epidural, natural, systematic medication??

[maymommy147]

I only have 9 weeks left until my due date! Trying to conclude on a birth plan, but this is my first so I have no idea what to expect! I understand all pregnancies & labor/birth differ & that this is simply just a plan, we don't know what will happen when the day comes, but I need advice. I'm thinking of trying to give birth on all four because with the research I've done it says my pelvis would expand largest possible & less pressure on prenerium. Than if I do end up with that position, what pain medication would be best if needed? Any experience or advice to share?

[stacey10]

I've had 10 natural/active births and have delivered in numerous position, squatting, standing, semi-standing all fours and the last being a water birth, I'm not sure how your labour rooms are but the hospital where I deliver, they have an ensuite so most of the time I labour in the shower, hot water is an excellent form of pain relief... gas and air is also good (although I've never used it) you have to make sure you breathe it at the right time or you miss the peak cof the contraction, yes moving around while in labour is excellent as it helps gravity do its job, the same when it comes time to push, just go with how you feel and try different positions until you find one that feels right, most of all I would encourage you to stay off the bed and when it comes time to push do not be on your back unless your needing some medical intervention, lying on your back is like pushing your baby out up-hill, it closes off your pelvis by about 1/3, and also when your doctor or midwife tells you to stop pushing, make sure you do that, you will be told to breathe the babies head out when its crowning and you will have to fight the erge to push, if you can do this you will have a really good chance of not tearing, also skin to skin contact as soon as bub is born is very important as is delayed cord clamping, a baby can loose up to 40% of its blood/oxygen if the cord is clamped straight away, something else to think about :)

[maymommy147]

Thank you all for sharing, very helpfu! I didnt realize gas and air was an option, but I just looked that up, & it seems like it may be a good idea, if I cant do it completely natural. how much of the "edge" does that take off? I dont want to be loopy or unable to walk/cleanup afterwards like Ive heard happens with an epidural some of the time. When in labor & giving birth is it hard to switch positions if I find that hands/knees isnt working for me? I have imagined the moment my son is born a million times now, & just thinking about it makes me so happy, like just seeing his little face for the first time! <3 Just need to get him through labor as quickly & safely as possible!

[Spiket77]

I think that it is good that you realize that anything can happen when it comes down to actual labor. I had a very long labor but managed it without pain medication. I am not against pain medication but I was fortunate that my labor progressed in a way that I could manage naturally. For me...being able to move helped a lot. I had tried to lay down in the bed one time during a contraction and it was so painful. If I had to stay in a bed and labor I would scream for an epidural. I really don't know how anyone can sit in bed during labor. I sprung up right after that contraction and kept moving. I also used a tub and a birthing ball. I probably would have delivered in the tub but my sons heart rate started dropping so I got out of the tub. I ended up on all fours leaning over the footboard of the bed. When I got in that position...I pushed twice and he was out. I had back labor and the water helped but It still hurt. I won't lie. Here is the thing I want you to know... as soon as your deliver your child (assuming nothing crazy has been torn) the pain goes away. I felt high and over the moon the second he was born. This was after 36 hours of labor. Whatever happens in your delivery...you get the best gift in the entire world. Best wishes to you!

[Ashelen]

I had epidurals with my first and second labors....but with my first labor I had it through early labor and let it wear off before "active" so I was pushing with no pain meds....it was a quick and very little pain delivery compared to some, although I tore VERY badly and needed to be sent to the OR for 1 1/2 hours of stitching, lol.

With delivery #2, they couldn't get the epidural placed so the anesthesiologist said he was going to try ONE MORE time and if it didn't work, I was out of luck. Well he got it in, then it numbed up my left side aaaand...stopped working.

I had terrible back labor with #2, but we tilted the bed and I pushed nearly upright and again it was a very quick delivery and I had no trouble coping despite the intense back labor.

So after 2 deliveries essentially pain med free (no IV meds and no epidurals for the most part, lol) I've decided to go epidural free this time. I'll get IV pain meds if things are taking a long time and I need to relax, but I think I'll be fine..I'm about 38 1/2 weeks and I've been having contractions for the past 36 hours...real, intense, labor contractions but they aren't regular yet, so I'm just waiting at home to see if they come closer together or stop....but after coping with labor-like contractions for over 36 hours, what's a few hours without an epi during delivery? ;-). I'm SO ready to do this again!

there are benefits to having an epidural - if you have a particularly long, painful, or complicated delivery, it can allow you to rest and relax and help facilitate labor where you might otherwise end up with a c-section because of exhaustion. But on the down side, baby comes out a LITTLE groggy and sometimes epidurals can stall labor. same goes for IV pain meds, although they carry a much smaller risk of slowing labor down. The benefits of having NO medicine is that you can MOVE! and for me, that's the best. You can use gravity to move things along, and sometimes just a shift in position can eliminate 90% or more of the pain and pressure you feel during a given contraction...so that's pretty huge!

Epidurals can make you itchy, or nauseous, but they are a WONDERFUL alternative for some mommies..it just depends on how you feel the most comfortable laboring.

I'd say research all your options so you know what you're getting into, plan to go natural if that's what you want, and be ready to be flexible..labor rarely goes according to plan, but if you have your heart set on natural, go for it! I plan to :-)

[sorenr]

I gave birth on all fours to my second child with gas and air, it was fab, my daughter came out so quick it was just as well the midwife was there to catch her! My first delivery was induced (my waters were broken and I had the drip which makes you contract) it was much more painful than the one I described above, I wasnt allowed to move either which didnt help. I would have an epidural if that were to happen again as it was so bad. Hopefully I'll get my way and have another nice easy one like last time!

[Kendraerika]

With my first I was on all four then during a contraction I would squat and push. This was bc I had horrible back labor and if my mom wasn't pushing on my spine it was horrible, no pain meds. I am going to push traditional thus time bc when I finally went to that position she was able to come out. I pushed for 3 hours, which is not normal.

[smiley_one]

I've never heard of someone giving birth on all four. That sounds really neat. This is my first also. I have about 7 weeks left. I plan on a natural birth, no pain medication, no epidural, and I want to delay cord clamping. When the baby comes out I want her on my chest when they clean her and then have skin to skin contact with her afterwards. I haven't decided on a position to give birth in or anything, but I still have a few weeks to plan.