re: Natural Birth Support Thread!

Quoting Mama on bedrest:“ I laboured alone at home after sending DH away around midnight till my midwife showed up at 6am, ... [snip!] ... be alone and so had my doula by my side from then onwards as i needed counter pressure and a hand to hold/someone to cling to!”

I totally agree about getting to know myself better during the pain of labor.
You go inside yourself into a place you never have needed to be before... and discover things about yourself, your strength, your power, even your weaknesses that you never knew before. It's really cool! I dont think that part of life is supposed to be "skipped" with an epidural. I'm glad I got to experience that, it gives me strength to draw on as a mother. And I have a newfound love and respect for my body, I'm not nearly as critical of myself as I was before.

Quoting Sharonblueyes{EBFB}:“ I did. I think it's more just listening to your body and being smart... if you are just having brown ... [snip!] ...   But I know not everyone experiences it that way... for some it's painful and takes time to get back to normal. Good luck!  ”

thanks. yeah I'm feeling really frisky...I have been since about a week PP but there is still a tiny bit of tenderness down there so I'm going to wait longer...but the minute I feel up to it, I gotta know that it's okay! lol.

Quoting kayla&ladytron[[DFB]]:“ thanks. yeah I'm feeling really frisky...I have been since about a week PP but there is still a tiny ... [snip!] ... bit of tenderness down there so I'm going to wait longer...but the minute I feel up to it, I gotta know that it's okay! lol.”

Yeah   Just use your common sense, dont do anything that hurts... be gentle.

grr was supposed to meet with a second midwife but she never showed...can't get hold of her and her voicemail is full. we will NOT be using her.

so the other midwife we met with (the one I'm wanting to go with but idk if I should meet with more than just the one....) was saying about the amish women stay in bed for the first few weeks, especially days nine and ten because that is when your hips go back to place. She said none of them have much problem getting back into shape. Of course that may also be the farm work they do after they DO get out of bed...

BUT my grandma said her mom had to do that too on day 9 and 10 stay PERFECTLY still and not get up at all...

I was out at the mall on days 9 and 10 (well every day pp for months because I was stir crazy) and my chiropractor says he's never seen anyone's hips spread so far during pregnancy/birth as mine did!!!

anyone else heard about day 9 and 10 (i'm sure some of you have)

so while on the topic of bleeding after birth, i might as well ask the wonderfully informed ladies in here (sharon, i'm talking about you! i hope you might have an idea...)

my son is 5 weeks old. i stopped bleeding a few days before 4 weeks postpartum. i waited a good 4 or 5 days after stopping bleeding to have sex.
after sex, i began to get some brown discharge. i figured old blood. no biggy. we had sex a second time...more brown disharge, no biggy.

yesterday throughout the day i had very fertile like cm, so i figured fan flippin tastic, i'm ovulating already which means af will be here in 11 or so days. still no biggy.
later in the day i had some slightly bloody streaked cm...so i figured ovulatory bleeding.

this morning after a bm (sorry if that bugs anyone that i'm sharing that) i started bleeding. not a ton. more than spotting, but not so much i would consider it light bleeding. somewhere between the two. and then throughout the day i've had more bloody streaked fertile-like cm. i am so confused.

do you think it's more pp bleeding?? or just heavy ovulatory bleeding? or maybe even my period returning somehow already?

Quoting NicoleKT *EOM*:“ so while on the topic of bleeding after birth, i might as well ask the wonderfully informed ladies in ... [snip!] ... do you think it's more pp bleeding?? or just heavy ovulatory bleeding? or maybe even my period returning somehow already?”

I'd suspect it's just more PP bleeding. It can start and stop, especially since you've had "activity" in your pelvic region that could have disturbed any scabbing left in your uterus.
Your body uses blood like water, to flush things out of your uterus, so if you do have a tiny peice of something scabby in there, or a little clot, you will bleed more to try to get rid of it.

Although, I have exclusively breastfed both my girls and gotten my period back at 6 weeks PP both times! lol
Lame.   I was so looking forward to 6 months or so without a period.
So it's hard to know, just make sure you use a condom or something in case you are in fact starting to cycle again.  

Quoting Sharonblueyes{EBFB}:“ I'd suspect it's just more PP bleeding. It can start and stop, especially since you've had "activity" ... [snip!] ... So it's hard to know, just make sure you use a condom or something in case you are in fact starting to cycle again.  ”

oh we've DEFINITELY been using a condom. i would have assumed it was just pp bleeding except for the fact that there's been so much watery, borderline egg white like discharge.

i must say that the thought that it could be ovulation terrifies me despite the fact that we've used condoms. i so don't want another baby. well, actually i would love another baby, i so don't want another pregnancy.

i got my first period after wyatt at 10 weeks, and then not again until 10 months...so i can expect it anytime, but hopefully my knowledge of my body know will help me know when it's approaching.

