natural child birth techniques

[Baybbee]

I am really wanting to do a natural child birth. Anyone out there do this and have some tips or suggestions to offer? What worked for you? I'd love to hear your stories!

[palsrane]

Deep humming during contractions and what they call the delivery dance (Google it). Ask your husband to wear a heavy sweatshirt. I used to clamp down on it during contractions. Between contractions I bounced on exercise ball while dh massaged my back, or I walked.

Do not forget to ask the hospital for a nurse the believes in natural delivery. Mine was great. She helped me pull through the last 20 minutes when I was about to give in to the pain meds.

Finally, it's mind over matter. All people I know, who took epidural had 14-18 hr labors with 2+hrs of pushing, after getting to the hospital. I was done in 2.5hrs with only 20 mins of pushing, because the natural contractions - relaxation process moves the labor along faster.

But say that is what you want, and keep an open mind. It's a biological process. And the ultimate goal is having the baby in your hands. You can also ask for a light epidural, and ask them to reduce its level when you are close to pushing. That way you can still push effectively.

[Azrainstorm]

I would also recommend that you avoid lying on your back during labor. For me it only intensified the contractions and have me little to no relief between contractions. I also visualize my cervix opening with each contraction to keep me focused on the purpose of them.

[Baybbee]

Thank you everyone for your posts! :) :) :) I'm going to look into some of these and keep them in mind when it's time! I'll certainly do my best!

[Van818]

I wanted a natural birth at home in a pool but ended up having to be in hospital, then had an emergency cesarean section. There are a few things I would recommend that I researched. Being at home or in a comfortable, familiar environment is very important to aid relaxation. Low lighting is better for birthing. Keep active during early labour - walk and stay upright to help baby descend. Don't listen/respond to anyone who tries to talk to you during contractions (doctors and hospital staff kept doing this to me) - your focus should be on breathing through them and getting used to that, even when they are mild...it's good practice for the stronger ones. I hired a Doula to support me through labour and I definitely would again next time (if there is one!) I was 36 hours in hospital and she was with me from early labour, so just under 24 hours. I don't think I'd have got through even half of that without her. Practice hypnobirthing breathing techniques - download from from iTunes. Practice A LOT! It's hard to breath properly during contractions, so prepare your body/lungs. Breathing through the contractions helps to manage the difficult ones and leaves you able o relax or rest in between which is so important. I also read a really interesting book called Childbirth without Fear by Grantly D ick-Read. It's an old book - he was an obstetrician in the early 20th century yet well ahead of his time; he researched how women give birth in more primitive societies and why they don't need the painkillers and interventions we use. I also had essential oils to hand - rose and lavender for relaxation. Jasmine and clary sage to encourage more efficient contractions. Because I was in hospital I could only have them on a piece of cotton to smell, only used the clary sage and managed to loose it/forget about it when the had to move me to a different room. Good luck! I hope you get to have a natural birth but if you don't, don't worry...keep your focus on meeting your baby and that a healthy baby and healthy mother are more important than the perfect birth.

[ClaudiaN30]

Moving helps! Swinging your hips side to side also helps and to focus. The major thing is not tonloose focus cause as soon as you do you will feel like youhave lost control and then panic sets in. Im having my 3rd one in NNovember.  Good luck

[Bexoakes3]

My go to is vocalizing the contractions. When you're dialating there's a lot of extra energy that I couldn't just "breathe" through, so I moaned through them. I told myself I could be as loud as I wanted but had to keep my tones as low as possible. The higher the tones, the more out of control I would feel. Two home water births and I'm planning for a third. Water works wonders and I discovered with my second that labouring on my hands and knees with a nice hot rice bag( heating pad) helped so much when I wasn't in the water. If I had a labour like Flickan, I would not have gone natural, but mine seem to progress quickly. Number three they say is a wild card so I have idea what will happen. Good luck!

[Flickan]

I tried but my body doesn't relax in between contractions so imagine a solid 16 hour contraction...that's when I finally got my epidural. The relaxing g in between is what causes labor to move forward, not the Contraction themselves. Whole I could, I found standing in the shower helped. My labor room had a shower in it. I eventually had to have an emergency c section but I also pushed for 7 hours as well so feel I got to experience enough of "natural" childbirth to understand.

[Corralynn]

For me, it was mind over matter. I said to myself "I can do this, I am strong enough" and told the nurses at the hospital that I did not want the epidural to be offered. They said they wouldn't mention it, only if I asked for it. My biggest worry was that if someone brought it up when the pain was bad, that I would cave.

As for pain management during labor, I moved around a lot early on, and when moving got too hard, I mostly just breathed through the pain. Changing positions helped, I was able to find the best position during each phase. Reminding yourself that the pain is productive, and has a purpose. I took a childbirth class, but when it came down to it, I didn't remember anything and just sorta went with whatever seemed right at the time. I never even got in the shower, which I had planned to do.

Good luck, I'm sure you will do great!