Advice About Different Procedures
    Epidurals/Pain Medication (Pros and Cons)
    Related Boards: [Unmedicated Birth] [Medicated Birth]
  • "Walking" epidurals are great! It takes the "edge" off the contractions, but still leaves enough feeling to feel the pressure of the contractions and pushing. (bugs9701)
  • I loved my epidural, would get it again. Worth it as you are not so physically drained when it comes time to push. Plus (BIG PLUS). It was already in when I had to have an emergency C-section, so it cut down on the prep time to get me ready to get the baby out in a HURRY (cjinfla)
  • Go in planning to take it if you need it. (Mom_2_Jax)
  • Skip it, Pain meds to have their place...but use all other options available first. Of course if a c-section becomes necessary an Epidural is a fantastic thing as it allows you to be awake for the birth of your baby. But, other than that...go without. (mama2miracles)
  • Great I hope it goes as smoothly as it did before. (tntbritt)
  • I had an epidural and pain medication, for me I will do the epidural again but intend to find out more about a walking epidural. (iluvmaria)
  • I think it is good to leave all your options open and decide during labor what is right for you. (cicsokids)
  • I went into the first delivery wanting to wait as long as possible before getting and sort of pain medications. I wanted to do it as natural as possible. However, I was induced, and after my water broke, they started the pitocin. My contractions came one on top of the other with no break for most of them. After 13 hours of that and still only being 3cm dilated, I asked for an epidural. Hopefully this one, I won't have to be induced and I'll be able to stay away from pitocin (I HATED that!), and may not have to have an epidural! But I must say....I REALLY enjoyed the epidural...all my pain was GONE! You just have to take it as it comes, you never know what your labor is going to be like until you're experiencing it!
  • I think its hard to know what you are really going to need or want until you experience labor. Read up on the different pain medications available so you are informed if you do end up deciding you want medication. Don�t blame yourself if you DO end up needing something- even when you planned on an unmedicated birth. (Jenn33199)
  • : I am an advocate of natural birth so I may be a little biased here but do your research! Do not believe any doctor or nurse that tells you a certain drug even an epidural will not have an effect on your baby. This is a lie. All pain relieving drugs cross the placenta and stay in the baby's system for 6 days. This can cause poor latching on, a baby not alert, and other problems. Know the risks involved with an epidural. Many times they do not work. I have heard of many instances where it only took on one half of the body, or not at all. A "walking epidural" is a myth. If it is light enough to allow you to walk, it won't do anything for the pain. Also, you will not be allowed out of bed once you are hooked up to this. You also will be constantly monitored, have an IV because epidural significanlty lower blood pressure, and have a blood pressure cuff, and oxygen level finger cuff on you at all times. Try walking with that! The best thing I can tell you is to WAIT. Try other methods of pain relief before giving into medication. Give your body enough time to adjust to the contractions and before you know it, may be time to push! Tell the nurses and doctor that you are aware of what is available so you will ask when you need it. This way they aren't hounding you when your resistance is low. (bjs34)
  • I didn't have any medication, but I've heard that if you're going to do it, try to do it at just the right time, before transition, so that it will be in effect when you need it. (karzandi)
    Induction: What to Expect/What to Ask
    Related Board: [Induction]
  • You will be monitored very closely. The most frustrating part was not being able to get up and walk around due to the fetal monitoring. Ask for the cervadil (which "ripens" the cervix) before they begin the pitocin. (bugs9701)
  • Expect pain, take the meds. (Mom_2_Jax)
  • Don't have an induction unless it is absolutely medically necessary! They are awful (1 induction, 1 spontaneous labor). My induced labor was much more painful and intense. Pitocin and Cytotec are not safe for the baby anyway. Ask, why is this induction necessary? Ask what medication will be used for the induction (refuse Cytotec, it has not been approved for this). (mama2miracles)
  • Ask everything you can think of! Read up on this subject and insist that you not be kept laboring for too long. (SnoepjesGirl)
  • AVOID IT if possible!
