childbirth

cameragirl21 wrote: ok, not much to add to what is above, just choose the one that suits you best and feel free to share some birth stories.
if you have more than one child and have had more than one kind of labor, just check your preference or whichever one stands out most in your mind.

TheOaf66 replied: Jennie did epidural and wouldn't go any other way I don't think

C&K*s Mommie replied: Choice #3, but I had midwives that I went to from the beginning with both. One birth was an emergency and was supposed to be a water birth at a birth center but ended up being an emergency trip to the hospital delivered by an ob/gyn doc. Chris did not want to take chances with Kellie so I had a midwife as I desired throughout the pregnancy but hospital delivery for the birth.

luvmykids replied: I had an epidural with the twins, I did feel the beginning stages of labor of course but that was about it. With Macie I went through all the motions of a few epidurals but they didn't work so I felt every bit of that one. It definitely hurts more than words can describe but I'm actually glad I can say I have felt it all, and of course once it was over it didn't really seem that bad. And I got a pretty big boost in confidence to learn I could get through something like that.

flirtycuddle replied: With my dd I had the epidural but had a lot of complications during delivery but didn't feel anything during delviery. Becuase of the complications we opted for a c-section with my second and I would do the c-section agian in a heart beat

DillsMommy replied: I was induced, so I had pain meds and an epidural before I ever really felt anything. I didn't want to feel anything I'm such a big baby. And the actual birthing part was a breeze (not to brag) I was still in the delivery and said to DH "lets do this again" I'm sure this time around will make up for it.

cameragirl21 replied:
i originally had, "i had an epidural but still felt at least moderate pain" as a choice but it told me that i had more options than what the administrators for the forum allow so i had to take it out.
actually, my gs's mom insists she had five epidurals and a spinal block and still felt the whole thing.

~Roo'sMama~ replied: I didn't vote because my choice wasn't up there... I had an epidural but it still HURT!! And it wasn't a good experience in general - I don't ever want another epi ever. This time around we'll see what happens - I'll try to go without but I might end up with some kind of pain relief - just no epi.

gr33n3y3z replied: I think it was #3 natural childbirth all the way in a heart beat again
I had four and each one got easier but painful but its a pain you forget

amymom replied:
I picked #3 but it really was painful. TWICE. but afterwards it is so worth it to not have to deal with the epi wearing off or anything else. I had an epi, when I miscarried and the after effects were not fun. And I didn't have a newborn to care for. I liked that I was able to totally be with my babies after the birth process, since I was not dealing with feeling better myself.

luvmykids replied:
I lost count after three, the anesthesiologist was a complete idiot and kept waiting until I was mid contraction to poke me with a needle and ask if I could feel it He finally gave up, parked his rear in a rocking chair and just watched, then when it was all over took the shunt out and mumbled that it was in the right place and there was no reason I should have been feeling anything

Calimama replied:
Same here, but honestly labor and pushing was my favorite part of pregnancy. I LOVED it and would do it twenty times as long I didn't have to have twenty kids. I dont miss being pregnant but I really miss being in the delivery room.

lesliesmom replied: With both my daughters I had a pain med (could not get an epidural because of the placement of a tumor on my spine and my spina bifida oculta). Both of them were induced. With my son there was no time for anything. I think I was in L&D for about 20 minutes before he started coming... doctors barely had time to glove up. Although I can vaguely remember the pain of it, if we had decided to do #4 I'd go natural again.

skinkybaby replied: I ended up having to be induced, and because of a heart condition I got my epidural right off the bat. The epidural didn't hurt at all, but unfortunately something was wrong with my pump and it ran off before it was supposed to. Which defeated the whole point of having my epidural as soon as we began because when it ran out I could feel my contractions and my heart started acting up. But I wouldn't dialate past a 2 so I ended up having to have a csection. I hated EVERYTHING about it and I'm really bummed that I have to have another one.

cameragirl21 replied:
you may not have to...go see a midwife, they are more inclined to try the natural way again.

