What helped you get through labour and have a natural birth?

[Nettie]

Sorry I haven't read through the whole thread (short of time tonight!), but I have two dot points...

• R..E..L..A..X
• The Pink Kit

If you can learn to consciously relax your muscles when a contractions starts, they are much less severe and easier to bear... that's how I got through (I only had gas that I wasn't sure was turned on!)

[nellnell]

Nellnell 36 hrs Wow well done! Did you feel at all like you were being pressured to hurry up? Was a CS ever suggested because you were labouring for such a long time? I want to be allowed to labour for as long as my body takes without feeling pressured to have a CS so long as bubs and I are not in danger & I guess I worry about wether or not the hospy might get tired of waiting if it takes a long time.

Can't deny that I felt the pressure but I put the pressure on myself, not so much doctor imposed. I birthed in a wonderful country hospital which has an Active birth approach. My doc was a GP but very well trained in obstetrics. He wasn't concerned about the length of time, more so the pressure on bub, so I was constantly monitored (which I hated) but I'd rather be monitored than have a CS. He told me we would review things at the 48hr mark. I'm probably pretty lucky I was in that situation otherwise I might have ended up with a CS a lot sooner. I suppose the best thing you could do is stay home for the max time you can. That way the hospital won't even know that you are in labour (if you dont tell them you're in labour) and they won't pressure you with time constraints.

[helle]

hun, i have some papers on accupunture pressure points during labour around here somewhere... i'm more than happy to send you a copy

[Swoop]

I ended up with an emergency c/s but until that time that it became necessary (at full dilation, when baby's heart rate kept dipping and wouldn't come back up, which we later found out was due to a full knot in her cord) I laboured with a posterior bub entirely drug free and I found it easy.

Like the pp's we did the calmbirth course, and I think that was my main tool in my drug free labour. It helped to understand what would happen, but above all it helped a skeptical DH understand what I was aiming for, why, and gave him the confidence that I could achieve it too. Having this level of support made me much more confident in myself. The breathing techniques were great, I used them throughout, and even when intervention became necessary it was the breathing techniques along with a sense of calm that they brought which saw me through the spinal block.

I also used accupressure points - my fantastic acupuncturist put tiny studs in the main points for me as well as educating my DH, my mum (who was also attending the labour) and i which points to use for what.

Whilst I was at home (up until 7cm) I laboured on the fit ball and in the shower.

I hired a TENS machine which I was strapped up to throughout most of my labour, and I only realised how much it had been helping me when I had to take it off to go into theatre.

I have a homeopathic kit made up for me by a naturopath with instructions of what to use when. I can't remember which herbs I used in the end, but I know that 2 were particularly instrumental in my labour. I had an instruction sheet that my DH and mum were able to refer to to identify the correct treatment for my labour as it evolved.

Being my first child, and given I had some complications that required me to finish work early, I was able to dedicate plenty of time making sure I was relaxed when I went into labour. I was having regular massage, acupuncture, practicing calmbirth breathing daily, and I had my mum staying with me to help out which allowed me to focus on what I needed to be prepared.

I was so relaxed using the techniques I did that DH didn't actually believe I was in labour for the first 4 or 5 hours!

When the time came that the c/s was required, with all the preparation I'd done beforehand, I had full and total belief that the right thing was happening, whereas I think if I hadn't done all the prep I had I would've felt disappointed with the final outcome, not to mention petrified of having the c/s. I look back on my birth I feel proud of myself and my DH and satisfied that I achieved my wishes within the constrains of my situation.

GL with the rest of your pregnancy and with achieving the labour you desire. Have faith in yourself, you're amazing, and don't forget it!

[Faithful Mumma]

My last bubba was 11lb 2 oz, and I delivered him naturally with no drugs. The best advice I can give is basically never let your fear overwhelm you when you are in labour, this causes you to panic and you lose all control over how are coping. When you start to get fearful and feel it taking over you, try and use something or someone to bring you back to a point of calm, and take it all one moment at a time. Just concentrate on one contraction at a time, don't think about how long you have to go, just think about how well you have done already. Don't be afraid to ask questions, don't be afraid to assert yourself and ask for more time etc.

