Natural Drug Free Birth Mommies

Can you share your birth stories with me...or send me the link to them~

This is my goal, and I want to read as many positive stories as possible!

TIA

Re: Natural Drug Free Birth Mommies

LINK to my birth story.

It's pretty long and detailed, but I know how many birth stories I read when I was pregnant and how many questions I asked about natural drug-free birth, so I wanted to write down as much as I could from my own experience.

Re: Natural Drug Free Birth Mommies

Posted by CaMacho

LINK to my birth story.

It's pretty long and detailed, but I know how many birth stories I read when I was pregnant and how many questions I asked about natural drug-free birth, so I wanted to write down as much as I could from my own experience.

Re: Natural Drug Free Birth Mommies

I only posted a Very Brief Version of my birth story. Lesson be told that we can't always get all that we want, but we can have bits and pieces of it. And for me, that was good enough. I wanted to feel everything and be present for it all....I did, despite some medical problems throughout my labor. I haven't looked at my post since then, so thanks for taking me back to my favorite place in time. Also, here's a llink to several Unmedicated Birth Stories . I read these like crazy throughout my 3rd trimester, as well as, Ina May's Spriritual Midwifery books. Good Luck to you. Stay strong in your convictions and you will be successful.

Message edited 6/1/2011 3:04:24 PM.

Re: Natural Drug Free Birth Mommies

Here's mine:

Link to Megan's birth story

Re: Natural Drug Free Birth Mommies

I have two.

http://www.lifamilies.com/chat/topic.aspx?ID=251357&Highlight=

http://www.lifamilies.com/chat/topic.aspx?ID=469765&Highlight=

Re: Natural Drug Free Birth Mommies

I never got around to posting birth stories but I have had 2 drug free births. I can give you the short versions

Ds#1 I started laboring at 10 am on monday morning, just very mild contractions. I basically went about my day until mid day when they were still pretty consistant then I began to time them. I dont remember what they were at the time but I decided I needed to walk to speed up the process so we went to the store and I walk and walked. By 10pm that night everyone told me I needed to go to the hospital because my contractions were getting closer(still not painful). I called my midwife and went to the hospital I was 5cm at that point and decided to stay. I labored in my room with an order to be off the monitors for and hour and on for a half so that I could walk around. It was pretty uneventful and I delivered DS at 7pm tuesday night.

DS#2 I began having extremely annoying BH that were happening every 3 minutes Tuesday night around 830. I fell asleep on the couch till about 945. DH woke me to go into bed which I did. At 10pm I woke up to sharp pains in my lower stomach. I got up and had a BM with in 3 minutes I knew I was having extremely painful contractions that were every 1-2 minutes lasting about a minute. I called my midwife who told me to come in to the hospital. I dont know how I even got there I was in so much pain. She rushed me in a room to check me at 1120pm I was 5cm. They brought me to a room and attempted and IV But I could not lay down I needed to rock through the contractions. They put in an IV while I was standing and shortly after I asked her to check me but I was on all fours she said 6cm UGGGHHH!!! Literally 2 minutes later I had to poop I needed to go to the bathroom but she wouldnt let me until she checked me just to make sure. I layed flat she check and I was ready to push the babies head was right there. After my first push my water broke and his head crowned the second push he was out. He was born at 1221 am after 2hours and 20 minutes of labor.

Re: Natural Drug Free Birth Mommies

Posted by CaMacho

LINK to my birth story.

It's pretty long and detailed, but I know how many birth stories I read when I was pregnant and how many questions I asked about natural drug-free birth, so I wanted to write down as much as I could from my own experience.

Re: Natural Drug Free Birth Mommies

Posted by MrsG72907

Posted by CaMacho

LINK to my birth story.

It's pretty long and detailed, but I know how many birth stories I read when I was pregnant and how many questions I asked about natural drug-free birth, so I wanted to write down as much as I could from my own experience.

what an incredible story!! thanks for sharing. is there anything you think you did that contributed to a natural delivery? Im going to the gym 3 times a week, walking, drinking tons of water and eating healthy (with some occassional cheats )

Re: Natural Drug Free Birth Mommies

I have to say I desperately wanted a natural birth and was really looking forward to it, but a variety of complications caused me to finally accept an epidural (when faced with epi and vaginal birth or c-section).

