First Timer Questions

Hi everyone, hope you are all well & happy.
I am currently at 16weeks, first baby. 35 years old.
My question is this.
I am hoping for a natural as possible birth, which I guess everyone does.
I would like to hear from all experienced.
What tips can you give me for the birth, what would you change first time if you could have known in advance.
What would you have done without, what would you have done differently etc.
Keeping in mind the 'natural' thing...what can you suggest to me from beginning of birth to the baby being born.
Thanks

I dont have anytips as with my first i ended up needing an emergency c-sect but i am interested to hear ppls advice on this. With my DD i too wanted a natural experience however things did not go 2 plan i ended up been induced 12 days past my EDD. I laboured for 15 hr's b4 needing a c-sect. I felt like i had failed. My only words on the matter would be that i hope you get your perfect labour and if you dont then dont let it bring you down, i did. However it turns out as long as you end up with a HH bub at the end is all thats important. This time around i am hoping for a VBAC but in the back of my mind i am also preparing mysolf for when and if things dont go my way.

Hi Nell

I'm sure you will get some fantastic advice from everyone here.

I had my first bub a couple of months ago and had a fantastic experience (uncomfortable and a bit painful- yes..but still really great)..
I think things to be aware of is- block your ears if you are hearing too many negative labour stories. It is good to hear a variety of different experiences, but don't get weighed down with people's bad experiences. Labour is amazing, remember that, YOU can do it, and let your body just do what it does naturally. Don't be fearful- that does nothing. Don't have too many expectations (esp with pain relief) And focus on the amazing way that you are bringing your beautiful baby into the world.
Also, labour at home a long as you can. This was the key in my labour. I did what I wanted. Felt how I wanted to feel. I only went to hossy 45 mins before DD was born and it meant that the labour went just how my body wanted it to go.

You will do great. There is no right or wrong way to labour and remember a safe bubby and mum is the outcome that matters.

I agree with Lee, stay at home as long as possible. With our DS things went horribly pear shaped and I ended up having an emergency CS after 14 hours of labour. We lived an hour from the hospital at the time so went in quite quickly as advised by the midwife over the phone. I was only 2-3 cm dilated then so it took ages to get things going. I only got to 8 cm and then had the CS.

I think if you stay at home as long as possible in a safe and comfortable environment and trust that your body is capable of birthing your baby you'll do just fine. Read as many books on natural birthing techniques as possible, try not to panic, relax as much as you can during early labour (you'll need all your strength later on), don't fight the pain each contraction only lasts a little while and it WILL end, and most of all enjoy the experience. Having a baby is a wonderful, magical and miraculous event in your life, your finest achievement, so overwhelming you'll be forever changed.

Good luck!

Hi

The best thing that helped me through was to sway your hips bending your knees slightly as you do it when you have a contraction. Drink little sips of water from the begining so you dont dehydrate! Whe you do first realize your in labour dont do what I did and go out and start walking the dog then come home and sit on the fit ball as you will be knackered by the time you really need your energy. If its early go back to bed and try and rest as much as possible, keep your self distracted and try not to think about each and every contraction and stay calm(very easy to say sometimes not so easy to do). When you do get the stage of contractions being regular and strong walk, roll your hips on the fit ball or what ever makes you feel comfortable and get DH/P to time contractions. If you can try and stand up or squat or kneel as the gravity really helps for the delivery part....my little bundle of joy was out with about 3 good pushes( i stood up and held onto the bed).
Just go with what your body tells you to do, I never really understood this when people used to say it but when in labour it just clicked and I felt very in tune with what I needed to do. It does hurt and its lots of hard work but it does end and you will be in excellent hands with who ever is assisting you during the birth. DO NOT listen to any negative things that people say, be positive about it and know that your body can do this.
You will be fine and no matter what happens you will have your beautiful little bundle at the end of it!
One other thing, dont be to dissapointed if things dont go the way you wanted it to go, your birthing plan should be a very open open one!
Hope this helps,

Sus
xx

Hey Nell71

empower yourself on all things natural birth...

