| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| mdotterer |
Posted - Feb 24 2006 : 6:27:14 PM
Hello My Ladies! I've actually been busy lately (go figure) but I have a couple of minutes and want to ask a question. A friend who is my age (50'ish) has been despairing because she's noticed that women no longer have natural childbirth. Even when they say they're having it, they always have an epidural. When we were having babies, "real" natural childbirth was all the rage and there was lots of community support for it. I had all five kids without drugs and I think it's the best way to do it, assuming there are no complications.
So, what do you all think? What were (are) your experiences? Has natural childbirth gone the way of last spring's fashion colors? If a woman wants to be in control of her pregnancy and have natural childbirth, is that option available? Is there community support for it?
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| 21 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| thehouseminder |
Posted - Mar 22 2006 : 08:59:21 AM
I'm sure that some others will disagree with me but, Honey, the only way childbirth isn't natural is if the little bundle of joy comes out your ear.
Seriously though, you do what you have to do. Remember that infant and maternal mortality are so low now, compared to 150 years ago, because of modern medicine. No one should be shamed into doing something so personal in a way someone else thinks is best.
Lucinda
When we were young, there were moments of such perfectly crystallized happiness that we stood stock still and silently promised ourselves that we would remember them always. And we did. --Holly J. Burkhalter , "Four Midwestern Sisters' Christmas Book"
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| HorseyNut |
Posted - Mar 22 2006 : 07:58:54 AM
I am 11 weeks pregnant. I am in the barfin, pukin, yakin, and can't get anything into my stomach at all yet I gained a pound and a half last week. What is up with that? Anyway this is my forth, my first wasn't that bad, I had a hard time with transition, and they gave me a shot which helped a little bit. Pushing was much less painful. Number 2 I had an epidural and enjoyed the process a lot more, and I remember it so clearly now! I don't remember the events of my first except a few things. Number 3 I had a walking epidural, these are great if you can get one. You can control it better, I still felt the contractions, in fact it still hurt quite a bit but not so bad that I don't remember it all. I always had the choice of natural, I'm just a wimp I guess. Suffering is good for us I think, it helps us to be humble and compassionate, if only I weren't such a weenie! I have a lot of respect for those who do natural, but I understand why some don't, and I do think that there are benefits, one being you remember everything so clearly because you aren't boggled by so much pain. |
| manda |
Posted - Mar 05 2006 : 10:10:18 PM
Well this topic is also very near and dear to my heart. I was a labor and delivery RN for 12 years just switching to public health last year. I'm so happy to read everyone's open minded views. My motto is there is no gold medals at the end for going through childbirth naturally. What is best is to be educated about your choices and DO NOT be afraid to ask for the epidural or pain med if you need it. End result should be focused on healthy mom and healthy baby. Having said that I had an epidural when I had my daughter and enjoyed the whole childbirth process. I do not believe in home births as emergencies happen in even the low risk labors. Why take that risk to your baby and yourself? Hospitals are changing to make childbirth seem less "sterile" and more family orientated. I can happily say I've never given an enema or shaved a patient to prep her for birth.
As for the C-section rate is does coincide with the high malpractice lawsuites. Our hospital stopped doing VBAC's (vaginal birth after cesarean) because we didn't have anesthesia in house. All patients that had a previous c-section were automatically scheduled for repeat c-section. One other interesting fact I learned at an OB seminar -even with all the new technology in fetal monitoring the cerebal palsy rate has stayed exactly the same as the pre-electronic monitoring rate.
