For those who have had a natural birth

[helle]

I was induced, however I never had any pain relief so I still considered in a natural birth - my body just didn't wanna let bubby out

1.) for those that have done it..can I have your story?

It's in my sig

2.) Was there a point that you wanted to turn back and what made you change your mind?

Nope. However my body decided it was time to push and started doing it all on it's own (so clever) and the midwife wanted to check to make sure I was fully dilated before I let go as I had gotten to that point alot quicker than they had expected (which was fine by me, I have heard horrid things of women pushing way to soon and making everything swell, and then having to wait for that swelling to go down while holding the push before they can actually push!) Holding back on pushing is the hardest thing I had to do, and I did get desperate and ask the midwife if a puff of gas would help me. She said perhaps, but encouraged me to keep panting while she waited to check. (she was very pro natural) And thankfully I was good to go!

3.) Any good books you recommend

?
I didn't read anything. I went in with an open mind and two amazing support people.

4.) Is the pushing stage so horrible or do you have adrenaline to push past it?

Pushing for me was AMAZING. It just felt so good to bare down and push. I could feel the burning, but aside from that it feels like such a relief to actually push, which I think overode that burning feeling.

5.) In your opinion, which is worse? Transition or pushing?

I didn't realise I had been in transition until I started pushing... so, ah... neither were terrible?

Good luck!

[RainbowBrite]

1.) for those that have done it..can I have your story?
I have had 5 totally natural births, I don't have their stories written down on here though.

2.) Was there a point that you wanted to turn back and what made you change your mind?
No not really, transition was tough but I knew that it meant the birth was imminent so I pushed through it. I road the contractions like a wave, riding the up knowing it won't last long and then the bliss as I went down the other side...using the inbetween to breath and refocus.

3.) Any good books you recommend?
I didn't read anything on natural birth but a friend gave me Up the duff by Kaz Cooke and it was so funny.

4.) Is the pushing stage so horrible or do you have adrenaline to push past it?
I didn't think the pushing stage was that bad really. My first hurt/stung a bit but the kids after that literally popped out (second stage for my last three was literally 2-5min...precipitous births)

5.) In your opinion, which is worse? Transition or pushing?
For me it was definitely transition, contractions one on top of each other without much break but as I said above I knew things where close so I pushed through it.

Good luck

[Sunny Love]

1.) for those that have done it..can I have your story?

After my first medically-induced birth and traumatic after experience I was petrified of doing it all over again. Thats my context in a nutshell, small nut.
I was adament with my second that I wanted NO epidural to be offered, I wanted to ask for it if I needed it. I refused any induction offer. I really wanted to be in charge of this birth, I wanted to enjoy it, it was mine not the hospitals to experience. I knew I could do it, others needed to get on the same page as me or get of the birthsuite. My second labour began with contractions and a bloody show, I remained at home and walked through the contractions. I arrived at hospital 2 hours before he was born, and I loved every moment.

2.) Was there a point that you wanted to turn back and what made you change your mind?

At one point I became distracted and upset (trauma from my first birth) by the sight of myself stretching and tearing. My support team just kept on encouraging me though and chanting for me to keep up my great effort, they knew I wanted to watch this all happen and just needed them to keep me on track.

3.) Any good books you recommend?

I just read lots of BB and internet birthing articles.

4.) Is the pushing stage so horrible or do you have adrenaline to push past it?

It felt comforting for me, it was just the sight that put me off. Adrenaline is a great tool, but you need focus as well. Focus was vital for me.

Thanks for all your help guys

5.) In your opinion, which is worse? Transition or pushing?

Not sure, I loved it all. I was in charge

[Babyluv]

1.) for those that have done it..can I have your story?
Here's my DD birth story, it was truly an amazing experience and I can't wait to do it again.
https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...around-156727/

2.) Was there a point that you wanted to turn back and what made you change your mind?
No, I was a little disheartened when I was told at one stage I probably had another 10hrs to go but the MW had no clue and I'm glad I stuck it out and got the birth I had dreamed of. I was determined to experience birth without drugs.

3.) Any good books you recommend? Birth Skills by Juju Sundin and Sarah Murdoch. I learnt some great skills on pushing, breathing, learnt about pain relieving hormones in the body, how to utilise them and how stress affects them.

4.) Is the pushing stage so horrible or do you have adrenaline to push past it?

Pushing stage is not horrible at all. It's painful when bub is crowning and you are waiting for the next contraction but honestly I expected it to be much worse. I didn't feel the need to scream or cry out, I was completely focused during pushing. I found the Contractions before pushing (the ones that are on top of each other without relief) to be the hardest part of the whole experience.

5.) In your opinion, which is worse? Transition or pushing?

See above

I loved my DD's birth, it made me feel such a sense of accomplishment. I felt amazing after the birth, recovered quickly and was up and about within a few hrs. I can't wait to do it again.

Good luck, you can do it!