Quoting NicoleKT *EOM*:“ oh we've DEFINITELY been using a condom. i would have assumed it was just pp bleeding except for the ... [snip!] ... 10 months...so i can expect it anytime, but hopefully my knowledge of my body know will help me know when it's approaching.”

I remember having a lot of slimy egg whiteish discharge during recovery as well.
I think it's normal.  
Also, alot of times I get it during my period as well.

Quoting ✿ Linda ✿:“ Oh that really sucks, will you be in a private or public hospital? I plan on talking about the birth ... [snip!] ... too! Surely they can just make you sign a waiver and you can do whatever the hell you want. It's your body, your baby!”

public, private costs and we don't have any money. I think it's ridiculous. I could give birth by myself, I don't feel the need for medical assistance, I really don't.if something went wrong there's ambulances and hospitals close by.
but that's totally not an option, ugh, so I have to feel terrified and uncomfortable at hospital.
the midwife there said thye don't do waterbirths but the baby might just come out in the water anyway. she was trying to make me feel better. but I don't want a freaking doctor standing over me while I give birth, whinging at me to get out of the water. I wanted to do this with me and my partner and noone else. :/
sorry if it sounds selfish  

Quoting Uh-niss-uh [TSB]:“ Oh I wasn't overdue or anything. I had to have an emergency induction because there was NO fluid around him.”

I see. That must have been very scary for you mama.

Quoting A & W's Mommy:“ I haven't heard of Tolabour but the training I'll be taking in a couple of weeks is through DONA international. ... [snip!] ... of helping women through childbith!) and I wanted to make sure that the training I took would be internationally recognized.”

Thanks. Very good point!

Quoting Porcelain Doll:“ hey just an update on everything, we got the midwife finally etc, but encountered some money problems ... [snip!] ... in my arms. if anyone could help me a bit I'd really appreciate it. it's just so against my nature to have her in a hospital.”

I only labored in the water for my birth... I had plannned a water birth but had to get out because walt's heartrate got too high. Honestly I was pissed I had to get out and deal with transition ouot of the water, but that was quicka nd when it came time to push it didn;t matter where I was. It actually felt really good... very relieving. I delivered my son on my side to allow for more opening of the pelvis. I did not tear at all. Inquire if the drs there will allow you to push in alaternate positions ie on your side, squatting or hands and knees. That will atke a lot of pressure off your perineum, expand your pelvic capacity, make it easier to push and shrink your recovery time.
I was able to give birth with my midwife so I kenw going in if H20 was out for any reason at least I coudl do this. Still we had some crappy nurses. We had to kick one out for pressuring me ti induce. Don't be afraid to do that! Make sure your partner is really prepared to stand up for what you want because you are probably going to encounter some disparagement. I have interacted with alot of women on here who have had happy natural childbirths at hospitals. It seems that the common denominator is confidence and lack of fear going in as well as a very sound knowledge of WHY they wanted a natural birth ( a well crafted birth plan that is available for everyone in the room) and a strong partner. So wer I you I'd up the anty on the research, get in touch with some of these local drs and see what you may expect and get started training your partner as best you can. Of he or she seems like they will drop the ball, you might beable to find a doula for relatively cheap. Oh! and read as many labor stories as you can and don't let them induce you!

Quoting Mara:“ only if you eat it freshly out of your body like our goats used to after they gave birth. cooking it ... [snip!] ... it or freezing it will result in all the hormones degrading into non-active forms that won't have the slightest impact on you.”

Yeah... i dont think ill really be doing that... It would be cool in theory... but no probably not.

Quoting Porcelain Doll:“ public, private costs and we don't have any money. I think it's ridiculous. I could give birth by ... [snip!] ... at me to get out of the water. I wanted to do this with me and my partner and noone else. :/ sorry if it sounds selfish  ”

No - not at all! I understand how you feel exactly. I feel the same!

Sometimes I think I would like an 'accidental homebirth' but I think my SO and Mum would freak out. It's just stupid that women aren't able to give birth to their own baby from their own body the way they wish to.

So a friend of mine had her son 3 weeks ago in a hospital. I asked about her labor and delivery. She told me that her nurse was a total bitch. Then she told me they gave her an episiotimy without even asking her if she wanted it! They told her they did it after the baby was out, they said she would have torn at a wierd angle if they didnt cut her. To top it all off her and the baby became pretty sick afterward, just from being in a hospital. I found her story to be pretty scary   I'm so glad I found my birth center and will definitely be on top of massaging the perinium when the time comes lol. I couldn't even imagine going through that.