DillsMommy replied:
Me too. I don't know if it was my favorite part, but I did love it.

skinkybaby replied: There's not a whole lot they can do- this time around I have a fibroid the size of an orange blocking the opening of my cervix. Unless they can figure out a way to make it magically disapear, I'm SOL

cameragirl21 replied:
oh God, that's awful, i'm sorry to hear that...are they going to remove it after the baby is born? are you anemic?

skinkybaby replied: I also have an abnormally small pelvis and I have large babies (Grace was 9 lbs 5 oz) so chances are I'd probably have to have a csection again anyway. Sometimes its just not meant to go the way you want it to, haha!

But as far as the fibroid they're going to see if it will go away on its own after I have the baby. All of those extra hormones flowing through my body just made it go crazy. Earlier in my pregnancy it was causing some spotting and some contraction like pain- according to my dr it was growing leaps and bounds then. But now its stabilized and isn't causing me any problems.

We'll probably leave it alone after I have the baby, unless it starts growing again or it causes heavy bleeding during my period. Unfortunately because of the size of my pelvis its very unlikely that I would be able to have a vaginal birth anyway.

MyBlueEyedBabies replied: I voted the third??? no meds but I'd do it again

Kind of right. I was induced with all three so I had pitocin which makes teh contractions stronger. With AMtt I got an epi but he was born before it could take effect so basically w/o meds. JOhnny I didn't bother with meds because I knew it would go fast...sure enough 57 minute and 1 push so again I didn't mess with meds. If for some reason I was to get pregnant again I would do it the exact smae way again

MomToJade&Jordan replied: My choice was labor with an epi for both. I labored with Jade for 14 hours and 12 for Jordan. I was given Pitocin with Jade because my water had broken and I just wasn't doing anything in the contraction department. Basically by the time I finally dialated to a 4 I really wanted that epi. I had to be induced with Jordan mainly because of pre-eclampsia, but a week earlier then my scheduled induction. Her heart rate was going down with my contractions so they decided they would induce. I was given pitocin again and progressed a bit faster, but still was pretty tired when I hit 6 cm so I decided on an epi again. Took the guy 3 times to get it right. Anyway I came pretty close to have an emergency c-section, but managed to give birth after about 15 minutes of pushing. My dear little Jordan had tied a knot in her cord, which would explain why her HR was going down with contractions. I thought I wad done after Jordy, but I think if I'm given one more chance I'd do it again.

~Roo'sMama~ replied:
Ugh, I hated it. I had such a horrible experience and I really hope it goes better this time. I wish I could look back on it more fondly but after being up all night in labor and then in the delivery room from 6 am til 9 pm with 2 1/2 hours of pushing (frustrating because the epi made it so I couldn't feel the contractions well enough to know when to push and the nurse wouldn't tell me when, but it didn't do anything at all for the pain *down there*) it was miserable. And then after all of that I didn't even get to hold Andrew for an hour after he was born.

jem0622 replied: I can't vote because there wasn't one that applied. Two applied! LOL.

I'd have to say though...I've had one natural and three medicated births. The after effects of the natural birth were very traumatic, and I don't know if it was because I went natural. The birth itself went great! I'll never complain about the medicated ones. LOL.

Paprikash replied: I prepared and took classes and read lots of books for a natural birth...but Sarah was breech so I ended up with the total surgical experience. Go figure.

redplaydoh replied: I chose the waterbirth because if I were to have more that would definately be the way for me to go... Bryan's birth was more relaxing being in the water, but with Lucas I also had a drug-free birth in bed and it wasn't so bad either.

I could've checked MANY more that would've been appropriate.

i had natural childbirth with no meds at all and while it wasn't wonderful, it really wasn't that bad or painful and i'd do it again in a heartbeat

i had a midwife and/or doula and that made things a lot easier

i thought labor was a breeze and could never understand what all the pain hype is all about

Any of the above could apply to my birth experiences.

