re: Natural Birth Support Thread!

Quoting Stephanie Sodders:" Awesome news, lol! I just meant the book for earlier labor. Maybe I'll work on some flower hair clips ... [snip!] ... forced or pressured into anything during labor this time! Last time, I felt absolutely great until they put me on pitocin  "

Ah, yeah i was in prodromal labor (early labor) for about a week and a half ;-) Spent most of that time nesting. Active and transitional labor lasted about a half hour though, so that was nice lol. Contractions weren't painful for early labor. Not like they were with pitocin. Actually my entire labor on pitocin felt like transition. >.< Have you read the Red Tent? That was one of my books this pregnancy and I LOVED it! Very empowering, it's about midwifery and ancient times and puts a lot of emphasis on women's strengths. :-)

Quoting ♥ darah ♥:" Ah, yeah i was in prodromal labor (early labor) for about a week and a half ;-) Spent most of that ... [snip!] ... and I LOVED it! Very empowering, it's about midwifery and ancient times and puts a lot of emphasis on women's strengths. :-)"

Yeah, pitocin sucks, lol! All I could focus on when I was on it was wanting so badly to get out of the stupid bed.. Every time I would move though, I swear they'd have a hissy-fit, because it would make the fetal monitor slip --ugh!!
No, I haven't read that.. sounds good though   One of the books I read that helped empower me was The Vaginal Birth After Cesarean Experience... I mean even if you've never had a c-section, it's very inspirational.. It's like a chicken soup for the soul on VBACs   I'm hoping labor isn't too long this time!.. At least not the active labor. I'm angry because I realize now that I was just hitting transition with DS, right before they said c-section.. I realize it because this was when I was crying to my husband saying I wanted Stadol. I was 7 cm 'stuck' for 45 min. An out in the form of a c-section was NOT what I needed at that time, especially since I wasn't completely sure what was going on with DS... If they'd given me more time, I probably would've been pushing him out in no time  

Quoting Stephanie Sodders:" Yeah, pitocin sucks, lol! All I could focus on when I was on it was wanting so badly to get out of the ... [snip!] ... sure what was going on with DS... If they'd given me more time, I probably would've been pushing him out in no time  "

Oh man, you will love home birth. There is no pressure or anyone telling you to hurry up. I hope you have a great experience. :-) VBACs are a lot less scary now that we know more about them and more women are attempting them. A lot of women say it goes faster for them when they're at home as opposed to the hospital because it's easier to concentrate and focus on what you need. Also, this time was my first time at home and my baby made such a peaceful entrance into the world. He cried for a second when his dad caught him, then stopped crying once he was in my arms. Latched immediately after the birth and has been nursing like a champ since. And it was so nice to just snuggle up in my own bed and rest afterward. It was a rough night's sleep because of all of the excitement but it was so great. The only people in the house were people we loved so there was no shame or any feelings of embarrassment, pressure to do things any other way than we wanted. It's such a wonderful and amazing thing to be able to go through, I only wish more women had the chance to do it!

I hope you have a great labor and delivery. :-)

Quoting ♥ darah ♥:" Oh man, you will love home birth. There is no pressure or anyone telling you to hurry up. I hope you ... [snip!] ... to be able to go through, I only wish more women had the chance to do it! I hope you have a great labor and delivery. :-)"

Thanks!! Sorry... I just realized I skipped over this thread somehow, so I just now read your message!   I can't wait for my home birth... I know it will be so much more calm & relaxing, which will make for a better labor!! I wish more women were better educated about labor & birth... I'll be 38 weeks on Mon, though so she should be coming soon! I have a feeling it will be shortly after Halloween.. No labor signs yet, just annoying BH that I've had forever anyway!

The more I think about how I want things to go, the more a natural approach seems right for me. My friend had an epidural with her daughter, and the anesthesiologist
messed up her back because she wasn't aware she had scoliosis before going into labor. I don't want the same thing to happen to me. Renee wasn't able to breastfeed because the way they messed her up. I can't risk that. I have my heart set on breastfeeding and because I am in good health and my pregnancy has been normal, and my baby is perfect, I don't want to take no for an answer. I refuse.
My body was designed to handle the pain of childbirth and there is nothing wrong with me wanting to embrace it. It is a beautiful thing. I'm a little nervous but everyone is when they don't know what to expect. I am going into this with eyes wide open and as educated as I can possibly be. And that is my decision. Everything I have read points to the mother deserving the final say. I feel like I'm pushing this little boy out of my body so I deserve everything to go my way.

Quoting Jody Bennett:" The more I think about how I want things to go, the more a natural approach seems right for me. My friend ... [snip!] ... mother deserving the final say. I feel like I'm pushing this little boy out of my body so I deserve everything to go my way."

