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

[DoulaRelle]

IK - I underestimated myself re transition also, when I did start asking for an epidural they were telling me I was about to push, and I had it stuck in my head that I was only 6 cm dilated (As at last internal) and that I couldn't possible be ready to push, even as they were wheeling the baby trolley in and my Obs arrived I was still fixated on the 6 cm!!!!!!! hehehehe

[Smoke Jaguar]

Relle - that's funny! it was only when I was walking over from the toilet to the bath and realised that there was a head in my cervix that the whole labour caper was over. I just wonder why women emphasise the 'pain' of the birth itself over the labour, because I found myself thinking, during the breathing down phase, that I would rather do that ten times over rather than the labour part!
But now that I've done it, it feels very rewarding - the labour really is working towards something, it's working towards something so lovely it can't really be sufficiently articulated, huh? So, yep, I'd now do labour again the same way - drug free and at home with no-one giving me internals and stats. One other thought process that got me through the labour was "my body is not going to put me through more than I can handle". That was really helpful

[kahmanya]

I have just read all the awesome info on here. But being honest i think there is nothing that can prepare a women the pain their about to go through as i believe each pregnancy is different. Me for example i had a fantastic first birth, although induced (14 days late) i was able to cope with the pain eventhough contractions were 2mins apart i could take abreather and my son was delivered with in 3.5hours!!!
For my second well i thought that this was going to be okay because i knew what to expect WRONG!!! Induced again (due to a pituitary tumor which i could not release oxytocin) The pain was UNBELIEVABLE MY contraction started at 2mins apart then to 1 minute apart!!! I couldn't breathe between contractions and the pain was soooooo unbearable, i was getting so upset with myself and felt like a failure that i couldn't cope!!
After 3.5 hours of this amazing pain i kept saying to the midwife there is something quite not right!!!! She said no everything is fine, i said i want an epidural they kept refusing me!!! Till the 10th time when she examined me again i was only 2cms dilated and said finally i'll get the anesthesiest!!! Well as soon as he put the epidural in, he was still standing there!! I fully dilated to 10cm's they were all in shock, the midwife was dumbfounded!!! I was examined and she said oh you poor thing no wonder you were in excrucitating pain Jayden was posterior!! He was delivered with in 10 minutes. My pain was soosososososos Bad that my body was tensing so much that i couldn't open up!!!! I tried massage, sitting on the toilet the gas nothing worked!!!! Where that all worked with James, I sat on the toilet with him and with in 20 minutes i had to push!!!!

That is why with this pregnancy i have taken the casual approach as Kelly mentioned that i will take it as it comes. But i would really love a natural birth (not being induced) which my Obs is supporting me, Due to haveing a really bad 2nd birth experience, as Relle said i may be able to cope with the next one!! This is hopeing that i can come naturally unless that damned tumour is back which i think highly unlikely!!!!!!
I am going to go to a chinese massagest to help bring on labour the day i'm due and do heaps of walking!!

Kelly is there anything you can suggest to bring on labour, knowing my situation it's not that i want be induced it's a matter i have to be induced.

P.S I do have to say that the staff at Cabrini are really into the natural drug free birth, as you can see they were totally resilient in giving me an epidural!

Thanks, awesome thread!!!!!

Kelly maybe you should hold a get together?