Share your story... induced vs natural labor ?!?!?!

[JSMS_]

Hello ladies! Sorry so long but this is really towards mamas who have been induced and then had natural labor(s) to follow:) Sooooo I only have 14 days to go before I meet my little girl, but lately I have been a little nervous...wit my first I was induced at 41+ weeks, but this time my husband and I are praying that I will go into labor naturally! BUT lately I have heard a few stories about woman who were induced (wit their 1st) not realizing they're in actual labor (wit their 2nd) until an hr or so before baby is born because their labor is so different. I understand contractions are harder and stronger being induced, but not realizing I'm in labor until I am about to have my little one is crazy! Which makes me nervous because I am a stay at home mom wit my 18 month old son and if that happened I can't imagine only having a hr or so for my husband to get off and come home or for my doula and midwife to get to the house in enough time because of their traveling distance. So yea it may sound silly, but all I can picture is having my baby at home wit my son helping me lol (jk I wld call 911 if I had to lol) SO if anyone can share their experiences of being induced vs going into natural labor I wld truly appreciate and hopefully it will calm my nerves and give me some peace of mind! Thanks loves:)

[JSMS_]

I am definitely looking forward to no strangers in my face pressuring me to get the epidural or meds lol I am really excited to bring this little one into a loving, safe, peaceful environment.  It's so nice to be able to set the atmosphere as well...I also plan to have music, burn candles and have a few of my favorite essential oils in the diffuser. It's so peaceful to be able to deliver in the home that we actually pray in and I have nested in:) Yes water birth is the plan! In the hospital I wasn't even allowed to take a shower so I am interested to see how much the water real helps this time especially wit back labor if I experience that again! I actually tore wit my son, but my midwife told me the warm water wld help me stretch and relax down there, but I had a 2nd degree tear and I knw that's different frm a 4th degree episiotomy so I am sure that makes a difference, but I pray I dnt tear this time! I've heard about rubbing olive oil or evening primrose  helps a lot in they last 2 weeks so I am going to start that today! Thank you ladies so much:) It's so nice to be able to here your experiences and jus talk about having my baby at home. Most ppl look at me crazy wen I tell them lol

[lguzmom]

I wanted to do a water birth but my midwife wanted me out because the Dr who delivered my first baby in the hospital have me a 4th degree episiotomy. So she wanted to try to keep me from tearing(she did! I didn't tear) but I labored in water and it helped soooo much. Advice... Hmm. Just don't fight it and try to relax as much as possible. If you had your first without an epidural you should be good though. Good luck!

[lousie_1986]

Yep have had 2 homebirths and now on my 3rd, love them! Easy to judge when you need the midwife as you can update her all day, and she can hear you on the phone and judge a little by that too. And very nice there is no trip to hospital to navigate around :) I think my births have been so easy because they've been stress free - no hurried medical staff, no busy hospital with paperwork and silly protocols, no strangers looking after me, I felt comfortable, supported, safe, had privacy, and able to eat and drink as I like - the way natural birth is supposed to be (they say get it as close to the conditions of conception as possible!). Midwife was there in later stages if I needed but retreated an appropriate distance to let me progress in private with hubby and she didn't do an internal check for dilation, just went off my outward signs. (did check baby's heartbeat as birth got closer). I had music playing and whatever oils I liked burning. I'd certainly never choose a hospital birth unless it was an emergency :)

Are you doing a waterbirth? I've only had waterbirths and find them so good for pain management that I don't want to try any other way!

[ummnajib]

I had 3 kids via induction. My labours were never progressing beyond 4cm. But now wit my 4th  i changed hospital and my new doc tells me dat my other dr was rushing me into induction. Dat i cud do it naturally. So am really glad to have those tips for stages of labour. Wud help me too.

[JSMS_]

Oh yes lguzmom I am so excited about that:) I really wanted to have our son at home, but my husband was definitely concerned about that and his mom and sister kept telling him that I cldnt have my 1st w/out the epidural because they didn't. We had a terrible experience at the hospital and in the end I proved that it was possible for a ftm to deliver w/out an epidural (lol they acted like I was some freak as if I was the 1st person in the world to ever do so) so my husband was more open to it this time especially after he interrogated our midwife lol I hope everything works out well for you this time as well! I always hear amazing home birth stories! Do you have any advice for a 1st timer lol

[lguzmom]

My second was born at home with a midwife. This one is a planned home birth too. Love having my babies at home! So much nicer than being annoyed at the hospital by everyone. And it's so nice to go to sleep in your own bed after.

[JSMS_]

Thank you ladies so much! I have definitely looked into all the stages of labor jus so I can be aware of wat the body typically does because I really believe to have a natural birth (no meds) it's important to knw your body and understand the procces of labor and that helped me a ton wit my first even tho I was induced. I am jus worried that I will not realize a contraction is a contraction to even start timing because my experience wit induced contractions vs natural. I've heard a lot of stories where woman felt more discomfort (cramping) than anything until they got a lot further in to labor leaving only a hr or so till baby arrived so that's more so my concern! lousie_1986 I will definitely take your advice about calling my husband and the midwife! Jus had my home visit and my midwife gave us instructions of wat to do jus incase she doesn't make it in time so if that happens I jus pray my husband doesn't pass out like he almost did wit our first lol So have you had any home births? If so wat was your experience?

[lousie_1986]

Just realised maybe you're a homebirther as you said midwife will come to you? If so disregard the travelling instructions :) Call them to come at 6-7 mins apart (that's what I do as both my midwives live an hour away). Call hubby earlier just in case it's really quick and you need some help ;)

[lousie_1986]

Haven't had both, only natural, but I was with both my sisters in labour for their first births, and I had to tell both of them to get to hospital because they waited at home for so long! They were expecting contractions to be more painful as the midwife said 'come in when you can't stand it anymore' and neither of them got to that stage. Once they got to hospital, they both gave birth within the hour! If you're similar, and your labour progresses slowly and eases you into it, signs that told me they were ready were:

*unable to chat through a contraction with closed eyes (mid-late active labour)
*a deep moaning/groaning sound through a contraction (transition)
*getting annoyed at surroundings (transition)

From my experience, I think when a contraction is so intense it makes you stop what you're doing and focus on it and breathe differently, combined with being around 5 minutes apart (around the start to middle of the active labour stage), then it's time to go in. Or may want to make sure you've got hubby ready at 7 minutes apart and go in closer to then for a more comfortable car trip.

N.B. Stages are
- early labour (bearable contractions, 5 to 10 minutes apart approx., able to speak through contractions - although may prefer not to)
- active labour (more intense, rapid contrx. 2 to 5 minutes apart, can't speak well through them, need to focus/stop what you're doing, starting to vocalise)
- transition (when you dilate from 8 to 10cm, feelings of extreme annoyance, can feel out of control, then become withdrawn with a deep inward focus, needing to push, deep moan/groaning)
- birth (primal- deep breaths or groans, yells, growls or screams, rocking, pushing, don't notice much of your surroundings anymore)

[alexis444]

I have only had a natural labor but if you just time your contractions that will help you know. My doctor told me if contractions are coming regularly every 2-4 minutes for at least an hour then go to the hospital. Hope that helps:)