My fave things that got me through were:
The showerhead in the hospital that I could hold under my belly during contractions....bliss!

Walking around and swaying in early labour (even though I had a midwife telling me I MUST go to bed and get some rest!). I am sure this helped my labour progress quickly.

The bath during when I was starting to almost, sorta, kinda, maybe, yes, no might be feeling like I can start pushing!

The bean bag that i buried my face in while pushing on all fours. This is a classic example of why you can't plan too much. I had told DH before labour NOT to let anyone get me too push on all fours, I tried this with number one and hated it....this time it was brilliant!!! Pushing was almost enjoyable in this possy, and the bean bag muffled my yelling!!

[*LittleMissSummer*]

The best advice I can give is basically never let your fear overwhelm you when you are in labour, this causes you to panic and you lose all control over how are coping. When you start to get fearful and feel it taking over you, try and use something or someone to bring you back to a point of calm, and take it all one moment at a time. Just concentrate on one contraction at a time, don't think about how long you have to go, just think about how well you have done already. Don't be afraid to ask questions, don't be afraid to assert yourself and ask for more time etc.

That is excellent advice and very true!

I found when i let myself get worked up and upset i couldnt cope but when i had it my head that i can do it and i will do it, it made it so much more bearable. My DD was born in the posterior position so i had a horrible back labour which i did without any drugs. And the good thing was i was never offered any.

Walking, standing and swaying, hot showers and baths really helped me get through my labour.

But my honest opinion is that the contractions were the worst bit, the actual giving birth was nothing. Pushing actually felt really good.

[Babyluv]

Thankyou so much for your responses ladies, they're great

[Cassius2]

Pushing actually felt really good.

:yeahthat:

[Honeybee]

Hi Babyluv

For me I think the most important things were to be very well educated and to make my position clear to my OB. I told him that of course I understand that the best laid plans can change at any moment, but given that all is well with baby and me, this is what I want. I set it out very clearly on a birth plan. I gave the hospital the plan at my preadmission interview, and they ended up following it very respectfully.

Also of critical importance was labouring at home for as long as possible. I also was only 5 mins from hospital, so knew I could leave it quite late. In the end I think I stayed at home too long, because I was in transition/starting to want to push when we left home and getting in and out of the car and up to the labour ward was excruciating. But when I got there I was fully dilated, so there wasn't really much they could do to me!

And I guess the last thing that was important was bl**dy minded determination, because it really, really hurt. Because of the pain and the shock of the whole experience, I think the birth plan was very important, because I was in no state whatsoever to be making decisions, so was glad to have agreed those things with my caregivers in advance.

Oh, and one last thing I did - I started acupuncture to prepare my body for birth a week before I was due. My greatest fear was going over my due date, and having to be induced with the whole cascade of interventions that often follows. I went into labour two days before my EDD, so never had to deal with the pressure to induce that would have started up a few days later.

But in the end, a lot of it is down to your body and your baby. I think partly I was well prepared and determined, but partly I was also lucky. My labour was only 10 or so hours, I'm not sure how I would have coped with a labour stretching over days. So I guess prepare for and work towards your ideal outcome, but don't hang all your hopes on the perfect birth. I ended up having an episiotomy because after two hours of pushing I was exhausted and just couldn't get my baby out. My pushes were getting very weak indeed. My OB left it until I said I couldn't do it any more, and then suggested and epi, to which I readily agreed because I was at the end of my strength. Part of me is disappointed that I didn't get the 100% natural birth, but I'm OK with it because it was the right thing to do at the time.

I hope you enjoy the rest of your pregnancy, it is such a wonderful and special time.

[studentmum]

Surrender to labour.
Do what you feel you need to do, it is when you are made to do things by others that you are bought back to reality and it all gets too much. Stay in your owe little world and have a warm bath, walk, rock, sit, curl up in bed, whatever you feel you need to do to work with your labour.

