Labor

[Jen9588]

Im a ftm and im just wondering is labor that bad naturally?

[stacie725]

Good Luck in whatever u choose I wish u a safe, comfortable, healthy delivery.. ;)

[libellula]

Thanks for posting. I'm also considering a natural birth. My hospital offers hypnobirthing classes and supports natural births with special birthing rooms. It's hard because I've never broken a bone or anything haha... I am a bit clueless if I can handle that level of pain? But I'm about 90 percent sure I want to try

[ohthejoy]

I'm hoping to birth naturally, I'm a first time mum so have no idea what it will be like too. But I figure if all women birthed naturally for 1000's of years it must be doable! Plus natural means there are no drugs on your system or babies system so that first breast feed isn't affected

[Jen9588]

Thanks ladies I want to go natural but dont know if I'll even be able to handle it, hopefully I can..wish me luck :)

[Bigapplefamily]

It's painful but it was never so painful that I felt I couldn't handle it. I never cried or begged for an epidural. I had my mom with me and she was all the support and pain relief I needed. I had a totally natural delivery in under 4 hours. Epidurals impede the birthing hormones and slow labor down. You are not free to move about in labor so you can't get in to the best position to birth your baby and move them down the birth canal. It also can cause fetal distress leading to an emergency c section. Epidurals IMO are NOT worth the effects (longer delivery, more risk of c section, impeded birth hormones, longer recovery time, no movement, longer time for milk to come in, etc).

[LaceRedRose]

I just had my baby on 4/21/14 and I went naturally till I hit 6cm and started back labor that was a lot pain!! So I got an epidural unfortunately the machine was broken so the meds didn't come out so after 45 min of no pain it all came back at once...Baby was born at 9:34pm after 15hrs in active labor with no pain meds in the end. But I would do it all over again to see his wonderful face :)

[stacie725]

As for the pain management after meds. I think that depends on the person as well. I never had any issues with pain after the epidural. About 30-45 mins after the baby was born I was up and moving around on my own.

[Medision123]

I am also ftm and was thinking even before I was pregnant that I will have a natural birth! Thanks ladies now I am more sure that I am doing the right thing. :-)

[stacie725]

Its painful, but everyone is different in how they manage the pain. I don't want to go through that amount of pain. I waited until I was about 4cm and caved. When u do natural there is no time to relax once those pain start to hit u every 2 and 3 minutes and they last a minute. The pattern begin to form, there is no time to just take a breathe u have to prepare urself for the next go round. Contraction are like bones breaking. They hurt!!!  

[natjayne]

Natural all the way. My first I was induced and it was awful for me. Much more intense than letting things happen naturally. Remember to breathe through each contraction and keep your shoulders relaxed. Keep moving helps aswell. Gravity takes over. I hope for a natural birth this time round. Just with abit of gas and air. Its mega painful but just remember it doesnt last forever. All the best x

[doulamommy]

Natural birth is the way to go! I had to have my labor started with pitocen, hoping I don't this time! My birth story is on my profile under journals!

[Jen9588]

Thanks a lot ladies, and wow i didnt know natural was less painful afterwards than with meds

[debbie4242014]

Preparation is key.  Know that strong contractions hurt and will only get stronger the closer you get to the end.  Have relaxation techniques that you've been practicing for at least a month.   Good books on the subject help too.  I rec hypnobirthing and birthing without fear.   Recovery and infant safety were much better with my all natural birth than with my first with an epidural and then they started pitocin since labor stalled.  Almost lost my son.

[whisper3rdbaby]

With my 1st I did natural, 2nd I had to be induced. I would definitely take natural over being induced any day. Natural wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.

[luka_n_baby2]

I had to be induced with pitocin to get me to dialate so it wasn't natural. But I had no pain medications so I was in a ton of pain. Totally worth it to me. You can get up and shower right away and it mostly disappears right after. I didn't want a needle in my back.... that freaked me out more then birth