Decided not to get an epidural. Any tips for delivery?
My name is Samantha, I am currently 26 weeks pregnant. I am sixteen this is my first child, and I am having a boy. In the beginging of my pregnancy I said that I was getting an epidural. But on second thoughts I have decided not to. I want to have an ALL natural birth, without any medicine or needles or anything. I am just terriefied of needles, and for my family that did get them, they had bad expirences. I just don't want to do it. I'll probably regret it during labor, but it will be worth it. I know the pain will end eventually. But do you have any tips for me? Anything! haha Thanks!:)
The pain ugh I hope you have a smooth delivery! I had an epidural it was awesome I have no pain tolerance but after my back hurt for months! So if I could go back....ummm actually I'd still get it the pain is bad too intense for a wimp like me. My advice is have some one rub your back sit in the tub and during pushing just push push push the pain goes away once baby is out just concentrate on breathing and pushing.
In all seriousness...this is all the advice you need....breathe & focus on something....a spon on the wall, the TV, a picture...just zone out! Congrats momma!
Quoting aimhawk:Just remember to breathe and find some point in the room to put your focus on!
I dont know if anyone else has said it, Ive only read one page of comments, but do NOT wait until your contractions are two minutes apart! You need to speak with your doctor to see what his specific recommendations are but Im on my third child and each time it's been four minutes. I realize that doesnt sound like much but trust me, it can make an enormous difference. I waited until five minutes apart with my second son and barely made it to the hospital (thirty minute drive) because I went into transition half way there. If you wait until your contractions are two minutes apart you could risk delivering in the car, for heaven's sake, unless your hospital is only two minutes away!
That said, my first child I had an epidural because I was at the hospital way too early. I discovered-which no one knew to tell me-that for me, my body, if I lie down while in labor the contractions and the pain increase and this led to me believing my labor had progressed when it actually hadnt. Once at the hospital, after several hours, I gave in and accepted a pain killer that forced me to be lying down. This was torture because it didnt remotely ease the pain, it only put me to sleep until the contractions came and because I was lying down they were a hundred times worse. I ended up with an epidural because of the increase in pain. With my second son, I didnt expect to go from eighteen hours of labor down to five but regardless I walked around my house and mostly sat on my knees, rocking forward during each contraction. I had a friend there to talk to me while my husband slept (he was exhausted after being up twenty four hours with our first delivery so I figured Id be nice and let him sleep :-) ) and that kept me distracted. As long as I was able to be on my knees leaning forward through the contractions, they were totally bearable. Once I got up and went to wake my husband, they suddenly started coming faster-moving around will increase your labor (not instantaneously, per se, like mine did, but it is the best way to help the baby drop). I hit transition in the car which was awful because transition hurts like crazy and I was stuck in the seat. Once at the hospital, I delivered within fifteen minutes-and thats only because we had to wait for the doctor to arrive. Try to wait to get to the hospital until the time your DOCTOR recommends, usually four minutes apart, and youll have a better delivery, and find the most comfortable position for YOU, it doesnt matter what anyone else wants you to do. Try different positions until you figure out what is most comfortable, even try a birthing ball. When it comes to delivering that baby, you are the only one who can make those judgments! Good luck!
I have to say CONGRATS!!!!!!! Birthing is what our bodies are made for. :) I was dead set against all meds with both my births! My first.....water broke at home and 5hrs later she was born. Easy peasy! My 2nd was a hard pregnancy and a hard labor. They had to stop my labor 3 times and then I had to be induced. The pain was unbarable after 26hrs of hard labor that I gave in to an epidural and then a few hours later we found out he was stuck and I had to have an emergency c-section anyway. So....I will tell you to stay away from being induced if you possibly can! All the women (including me) who have had to have it done says its painful and usually doesn't end well :(
I suggest you make a birthing plan, type it up, and pin it to a basket of candy to set by the door. That way ALL nursing staff and doctors can see it when they come and go. You can also give a copy to your OB to put in your file. That way if you are in pain and say something 'off the wall' they know what to do. Don't stress. Good luck!
Yes, warm whirlpool bath. Loved it until baby was ready to come then didn't like it, got out and went back to the bed. 45 mins later baby was out. It seemed too easy. Other than that don't stay on your back during labor. The whirlpool helps you because all the labor pains do are make you weak, thus harder to push when needed. It basically massages your sore muscles enough to strengthen you for the delivery. Second I think warm water makes for softer tissue all around thus easier for baby to slip out.
leave the epidural as a choice in terms of having the hospital be ready if you need it.
Try REALLY hard to NOT LET THEM USE PICTOCIN or INDUCE (b/c that really does hurt a LOT)
In terms of labor -- I did a LOT of walking while in labor n sang n breathed a lot. The way I looked at it the contractions were like riding a wave... you just ride it through...
honestly.... I prefer labor to bad menstral cramps (seriously at least the contractions ease up cramps just keep going and going and going...)
Good Luck!!!
Quoting MamiJaAyla:leave the epidural as a choice in terms of having the hospital be ready if you need it.
Try REALLY hard to NOT LET THEM USE PICTOCIN or INDUCE (b/c that really does hurt a LOT)
In terms of labor -- I did a LOT of walking while in labor n sang n breathed a lot. The way I looked at it the contractions were like riding a wave... you just ride it through...
honestly.... I prefer labor to bad menstral cramps (seriously at least the contractions ease up cramps just keep going and going and going...)
Good Luck!!!
Question about an 11 year old
- Samantha.Stetka
on Jan. 30, 2013 at 9:51 PM