If you are having a long labour, the first thing I would suggest before drugs is changing positions or what you are doing. Maybe the cervix isn't dilating efficiently as the baby isn't in the best position. Walking up steps is great for getting that baby down as is walking - the best thing you can do is walk through contractions - wowee! That's the pinnicle!! See, an experienced support person can help you with this, sadly the training Obs and even midwives get at uni are all science and medical - I have spoken to many who are gentle birth advocates and they go to uni only to be dismayed at the teaching which is straightaway so science and medical based, nothing about normal physiological birth. My birth teacher actually gets employed by hospitals and midwives to teach them. How ironic. Our unis need to be teaching normal physiological birth before they teach science. Because if you ask an Ob or Midwife about alternatives before an intervention, and they wont know of any unless they have had training in normal physiological childbirth.

It seems so many people see natural birth as unacheivable, but it is very acheivable, it is so dependant on those around you, the midwives, the Obs, your family - they need to keep you active, moving, helping you keep your labour efficient, or you will be labelled 'slow to progress' etc. I wish I could all magically pop into everyone's heads and let them know what I have learnt, you would have serious doubts about how we are being treated by the medical system, and how draining they are on women's confidence and ability.

I even know one Ob who is currently practicing and tells student midwives that women know nothing about birth, don't expect them to and don't tell them to go to ante-natal classes. Many times he has come to a woman who is labouring beautifully and has reached 9cms and told them they need an epidural... epidural gets put in, woman says thank-you for saving me and mum is happy... but at 9cms - she was soooo close and I find that to be professional abuse to tell a woman she needs the drugs when she and baby were both fine, and would have been completely fine without it. You should hear some of the stories I have heard.