MotherForever2043 replied: I had an epidurel for both pregnancies and I didn't feel a thing!!! Both births were easy, BUT long. I really don't think this one is going to be that easy

MoonMama replied: I voted...I had a natural childbirth with no meds at all and while it was very painful, I'd like to try it again if i have more kids.

C&K*s Mommie replied: The labor was not that bad for me, I could handle it. Other than people in the room talking and it was distracting to me I was fine. But the pushing.... that is like nothing else. There was no pain really, just pressure. A wierd feeling since it is only in childbirth that you will feel that "pressure". And pushing is not natural, so nothing could have prepared me for it no matter how many classes that I took and books that I read. It is just not something you do everyday.

mom21kid2dogs replied: I had an epidural per my birth plan. I had an very enjoyable, pain free birth. Sprained ankles are way more painful than an epidural (and they had to put mine in twice)

kimberley replied: couldn't vote cuz all mine are different.

1st kid... got an epi early (4cm). dose too high, hindered labor, was more scared than in pain. gp was unsupportive. took months to heal. overall not a great experience.

2nd kid.. didn't get epi til 10cm. was something like that from the exorcist for the last hour before epi. got low dose of epi but it was fast. better experience because i felt more in control and healed faster.

3rd kid.. horrible experience. was induced against my better judgement. one unnecessary intervention after another. got epi about 7cm but pain wasn't too bad. they broke my water, cut the cord, wouldn't let me hold her, didn't announce her sex til i had to ask.. all during SARS so no family support.

4th kid.. midwife at home, no meds. great experience! could breathe and focus thru pain and was fast. afterpains were awful but it was a great birth experience overall.

redplaydoh replied:

I feel EXACTLY the same way. I'm jealous of women going into labor... I'd love to experience birth, with all the labor and pushing again!

boyohboyohboy replied: My first child was a natural birth with a mid wife and only 4 hours of labor, it was not bad at all.

my second was induced and it was horrible, they were constantly messing with the pit that causes those horrible contractions, and it was up and down and then the epi didnt work, it was 12 hours of horrible labor.

I hope this time is better. I do prefer a midwife to a dr though. my ob for my second one was a jerk.

Boo&BugsMom replied: I had a wonderful epidural experience with Tanner. I'm not sure what I'll do with this one. I felt nothing and I healed quickly. 13 hours of labor, but I was 2 weeks overdue and was induced. My body reacts really well to medicine though so I'm not surprised the epi worked well.

zdk753 replied: Zachary was completly natural. It hurt really bad & my mom heard me say words I have never said in front of her, but I would love to do it again. I had to have an epi w/ Dylan. Couldn't handle the contractions. They were all in the southern region if you kwim. Kailynn I had an epi for my own selfish reasons. I was extremely tired & thought my labor w/ her was going to be the longest. It ended up being the shortest. I have hated making that decision ever since.

JadensMama05 replied: I did #9 but it wasn't with anything in my spine, just a lot of meds via IV. I got induced with Jaden and they gave me too much and I had really major contractions all on top of eachother. I just couldn't handle the pain anymore but I tried my hardest!

Jackie012007 replied: I had an unplanned emergency c-section due to complications in my 38th week... it was awful and chaotic . I wish I could have experienced labor and birth instead of being doped up and not realizing what was happening - luckily I was cut horizontally and not vertically like they typically do with emergency c's. I had a spinal but my anestetiologist was fantastic and all the nurses were super supportive, because when my Dr. came in and said "you're having an emergency c-section within the next half hour", I was scared out of my mind!!!

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied: Planned induction with Wil at 41 weeks. Had an epi. Regular delivery. Went great!

Planned induction with Wesley 4 days past due date. Emergency c-section. Had epi of course. All went fine, but of course it was unexpected!

ZandersMama replied: I didnt vote because I had one completely natural birth, drug free and one section.

I would take the natural anyday 100 times over then another section

Mommy2BAK replied:
haha, EXACT same here!