use your pregnancy to prepare mentally and physically for your labor and birth
examples only
perineal massage (36 wks on)
raspberry leaf tea (28-30 wks on)
yoga
reflexology
massage
hypnobirthing
meditation
homoepathy labor and birth kit

choose your support team...yep team...for labor...ensure they are positive, empowered and most of all will act as your advocate

have a birth plan...examples only such as:
reguesting not to be told when to push...waiting for natural and overwhelming urge
not cutting the cord until it stops pulsating
no speaking (from midwives or Dr's) as the baby is being born...so that your voice/or DH voice is the first thing your baby hears
no vaginal exams...unless really required, so no touching of your baby...and perhaps you touching your babes head as it is being born
a special bunny rug that you have been sleeping with (and smells of you) for your baby to be wrapped in after birth
skin to skin immediately after birth
time alone with your baby after birth
you or DH discovering the sex of your baby

good luck! :D

xx yogababy

As Sus said- just go with what your body tells you. You will know what to do...your body just seems to take over. I did have intervention in my labour (I was induced amongst other things) but I got to 9cm all on my own with no drugs. Yes, it did hurt but it wasn't excruitiating pain the mistake I made throughout that time was closing my mind off to the birth and making myself believe I couldn't do it. I think this added to the pain (my bubs ended up being posterior and I had an epidural) and I was screaming for an epidural which I NEVER wanted the whole way through my pregnancy. I really wanted a natural birth with no or as little intervention as possible. This clearly didn't happen for me. I do want to add though that if things don't go to plan as they didn't for me don't be disappointed, as long as you and your bubs are safe and well in the end that is really all that matters. Next time I am aiming for a natural birth again but if things deviate from what I originally wanted I think I will be prepared this time. Another thing you could do is read some birth stories on here there are a few I have read that are fantastic and very natural like.... Tracey's birth story for Zyon and also Relle's birth story for Angus. They both show how your body just takes over and you do what you have to do!!

Good luck with everything!

You are all wonderful, Thankyou for your great advice =)

Had to throw my $.02 in!! (sorry!)
-It is great if you can stay home as long as possible. Only go to the hospital when you start to feel like you can't cope anymore (or, as in my case, when your hot water runs out LOL)
-Believe in yourself. I think this is a BIG one. You can do it and you need to believe that and you need your DH or support person to believe it too.
-Remember that transition can be the time when you feel like you just can't cope anymore - but that means that you're nearly ready to push so just try and work through that difficult bit.
-Labour in an upright-ish position. Gravity will speed your labour up.
-Listen to your body first - before anyone else. The medical staff will treat you like your labour is going to progress in a typical way but it might not and only YOU know what your body is telling you. (eg. my midwife thought I wouldn't make it without drugs when I showed up at hospital 3cms dilated. She told me I had HOURS to go. I was fully dilated and pushing just 1 hour later)
-Find a relaxation or breathing technique that works for you. There's heaps out there and I found it really confusing to read so many different techniques. I think it is best to pick a couple that suit you and focus on those.
-But most of all, be open minded. It is great if your labour goes according to plan, but it might not. Be prepared to change your plan if necessary and remember you will have your baby to cuddle at the end regardless.

Good luck!

It will be hard & painful, but relax & let it happen. I was only 18 when I had my first baby & I spent hours tensing through the contractions. It didn't help. They almost decided to take me for a c section. I'm lucky my mother in law was there & she told them to let me go & see what happens. A lots of gas & 2 shots of pethedine & I finally had my beautiful girl.
With my second I tried to relax & let it happen. I didn't fight the pain this time. No gas or pethedine. It hurt, but it worked. I also like water in labour. Bath or high pressure shower head on my belly during contractions & on my back between helped. My poor husband ended up just as wet as me with the shower, but it was a life saver.

Oh yeah, staying at home helps too. It can be more relaxing. No noise or bright fluro lights if your lucky. If anything is worriying you though. Go in. It can help to have alot of relaxed people reassuring you that it is all ok, & that you can do it. Hubby will be just as nervous if not more so than you, so he might not be the most relaxed.