  • Ask questions! I was induced with my first and had NO idea what to expect. I was on an IV and not allowed out of the bed for anything (hospitals differ in their policies so be sure to ask.) You also will not be allowed to eat after midnight the night before. My DH almost lost his manhood when he ate a big breakfast in front of me during early labor (I was still feeling good- and HUNGRY!) (Jenn33199)
  • : I have been induced. It stinks because you are constantly monitored, IV'd, and you can't move around alot which makes the contractions difficult to deal with. I delivered naturally with both my girls but my youngest was rough because of the pitocin. Pitocin takes away early labor. You immediately start having contractions 2-3 minutes apart so there is no way to get used to the pain and stay on top of them. Also, pitocin can be hard on your body so there can be an increased risk of uterine rupture if this is a VBAC. Also, it doesn't always work. Try and talk with your doctor in letting you wait to labor naturally even if you are late. This is only if you and the baby are perfectly fine! Sometimes labor must be induced. (bjs34)
    C-Sections (Pros and Cons)
    Related Boards: [C-Section Birthing] [C-Section: Negative Experience]
  • There are some people out there that try to make you feel incredibly bad because you have a c-section and not a "normal" delivery. It happened to me. They were so superior because they didn't "need" a c-section. Well my baby and me could have both DIED if I had not had the emergency c-section. These people are not in the delivery room with you, they don't know the circumstances first hand. They don't have medical degrees (still amazes me the number of people that try to second guess a dr. with 8 years of school and many more years of practical experience in their field), so don't let them try to make you feel less of a mom because you needed a c-section. The goal is to deliver a healthy baby and whether you have a vaginal birth or c-section, the baby coming out healthy and safe is ALL that matters. (cjinfla)
  • C-sections are major surgery and not really good for mom or baby. Though they occasionally can be life saving (not 25% of all labors though). Find out WHY a c-section is necessary. Ask your dr. his/her c-section rate. (mama2miracles)
  • For me, this is the only way to go =) (SnoepjesGirl)
  • I�ve had two!! The only advice I would have is that as soon as they let you get up and get around you should stay up as much as possible. I don't mean to do things that you are not allowed to do like picking things up and driving. Your pain will be less if you try to be up and around more. The worse pain I had with both of mine was at night when I was stationary. The muscles get tight and hurt. (cicsokids)
  • Ended up with a c-section because Patrick's heart rate dropped dramatically with every contraction (they discovered this after they gave me the epidural because they were able to use internal monitors that were more accurate) and I was still only 3cm dilated, so they decided a c-section would be best. At first I was disappointed, but looking back, I was glad that my pain was the incision in my tummy and not down in the nether regions. I was able to go to the bathroom without pain! (YEAH!)
  • I have had 2 C-sections. Again, please educate yourself as you never know if you may end up with a C-section. I certainly never thought I would have one, and was abysmally ignorant when I did end up with one after my induction failed. These days, the doctors try to make the C-section as much like a vaginal delivery as possible- Dad can still cut the cord, you can hold the baby, etc. My doctors even sang happy birthday! J The worst part of my C-sections occurred about 24 hours afterwards when I had the worst gas pains imaginable (much worse that my pitocin-induced contractions.) Another thing is to ask your doctor whether you will be able to keep the baby with you after birth. (Jenn33199)
  • Taking away any emergency situation or breech presentation, most c-sections are because of doctors not wanting to wait any longer. I am serious about this. There have been studies done that show that women who have epidurals, labor much longer, and do not push effectively. The doctor gets impatient, tells the mom she did her best but it isn't good enough and then tells her it would be better to do a c-section. The mom is scared and wants a safe delivery so she believes him, and is afraid to speak up and question the facts. If a baby is not showing any signs of stress, is in a good position, and the mom is ok then there is nothing wrong with waiting for the baby to deliver on it's own. This goes back to the epidural section. (bjs34)
    VBAC (Pros and Cons)
    Related Board: [VBAC Support]
  • Typically the safest route for both mom and baby. Find a practitioner who supports VBAC. But take into account your individual circumstance. If your previous C-section was from CPD, try for a VBAC! Mother's often have successful VBACs the 2nd time around with even larger babies than their first! (mama2miracles)
  • I tried it and wish it would have worked for me. I would try it again if the doctors would let me. (cicsokids)
  • Hoping for a VBAC this time around...but I again don't think I'll mind if I have to have a c-section! I would like to experience giving birth the regular way though!
