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I'm planning on doing it as naturally as I can. So, I'm open to having minimum pain meds if needed (I'm going to need an awful big reason to get something like an epi), but I'm aiming not to have anything. I'm also planning on b___stfeeding exclusively.

- by the way, I just read your post on the epi thread and I have to say those are pretty much my feelings about drugs and epis. I just think that the more naturally things are done the better for both you and the baby.

SaraH --thank God, there's someone else out there like me! Most people think I am crazy for wanting a non-medicated birth and always make comments like "you'll see, it's very painful....just keep your options open.." DUH I know it's painfaul--but the pain is worth it. I firmly believe that if you give yourself an out and "keep your options open" then you will give in because the pain will take you over--you have to really be determined. I have learned in cla__ses (and from other's experiences) that drugs such as demerol/stadol that are given to "take the edge off" don't actually take the pain away. They just relax you and make you sleepy. But if you fall asleep you will be jolted awake by contractions.. yikes. sorry--don't mean to get on a tangent!

I agree that if u let it the pain will take over because that is what you focus on. I had a natural childbirth except for being induced due to hb and it was the best experience of my life. I can't wait to do it again. I never took any prenatal cla__ses, just read books. I focused on my breathing and when the pain got really bad I would tap the bed rails, I actually hit them so hard that the bed was shaking, lol. Good Luck to u girls, I know that u can do it.

Lavender, I gave birth using the Bradely Method. I'm a__suming you read his book. My birth experience was exactly as he discribes it. It was a bit painful, but it was not the kind of pain like somebody is cutting you up or something. It was more of a discomfort. I had back labor. I got really uncomfortable at the end because the doctors kind of forgot about me and I progressed really quickly. So it was time to push and I was holding back. In a way I guess it was a good thing because I ended up laboring down. When the doctors finally came in I was basically crowning already and pushed my son out in 7 minutes. Can you tell I absolutely loved his method? Everything he says is so logical, with the exception of episiotomies. If I could give you some advice. I don't know about your doctor, but mine decided to have a discussion about epidurals with me when I was already at the hospital (this wasn't my regular doctor) and then the nurses were asking me if I want one every 10 minutes. Make sure that you are very clear with people right from the start. Tell them you will ask for one if you decide to and to not ask you again. Also what I found really helpful was taking a shower. It practically took the pain away completely. I was so fine at home that I only woke up my husband when my contractions were 3.5 minutes apart. I might have went overboard on that one. I was just counting on a 14 hour labor and istead only went for 8.5 hours. Don't hesitate to ask if you have any more questions.

Miriam--that sounds like a nice birth experience. I have heard that the nurses at my hospital are very supportive of non-medicated births..so that's good I guess. I am also doing the Bradley method. We just finished our last cla__s last weekend. I am 39 weeks now. My dr. doesn't let people go past 41 weeks, so I am nervous that he is going to try and induce me. I respect his opinions and I really like him as a dr. but I really need a good reason to be induced. Did you feel anything before labor started? I feel perfectly comfortable, even here at the end of the pregnancy. Sometimes I have my moments, and I am more tired than usual--but other than that I have no real signs of labor. I am praying that I go into labor naturally and not have to be induced!!!

I was also really worried about going past 40 weeks for 2 reason 1) i think that natural birth is kind of out of the picture if you get induced. I hear pitocin contractions are hell and 2) dr. told me my baby will be 9-10 pounds at 42 weeks. Anyway, at 12 midnight on my due date I went into labor. It all happened really fast. I was in denial for a few hours :) because even though I've heard of back labor I expected some kind of sensation in my abdomen anyway. Now thinking back I was probably having braxton hicks for some time but I just figured its my bad back acting up.

Good to know I'm not crazy for wanting to do things naturally. LoL. I get a lot of "are you nuts? Get the epi,” responses as well. Lavendar, are you opposed to induction techniques such as stripping the membrane? I know that that is suppose to work in a lot of cases (my doc is going to do it next week if I haven't gone yet. I'm only 38 w's but I'm already 3 cm dilated and a good 50% effaced). I also want to avoid the normal induction methods such as pitocine/other drugs but I'm okay w/ stripping the membranes (or if I'm in labor for a long time but not progressing, I'm okay w/ them breaking my water), since it doesn't require any type of drugs or anything. Miriam, I'm glad everything happened for you before you had to be induced. I'm sure it made labor much easier to go naturally. How big did your baby end up being. As far as inductions go, while I think they do make it more difficult to have a free of pain meds birth, I do know that even w/ an induction it is possible to do it relatively med free (other then the induction meds :) ). I've been in on two births, and both had pitocin. With both births neither of the women had anything for the pain until the very very end, and what they did have did nothing for contraction pain. Both of them, if I remember right, had a pudendal block, which is a localized anesthetic that only numbs the perineum and it isn't given until right before birth (it's what they use to numb you if they need to do an episiotomy or use forceps). A pudendal block does absolutely nothing for the pain of contractions, and as I said is only used to numb the perineal area. So, while I realize these aren't completely "non-medicated," both were relatively invasive pain meds that had nothing to do w/ contraction pain. Also my mil had inductions w/ all 3 of her kids and I believe she never had any form of pain meds w/ any of them (my dh was over 10lb's and his 2 brothers were over 9 lb's). So, even w/ induction it is possible to do it relatively "natural." Just as a FYI, my prenatal cla__s instructor (who is a dula) explained to us why ppl think pitocin makes contractions so much worse. I guess that technically the contractions aren't harder then normal w/ it, it's just that you feel like they are. She said that oxytocin (the natural hormon that causes contractions) can cross a membrane that surrounds the brain, which signals your brain to release some endorphins (I think it’s endorphins) to help take the edge of what you're feeling. Pitocin, being a synthetic "hormone" can't cross the membrane, but still causes the exact same type/strength of contractions as oxytocin. Since it can't cross into your brain, however, it can't signal the release of the "pain relievers" that oxytocine does. Therefore, you perceive the contractions as being worse even though they are no stronger then normal "non-induced" contractions. Anyways, just thought I'd share for the sake of it. Glad I'm not alone in thinking that it's better to avoid the drugs if possible. As I said, most ppl think I'm completely crazy not to be going into labor w/ a "I want drugs/epi" mentality. I on the other hand don't exactly understand why you'd go into it w/o at least trying to do it w/o the epi/drugs --I mean why not at least give it a shot, and try to avoid any drugs and their potential side effects?--- Well, sorry this got long (I tend to be long winded). I hope you girls are having wonderful days, and here is to having "natural" births.

