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I have to say I was very lucky and never even thought of pain meds other than gas and air!! I was having what felt literally like period pains for about 20 hours before we decided to go to the hospital, when we got there I was 8cm, 3 hours later, our son was born! It was a fantastic experience, but I wasn't confident that I could do it without meds, if you aren't sure I'd say you're better off in hospital just in case!!

I had a natural delivery.. Up until about 8 cm it really didn't hurt at all. I had labored for about 12 hours when I got to the hospital & they told me I was only 5 cm. I used the shower, some deep breathing techniques. We Did The Bradley Method Childbirth cla__ses & I STRONGLY recommend them to you. They are long - usually 8-12 weeks and pricey - we paid $250 for ours, but I don't think I could have gone natural without what I learned in the cla__s. It takes ALL of the fear of childbirth & the unknown away and gives the confidence & knowledge to be an active participant in your labor & delivery. I was like you, had minor complications at first & then was considered high risk by the end, but still wanted as little medical intervention as possible. I planned for a natural delivery but honestly thought I would end in preterm induction. I went into labor on my own & everything went entirely as planned. At the last minute I did opt for the episiotomy - the stretching was intense to say the least & I didn't have the self control to push gently and allow for a stretch - my daughter was born in 3 pushes all 8 pounds 2.5 ounces of her. I think that getting the episiotomy saved me from a really nasty tear. A friend opted not to get the episiotomy about 6 weeks before me, had 2 hours of hard pushing and ended with 22 st_tches.. I had that mental picture when I told the doctor to cut me. My cut has healed perfectly- it actually healed in about 4 days - my friend was still hobbling around 2 weeks after her baby was born. As far as the natural childbirth goes.. it is by far the most intense experience of my life. Anyone who tells you that they had the epidural, but when it came time to push they "turned it down" so that they were able to feel everything.. didn't feel everything - trust me, they would have a lot more to say about it than that!. I would and will go natural with the rest of my pregnancies and would never even think of doing it any other way.

Natural is really traumatic, I did the cla__ses and still went into shock when it started - this is because I didn't feel a thing, not a thing, until my waters broke and I was 10cm dialated - this is with my first. So basically, for me the labour started at the pushing stage and I went into shock and panicked. No time for drugs. I was cut at they needed to do a vacuum extraction - after 2 hrs I couldn't push him out. Afterwards I thought I could never go through that again. I thought, "you don't go into the dentist and ask them to extract your wisdom teeth and then refuse any pain relief".. now I am pregnant again and I will go for the gas I think, see how I go.. I think make all the plans you like, do the cla__ses and read the books, but be flexible at the end because you can't know what it will be like for you and how you will cope at the time. Follow the advice of your midwives, they know their stuff!!

I was induced on dec 20th with my first d/t high bloodpressure and planned on doing it naturally. When I checked into the hospital I was already 3cm dilated and after they broke my water and started the pitocin the contractions really kicked in hard. For 2.5 hours I tried to work through the pain but in the end it was more than I could take and I asked for the epidural. In the two hours I labored I had only made it 1 cm more so that was frustrating as well. Getting the epidural did not hurt at all like I expected and the relief was instant for me. It turns out I was so tense from the pain that I was not letting my body do what it needed to do and after the epidural I went from 4cm to 10 cm in an hour! I pushed for 30 minutes and my sweet little girl was born. Total labour time 5.5 hours. I am certainly not saying I couldn't have done it natural but it probably would have taken me several more hours and in the end I would have been exhausted and the baby might hvae suffered more stress in utero. So for me the epidural was the way to go. I have the utmost appreciation though for those who can/did do it without pain relief as what I experienced really hurt so much more than I anticipated and not the shower or my birthing ball helped. Good luck to you and remeber to enjoy your experience any way that you want as its your birth!

You shouldn't be fixated on refusing medication. Some people have excruciatingly painful, long labors. And I've read enough birth stories to know that it's not just a matter of pain tolerance! In tough cases an epidural really is a benefit. Likewise, sometimes an episiotomy is called for (for instance, if they have to get the baby out quickly). If I were you, I'd go for a natural birth but keep medication in mind as a last resort. Also, you should have a midwife/doula/partner with you to suggest changing positions, give ma__sages, psychological support. When you're in a great deal of pain you won't care about the fact that you didn't want an epidural/episiotomy, you may even end up demanding one just to end the pain/birth. So having someone with to remind you of your goals and keep your morale up is a good thing. Still, there are worse things that could happen than the epidural or episiotomy. Don't get your expectations up too high, or you'll be disappointed in yourself if you don't have a pictureperfect birth experience.

