Birth plans & drug-free birth - how much do you want it?

[Astrid]

Interesting topic. We did not have a written birth plan, as I was at the family birth centre, so it was already known the type of birth I was after. Also the education we received did discuss transition etc we were shown videos and many photos of women during a contraction and in between contractions. Given all that though, I was not really prepared for the pain, every contraction was in my lower back and making me throw up. Not something I really expected.

The midwives in the birth center were great, they knew just when to change my position, get me in the shower, offer gas etc. Gas was offered once I started the "epidural chant". As discussed above, I really did not expect that much pain, DH, as supportive as he was of I wanted, was not the best support. His way of dealing with me was to say in a hard voice "no you bloody well don't!" which just made me clamp up. I needed a different type of support. Also I was mentally struggling with the concept of actually becoming a mother, so I believe that was not letting me work with the pain, oh and the worry about DH as he was falling asleep! Anyway I ended up with an emergency c-section.

So really in my situation a written birth plan would not have helped or more education on labour, but I believe a doula would have. I needed someone there who was there for me, who I did not have to worry
about and would know what to say and not yell.

ETA: forgot to put in the major bit, yes I did really want it, but I admit there was a small doubt. As has been said in other threads, people laugh when you state it is something that you want and comments like that over time do have an effect. Wanting a natural birth should be seen as being the norm, not something that you are mad for even trying.

[Smoke Jaguar]

Hmmm, I'm just thinking of my birth plan and what it had for alternative scenarios. In it I had provisions for how I wanted to be treated in the case of transfer to the ward and drug interventions. I stipulated that I wanted things to occur naturally unless there was a genuine medical necessity to do so (read: not just cos it's the way the doctors prefer it to happen, just in case!). I asked that drugs not be offered to me, that I would request them if required. But I avoided a lot of potential labour delay etc by labouring at home where there are no drugs, just a very supportive partner and a bath! The fact that I knew what was happening in my body every step of the way helped me accept and embrace every sensation, even though I didn't enjoy the surges part of the whole deal. I had total freedom from fear and I was telling my brain to release endorphins, knowing that if endorphins are being released it is physically impossible to simultaneously release adrenaline, which kicks in fight or flight...the notorious labour delayer!