With your first child, if you're planning on a hospital birth, things are often more challenging than just getting your "say" unfortunately. I would totally recommend a doula, it can make a world of difference in how you end up feeling about your natural labour.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Jody Bennett:</b>" The more I think about how I want things to go, the more a natural approach seems right for me. My friend ... [snip!] ... mother deserving the final say. I feel like I'm pushing this little boy out of my body so I deserve everything to go my way."</blockquote>


You can do it mama! I made the same decision, and it's my first as well. Have you looked into midwives and birth centers in your area?
I chose to switch to a birth center after I went to 2 short, somewhat impersonal OB appointments before finding my birth center and I love my midwives and couldn't be more excited to go into labor!
Make sure you're walking and doing lots of pelvic floor exercises so you have an easier labor.  

I would have loved to use a birth center/midwife, but I'm on medicaid and in my area they don't exist. And if I chose one, my medicaid would not pay for it. I looked into it. It's sad and depressing. And I looked into doulas, but with my income I can't afford one.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Jody Bennett:</b>" I would have loved to use a birth center/midwife, but I'm on medicaid and in my area they don't exist. ... [snip!] ... not pay for it. I looked into it. It's sad and depressing. And I looked into doulas, but with my income I can't afford one."</blockquote>


I'm sorry to hear that.  
I'm also on Medicaid but luckily I live in a city with tons of birth centers, mine's the only one that takes Medicaid, but I love it, so I'm not sad that I was limited.
Just keep strong and remember that you can ALWAYS say no to what the doctors try to tell you to do. I remember on a FB group I'm subscribed to there was a post they made that said to tell what everyone wished they knew before they had their baby, and majority of women said they wished they would've known that they could've said no to the doctors.
There's a hospital here that's more supportive of natural births that my midwives go to if there's an emergency when they have deliveries. Maybe if you can find a midwife in your area you could give her a call and see if she can recommend a doctor and hospital you can go to that's more supportive of natural birth.  
Just surround yourself with positive supportive people and information and you'll do perfectly fine.  

Quoting Jody Bennett:" I would have loved to use a birth center/midwife, but I'm on medicaid and in my area they don't exist. ... [snip!] ... not pay for it. I looked into it. It's sad and depressing. And I looked into doulas, but with my income I can't afford one."

contact doulas and ask if they have a modified fee for low income parents (most do) or ask for a doula who is trying to get her first few clients toward certification (they will often come free). The motto for many doulas is that there should be a doula for every woman who wants one, regardless of financial ability.

Quoting Amber :]:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Jody Bennett:</b>" I would have loved to use a birth center/midwife, ... [snip!] ... of natural birth.   Just surround yourself with positive supportive people and information and you'll do perfectly fine.  "

Good to know. I will definitely keep that in mind. There is so much I do not want to happen. It's unfortunate that my area doesn't offer midwives or birthing centers. If I wanted one, the nearest one is located about an hour away. And it doesn't accept medicaid anyway. I don't really want to have to travel an hour when I'm in labor to give birth to begin with. My husband would never let me forget that I had his son on the floor of his truck, trust me!
But yea, in the end its my decision and I know what I want. I don't see whats so wrong about me getting it if my health is good and so is my baby's. I'm not high risk and I have gained the right amount of weight and I don't have any complications like GD or pre-eclampsia or anything else fun like that. My risk factors are pretty low. So I feel my birth should be how I choose for it to be.

Quoting Jody Bennett:" The more I think about how I want things to go, the more a natural approach seems right for me. My friend ... [snip!] ... mother deserving the final say. I feel like I'm pushing this little boy out of my body so I deserve everything to go my way."

That's great that you are educating yourself now.. I just have to add. Don't be afraid to advocate for yourself. Anything that is done to you is your decision & you have a right to know what is happening with your own body! With my 1st, I think I put too much trust in my doctor. At first, she was all for my 'No induction or augmentation, no pain meds, no c-section unless absolutely medically necessary' Birth Plan... But once I went overdue, then into labor.. what I valued seemed to completely go out the window. Hospitals stick to their protocols.. But, you CAN refuse anything you don't want/ feel comfortable with. They'll always try to pressure you into things, so it's tough.. If you do have to go with a Dr at a reg. hospital, try to find a doctor that is very supportive of what you want.. Also, continue to get educated -for any scenario- and constantly ask questions so you can keep informed on what's going on with you.. And explore your alternatives before you make definite decisions on anything!!

Quoting A, E & W's mommy:" contact doulas and ask if they have a modified fee for low income parents (most do) or ask for a doula ... [snip!] ... The motto for many doulas is that there should be a doula for every woman who wants one, regardless of financial ability."

     
Doulas are awesome. I'm working on my certification and every woman should have one

Quoting Jody Bennett:" I would have loved to use a birth center/midwife, but I'm on medicaid and in my area they don't exist. ... [snip!] ... not pay for it. I looked into it. It's sad and depressing. And I looked into doulas, but with my income I can't afford one."

If you go to your state's doula website there should be resources on doulas in training that are willing to do it for free or a greatly reduced price, i believe you need to attend a certain number of births to be certified, it's worth looking into