How many of us have had a natural birth?

[~clover~]

DD3 was pretty much natural posterior, but I accepted one internal & was given the placenta shot after it was birthed in case there was any retained (I had a small PPH after DD2).
DD1, gas, peth & VE's.
DD2, 2 internals, one suck on gas, ARM, placenta shot (can't think of name)
DS, one breath of gas, 2 internals, no placenta shot.

ETA, seriously, if you want an intervention free labour, come to my hospital! They are under strict rules regarding BMI (), but will accept you booking in JIC. MW run clinic with 2 gp/obs for back up.
When I had DD3, they'd had 2 emergency transfers to Coffs Harbour JIC, in 2 years & they ended up doing the right thing (bubs in SCN).

My wishes were their command!

[Nettie]

I consider my birthing natural - but was given 'gas' because I couldn't help pushing, but I wasn't fully dilated. I don't think any gas was turned on (or if it was, it was minimal) but it just helped me refocus so I didn't push...

I did have a needle, but can't remember if it was before or after the placenta came out ??

Didn't even see a Dr until he had to interview me 3 days later for discharge. Don't think I had much other interraction, but did have stitches...

[LimeSlice]

Just went back and read all the replies...

Empowered birth to me is the most important birth. Where you do everything you choose and are informed about those choices and therefore are empowered regardless of outcome. Sometimes intervention is necessary and sometimes it isn't. Knowing the difference is important too Knowing your own limits and strengths is probably the most empowering of all. xxx

If I were as eloquent, I would have said it myself lol

[krystals]

Empowered birth to me is the most important birth. Where you do everything you choose and are informed about those choices and therefore are empowered regardless of outcome. Sometimes intervention is necessary and sometimes it isn't. Knowing the difference is important too Knowing your own limits and strengths is probably the most empowering of all. xxx

You know this is a wonderful sentiment- and it's helped me actually, as I was not happy with the way things went with DS. BUT I know that I was involved in all of the decision making and I also know I made the best choices for him entering the world.

Just to add to the list. Nope, not natural. S&S, AROM, every drug, forceps, epi, needle in the leg, transfusion and 10 days of treatment afterwards. Natural? Nope. But we're both here and healthy Would I do it differently? If I could safely, yes.

[meow]

My first was close- spontaneous labour with no medical pain relief (and no internals if we're counting those) but I had a managed 3rd stage due to excessive bleeding. This was a birth centre birth and would have been natural had I not bled as they were happy to have a natural 3rd stage and we had planned for it.

My second labour was a natural birth with no drugs or intervention at any stage. I was asked to push hard to get his shoulders out at the end as they weren't budging but I don't consider that intervention as birthing women have been helping each other through labour in that way since the beginning of time.

I dont think HBs are always natural as MWs can provide a managed 3rd stage at home if it's needed.

[Cricket]

Hmmm..... not sure where I fit in. I'm a BB'er, but not Australian. Not American either.
Anyways, here's my list:

DD1 (pre-BB) - waters ruptured spontaneously at home in early labour, laboured without augmentation, received a nubain shot at 7cm, delivered naturally, without tearing, received oxytocin for placenta.

DD2 - waters broken in hospital at 5-6 cm at my request, laboured without augmentation, received demerol shot, delivered naturally without tearing, received oxytocin for placenta.

DD3 - home waterbirth. pre-labour all day, until waters broken at my request, delivered naturally 2 hours later, no tearing, no pain relief meds, received oxytocin for placenta.

DD4 - hospital birth (GBS+ ) pre-labour all day, four hours of true labour, "had" to have IV antibiotics in labour, waters broken at my request, no pain relief, delivered naturally, no tearing, received oxytocin for placenta.

DS1 - home birth. prelabour all day, stretch and sweep at my request, true labour started, waters broken at 7cm at my request, pushed for 1 hr, and delivered a brow presentation posterior baby, without tearing, received oxytocin for placenta.

So I guess I've had some interventions, but nothing I didn't consent to, which I'm grateful for, and I have pushed all my babies out without augmentation, epidural, episiotomy, forceps, ventouse, etc.

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

I'm lucky enough to be able to say both of mine were natural, no pain relief and no medical intervention.
It's something I know so many wish for and I consider myself extremely lucky.

[Cherished]

I consider the birth of DS was natural. As you know it was at Selangor. When I got there they hooked me up to the monitor while I stood up, that was on for about 5 minutes while dh went and moved the car and this was optional but we didn't mind doing it as in teh very beginning it wasn't invasive at all. By the time he got back I was ready to go to the birth suite. The MW left us be for about an hour. When she came in she suggested I got in the bath and she dimmed the lights right down and sat at the end of the bath. The only other thing that was done was when bub was about to be born she popped the doppler on for a few seconds to make sure bub was ok, I didn't even know she was doing it as I didn't have to move out of the bath or anything. I didn't have any internal examination or pain relief as they weren't needed. I wasn't given any injections at all as I birthed the placenta naturally and I am blood type + . They waited until bubs cord stopped pulsing before clamping and they didn't give DS any injections either (our choice). dh received bub too and lifted him out of the water. I guess it helps to have your birth plan on paper. All in all I'd say it was as natural as it can be and the intervention of a doppler and a quick 5 min monitoring on arrival was optional anyway After the birth the hospital left us to bond skin on skin as a family, helped me with breastfeeding at every attachment for the entire time I was there as this is what I asked for and they let us co-sleep from day one. It was amazing and I can't wait to have #2 there!

