Introducing myself, plus a ? or two!!

[Xav-n-Xach]

Hi there!! I'm new around here--my name is Maggie and I am 7 months pregnant with our second child ( our first is Xavier--he's 2 and he SURE acts like it! LOL!), due in March on the 27th. My dh and I have been talking about non-medicated and medicated births for the past 3 months and I cannot for the life of me figure out which way I wanna go. When giving birth to my first child, I was given Nubain to take the edge off at 4 to 5 centimeters. I asked for an epidural soon after that wore off. Everything went fine, except that *I* thought the progression of dialation was really slow (maybe it was just me though, I dunno...). When I started to push, since the epi had numbed me so well, they had to turn it down--then surprise, they turned it off because I still wasn't feeling my contrax. Delivered a healthy baby boy, felt a lot of it, vaginally--had an episiotomy--needed stitches, but healed just fine. I thought everything went well for my first delivery.

This time, knowing what I do know (a lot more than with my first child!), I would like to avoid an epidural completely. If the pain gets to where I feel I am losing my composure and control--I would like to keep control this time for effective pushing and concentation--I would like to only do some Demerol or Nubain. How many times can I be given Demerol or Nubain throughout the laboring process?? I really would like to wait as long as possible to be given any medication, IF ANY. My ideal goal would be to avoid it completely!! Does anyone have any advice about this? I really want to have a better, controlled birth this time around--maybe things will progress faster if I have more control and I'm not all hopped up! That Nubain is a doozy! LOL!!!!

Thanks for any and all suggestions!!;)

[LillyJ]

Have you considered taking a childbirth class? I decided to go with the Bradley class and I loved it, although that usually starts by the sixth month. I found it very informative and extremely helpful through the birth. I'm sure the ladies on this board can suggest other methods (hypnobirthing comes to mind) as well. Other ideas- make sure your caregiver knows what kind of birth you want to have (a written birth plan is always good) and surround yourself with support persons who also know that you want to avoid meds and who will encourage you. Best wishes for a happy and healthy birth!

[jennmomof1]

Just to let you know epidurals will slow your dialation and labor. If I were you I would go unmedicated. I had our first that way. I labored for 62 hours without meds and had a 10 pound little girl. i had the worst back labor. I am very greatful for my DH who rubbed my back for 3 days. To me the most painful point was pushing Rachel out. Well you felt that. My advice is to look into Bradley Classes. These are husband coached childbirth classes. It gets the husband actively involved in the birth and helps you learn how to relax to have a unmedicated birth. I took them with Rachel and just finished a refresher for the one due in March. I can't wait to hold my baby. Good luck on your choice.

[hedra]

Methods to consider: (all should be started as soon as possible, you need to practice to get best results)

Bradley Method: Great results, DH has a 'job', takes practice but worth the effort. May have pain but have loads of coping methods to deal with it effectively and keep it within your personal limits of tolerance. Very 'work with your body' and inward focus.

HypnoTherapy (HypnoBirthing, HypnoBabies, New Way Childbirth): IMHO, fantastic results, DH has a 'job', takes practice, but most women have little to no pain, though some have crowning burn. Women who have strong fantasy lives or who fall into natural trance states (like highway hypnosis or meditation states) get the most stunning results, but the state is a natural one that most women access during labor anyway, so the vast majority of women get excellent results. Resolves existing fears and issues.

"true" Lamaze (long classes, certified instructor): Like Bradley but ourward focus instead of inward. Works as well when done properly, but best if the outward focus is your native process. (do you go 'outside' yourself when coping? Or do you go in?)

Birthing From Within: Does a lot of work to resolve preconceptions and negative images. Finds out what you need, YOURSELF, to manage your labor. Includes spiritual aspects of birth often skipped in the other methods (non-denominational). Relaxation methods included, but also helps resolve existing fears and issues.

Pick your path! Any and all of them have good results for natural birth. But note that the results are partly based on your willingness to put in the effort to learn and practice. Just like any athletic event, you've got to beleive you can do it, and you have to practice, visualize, and prepare. But if you do that, you'll do very well, I suspect. And I doubt you'll need even the IV meds.

[hedra]

Oh, and hypnotherapy has a rep for increasing and/or stabilizing the rate of dilation. Most labors tend to be very short (average 6 hours for first births).