Hello Ladies! I know I definitely do not want an epidural or anything else in my spine/back. My cousin has had two chilidren and she is very small lady. She did not have any medication and told me that it would get bad but if you just hang in there you will make it and you will feel relief once the baby is out. I know that there are no guarantees in life. I'm hoping all goes well and C-section is not needed. I want to go natural, but if I can't stand the pain I would consider pain meds through IV in my hand... Just nothing in my back. I had an appointment yesterday and everything was good. I had my glucose test yesterday and I was in normal range. The doctor wanted me to take childbirth cla__ses. I would like to, but w/ work I don't know when I would have the time. I'm glad to hear about this from other women and to know I'm not going to hear, "That's crazy."

michelleodell--Sorry you don't have time to take birthing cla__ses. If anything you should at least get some books on the Bradley method. Dr. Bradley wrote one himself, and then another good one is from Susan McCutcheon--she wrote "Birth, The Bradley Way". At least this way you are getting all the same information. Get your partner to read them as well--since the Bradley method is about husband coached childbirth.

SaraH-- I am not an advocate of stripping the membranes. I have known too many people that have had it done and ended up leaking fluid afterwards which led them straight to induction. I won't take any herbs unless they are approved/prescribed by my dr. So I guess I will try walking and see where that takes me (no pun intended). Hopefully it will take me straight into the delivery room (after I have labored at home). I am not an advocate of breaking the bag of water either, since the water in the sac helps to equilize the pressure of the contractions--I don't want to take that protection away from the baby. I haven't been as active as I should have been this pregnancy, so maybe walking a lot will be all I need!!!

SaraH, interesting. Well I think I would still try it, just seemed like it would be a lot more difficult. My son ended up being 8 lbs 6 oz, so I guess the doctor knew what he was talking about. I know that's not huge but I'm 5 feet tall 100 lbs prepregnancy, so that's big for me. For me what sealed the deal on a natural birth was when I saw the actual epidural on tv with the cord just hanging out of the back. don't ask me why, but it freaked me out. Plus my father and I have a relatively high level of pain tolerance so he was very supportive of me. He gets root ca___ls without novocane all the time. I also wanted to point out, just like is talks about in the bradley books, take the contractions one at a time. When my contraction would peak I would be thinking to myself "oh well that just means that its going to subside now and I'll get a break". And about herbs. I drank red rasberry leaf tea (supposed to make the uterus stronger) starting with my 36st week. My doctor didn't perscibe it but he wasn't against it. Obviously just because I had a fast labor and pushed my son out in three contractions doesn't prove that it works, but I think it might be worth a try. I hear that midwives perscibe it all the time.

Lavender, I’d never heard mention of stripping the membrane also causing the bag to break (leak). I’ll have to look into it. I think my doc’s is figuring that I’m already having tons of contractions and I’m 3 cm dilated, so hopefully it shouldn’t take much to put me into actual labor. I know as far as the water breaking that the fluid does help w/ the pressure of the contractions too, but most of the time even after breaking most of the fluid stays in there w/ baby and from my understanding you’ll continue to produce it until you actually deliver so I’m personally okay w/ it if they have to do it. I don’t want my water broke to induce labor, but if I’m already in labor and have been for hr’s w/o it going anywhere, I’d prefer they break my water over having to have pitocin (I will defiantly try walking and other such things to help labor progress before I let them break the water though). Miriam, it sounds like even though your boy was a decent size that you had a pretty nice delivery. I hope my labor goes that quick and ease. Do either of you girls know much about delayed cord cutting? I don’t know a ton, but from what I do know my dh and I decided we want it delayed at least a few minutes, which my doc is okay w/. Are/did either of you doing/do it? To me it just seems to make more sense and be more beneficial for the baby to wait. I hope you girls are having great week-ends. ~Sarah

When I had my son I was all natural. It wasn't that bad actually and I'm going to do it again if I can. The pain eventually goes away. All the power to you if you can do it. Good luck