Manda |
| goatgal |
Posted - Mar 03 2006 : 08:16:13 AM
I opted for a natural birth with my oldest daughter who is now 7 because I am a huge needle phobic. but after 18 hours of labor and being only dialated to a 7, the doctor told me if I had the epidural it may relax me enough to dialate on out so I took his advice and got to a 9 1/2 and still going. They did a stress test on her and said she needed to be born NOW, so after 22 hours of labor, 18 of that without anything, they did a C-section. Come to find out, the epidural only took completely on one side and they ended up having to put me out anyway. I vowed then to not have any more kids, but changed my mind later. My second child who is now 2 was a planned C-section because of all the problems I had with the first one and It was a breeze. With my oldest, after the C-section, I couldnt walk standing up straight for 2 weeks but with my youngest I was up walking around within the hour. They said it was because of the long labor with my oldest, but it was like night and day. |
| julia hayes |
Posted - Mar 02 2006 : 5:20:59 PM
This is a wonderful topic..thank you for starting it. My kids are 4 and 2 and here's my perspective. I was very well educated, well informed, took classes and exercised. I was totally prepared for a natural birth with my son (4 years). My body, however, had other ideas...one thing that an birthing instructor said over and over was, "Whatever works for you and your family is the right thing." I was closely monitored by my doctor for the last month due to all kinds of issues related to blood work ups..etc.. I'll spare you the details. Suffice it to say, she recommended that I be induced. I was crushed! But I trusted her completely.. I was put on pitocin and my wishes for no meds were completely respected. After about 8 hours of terrible back labor and feeling like I was being punched in the gut with every contraction, I begged for an epidural. After I got that all I wanted to do was make-out with the anesthesiologist! I rested and 3 hours later my son was born. My daughter was much more natural, with the exception of another epidural. For me, I realized that the pain was too much to overcome. I could not find a place to relax enough through the painful contractions not to mention that I was scared. With the epidurals, I could relax and actually enjoy the process. I felt both of my children being born. I felt my legs the entire time.. I felt every contraction but what I didn't feel was the sharpness associated with the gut wrenching, fist throwing pain. I have several friends, however, who were able to have completely natural births some of them really hard and others not so.. I am just so grateful that women have options now. It truly is whatever works for you.. I delivered in the Spokane area and have heard the same statistic of a very high C-section rate.. I can't help but think that the soaring costs of medical mal-practice are contributing to that in many, many ways. The medical business is a disgraceful one in so many ways and in so many others a truly miraculous entity!
Breastfeeding: I'm still at it after 4 1/2 years!!!!
being simple to simply be |
| Celticheart |
Posted - Feb 28 2006 : 9:42:31 PM
OOps! didn't proof read that last part. Breast feeding.
"I suppose the pleasure of country life lies really in the eternally renewed evidence of the determination to live." Vita Sackville-West
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| Celticheart |
Posted - Feb 28 2006 : 9:41:19 PM
Don't ya love it when women 'get together' and start talking 'bout birthin' babies! I've been sitting here for 20 minutes trying to figure out what to write here. I've been a nurse for more than 30 years and been in on so many births. I've seen the pendulum swing back and forth as far as natural childbirth goes. Where I went to nursing school most women had a caudal anesthetic(a relative of the epidural) during labor. That whole idea really didn't appeal to me. During my OB rotation I only saw one delivery that was "natural childbirth". This was in the early 70's and things were just starting to swing back toward more natural birth options.
After I became an RN I worked in a very small rural hospital where we delivered many babies and the only option WAS natural childbirth for the most part with maybe a local for the episiotomy. This is where 3 of my 4 children were born--including my first, a 7lb. breech. Most of my nieces and nephews were also born at that hospital and I was there for most of the births. One of my sisters had twins in an hour and 15 minutes from first contraction to last baby! And they weighed 7 lbs. each! Now that girl knew how to have a baby!
Having a baby at that hospital was as close to delivering at home as you could get. It was great. Unfortunately that hospital quit delivering babies about 20 years ago, which is why my youngest was not born there but at a bigger hospital farther away. It was probably better that way though because he got stuck. I didn't think that should happen with the fourth one. The doctor and I had a difference of opinion about what should be done about that and my husband(this was his first child) was looking at me like I was possessed. Oh well! He finally made it and we were all fine.
The only thing more exciting than having a baby yourself is being there when your grandchild is born. I was there for the first one but the second didn't wait for anybody. My daughter has babies like my sister.
This was fun! Now what shall we talk about? Breasfeeding?
Marcia
"I suppose the pleasure of country life lies really in the eternally renewed evidence of the determination to live." Vita Sackville-West
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| Rebekka Mae |
Posted - Feb 28 2006 : 2:50:09 PM
What a worthwhile discussion...