  • Read up on the risks and benefits- talk to your doctor. My DH and I weren�t comfortable with the slightest possibility of abruption, so we will be having our second planned C-section. However, many women have healthy and happy babies via a VBAC! (Jenn33199)
  • : Read The VBAC Companion. This should be required reading for anyone attempting this. Do your research, find a doctor that will work with you, know the reasons for your previous c-section, and be prepared in your mind that it may not go the way you want it to. (bjs34)
    Hypnobirthing
    Related Board: [Hypnobirthing]
  • No experience or research. My cousin thought it was fantastic. I am skeptical. I want to be aware for my baby's birth, but maybe I am missing something. (mama2miracles)
Labor Assistants and Doulas
    Related Board: [Doulas]
  • Doulas are great if you can afford them! (Lorissa)
  • If you are delivering in a hospital this is essential! I so wish my doula had made it to my last birth. Please consider one. (mama2miracles)
  • *My husband was a great support and coach! (Except for the time he came into the room with twizzler breath!!!!)
  • Definitely get one. If you think you don't need one you are wrong! They have so much knowledge and ideas to help you have a more memorable birth experience. Even if you want an epidural, a doula can help you and your partner in many ways. They don't leave you, they offer guidance, emotional support, physical support, positioning,natural pain relief, and can educate you on how to make informed choices. There are doulas for all price ranges so do not let cost deter you from getting one. Having a doula lowers your need for pain medication by 60%, your c-section rate by 50% and your satisfaction by 100%. Partners also are allowed to experience the birth in their own way. They don't have to remember everything, they don't have to feel guilty for not being able to help as much, and they can take needed breaks if the labor is long. (bjs34)
Midwives
    Related Board: [Midwives]
  • I can't say enough good about my midwife. I would not go back to an OB. I can't believe how much better I am treated. I have so much more say in my pre-natal care and in my birth. Please consider a midwife. (mama2miracles)
  • I would never use a midwife. (SnoepjesGirl)
  • Some are great and some are worse than doctors. Interview a few along with some local ob's and find out which person works for you. As long as you feel safe, comfortable and can trust this person, then that is all that matters. (bjs34)
  • Definitely! If you live in a town that has CNM, give them some SERIOUS thought! We had a CNM for our son's birth, and it was GREAT! She got to the hospital about an hour after I checked in and was there until about 45 minutes after I gave birth. She talked me through the pain, helped my husband figure out what I needed, gave me massage, and used warm sterilized oil in the perineal area so that I wouldn't tear or need to be cut. She was really super! (karzandi)
  • Midwifery care is the standard of care in many, many countries. The top five countries with the lowest rate of infant mortality all have 70+% midwifery care with a large number of those births planned homebirths. [By contrast the US, with it's OB-dominated, technologically-advanced care ranks 25th of 27 -- third to the bottom in infant mortality rates!] In other words, unless you have a truly high risk pregnancy, midwives are the way to go! (testami)
Things to Have at the Hospital for Labor
  • Music, (I played a Lullaby CD over and over and over and over). Support people. (bugs9701)
  • Book to read. The early stages were SO boring. We even played cards for a while (cjinfla)
  • DH. (Lorissa)
  • In a 16 hour labor, I never opened my labor bag. But, Massage oil with an essential oil (lavender, tangerine, almond...), Birth ball, Tub and shower, a fantastic support person, your birth plan. (mama2miracles)
  • We brought a CD player. I have a lullaby CD that kept me calm. Also we played the song we danced to at our wedding right after our baby was born. We all three held each other. We plan on doing the same thing again. (tntbritt)
  • Socks, to keep your feet warm. (SnoepjesGirl)
  • Socks, a pillow if you're not comfortable on one,something to do in early labor, and someone you love. (iluvmaria)
  • I brought some relaxing music the first time and listened to it during labor and it really seemed to help.( cicsokids)
  • Sister to massage your feet!!! I didn't have that on purpose! But I REALLY enjoyed it! She was great!