[Lily Dust]

It's something I know so many wish for and I consider myself extremely lucky.

^^^ me too ZF!! Very lucky and luck of the draw to get such beautiful and supportive midwives as well.

[Tuesday's Child]

^^^ me too ZF!! Very lucky and luck of the draw to get such beautiful and supportive midwives as well.

^^yeah that^^. My midwife rocked! I was so lucky as I just got whoever was on when I arrived. Whenever I said I couldn't do it anymore, she reminded me to let my body do what came naturally.

[*Beema*]

Neither of mine

DD1 waters broke spontaneous labout, natural delivery, 1 internal at 7-8cm, no drugs, but episiotomy which was necessary two tears getting very nasty and HR was dropping to the point of no HB, then synto (?) for placenta, but none of this was to plan being 33 weeks and hadn't even written my birth plan. TBH it is as natural as I will get and I will be proud of my achievements
DD2 c/s, well the crap hit well an truely hit the fan by that stage... we were going to try a Breech VB, but in the end neither of us were well enough to attempt a VB.

Future deliveries will highly likely be repeat CS due to various complications.

But I will say that even though we didn't achieve a completely natural birth, they were both truely amazing, I still had a huge high after each one, I pushed one baby out and the other arrive via the french doors and I am happy with that, I guess it gives me a better perspective and understanding on different births.

[SammyRo]

I consider my birthing natural - but was given 'gas' because I couldn't help pushing, but I wasn't fully dilated. I don't think any gas was turned on (or if it was, it was minimal) but it just helped me refocus so I didn't push...

my mw did this for me too, as DD was posterior and I wanted to push at 6cm. Other than that, I had no drugs with DD, but she was taken off me quite quickly for oxygen as she was flat, and i did have a managed 3rd stage, but it was still a very empowering birth in my head as it was long and difficult and I still managed it without drugs or intervention (and I was pushing for 2.5 hours!) I had SROM with DD too.

DS felt a lot more natural, apart from having a canuula for ABs, but I was left to just let labour start in its own time (I had SROM 24hours before anything happened) and then because the labour and delivery suites were busy, I was left to get on with things in an antenatal room - noone buzzing around, just me and hubby until he realised I was in transistion. I was actually only in delivery for 10minutes until DS was born, and I was able to stay in my preferred position of standing during pushing. Again, I had a managed 3rd stage.

The recovery after DS's birth was alot quicker than DD, but it was a much quicker labour and pushing stage, and I didn't have any stitching.

So probably not natural, but natural enough for me, and definately empowering as I got to labour my way both times.

[Arcadia]

Yep spontaneous birth at home, with natural third stage. My mw does have injections in case of pph and tbh I was glad of that. I don't see why hospitals can't wait and see how the placenta is before giving the shot?

Hoping for a similar experience this time.

[~Raven~]

Nope. All 4 of mine have had some minor form of intervention. The most "natural" was #3 & #4 that only had the synto injection for the placenta. #1 had membranes ruptured and #2 needed MROP.

[Madham]

I have with DD almost 15 years ago, no intervention no drugs not even a doctor.
DS i had no intervention but had pethidine once other than that it was natural.

[misty]

I have had 3 completely natural births. The first one they broke my waters though (at pushing stage), because bubs got distressed and the sack was preventing her from getting out.

Not through choice.

If I had of had the choice, I would have had epidurals with all three. I will be hoping for an epidural this time round - but given the history of quick labours (the last was under 2hrs) and that my hospital is about a 40min drive from my house, I'm not really holding out much hope.

[Catherine]

This is an interesting question. I agree with what rouge said about empowered birth.

We chose a hospital that had a midwife led program, and had the lowest intervention rate in NSW. They were very open and encouraging of active labour. The birth class focused on natural pain relief (heat packs, bath, shower, movement, breathing), and told of available interventions, and when you might choose to use them. It is a baby friendly hospital, so breastfeeding was encouraged and well supported too. So for us, this was the right choice.

If you want a natural birth, being empowered is essential. That means finding your best support and location. Be it home, birth centre, hospital or some other location, by yourself, with your partner, with a doula, a midwife or an OB (or a combination of all these).

[New Dawn]

Well I have always thought of all 4 of mine natural as I gave birth without drugs, but have had Help...

DS1 he wasnt really natural as he was induces and they broke my waters to help him out, had to sweep away the cervix lip

DD1 I didnt have any internals but they did brake my waters, and had to sweep my cervix lip away

DD2 no internals water broke natrually but did need the lip of my cervix sweeped away ( I seem to always have a little bit that gets stuck and my babies can come until its gone...

DS2 was all me..

with all 4 though I have had the needle to help me birth the placenta... so I guess that makes me not compleatly natural..

I was lucky enough to have the same midwife birth both my girls in Cairns, not only did she remember me everytime I said I couldnt do it she would remind me about something that happened in DD1s birth to prove I could do it...

With DS2 I think the thing that helped me most of all was the fact I have watched my sister birth her son 4 mths before, she had a shocking birth I was very dissapointed in her doctor, but thats a whole different story, but watching her helped me realise when they tell you screaming isnt helping anyone ( I have always been a screamer lol ) that it really doesnt... so when I started to birth my son this time I didnt scream I moaned like an animal and it made everything so much easier...