[Heaven]

1.) for those that have done it..can I have your story?
https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...incess-157563/

2.) Was there a point that you wanted to turn back and what made you change your mind?
No, I don't think so. I never felt the pain was too much to handle, I was expecting it to get way worse.

3.) Any good books you recommend?
Juju Sundin's birth skills- I didn't end up using many of the techniques but I felt better knowing that I had options and ideas if I needed them.
Ina May's Guide to Child Birth- AWESOME, definitely read this one!!

4.) Is the pushing stage so horrible or do you have adrenaline to push past it?
It wasn't horrible and I didn't feel it was really painful. The contractions didn't hurt as much becasue I had something to do and they were spaced out a lot more. Pushing felt good! It was just very hard work and I pushed for 2 hrs so I was getting pretty tired and over it by the end of it. As soon as she was out though my energy was all back, LOL.

5.) In your opinion, which is worse? Transition or pushing?
I didn't even notice transition, no idea when it was. And pushing wasn't bad, I didn't even really feel that crowning hurt much. I was scared that it would because I've read lots of people say it was so painful but it just felt like stretching and I remember saying 'it stings' but it was only a little bit and what I expected, no big deal, I think I was almost totally numb by then after all the pushing, lol.

Don't worry, try to relax and trust your body. Woman have been doing this forever and you can too. You just need to find your groove, concentrate on the job, and have good support

[kristi14]

1.) for those that have done it..can I have your story? Ive had 2 of my 7 drug free, 1 was totally drug free in that i didnt even have the injection to release the placenta faster, the other was drug free for the birth but i had the injection after. Both were very fast, 1hr 4 mins and 42mins. The 1hr 4 min one wasnt planned to be drug free, the drugs just didnt get to me in time, the 42min one was planned to be drug free and with delayed cord clamping (DCC) which i highly recommend.

2.) Was there a point that you wanted to turn back and what made you change your mind? There was no point with either where i wished i had drugs, not even the one where the epidural was on the way, it was mainly going to be administered to help keep my BP down. I can honestly say that i didnt really feel "pain" with either, it just got intense at times, particularly towards the moving down the birth canal bit.

3.) Any good books you recommend? I read Ina May Gaskin's Guide to Childbirth book with the 42min one and it was awesome. A bit hippy like but the confidence it instilled into me that i could do it was priceless. Birth is a natural process, it angers me that so many women (and babies) are put on "schedules", leave them be and let the labour progress as it should, only step in if absolutely necessary. Same with DCC too, why is there a rush to cut the cord? Let the baby receive all the blood its entitled to. The presentation of my baby that had DCC compared to my others was phenomenal, he was pink straight away and super alert and he actually had less jaundice than all my others.

4.) Is the pushing stage so horrible or do you have adrenaline to push past it? Pushing is not horrible, it feels good, its a relief to the contractions. If you take it easy and ease your way through the pushing you tend not to tear much. I tore with my first because i went at pushing hammer and tongs with no guidance from my mw, the other 6 i had guidance and i never tore with any of them because i eased through the pushing. Obviously this is just my experience though, i cant speak for others.


5.) In your opinion, which is worse? Transition or pushing? Transition is pretty feral, its when i feel most out of control. And surprisingly, after 7 babies, when im in transition i still dont recognise im in transition till later on in hindsight. But this is the point where i start saying silly things like ive had enough, lets do this tomorrow. Its like i suddenly hit a point of exhaustion but i come out of it pretty quickly. I think transition is worse than pushing though.

Have faith in yourself and your body. It was made to do this. It really is a natural thing. I think we are scared into thinking its going to hurt so we go in with the mindset of having drugs before even allowing ourselves to experience our labour. I know this has been the case for me 5 out of 7 times. That said though, im high risk and it was necessary for me to have epidurals for bp issues BUT i wish i had of had the confidence to ask for alternatives or a trial without drugs first. Knowing what i know now after having #7 im annoyed that i let them control my experiences.

[Beautiful Disaster]

Here is my birth story
https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...vor-xx-157597/

Then again I had a FANTASTICLY AWESOMELY FABULOUSLY AMZING student midwife xxxx

[damprye]

I have MrJ's story written up and will write up MrT's when I have time. I also have MrJ's birth recording in my sig and will be uploading MrT's once I've edited the m/w and student doc out (not allowed them in it).

I was yelling at them to cut MrJ out, I wanted a c/sec by the end. I never changed my mind but glad my doc made me have him naturally as that was my initial plan and I really wanted to avoid c/sec at all costs (as most of us do really, even those that have no choice and know it is best for their bubs). With MrT, I decided I didn't want to do this anymore and asked to go back home and that bub can live in there forever lol.

I didn't read any books

The pushing part was so much better than the labour. I was so happy when it was pushing time.

Transition was the BEST part of labour/birth. I got the chance to rest for a few minutes before it was time to start pushing, the pain just disappeared. I didn't transition with MrT but he was a short labour and didn't need it, I just wanted him out! Haha