  • Music is about the only thing I used out of ALL the things I brought for labor. I listened to Enya for hours! (Jenn33199)
  • Things that make you feel comfortable, things that will help you to relax, your doula, a positive attitude. (bjs34)
  • Frozen Fruit Juice popscicles!!! They tasted so good after delivery! A portable stereo with some nice music. (karzandi)
Things That You Never Used During Labor
  • "Focal point object"; back massager; books. (bugs9701)
  • Music, scented oils. (Mom_2_Jax)
  • Drugs. (Lorissa)
  • Most of what was in my labor bag. Music, tennis ball, Paper Bag (for hyperventilation) (mama2miracles)
  • Socks. (cicsokids)
  • Books, cards, cds, cd player�I played about 5 minutes of cards with my sister, then told her I couldn't do it anymore...the contractions hurt too much!
  • Even though I�m an avid reader I couldn�t read or watch TV- and didn�t want to talk on the phone to the people who kept calling! (Jenn33199)
  • A book to read(hah!) a deck of cards, too many massage gadgets (hands are best). (bjs34)
  • My labor was so short, we didn't use anything we brought... the tennis ball for massage, cribbage board, "focus cards" (karzandi)
Labor- What It's Really Like and Other General Comments
  • How can you say what its really like? Its different for everybody. Just remember any labor that ends with a beautiful baby is a good labor (bugs9701)
  • I was totally unprepared for what it felt like. I felt that our lamaze coach did not even really talk about what it would feel like. So, I had back labor for 1 day before even realizing that it was labor. I just thought my back hurt. It wasn't a bad pain, so that is why I did not know. Then when the front pains started, it was more like bad menstrual cramps. I think I would have been better prepared if someone had said: "It's kinda like bad menstrual cramps". Also, if they give you the option of the enema. You might want to consider it. I said no way and ended up making a HUGE mess of myself and the bed AND DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IT!!! When the nurse tried to get me to roll to change the bed, I was NOT happy and she finally had to tell me: "you have made a big mess and we need to clean it up before the baby arrives" (cjinfla)
  • Mind numbing out of control pain - amazing holding your baby for the 1st time - so worth it! (Lorissa)
  • When you have an epidural you feel no pain, only pressure (and sometimes not that). It is completely calm, the nurse has to tell you when to push, nothing like I expected!
  • Labor really is like VERY bad menstrual cramps. If you can figure out how to relax yourself, you will do just fine. It hurts like hell, but you can overcome that pain. (SnoepjesGirl)
  • It's hard and it hurts but it is well worth the pain and even more. (iluvmaria)
  • It hurts!!!!!! However, you see that it did not keep me from having more!!! You forget to a point because it is so worth the pain. (cicsokids)
  • It hurts, ALOT, but it's well worth the awesome bundle of joy you get out of it! *SMILE* (And surprisingly enough...you do forget about the pain....6 or so months later!!!)
