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<blockquote><b>Quoting SulleyNZ:</b>" Seems like people only share the horror stories and are only too happy to say you can't do it or it's ... [snip!] ... if that makes sense. i told them i wanted no medical intervention unless one of us would die/become seriously ill without it."</blockquote>



I won't have my mom in the delivery room because she sounds like that too! She was there when I delivered my oldest and she talked to the doctor as if I wasn't even there. She was telling the doctor what I wanted and it was completely wrong. My nurse was awesome though and helped make sure the doctor knew what the real plan was. Honestly I think my mom was jealous because she wasn't able to have her children naturally but I was. My second coming in only 39 minutes :-)

The shoving in the face is definately what i'm looking forward to most lol.. i'm pretty sure my midwife only delivers at the two closest hospitals, i wasn't given an option for a birthing centre. plus they're extremely expensive from what i hear and we just don't have the funds to make it work. was considering talking to midwife about a water birth but may have left it too late? not sure if you need to book the birthing pools at the hospital i'm delivering at. i'll do a bit more research on coping techniques and stuff, hopefully that'll make me feel a bit more prepared. I've done a bit already, breathing patterns and stuff, but could do more.

Random people in my family have had c-sections so no its not based on family history, its based on your body. I had my son vaginally, but that was because I got the epi, if I didn't get it then I would've had him via c-section because my body wouldn't dilate without it, but I had also got one with my daughter, but since her head was turned and she wasn't moving down and my cervix started swelling and wouldn't go pass a 9, I had her via c-section. So the only way to know for sure how your labor is going to go, is when you actually have the baby or the doctor tells you otherswise. If you don't want the epidural, you don't have to get it.

There are some things that are hereditary. For example, I have issues with early dilation (opposite end of the spectrum), but there's 25% chance that I would pass that on to a daughter if i had one. That isn't always the case, but I would think that pelvis shape could end up being hereditary too. That doesn't mean you *will* need a c-section, but it's always a possibility. Like the other poster said, I'd do some research and see if there are some positions that will help make labor easier.

The epi was my choice Im a weeny when it comes to pain and I wanted to be able to enjoy my births, which I did tremedously. With all 3 I was laughing in between pushing...lol

Obviously i know that birth plans do change and i'll do whatever i have to to get my son out safely, i'm just worried i'll have pain meds pushed on me when i'm in pain and vulnerable, or my body won't work right so i'll end up needing him surgically removed :-S probably best to not think about it too much, what will happen will happen regardless of how much i stress beforehand lol. i'll keep readin on natural coping techniques and avoid my family until he arrives ;-) thanks so much for all of the helpful comments!

No family history has nothing to do with it. Almost all my family had to have a C-section because we were either big babies or did not want to come out, but I had no problem delivering my daughter. She came out with in 10-15 minutes naturally. Good luck!!  

Quoting Sonia Tuckerman:" I dont agree with this. My sister in law had an induction and after 8 hours of intense full on labour, ... [snip!] ... episiotomy, forcepts after failed vacuum extraction. So I think in some cases, to have a vaginal birth, epi's are necessary."

The epi was only necessary for her to calm down and rest at this point.. It wasn't medically necessary. Since she was induced, she was probably on pitocin, with her water already broken, and strapped up to a fetal monitor unable to get out of bed.. Instead of being able to be up walking around with no distress on baby in order to fully dilate naturally.. And she ended up with an episiotomy, vacuum extraction, and forceps, because she had an epidural.. and probably couldn't feel to push right!!  

Quoting SulleyNZ:" Obviously i know that birth plans do change and i'll do whatever i have to to get my son out safely, ... [snip!] ... readin on natural coping techniques and avoid my family until he arrives ;-) thanks so much for all of the helpful comments!"

I'm so against unnecessary medical interventions after having exactly everything done to me that I didn't want the first time around! I went into labor on my own.. Mistake #1- Went to hospital waaay too early, therefore being put on a 12 hour time limit after being admitted. Labor then stalled/slowed throughout the night. Mistake #2- My Dr. broke my water a second after telling me she was going to  .. Mistake #3- I let them externally monitor me for a long period. Mistake #4- I let them talk me into being put on pitocin to 'speed things along'.. even though I felt great before hand & really was dilating at a moderate rate. Still don't remember how they talked me into it?.. Mistake #5- Since I was on the pitocin, I had to be monitored & couldn't get out of bed to get into much needed positions to try to turn him.. Although, since my water was broke, it's less likely he would have been able to turn! Mistake #6- The pitocin kept knocking me out, making me very unaware of everything.. Mistake #7- After being stuck in bed for an hour or 2, I was crying to my husband.. saying I wanted the Stadol drug.. I was however, at this time 7 cm dilated, therefore I was just in the transition stage of labor, thinking I couldn't do it & his words of 'I know' did nothing to boost my confidence. Mistake #8- Right after I asked for drugs, my Dr. came in & said I would need a c-section, because I was stuck at 7 -for only 45 min. I might add, which is perfectly normal at this stage of labor-... and because my baby's heart rate kept dropping -due to the force of the pitocin induced contractions and having no water in there to cushion them-.. I then consented having the c-section for the sake of baby, and because I wanted it all to be over   .. And before when we talked about it, my Dr. was all for my No inducing or augmenting, all natural, no c-section birth plan. One thing always just ends up leading to another.. it's a big domino effect.
Be educated about everything, the whole process! Your positions, your baby's positions. Any complications that might arise and alternative ways to overcome them... The stages of labor & how you may feel during them. Above all, have a supportive Dr or midwife!!