This time around I really want to try again for a drug free birth but the best lesson I learned from my previous labor is that you need to make the right decision for your situation at hand. If you labor a normal amount of time and you can do it, hurray! If your water breaks and labor doesn't start and you need to be induced and it doesn't work right away and you are left without sleep, food or any energy to help you relax, the epi can help you still deliver your baby naturally.

I used the Stony Brook midwives and love them because they were with me the whole time and knew my desire not to be medicated but they helped me see the bigger goal of delivering a healthy baby.

The best advice the midwives gave me was NOT to have too concrete of a plan. Ideas of what you want are good, but don't be so staunch in NOT wanting meds that you jeopardize your health or the baby's.

Re: Natural Drug Free Birth Mommies

Here's a link to mine.

Evan's drug-free Hypnobabies birth

Re: Natural Drug Free Birth Mommies

Re: Natural Drug Free Birth Mommies

thank you for posting this because I really want a natural drug free birth as well so it was nice to read all of these birth stories!

Re: Natural Drug Free Birth Mommies

Posted by MrsG72907

what an incredible story!! thanks for sharing. is there anything you think you did that contributed to a natural delivery? Im going to the gym 3 times a week, walking, drinking tons of water and eating healthy (with some occassional cheats )

Re: Natural Drug Free Birth Mommies

You ladies are my heros!

Re: Natural Drug Free Birth Mommies

I've barely posted at all but wanted to reply to your thread because I had a wonderful drug-free birth in February. One thing I would suggest is reading "The Birth Partner". My DH read it and was just so wonderful to me during the labor and was the single most important reason I was able to have a natural birth.

I had 36 hours of very mild labor (no real pain but contractions every 5 min or so). I went to the hospital to be checked and I was only 2cm. I was seeing midwives and so was sent home to labor there. The contractions intensified almost immediately upon arriving home (around 11pm). It got painful very quickly. I don't like baths, but I got into the tub and immediately felt better. My DH did not leave my side. Each contraction was difficult but in between we talked and kept a very calm environment. At 4am I called the midwife and she said to try to stay home at least 2 more hours. I did. I was worried about the drive to the hospital because the contractions were every 3-4 minutes and VERY painful. But it was OK and when I arrived at 7am I was only 5cm. I was very disappointed and considered getting an epidural because I didn't know how much longer I could last. But I was still in triage and they were looking for a delivery room for me so I would have to wait. By the time I got into a room, 2 hours later, I was 9cm. At that point, I knew I could do it. I was feeling an urge to push since I was 5cm and with each contraction, my body pushed a little (I couldn't help it). The midwife was happy with that, though.

The urge to push got stronger and more frequent and my water still hadn't broken. I felt much more pressure suddenly and they said it was because my bag of water was bulging. I, however, got worried because if this pressure was just from the water, what would the baby's head feel like?? The midwife left the room to check on another woman who had been pushing for 2 hours already. The second she left, I had a strong contraction and the baby's head popped out. The body followed 2 seconds later. The nurse delivered her. So the pushing was the easiest part. I wasn't even 'trying' to push - my body just did it. This was only 3.5 hours after arriving to the hospital.

I ended up happy I had been checked out the night before to see that the baby was fine and that I wasn't very dilated. I stayed home much longer than I would have otherwise. Looking back, the time I spent laboring at home with my DH was such a special time. I didn't have the urge to push until I got to the hospital (I would have left home immediately if I had) and the baby was moving the whole time so I knew everything was fine.

I was able to get up and walk and use the bathroom immediately after her birth. It was just perfect. I won't say it was easy at all, but it was wonderful.

You can absolutely do it. The pushing is a relief. Just don't start thinking about how many more contractions you will have to go through. Go from one contraction to the next one at a time. My DH did not sit down or leave my side the entire time - that is exactly what I needed - just ask for what you need at every moment and breathe! I ended up with a beautiful girl born on her due date!

Re: Natural Drug Free Birth Mommies

With DD I had the goal of having a natural birth, but knew I would do what was necessary. I "think" my water broke Saturday night. At 8pm, I went to bed, I was very tired. But I kept getting out of bed every 20 minutes because I thought I had to pee. The next morning when I woke there was some "stuff" in the bowl and I called the Dr to ask if it could be the mucus plug, but he said if my water broke I would know. (I still to this day think my water broke and DD was so low that it just leaked out).