  • It hurts, but I found that I was able to control the pain. Of course, I never went through transition which might be a whole different story. The good thing to remember is that the pain IS temporary�and you will have a miracle waiting for you when it is over. (Jenn33199)
  • It is different for everyone. I remember thinking it would get worse but it never did. The biggest thing to remember is that the pain does not last forever. It is only for 60-90 seconds every 1-2 minutes apart at it's worst. In between these, you feel as you do now. When you break a bone or really hurt yourself, it hurts all the time and it is hard to not think on the pain. But with contractions, they go away. You get a break, and it's not like everyone gets stronger. They are waves. They start out light, build to a peak and then fade away. Every three or four you will have a stronger one, but your body adjusts and the next few are the same or not as bad. Your body naturally produces endorphins that are pain killers. Give your body a chance to adjust and have faith that it is doing the job it was meant to do. Women have been giving birth for thousands of years. You are not alone and the less interventions, the safer you and your baby will be. (bjs34)
  • Labor was bearable up until transition. OMG that was the longest 40 minutes of my life. Very intense, very painful, but worth every second of it! Labor was something that made me feel so primitive, and so amazing. About going through it again, I'm nervous, excited, scared, apprehensive. (karzandi)
  • Posterior labor and birth was hard. I wish I had focused more on practicing relaxation during my pregnancy. I also wish I had hired a labor doula. Of course, my son was worth it, but I plan to prepare myself better this time (and to use the birthing pool more.) (testami)
Other Delivery Options
    Homebirthing
    Related Board: [Homebirth]
  • We are planning on a home birth. I can't wait. It is my first home birth. If you have any desire to birth at home, please look into it! Find out what the advantages and safety really are. (mama2miracles)
  • I'd be nervous about this...would prefer to be in a hospital setting...especially since with the last one, I would have had to go to the hospital anyway!
  • Make sure you are a safe candidate, are working with a certified, licensced midwife and are in close proximity to a hospital if needed. (bjs34)
  • This was a very good decision for us. I have no doubt that had I been in a hospital setting my son would have been a surgical birth (at least forceps, but probably a c-section), but instead he was a Apgars 8 and 9 homebirth with no tearing for me. We are planning our second homebirth now. (testami)
    Waterbirthing
    Related Board: [Waterbirth]
  • Waterbirth if you can (Lorissa)
  • Haven't decided yet on this one. But Water is the BEST natural analgesic available. Spend your labor in the tub! (mama2miracles)
  • REALLY want to try this! I wasn't able to go in the hot tub during my last delivery because I was being induced due to high blood pressure and they wouldn't let me off the monitors! (ARGH!) Want to at least try the hot tub this time, maybe go all the way...and deliver underwater!
  • If available to you do it! Labor is so much easier and more peaceful in water. Babies are calmer after birth and more alert. (bjs34)
  • We had a birthing tub in the dining room and I used it for part of the labor... the best part actually. I got in around 8 CM and out when I was nearly complete and I was actually able to rest (sleep?) between contractions while I was in the pool. I wish someone had suggested I get back in the pool to birth, but instead I pushed for 3 hours on dry land. I plan to go all the way in the pool this time. (testami)
When Labor Doesn�t Go As Planned
  • Just remember that the end goal is a perfect baby. It doesn't really matter how you got there, whether you had the perfect homebirth with your family and midwife, or you had an emergency C-Section surrounded by strange doctors and nurses. You are still a mother, and NOTHING, NOTHING will change that. Everyone's labor is different, but every labor that ends with the birth of the world's most precious baby is a good labor! (bugs9701)
  • The more you know before hand, the better off you will be, even if labor doesn't go as planned! It gives you the ability to question interventions and to know for yourself, if in your circumstance, they are really necessary. You can then make your own educated decisions. If you know without a doubt that certain things were necessary, they will be easier to accept. After the birth of your baby, allow yourself to grieve the birth you didn't have. Allow yourself to be sad or angry about it. Work through your feelings. (mama2miracles.)
  • Do NOT beat yourself up if you end up with a medicated birth after swearing up and down that you would never take medications. Also, realize now that it is possible to end up with a C-section unexpectedly�I did and that was never in my plans. The thing to remember is that a birth is SUCCESSFUL if a healthy baby is born! Hopefully, the joy you feel in your little one�s arrival will help to ease your disappointment. (Jenn33199)
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