I really wanted to go natural, but after 23 hours I just couldnt take it any more. I had the walking epi, which means you're numb but not dead numb, and it doesnt make the baby all dopey, kwim? I dont think family history has anything to do with it, everyone has different pain thresholds, plus you're a tough chick ;) If you go in there with the mindset that an epidural is not an option, you will be sweet  

I think woman play so much on the all natural delivery. Medical interventions have saved many babies and mothers. Sometimes I think woman put their baby at risk because of what THEY want. I had an epi (which was given too late anyway and didn't work) with the first, and second natural. But truely, I went in hoping to not have an epi with the second but if my baby or myself were at risk of anything, would have done it in a heart beat. I think woman should have a plan for childbirth, but have a plan B, C and D. So many things can go wrong. Family history has nothing to do with it unless its a hereditary hip/pelvis issue, or blood disorder. Otherwise, woman chose what they want and sometimes its at the risk of their baby. Look back in history and research how many births lead to still birth and/or mother dying. Heaps. Medical interventions is obviously not the preferred birthing plan, but to completely disreguard it because of your family history and what you want, it can come back to bite you in the arse. But that is only my opinion and many will disagree, but I am a nurse and think medical intervention is better then risking the health and life of your baby. But cheers, hope you have a good birth and have a happy healthy baby.

Quoting Sonia Tuckerman:" I think woman play so much on the all natural delivery. Medical interventions have saved many babies ... [snip!] ... is better then risking the health and life of your baby. But cheers, hope you have a good birth and have a happy healthy baby."

I'm sure any mother is willing to accept medical intervention if their life or their baby's depends on it. However, statistics SHOW that medical intervention is NOT necessary for a woman with a healthy pregnancy and fetus. There are ways to predict problem's in labor with less invasive means of monitoring (fetoscope or fetal doppler rather than being strapped to a bed on a monitor and potentially stalling labor). I honestly don't think an epidural is ever medically necessary. It's strictly pain relief. And right now there are women around this country getting sick and dying of meningitis from tainted epidural medication. We put a time limit on labor in this country and it has lead to one of the highest c-section rates in the WORLD. We aren't even one of the safest countries to give birth in. Our mortality rate is actually quite high. Women die of medical intervention during child birth EVERY DAY... Look at all the doctors who still induce labor with Cytotec despite proven evidence that it causes hemmoraghing in pregnant women. Look at how many women suffer permanent nerve damage from spinals. It sickens me that we live in a country where doctors let women CHOOSE MAJOR SURGERY over vaginal birth that they are most likely perfectly capable of. Of course this point could be argued from both sides, but I think it's silly to a assume that women who desire a natural birth WOULDN'T choose a different route if it meant their health or their baby's.

Quoting ashley noel [35 weeks!]:" I'm sure any mother is willing to accept medical intervention if their life or their baby's depends ... [snip!] ... to a assume that women who desire a natural birth WOULDN'T choose a different route if it meant their health or their baby's."

This. i would do anything the docs recommended if my son's health was compromised but the issue is they recommend unnecessary procedures all the time. my family history has me worried about complications, and if they come up obviously they can load me up with as many drugs as they like and hack me up as much as they like in order to get him out safely.

If those complications aren't an issue (and i still don't know exactly what they are or what causes them, i just know that damn near every woman in my family has had a c section due to not dialating and baby gettin distressed and pooping) then i want a natural drug free birth because i feel it's best for baby. but again, i'll do whats required to get jim out safely

Quoting SulleyNZ:" This. i would do anything the docs recommended if my son's health was compromised but the issue ... [snip!] ... they can load me up with as many drugs as they like and hack me up as much as they like in order to get him out safely."

I think we're pretty lucky in New Zealand, because we get midwives and dont have much to do with doctors theres less a chance of unnecessary interventions being pushed, i've herd it is a big problem in America though.