Anyway, I labored at home and the contractions were never less than 10 minutes apart, but weren't very consistent throughout the morning. I was able to take a nap, have dinner and watch the Sopranos. But during the show the contractions started getting a lot closer together. The goal was to go to the hospital at 5 minutes apart. After they were 5 minutes apart for 20 minutes, I was ready to go the hospital, but I had to have a BM first, which I did, but felt like I had to go more. My mom convinced me it was the baby and we headed to the hospital. I arrived at 10:30pm and was fully dilated when I arrived. I had a local for an episiotomy, but after that DD's heart rate dropped and they used the vacuum to get her out. She was fine and perfectly healthy.

I agree with the advice that a PP said, don't go in with a concrete plan, be flexible. You have to do what is best for you and the health of your baby at the time. Good Luck!

Re: Natural Drug Free Birth Mommies

Here is mine:
Dh and I both fell asleep watching a movie. When I got up around 11pm, my water broke- and I mean gushed out. Scared the crap out of me (wasn't expecting it b/c they always tell you most people's water don't break first). Then I started to feel mild contractions. We called the nurse (all ideas about staying home to labor went out the window), and they said to come in. So we did. After we got through triage, the contractions became more painful. I rocked on a birthing ball the whole time. They did intermittent monitoring (which I found VERY annoying). DH tried to rub my back, etc., but I made him sit in the corner and not touch or talk to me. Poor guy. But I really needed to focus inside, if you know what I mean. Did a lot of yoga-type breathing. I threw up a few times. At about 7 or 8 I felt like I needed to have a BM, and went to the bathroom, but nothing. Turns out, I was ready to push. Pushed for 1-1/2 hours. Did a lot of screaming and grunting while pushing- probably scared all the other laboring ladies. He came out beautifully, just a few small tears. 9 on the APGAR. Absolutely the single most overwhelming moment of my life.

I think exercise really helped- I did a lot of yoga and walked at least 2-3 miles per day to and from work.

I also second the idea of not being stuck on one idea of birth- you can't know how it will go! Also, try Birthing from Within- it is a pretty good read for someone intending to go natural.

Good luck!

Re: Natural Drug Free Birth Mommies

Thanks for posting these stories-they are amazing! I am hoping for a natural birth this time. Last time was 6 hours 2 pushes and barely an epidural at 8cm so we will see. I'm planless really it's sad. Not nervous at all.

Re: Natural Drug Free Birth Mommies

I went in not knowing what to expect, I didn't do too much research but I am the type of person that doesn't medicate when sick and always try and take the holistic approach whenever possible. Anyway my water broke at 9pm literally was getting pj's out of my dresser and it happened, and it was a LOT...than I felt the urge to go to the bathroom had a bm, and was nasause at the same time. My contractions came on strong a fast. They were like 2 mins apart very shortly after, I felt sick (like I would have had a stomach virus) and felt like had to go to the bathroom at the same time, anyway I endured the contraction pains (they were PAINFUL!) for as long as I could, they were so close together I was getting worried, my midwife told me I could wait until 9am and try to get some rest (good thing I didn't b/c DS was born at 9am!) Anyway I labored at home for about 7hrs than finally gave in and had DH drive me to the hospital at 4 am. Got there and there were NO L&D rooms available, I walked the halls with my contractions like a madwoman until a room opened up so they could examine me, by than I was already 7 cm dialated. I actually threw up my entire dinner at this pt, (no warning ) but they took me into another room to begin I was there shortly but didn't want to get hooked to the monitor machine I needed to work the contractions out standing/walking yoga whatever couldn't sit still. I finally was ready to push at 7am and pushed for about 2hrs DS was born at 9am. The pushing part was seriously a relief for me, compared to the contractions. I think what helped me most is that the whole time I was like hang in there its only going to get worse (pain) and it didn't so I just tolerated it. I think you have to go in with an open mindset, like I said before I had NO idea what to expect it just happened this way, every pregnancy/labor story is different for everyone. Good luck!!

Re: Natural Drug Free Birth Mommies

thank you for posting this.. reading each story has been so empowering..

Re: Natural Drug Free Birth Mommies

I did it twice but sadly I never finished writing my son's out.

Here is DD's natural birth. She was my first. It was truly the most amazing experience.

Miranda's Birth Story

Re: Natural Drug Free Birth Mommies

I had planned a drug free birth.. but you have to understand.. you can plan and plan.. but things may not go your way.. you have to understand it might not work out.. I ended up getting preclampsia and helpp syndrome when i was supposed to have a water birth..

Re: Natural Drug Free Birth Mommies

here's my linky

GL!