[HotI]

For inspiration in trying for an unmedicated birth, check out theis you tube video that shows newborns doing the breast crawl and explains a study that showed the best way to achieve this is to have an unmedicated birth and to have skin to skin contact for 60- 90 minutes post birth.

i had a lot of issues with the staff and circumstances during my labour, but a lot of emotional healing happened when i had bub on my tummy directly after the birth and she made her way to the nipple for her first feed, just magic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auVmnvwNUOE

[Gabi]

I've had two induced labours, and both of my boys started out posterior. What got me through?
1. My husband is an awesome awesome awesome birth support
2. I bullied my OB into doing it my way
3. I am totally afraid of having a needle in my back
4. Good luck - I was lucky that my boys turned, my midwives were supportive, and that any complications were minor and able to be overcome

My first labour I had peth and it was a total waste of time so I didn't bother with anything second time around.

[sasha]

I birthed both babies at a birth centre, where epidural wasn't an option. Had it been, I might have asked for one at the first birth even though I'd said on my birth plan I didn't want one. The other pain relief options were pethedine, morphine and gas. I'm not good with opiates (they make me spaced out and I vomit) and I had a suck of the gas during the first labour and it did nothing, so I gave it up. Knowing that the pain relief options weren't for me made it easy. I felt kind of matter-of-fact: 'there is no pain relief which I feel is going to do what I want without side-effects, so I'll just have to do it without.' Worked quite well.
(Also having awesome midwives who were sympathetic and firm when required was a great help). Plus M was there to back up my decisions if I couldn't voice them myself - that wasn't needed in the end, but it was good to know that I had his support.

[kungfubecca]

me!

My hubby was there and I was glad he was, just because and so i could get him to get me drinks etc,
he's a good guy, and he means well, but really he doesn't quite get the best spot to rub etc, and it's hard to explain when your transitioning.
the midwives were good too because my hubby is a big enabler and spoke to softly and gently to encourage me, I need a firm hand and the midwives loudly and strongly telling me to slow my breathing actually got through to me.

drgs, I wanted to do it with as few as possible. first time I used the gas properly and as directed, second time I couldn't concentrate on the gas and used it to bite the tube instead, so less drugs

But in the end, it was me!! I did it! little old me had a natural labour that is not a task everyone achieves without assistance. I don't have many talents, but when i'm feeling crap I just remind myself how good I am at having babies

[Shanti]

Women have been having babies since the beginning of time. It's a normal, natural, beautiful thing. What helped me go into my labour was knowing this and knowing and trusting my body knew what to do.
Birth these days has become so medical and seen as a 'medical' condition when it is not. For the majority of women, it is a natural, healthy thing that your body does.
I also knew that drugs weren't always around either back in the days, so i challenged myself to see if i could do it without the drugs etc, which i believed i could and I did. DD was posterior too.

I also used visualisations alot in labour as contractions hit, I would 'ride the wave' of the contraction and visualising myself at the top of the wave and surfing down it as the pain went away..... it really helped!!! Was in my own zone.....and knowing it's such a small part of your life, it's only (usually) one day of pain pain with purpose

Trust your body, and listen to it

[Miss.September]

I went in knowing I had every drug option available to me. I took gas, threw up, no more of that thanks. I asked for an epidural, they tried to get it in four times, couldn't get it in, so no go. The nurse offered pethadine, so I took it, but it didn't seem to do anything other than make me snooze between contractions.

At the point of the epidural and it wasn't going in, I realised that I would have to do it. Just me, with nothing left to help. And I did. I got to a point where I asked my OB for a caesar and he (thankfully) told me that I could do it, if I had a caesar, my baby would have to be revived because I'd need a GA. So I knew I was on my own and I DID IT!!!!!! And I was so proud that I did. Fear overtook me in the early stages, but once I realised I was on my own, I got my head around it and just did it. And I know for next time that I can.