought they would be a lot worse than what they were. My husband and I also went for about an hour long walk about 30 minutes after they started. I swear that's what made my labor go so fast. Had I gone to a hospital they wouldn't have let me walk for an hour. The birthing center would, but it wouldn't have been the same b/c it wouldn't have been my neighborhood.

Needless to say next time I'll be heading to the birthing center right away since 2nd babies come faster than the first. I don't want to deliver in the car!