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Cat24 what was suggested to me was at around 34wks onwards is doing ALOT of forward leaning as this encourages bubs to be in the best position for birth & try to avoid any positions where you are slouched backward like a recliner. Also (only if baby is head down) you can do squatting to encourage bubs to move further into your pelvis. I'm glad you're going to a birthing cla__s, it does help & you will also learn about the pros/cons of medications should things not go to plan (I really hope you can have your natural birth, but it doesn't hurt to know just in case). Also make sure anyone that will be at the birth knows your wishes, as what they say & do can make a difference to how you cope. Do you have a doctor or a midwife that will deliver the baby?

I delivered all 4 of mine without pain relief...I was induced for my first 3 - high blood pressure, pre-e and then being late...but no pain relief...Because of that history I was on my back to deliver, beacause I had all the monitoring going on...I have quite a decent threshold for pain...But I do focus on something everytime....My husband talking to MY midwife, who is there to deliver My baby!! lol! He chatters on a lot when he's nervous or anxious and it always amuses and in this case distracts me...You do zone out when you're having a contraction ...I like to totally focus in on it and breath through them...it definately takes the edge away...And I find the last couple of contractions uncomfortable but then I know the end is right there...Obviously the head is the sore part, but it brings with it instant relief...No4 was my best and quickest ever...I barely made it to hospital - and was walking the length of the room, went to the sink for some cold water to cool my face , just as a contraction hit me - I'd had my 2 powerful ones just before so I knew it was close, Anyways the contraction hit me and my ds's head was born - into my knickers that my m/wife had insisted I leave on for this very reason - LOL - My m/wife laughed when I said the head was there - but my dh knew me and our labours - always quick - and he came to pull my knickers off (isn't that always the way!) So then it was a game of 'catch the baby' ...It was fantastic he was delivered (fully) from behind and below and pa__sed up to me to hold while dh cut the cord....His birth time was a guesstimate because we were all so caught off guard...( I should mention maybe that I'm in the UK so I'm delivered by just one m/wife and no-one else.... ) But definately walk through the labour , it helps speed it up and obviously you're helping baby with the gravity of moving down...And a standing or crouching birth is really great too....Good luck....Oh and as everyone else says - do keep an open mind, you never know how it will be - even with no4 and my previous experience I leave it open that while I want it drug free if I wnat it , I'd like it to be on hand! And on the screaming part - its not in my nature and I never get beyond a groan or a 'don't touch me now!' ...but again everyone is different...and you do forget the pain so quickly when you have your LO...cliche but true....

Hi angelhdfd, read some home birth stories, they are so powerful and you can find tons of books and internet sites about it. I had a miserable, drug induced (epi and the works) with dd and it was HELL. I decided on a home birth with my 2nd and it was the most beautiful, empowering, healthy experience for all my family. The more you know and understand about your body during this time, the more powerful and in control you will be. Knowledge is power. Sadly most women (including myself at one time) believe in male doctors, big machines and that we can not do it on our own. Good luck!!!

thankyou very much for all of ur responses... i'm still debating but ive got awhie to do a lil research!

hi E586467. thank you for your advice. i will be trying it out. ive got a b___stfeeding cla__s this week for 2 hours! but i don't start my ante natal cla__ses till im about 37 weeks - they leave it pretty late but my midwife has said it is the best time stage to have the cla__ses! I will be having my mum and my hubby at the birth so i will be discussing my wishes with them closer to the time. but i know that with labour you can't plan anything so if i end up feeling like i need some pain relief then i will not feel bad to take it. ive heard having an older female there (who has been through it all before) is a really good help. i will be 32 weeks thursday and will be having another check up with the midwife. i will be having the baby at hospital and the baby will be delivered by a team of midwives!!

i was in labour 76 hours with my daughter and i had pethidene, gas and air and the epidural during that time. the drugs actually wore off before i started to push and it was to late to top them up so on my actual birthing notes it says i gave birth naturally. there is no right and wrong way to give birth, its whatever you feel comfortable with. Cat24 i have never heard anyone say you either do or don't have to scream during labour. but whilst having lucy i was actually told to let the sound / scream out as she said i was holding back. but hey everyone's different oh and good luck with the b___st feeding cla__s. i look forward to hearing about that. lol

For everyone who has had a natural child birth, I have a question. Because of the pain you are going through did you remember the birth? This is my first baby so I am naturally a little scared because of course i have heard only BAD stories and I have never experienced it before. But I am planning on NOT having drugs but if it gets too much I will. But I just want to make sure that I am going to remember my baby being born. I have just heard of people getting so overwhelmed with pain that they pa__s out or something like that.

