natural (drug-free) girls - also BTDT moms!

For those of you who are trying to have a natural, epidural free childbirth (or those who have had one), did you take hypnobirth or other classes? Were they helpful/effective?

I really don't want an epidural for a few reasons if I can avoid it, but I also work crazy hours and don't know if I have it in me to take a class or study the alternative methods. Is it possible to just wing it?

Re: natural (drug-free) girls - also BTDT moms!

I took a Bradley course & did find it helpful & had two drug-free births (unless you count the fact that I had an antibiotic for the delivery because I delivered at 34 weeks with #1).

Out of a class of 6, I'd say maybe half went drug-free.

I would suggest a class or at least a video. The breathing was similar to yoga, focusing on what is happening to your body verus focusing away for the pain.

Re: natural (drug-free) girls - also BTDT moms!

I really wanted a drug-free birth but was open to pain meds if it came down to it. I didn't take any classes specificially for natural birth or bradley or anything but the Lamaze class at our hospital ended up being very pro drug-free births so we learned a lot there. They had a doula come in and talk to us about it, what our body is going through, how to handle the pain, the phases of labor, etc.

The doula lent us the movie The Business of Being Born and I highly suggest you watch that! It just made me want a drug-free birth even more.

I was lucky to have been able to go drug-free, I know that, the labor/delivery was relatively quick but I was also very informed and always thought of what my body was doing during labor. I'll admit though all the lamaze breathing, focal point, relaxation techniques and happy place b.s. went out the window but whatever I did on my own worked! I got through it. So many women did before there were pain meds. You definitely have to want it and make it known to the people around you... your DH, whoever else is in the room, your nurse, dr, etc. Make sure they are all on board.

Here is my birth story: LINK

Re: natural (drug-free) girls - also BTDT moms!

I am signing up for a Bradley course that is 6 weeks and starts in June.

I debated doing the class.

If you dont want to take a class, I suggest reading the following and renting the following DVDs:

Ina May's Guide to Childbirth- Ina May
The Birth Partner- Penny Simkin
The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth- Henci Goer
The Birth Book-William Sears

Movies:
The Business of Being Born
I also heard the Laugh and Learn series is good


I also suggest (from a friend who has BTDT) to do Yoga every day. Squats, leg exercises, kegals and light cardio (walking is great). You need to prepare your body.


I wouldnt just wing it. You want to be prepared, but i dont necessary think you need a class. I would prefer it though, so that's why we are doing Bradley.

The Hypnobirthing has a CD and book series that you can buy and do it at home. Maybe look into that.

Good luck!! I really hope my plans of having a natural birth work!!!!!

Re: natural (drug-free) girls - also BTDT moms!

Re: natural (drug-free) girls - also BTDT moms!

I watched the Laugh and Learn series and found it helpful. I didn't intend to go drug-free, but I had a failed epidural.

This time, I plan on taking it as it comes - I may or may not decide to go without drugs again, it depends how I progress.

Re: natural (drug-free) girls - also BTDT moms!

I'm planning for a homebirth and figured that it would be in my best interest to prepare myself mentally and physically. I have enrolled in a HypnoBabies class, which starts next week. I've heard great things about the home-study classes for this method too. If I were planning an in-hospital drug-free birth, I would probably just do the home study course instead of in-person classes. While I can't give a review on the classes until after my baby's birth, I can honestly say that just listening to the CD's provided by my instructor has really helped me figure out how to relax my mind and body. This alone is something I know will help during labor--I can't wait to see what the actual classes are like! I've done a lot of reading and research on natural childbirth, so I DEFINITELY suggest following the advice of pp:

Re: natural (drug-free) girls - also BTDT moms!

I have had two natural births- both were home births. I didn't take any classes, I did read Birthing from Within and a couple of Ina May Gaskins books. I just took the pain as it came, I had one birth that was easy and about 6 hours long and another that was agonizing and 14 hours long. I think the second one was harder because unexpected it to be just like the other home birth- and that was a mistake.

But, both of those births were beautiful amazing experiences. And I would do it all over again.

Re: natural (drug-free) girls - also BTDT moms!

Maybe I'm in the minority but I just went with the flow, I was open to whatever (it was my first time and I had no idea how painful things could get/what I could tolerate ect), but I was determined to stay at home as longs as possible (7hrs of labor)to avoid any intervention. When I got to the hospital I was 7 cm dialated so I was ok with getting no drugs. Through the whole thing I was like this is just the beginning the pain will get worse mindset... but it didn't - when I started pushing was actually a "relief" to me compared to the contractions...those were pretty bad.

Message edited 5/5/2011 12:53:07 PM.

Re: natural (drug-free) girls - also BTDT moms!

I took a Bradley class, and have now had 2 drug free births. (OK the second one was so fast I had no choice, lol....but i still woulnd't have gotten teh drugs).

The bradley class definitely helped me feel more prepared and relaxed. I understood what was going on, what my options were, and I had some coping strategies. For me, it just helped me feel at ease. I do think that some people can just wing it, but for me it was just comforting to feel informed.

HTH.

ETA: For my first, which was 14 hours and tough, I used an exercise ball - THANK GOD for that ball! It was the ONLY thing that was the slightest bit comfortable. Not sure where you are located, but I used the Stony Brook midwives and they were wonderful and very supportive. I also reminded myself that contractions are only about a minute long.... so I only had to get through one minute and then I'd have a rest, etc.

Message edited 5/5/2011 1:47:47 PM.

Re: natural (drug-free) girls - also BTDT moms!

I took a Hypnobirthing class that I found to be very helpful as well as prenatal yoga (that was probably most helpful). This time around I have started the Hypnobirthing exercises and will start the prenatal yoga (now that I'm feeling better).

I think the best thing you can do for yourself if you want a natural birth, is to stay positive, educate yourself and keep an open mind.

Re: natural (drug-free) girls - also BTDT moms!

Re: natural (drug-free) girls - also BTDT moms!

Re: natural (drug-free) girls - also BTDT moms!

My last delivery was completely natural (and my first I had no epidural but was given Demerol which I never consented to but that's a whole other story ) and I never took classes or read anything about going drug-free. Honestly, to me it was the mentality of "well, if I can tolerate the pain and get through it, then I don't want the epidural."

I'm not really a meditate/imagine the end result kind of person in labor....it's just how much I can tolerate the pain.