Comments on: Unmedicated Childbirth – Our Choice

By: Amy

Amy — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 22:26:07 +0000

Glad to hear your experience! My sister-in-law also had large babies with no intervention. I know it’s possible, just hate to speak for it myself since my babies have been on the smaller side.

By: Dc

Dc — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 18:17:33 +0000

Would just like to say that nonintervention births are possible with big babies. My third was 10lb 8 oz but I had an amazing midwife at the birth who did a great job of helping the baby out. Without suction forceps or painrelief. But if she had been my first I am guessing it would have ended in a c section as I was so unprepared with my first. I never even saw a doctor during the birth of my third and did most of my labouring at home. So it doesnt have to be bad with a big baby.

By: Preparing for a Hospital Birth

Preparing for a Hospital Birth — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 05:05:39 +0000

[...] given birth three times. Naturally. Unmedicated. Just the way I wanted it. In a [...]

By: Birthing Tips and Resources from a Labor and Delivery Nurse

Birthing Tips and Resources from a Labor and Delivery Nurse — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 03:26:48 +0000

[...] Amy already spelled out the risks that come with intervention, I’m not going to reiterate. Suffice it to say that as a nurse, an almost-midwife, a mother, and [...]

By: Amy

Amy — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 03:25:21 +0000

Be sure to come back and link up your story when I post my Labor Day Linky (on Labor Day!)

By: Amy

Amy — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 03:23:57 +0000

So sorry for the loss of your little girl. You sound like a strong, strong mama.

By: Amy

Amy — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 03:09:12 +0000

Oh. My. Goodness. That is one big baby. So happy for you to have a positive birth experience with him!

By: Jessica

Jessica — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 20:23:28 +0000

I had an epidural with my first child, weighing 7 lbs 6 oz. With my second I went to a midwife center, they prepared me so much better for the experience. I had an 11 lb 10oz , 23.5 inch long son and felt so much better! I was at home within 9 hours of birth up and about. And felt so much better than the first birth. Everyone thinks I am nuts, but I know how I felt. Even with such a large birth weight difference. Natural was better for us both!

By: Jen

Jen — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 16:35:16 +0000

I have 5 children. I decided long before I even got married that I wanted to give birth like my grandmother, great-grandmother, and so on would have done, as that was the way God intended… PLUS, I’m afraid of needles, and an IV is one BIG needle to me! LOL I went through the Bradley classes with my husband. He was my ROCK through all our births!

My first child was delivered with an OB… My second with our family physician, and our 3rd was with a Midwife…. this child just “popped out” and my midwife actually thanked me for “letting her watch”. All of these births were amazingly empowering for me, extremely bonding for our marriage allowing us to fall deeper in love with each experience, and an incredibe bonding experience for us and each child from the start. What I NEVER expected was how well these relaxation techniques and empowerment would help me get through the next two births!

My 4th pregnancy was identical twin girls. At 28 weeks gestation, one twin died inutero and the other twin was dying. I had an emergency C-section to save our surviving twin. The Bradley Method relaxation and breathing tips and all the intuition I had from natural birthing experiences with my previous births went into “automatinc mode” and I made it through the whole experience amazingly well. After that C-section, as soon as I was allowed up and walking I was moving. I took only 1 Motrin the entire 6 days in the hospital. The nurses were flipping out! I took NONE of the higher strength pain meds because I had relaxed and listened to my body. The nurses told me the fastest wasy to heal was to walk, so I did as much as I could. It was amazing! The more I walked, the better I felt, almost with each step! This experience I had to have a spinal, and I could not STAND the feeling! The catheter was NOT fun. The wait for the numbness to wear off was nearly unbarable! I HATED it all (I do not like to use this word, but it fits here). This was NOT an empowering birth. I felt cheated or robbed of my birth-experience. I was, however, able to rely on my empowerment of my 3 previous births. I KNEW that I could get through this, as well, because of those experiences, and my husband was –once again– my ROCK, by my side supporting me every step of the way.

My 5th child was a VBAC, obviously. And delivered with an OB. I was still able to go natural and loved that birth. It healed me from the surreal “nightmare” of the drug-assisted c-section that I felt “robbed” me of my birth experience. I know it was VERY necessary and I thank God every day for the intervention, as I wouldn’t have my sweetheart. I couldn’t help how I felt after that birth. It was just such a different experience than any of my other births. I was NOT in control and that was very unempowering. But I was able to take my power back and be in control, working with my body for my 5th child.

I know many good mothers who have had pain relief during labor. It does not make you a bad mother. I admit, I do have a high tolerance for pain, and this is such a different pain than any other. I medicate my migrains as soon as I have them, but those are non-productive and hinder my day. A birth can be a “beautiful pain” if you work with it. And some women are even able to relax enough NOT to feel pain so much as it’s just discomforting for them…

The choice is yours, though… God Bless!

By: Mandy

Mandy — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 12:02:24 +0000

I thoroughly enjoyed your post! I, too, am an unmedicated gal. For me, my reasons are similar to yours. I also like to be in charge of my body, and with the epidural, I definitely am not.
I was fortunate enough to deliver in Germany. They view childbirth in a very holistic way. You can check out my birth story : http://thebowenpeanut.blogspot.com/2010/01/ethans-birth-story-complete.html