Cat24 it can help to have another woman there but ONLY if they had a good birth experience themselves. I had my husband, mum & sister there for dd, & as my mum had a horrible birthing experience, her concern & anxieties for me, made my labour much harder. She was forced to labour on her back, than after 8hrs had to have a c-section, so everytime I had a contraction I could feel the negativity from her reaction (obviously remembering her own labour) & it made me tense up which made the pain worse. My mum wanted to take the pain away instead of helping me cope with it, so for me it was a BAD decision having her there. With ds I had my husband, mother-in-law & sister & it was a MUCH different experience. My mother-in-law had very easy labours so was a wonderful support & my sister and husband just seem to know what I wanted & how to help me cope. I felt very free & relaxed with them & I think all the positivity in the room had alot to do with me being able to have a natural water birth. This time I plan on having hubby, my sister & the M-I-L there again. I'm sure as your mum had easy labours she will be a great support & won't portray her own fears onto you. Good luck & I hope everything goes they way you want.

newmommi08 YES you remember the birth. Don't listen to all the negativities about birth, & as for pa__sing out because of the pain, I doubt it. During labour your body produces it's own natural pain relief called endorphins. Yes it hurts but it is manageable & it only becomes really intense just before your baby is born. Your focus becomes inward & you seem to go into a tlabouring haze even though you are totally in control mentally & know whats going on around you. You do forget the pain of the labour but you will NEVER forget the birth of your baby. When you labour you produce large amounts of oxytocin, which make your labour progress but also puts you in in that inward labouring haze. Just before bubs is born (just before your fully dialated) that is when it hurts the most but it's good to know if you plan on having a natural birth as it is a focus point. When I got to that point & I thought I couldn't go on (nearly everyone thinks it) I knew the birth was near & I got a new found determination to keep going (naturally). When you are fully dilated you get a surge of adrenalin which snaps you out of the labouring haze & make you want to push the baby out. Trust me you will remember the birth of your baby.

lol tracey im not sure how much they can discuss in 2 hours but i will give it a try! are you going to go to any? did you go to ante natal cla__ses when you were expecting your daughter?

Cat - nope i never went to antenatel cla__ses with lucy and i didn't b___stfeed with her and i have no intention of doing it this time round. it might sound weird to some people but the idea just doesn't appeal to me whatsoever. the hospital are sending me some information on pregnancy physio so i may give that a try - mainly because i have arthritis in my knee (and pretty sure in my hip as well) and it can get bad in summer with the heat and whatnot.

Thanks E586467, I am pretty confident that I can do it. I just want to hurry and get the baby out. Anyone have any suggestions on what I can do? I know s_x helps. But I am now 37 weeks and I don't think that I can take being miserable anymore!

Hi Angel...I think if you know you can even consider it in your mind, you can do it. It is totally mind over matter (unless you know of any potential problems). I went for it luckily, it was extremely fast, but I knew I had a high tolerance for pain. It hurts like you wouldn't believe, don't get me wrong...but if you think you want to do it, the best thing that got me through it was just counting through each contraction. I just kept thinking and knowing that my body was doing exactly what it was supposed to be doing and that it's supposed to hurt and that it's temporary! So I wasn't worried because of that and just took it. I had the nurse asking every time she came in if I wanted an epi and I kept refusing it. She told me I was going to be begging for it later. Then JUST when I did beg for it, I was 10cm's and 1 push later he was out!! I felt great for the most part afterwards, my baby boy was extremely alert and I was just so glad to do it. I wasn't even thinking of the benefits so much as the possible consequences of an epidural. Not sure whey but I was more afraid of the needle going into my spine than the temporary pain I knew I could endure! Good luck and keep us posted...when is your due date?

Oh, the day I delivered, I did a TON of walking...I believe that definately helps a lot. I had s_x the night before too which is supposed to help and it worked for me I guess. Walk, walk, walk!

Did those of you who had natural childbirth like myself, find that first sensation or urge to push, the wildest thing ever?? I'll never forget that. SO incredibly strong!! I just remember it taking me by surprise. I'm pregnant with my 2nd. I'll have 2 boys 10 months apart :)

wow - this topic got some people shouting! i'm 19 weeks with my 1st and seeing a midwife and a gynae. planning on a home birth with no drugs but also keeping an open mind... i think people put so much pressure on you to do it the way they did - or however they think is best for you. in the end a healthy baby is what matters most. if i need to have a c sect, so be it... still, read up, get the books and speak to midwives and doulas as well as obgyns. this is your body and your baby.