Here in the northwest there are so many options for Mama's - both natural and unnatural... on the scary side in Spokane the C-section rate is 27% (the world health organization says it should be near 10-15%)...they let the girls schedule c-sections for their convenience with some docs...as if being a new Mama should have major abdominal surgery tossed into the mix for convenience (it is also interesting that the doc gets to scedule these during office hours, and the hospital makes more money on the procedure than on vaginal birth). I want to make it clear that c-sections are sometimes necessary and lifesaving but they should not be offered to anyone as a first option. There is definetly alot of difference between the natural birth community and the medical community in many areas THOUGH it is really improving. There are many labor doulas (I am one) to help families through their labors at home or in the hospital...I have found that the Mama's with doulas are often very well educated about what they can do beforehand to be ready for the physical and emotional aspects of labor- and the doula is such a strong advocate during the birth when you cannot remember what pitocin is for, what helps during back labor, etc. The statistics on the reduction in c-section rates, epidurals, etc are staggering when you have a doula. Also, there are many hospitals where women can avoid IV's, eat and drink and wear whatever makes them comfortable (even if that is nothing!). I gave birth in one with all the rules and convinced them to lighten up for me- despite their high c-section rate I had a beautiful short labor and a sunrise birth with very few interventions and kept baby on my belly for days as we got to know each other (I did end up having an epidural not knowing how close I was to giving birth, and the nurses were too busy to suggest anything helpful but I will have a doula present next time- the epidural was just unecessary given all the other things I could have tried). You might have to convince the hospital that this is what you need to labor well but YOU are the customer and if you work it out ahead of time they are usually supportive. This is a time of reclaiming our right to birth where and with whom and how we want...every woman is so different and yet our bodies are made for this work (with a few serious exceptions of course). One book that is very powerful is Birthing From Within- it is so beautiful and makes learning about birth so exciting and empowering. A true departure from those boring hospital birthing classes!
These births all teach us so much and are beautiful testaments to our journey as women- trying constantly to choose the best for ourselves and our babies, Rebekka |
| HollyDee |
Posted - Feb 28 2006 : 1:52:49 PM
I agree with choice. I had all 4 of our boy's in the local hospital just scared something would go wrong and I would be were there was an ICU unit. All went fine but I just needed the staff to help as I had lost Mom and Grandma and was alone with hubby and so exhausted. Home birth sounds so peaceful. Not at my place though. It is too full of loud boy's and chores. Life is truly a miracle and for all the discomfort of pregnancy and birth (even with epidurals) It is an indiscribable experience in the best way.
Here Here for Motherhood. We are truly blessed, exhausted but blessed. Holly Dee |
| westernhorse51 |
Posted - Feb 28 2006 : 11:42:19 AM
Robin your so funny. I too am glad that I'm past the pain part(it was hell & we both nearly died) but I'll never get past the baby part. If I had started earlier then 40, I would have had more children but I feel blessed just to have the privelidge of giving birth & being a mom. I think every woman needs to do what is right for them and their babies. Michele
she selects wool and flax and works with eager hands Prov.31:13 |
| ThymeForEweFarm |
Posted - Feb 28 2006 : 10:20:56 AM
When I was pregnant with my first child 22 years ago I quickly realized "natural" birth was long gone at the hospital I would be giving birth in.
"Don't eat anything when labor starts!" That was in case you had to have a c-section unexpectedly. Don't eat? This is hard work and a hungry stomach shouldn't be ignored just because you've had a couple of contractions. Listen to your body. When it says "feed me!" and you're in for hours of very hard work, pay attention to what your body says. I'm sure you don't need a 10 course meal but a sandwich would be helpful. You need energy, not low blood sugar. Ok, so if you insist, and you really think you need to eat something, here, have these ice chips - but don't drink any water...just in case.
"You'll have an IV...just in case we need to give you medication." Just in case? When did IV's become natural? And while we're at it, let's hook up this monitor, and how about this one for a few minutes too.
God forbid, but if I were pregnant again, I'd really want to deliver at home with a midwife. Thankfully, my baby days are over.
Robin
www.thymeforewe.com
www.farm-garden.com |
| Julia |
Posted - Feb 28 2006 : 09:29:50 AM
I have 3 girls (23,21,14). Our first was born in a military hospital, with an epidural. Yuck on both accounts! Our other two were with a midwife at home. Both the midwives had me pre-register at the hospital in the event... The midwife I had with my last girls was incredible! I often said I would have more if I could have her to help. I am not saying that a midwife is for everyone, nor am I saying that there isn't a time for intervention. But natrual is the best as our bodies are equipped to handle it.
"...the setting sun is like going into the very presence of God." Elizabeth Von Arnim |
| quilt8305 |
Posted - Feb 27 2006 : 6:53:55 PM
I had my first son with just some "gas" to inhale and my second son with simply a local injection into whatever! so the doctor could do an episiotomy - (he was late, the doctor that is) - and that little needle was the absolutely worst part of two births and two miscarriages!!! Ow-w-w-w-w! Knowing what to expect and how to breathe was a big help however.
Mary
Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding. Albert Einstein |
| DaisyFarm |
Posted - Feb 27 2006 : 6:13:27 PM
After Jana's post, I would want the epidural waiting in the hospital lobby. I haven't been able to sit comfortable all day since reading that...lol. I'm quite happy to just wait for grandchildren. But I do miss watching the sun come up while nursing a little newborn wrapped up in my housecoat with me. Special memories...