I have had two babies, the first was complete with epidural and episiotomy. 11.5 hours of labor. I thought the whole process was very smooth, and planned an epidural for my second. HA! She came so fast, I had an unplanned natural labor. Anything can happen! only 3hrs labor, 30 mins of that at the hospital. I still laugh when I think about some peoples' scared looks, like when the nurse in the triage room felt where the baby was, and I was rushed out of there so fast. "You cant have a baby in here!" The pain was bad at the time, and yes, I freaked out totally, but looking back it was okay in the end. It will be a nice story for her. We joke around that if we had hit a couple more red lights on the way to the hospital, her name would have been Camry. haha

I had my first baby natural and planning to have my 2nd natural as well. It is very painfull, but I am so glad I did it. I wasn't in labor long though so I bet that makes a huge difference. From the time my water broke to the time my baby was delivered was 5 hours total. I had 2 fine fine tears and no stiches, I was a little sore but that was it. My baby was even 8 lbs 10oz. I exercised a lot, so my doctor thinks that is why I had no tearing or stiches. Once the baby is out he pain goes away.

i had a fairly natural birth. i had to have an iv with penacillian because i tested possitive for the group b strep, and they offered me that demoral or something like that. it didn't help with pain, but i went into labor at 6 pm and was up all night. i liked it because it helped me sleep between contractions. that wore off before i started going into active labor. i'm glad i didn't have anything besides that but because i felt so in control of the situation. i was pushing for 2 hours thou... and i got really tired by the end and at one point i really thought i couldn't do it because i was soo tired... it wasn't fun. but i didn't tear or anything. and after you have the baby you DO still feel pain, its hard to walk or go to the bathroom or sit up its not like contractions but you are sore... every sore. the hospital i was at had these ice diapers that were HEAVEN. episitomy aren't encouraged here. they said if you get one you have a high chance of tearing more, when maybe you wouldn't have torn at all. but if you end up gettin pain meds, there is nothing wrong with that. my sister in law didn't have anything for my neice, but when she had my nephew she was naked, on the floor, holding on to the nurses ankles BEGGING for something... it was scary. I don't know thou, from the people i know usually when they have troubles throughout the pregnancy they have a harder labor, but there is no basis around that besides just friends and family that i know who have had kids. i say, just see how you feel when the time comes, thats what i did and i just proved to myself i could really do it.

Lille, your right you do have pain after the baby. I ment Labor pains go away.. I remember it was really hard getting out of bed for about 2 days.

I did it auNatural with my first baby a month and a half ago. She was a champ! Piece of cake. Natural IS NOT traumatic!! What the hell?? Why perpetuate the myth. It may have been traumatic for you and I'm sorry, but please don't go around telling women that "natural is really traumatic".

Livdea, I applaud you for your goals. I think it is great! I want to have as natural a birth as possible, too. I just really believe it is better or everyone. Of course, this is my first, so I don't really know what I'm in for. Where I live they don't like to do episitomies and 90% have completely natural births. The down side, you have to choose in advance!!! So much for being flexible! I'm going to talk to the doc about it, though. I just wanted to offer a little support. I am SO tired of hearing "You know they don't give you a medal." As if I'm in it for the glory of it! That just p__ses me off! I'm just trying to have as few complications as possible, and if you can manage it, I believe that natural is safest! Good luck to you!

Every labour is different & ANYTHING can happen so its hard to plan ahead. Its a good idea to have a rough idea of what you want but leave yourself open to alternates if needed. I have given birth 3 times & the first 2 I had pethadine shots & tried the gas for a while. My 3rd came so fast I started to push just as the nurse was getting the gas ready so I ended up going natural. As for the pain, each to thier own, some people have a higher pain threshhold than others so dont be disappointed if you need to ask for meds. Either way you get a beautiful new life at the end & pain is the last thing on your mind.

Read the posts, Natural was traumatic for me but if you'd read the post you will see that I explained why (because I fought it) and I advocated it. I also said everyone is different and she should just see how she goes. If you had read the other posts, you will others agree on the trauma, its no "myth".. you will also see that we don't regret a minute of it. Don't make women feel bad because they admit pain. Good luck to you on your "easy birth" but its not like that for everyone and this is supposed to be educational. Shell

NAtural child birth is a wonderful experiance. A birthing mom is able to be in much greater control during the birth. Labor is work! and it is painful but so very worth it. There are manymidwives who will deliver at a hospital, maybe there is one in your area. You col dalso check out www.mothering.com. The site has GREAT info and at the top of the page there is a place that says "discuss" HUGE forum there on natural parenting and natural childbirth. Blessings to you. You can do this!!

I had natural birth with both of my girls and I will again with my third. I was induced with all mine. I dont like needles. But I can tell you this. With my first baby the only thing the dr did was numb me for my episitomy. She was 6lbs and I couldn't get her out till he did that. 6 hrs after having her I was walking the hospital. The day I left with my baby I went to the mall. Now with my 2nd. She was harder to had. She was stuck on my pelvic beause my cervix is slanted after having my first and a misscarage. The dr just reached in and pushed my cervix up and helped her out with his hands not forcepts. An I never had any demoral or anything. Just all natural. I was soar for about a week and ahalf. But nothing I couldn't live with. I still took her to the mall just 4 days after instead of 2. If you want to go natural great for you. Thats how child birth started. If you doing it at home I think thats cool. As far as being cut . Some woman can have a baby without an episitomy, and it also depends on the size of the baby. Your mid-wife can also do this if needed. But anyway. GL 2U