For those that had a drug free labour and birth

[Fraser]

Hey there - I went into the labour without any preconceived ideas of what I was going to do - I was going to take it as it came - too many of my friends had 'disappointing labours' because they placed expectations on themselves - there are so many reason to not have drugs and many reasons to have drugs.

I went drug free - but not for lack of wanting!! I wasn't expected to give birth until around 1pm (guesstimation on my OBs part) so when they did an internal at 6am and I was fully dilated it was a HUGE surprise - and I was a little freaked out that my choice to take drugs was taken away from me! but like many others have said - your body is designed for this and you can do it. For me my midwife told me to make very low sounds using my diaphragm instead of high pitched ones using my lungs - she said this would work for me instead of against me.

I must have sounded like a cave woman because I groaned and 'hhmmmmm'ed my way through every contraction after that - I relaxed every muscle in my body and just let it happen. A sense of humour is vital! I think someone mentioned this earlier - if I didn't laugh my way through most of it I would have cried my way through it! don't be misled it's a very very hard and painful thing to do - but you can definitley do it

I was lucky I had a couple of really great midwives and an OB that just happened to turn up a moment before the birth! the midwife who was with me in the later stages made me talk to her and tell her what I was feeling and when I said I think I need to push - she said 'well you're the one who would know - jump up onto the bed when you're ready' - I felt really relaxed with the staff - but that's not to say I didn't have my 'arrrggghhh I can't do this' moments!

I think you have to not place any expectations on yourself or the labour process - either way if you have drugs or not it is an amazing achievement to give birth, whether it by vaginal or by C section.

Good luck and go with the flow!