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I just had a v____al delivery 6 weeks ago, after a c-section 2 years ago. I had no pain meds, no anything, and let me tell you - it was fantastic!!! The hospital where I delivered wouldn't allow me a waterbirth, but I got everything else I wanted. Birthing ball, no one in the room but me, hubby, and the midwife (til the baby was crowning), remote monitoring so I could move around freely, etc. It's absolutely possible, you just have to know what you want, be willing to fight for it, and really listen/discuss it when/if the doctor/midwife says something isn't possible. For example, I absolutely did NOT want an IV, because it was linked to the trauma of my c-section. Unfortunately, I had to give in and get one, so that they could give me blood if my uterus ruptured. BUT they gave in and just had the line in, without it actually being hooked up to anything, so I could still move around freely. Start researching birthing choices now, and relaxation techniques. I was able to relax through the contractions at first by singing along with the radio, and then when it got really intense and I was close to pushing, I just constantly reminded myself that a contraction is nothing more than the muscle flexing, and I needed to relax and let the muscle flex and it would all be over soon. The worst part of it all was the contractions just before I started pushing, because they were extremely intense, and I didn't know that I was so close to the end. The baby crowning kind've burned, but I was so focused on pushing I was barely aware of it. I had a small tear, because the pushing phase was so short, my perineum didn't have time to stretch. The midwife st_tched me back up while the nurses were doing the APGAR with the baby on my chest, so I wasn't even aware of that either. It hurt to use the bathroom for the first couple of days, but I was up and walking around within an hour of the birth. It was FABULOUS, and exactly the spiritually healing birth I needed after the trauma of my first baby's birth. So that's my story. Regarding your episotomy - your mom's labors have exactly ZERO to do with yours. Different woman, different baby. And, you don't have to have an episiotomy if you don't want one; just instruct the doctor to let you tear if anything. You can do perineal ma__sage in the weeks leading up to labor to reduce the risk of tearing. I did it with my first, which was a waste because of the c-section. I didn't do it this time around, and I had a small tear...but let me tell you, I'd take that small tear, and my med-free v____al delivery, over a repeat c-section any day of the week and twice on Sunday. The unaugmented labor (no pitocin or cytotec or anything) was overall easier and less painful, I was actually aware of the birth of my baby, I was able to hold her within seconds of her birth, I was up and moving around within the hour, I felt like I could run a marathon the next day - as compared to my failed induction turned c-section, that had me in pain MONTHS later. (Oh, and hubby and I have already "done the deed" again - the first time, yes, I was looser, but I did some kegels for a week, and was right back where I was pre-baby.)
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