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| greyghost |
Posted - Feb 27 2006 : 4:58:41 PM
And after reading all of this... I really never want to be pregnant. lol.
If I get the urge for a kid - we'll adopt! |
| mdotterer |
Posted - Feb 27 2006 : 12:17:22 PM
It's so true. Healthy baby, healthy mom is the best outcome, whatever the method used. But, does anyone know how much preparation is put into childbirth, these days? One of the best parts about the "movement" in the 70's and 80's was the emphasis on education and training. We prepared for labor and delivery the same as we would prepare for running a marathon. Classes on what to expect, exercises to do, practice sessions and long walks throughout the pregnancy, all helped to get us ready. The girls I know these days (mostly friends of my daughters,and unfortunately, my own daughters) don't do anything. They just muddle through the pregnancy, then show up at the hospital in labor and expect to be taken care of. Oh, they see a doctor throughout, and they stop drinking and smoking and try to eat right. But, read a book about childbirth? Do exercises or practice? They think I'm crazy! And, no one in the medical community is telling them about these things.
I did have my babies in hospital and I have to admit, I feel better about doing it there. I suppose if you have a good and competent midwife, having a baby at home would be quite a wonderful experience. But, I had a regular OB/GYN, who was just willing to do things differently, as long as there were no complications. So, when I say "natural" childbirth, I'm not necesarily talking about having it at home. I am talking about not having any drugs, though, and being prepared for the process, as well as learning about breastfeeding and being prepared for those first few days and weeks after birth.
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| blueroses |
Posted - Feb 27 2006 : 11:45:57 AM
I had my girls natural too back in the late 70's, early 80's. But I was very lucky - very short labors and small babies. I think what someone above said is true -- whatever works best for you. If you want to have a home childbirth, I just think you need to be prepared because you just never know what might happen. My girls' stepmother went all natural, had no problems with pregnancy and had a midwife. She ended up have to go in to hospital for c-section. As long as babies are healthy, it's all good.
"You cannot find peace...by avoiding life."
Virginia Woolfe |
| Jana |
Posted - Feb 26 2006 : 7:36:46 PM
I was having mine when "natural was the way to go". Admittedly, my first one was pure hell and getting any pain relief at all was almost impossible. When I started labor I was suffering from heat exaustion so I was limited to bed with an IV and stayed at 2 cm for 7 hours (total labor was 13 1/2 hours) My doc was on vacation and the med student that delivered me didn't do an episiotomy properly and I tore into the anal sphincter. What fun. There were no epis for childbirth at our hospital in 1983.
I had my second in 1987 attended by a nurse midwife. I was also "natural" and, for childbirth, it was a piece of cake. The woman actually layed in bed with me and rubbed my back! In 2 1/2 hours I had my baby, no stitches!
I'm glad I'm done with those days!
Jana |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Feb 24 2006 : 9:51:48 PM
I had both of mine natural at the hospital..but my second one was big (9 lb. 7 oz) and I think if they would have offered an epidural back then (he is 25) I might just have taken them up on it...just kidding. I was very lucky...6 hour labors..no problems..but that second one sure hurt!!! and we lived 40 miles from the hospital so it was a race to get there...fun back then..I don't think I would want that excitement these days!! My other 5 kids were adopted so those were the easiest births of all. (sorry..I am sleep deprived)
Jenny in Utah
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
| DaisyFarm |
Posted - Feb 24 2006 : 9:36:49 PM
I think whatever results in a healthy babe and mother is just fine.
And as far as hospital vs home births are concerned, I always vote for the hospital. I've been with two friends while they delivered...one hemoraged and the other's baby had to be resusitated after the cord was around his neck. VERY scary. Both were healthy pregnancies and both had uneventful, monitored labors. Fortunately both had good outcomes, but it would have been tragic had they been home births.
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| Libbie |
Posted - Feb 24 2006 : 9:19:52 PM
In my experience, which is having one child and expecting another, I was offered all of the options - from "natural" to doula-assisted to hospital. I chose hospital and epidural, and in my case, I think it was the best, as my little one ended up "life-flighted" to newborn ICU with a heart problem. That said - I really think that it is such an individual decision and choice - I don't know that I believe one way is "better" than others. It's so nice that women these days DO have childbirth options...
Some ladies around here do give birth in their homes as well as in hospitals - the farmhouse that I live in has been in my family for five generations, and has seen the births and deaths of people from three of those generations.
XOXO, Libbie
"Nothing is worth more than this day." - Goethe |
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