Rhode Island Nesties
AmyRI
member
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Childbirth and pain management
If you don't mind sharing... did you have a c-section or vaginal birth(s)? What sort of pain meds, if any, did you use during labor? Did the delivery go "as planned" or were there in-the-moment changes?
I know every person and pregnancy is different. I'm just trying to come up with a realistic birth plan (and changes to the birth plan if necessary) that I feel comfortable with. The first-timer in me is starting to get nervous!
TIA
Re: Childbirth and pain management
Everyone's experience will be different, but here's mine!
I had to be induced with both kids. I had all great plans to have as natural a delivery as possible, but my body had other ideas. I had GD with both babies so the first time I was allowed to go a week late but no further, and the GD was worse the second time around so I wasn't even allowed to reach my due date before they wanted to induce for health reasons for the baby.
So enter the IV that becomes necessary automatically w/ the pitocin. Add to it that I was Strep B positive both times so now here comes the penicillin. See where this is going??? Not what I had planned ;-)
With my first, I labored for about 8 hours with no pain medication. I used the birthing ball a lot. I had thick meconium so I wasn't allowed in the tub because they wanted to monitor my fluid closely once they had broken my water. I wasn't making much progress at all. I finally went for the epidural, which only worked ON ONE LEG. But it got me to relax enough that I finally dilated and was able to deliver Ben vaginally. FYI - the only one leg thing was NOT fun. I could feel everything else, just not my right leg. OUCH.
With my second, I labored for about 4 hours w/ no meds, but when they broke my water with her I was in absolutely insane pain - worse than anything I'd felt even through transition and pushing with my first. I got the epidural. AGAIN it only worked on my friggin right leg. So I suffered through about 4 hours of the pain again until she was born.
So - the moral of the story - be flexible. Your birth plan is a guide. Write down your ideal birth. Then be prepared for changes. Honestly, I had written birth plan with my first and it went out the window when I wasn't making progress after 8 hours. I personally think it's best to write down the ideal, talk to your spouse/birth partner about what you want, what you're afraid of, what you really don't want except as last recourse. THey will be a voice for you when you're in pain. And otherwise, be flexible and remember that what matters is most is delivering your beautiful baby in whatever way that it may happen.
"It's not a sprint, it's a marathon." - Alex & Ani bracelet
My blog: Dodging Acorns
I'm one of the "crazies" who did a med free/natural vaginal birth (planned) based on personal preference. Planned it my entire pregnancy that way despite the negative/confused comments I got from people and assurances that I'd end up with an epidural. I had watched the documentary "The Business of Being Born" and had kind of been thinking it along the way anyway and it fit with my lifestyle - plus kind of gave me some confidence and empowerment that I could be a mom ha ha (not that having meds won't do that...like I said, just personal preference).
Did have a couple of deviations from my birth plan - didn't get to donate the cord blood and had to be hooked up to get meds for the group b strep every 4 hours.
My philosophy and thinking the whole way through to calm me down was that women had been having babies for 1,000's of years and our bodies know what they are doing. I got nervous quite a few times before I was in labor, during labor, etc. and just kept telling myself that if women could do it in caves before hospitals even existed that being in a hospital surrounded by medical professionals was just having additional experts there to help and guide me through/provide support and be there in case something did come up.
You can so totally do this! These feelings are totally normal.
Vaginal births.
With DD, 1 dose of Nubane for pain during labor, but it had worn off by the time I was pushing. It helped me to get some rest between contractions. I didn't ask for anything at all until 7cm. No epidural. I was open to pain meds, if I felt that I needed them, but preferred to not go the epidural route if possible. I didn't really know what to expect, but it wasn't all that bad. I went into labor on my own, and DD was born 11 hours later. But, the doctor had called for suction, and that's what my final incentive was to push her out on my own.
With DS, I was induced. When they started me on Pitocin, the contractions were worse than any I had experienced with DD. I asked for and received a dose of Nubane. It did nothing for the pain. Once the Pit started working, I progressed too quickly for them to administer an epidural. I didn't think I could do it. Only saving grace was that he was born so quickly after the administration of the Pit that I had relief shortly thereafter.
I had a vaginal birth. I labored for 12 hours before getting an epidural. I always planned on getting one and I am glad that I did. The pain was NOTHING like I expected. I probably could have handled it a lot longer if the contractions weren't so close together. The frequency is what was getting to me, so it was worth it. I labored overnight, so it was really great to be able to relax more and actually sleep for a few hours.
The delivery itself was incredible. Again, way easier than I anticipated. My doctor actually thought I was going to need a section, because even though I was contracting 2 minutes to a minute apart, I wasn't progressing. Then all of a sudden, I went from 2 cms to fully dilated in about 3 hours. I pushed for just over an hour and a half. The only thing that I did not want that I ended up getting was an episiotomy. When the doctor explained why he wanted to do it, I trusted his judgement and went with it. In the middle of pushing, I just wanted everything to go as smoothly as possible. If that meant getting something I previously didn't want, so be it.
You can do it!! It is definitely nerve wracking when it is your first. I was a wreck when my water broke and we were on our way to the hospital. You are hit with so many things at once - the reality of being in labor, the nervousness of giving birth, and the realization that holy sh!t!!, you are going to be a parent very soon. I would say to have things in mind that you want, but know that things can change at a moment's notice and be flexible! Good luck!!!
This this this, 100x times over. DH has said to me so many times that when women come in with a really explicit rigid birth plan, most doctors just smile and roll their eyes.
Nothing against birth plans and it is good to have one but Michele was dead on. Be flexible, discuss what is really seriously important to you with your doctor or midwife and then be prepared for it to all go out of the window. I don't know if you are having a midwife or a doctor delivery but the most important thing is that the baby is healthy and safe and that the mother is healthy and safe and whoever delivers you will have only that in mind in the end. 
As for me, I had epidurals with both kids. Probably could have gone without with my second as my labor was so short I was experiencing labor as bad as it was going to get, but I like my drugs. I admire women who do it drug-free. But don't feel pressure one way or the other. Decide what is important to YOU and go with that.
Well, long story short ...
I planned my entire pregnancy to have a natural med-free birth. I had a midwife, doula, and planned on using the birthing center at Women and Infants. I did have a birth plan but even though I planned on going natural it wasn't so strict and allowed for changes.
I was over 10 days late before I finally went into labor on my own. Contractions started in the middle of the night 3-5 minutes apart (first thought was this is going to be quick but couldn't have been more wrong). Labored at home for 24 hours before I finally decided to go to the hospital because needed to know how I was progressing. Continued laboring med-free at the hospital used the birthing center (birthing balls, tub, walking, etc). My wonderfully supportive husband and doula were also EXTREMELY important in all this!
48 hours after labor had started I started losing it .. I was exhausted from minimal sleep and starving since they won't let you eat once you're at the hospital. I asked to be checked and was only 7 cm dialated. At this time because of the time since they broke my water they recommended starting pitocin. The decision was made to also do an epideral because I just couldn't do it anymore.
The epideral worked wonderfully and I was able to get some rest. I was suprised how much feeling without pain I really had (able to move myself around no problem).
All-in-all ... my delivery was nothing like I expected. Planned a natural med-free birth ended up with 56 hours of labor (48 pain-med free), pitocin, epideral, episiotomy (even almost ended with C-section) but in the end of it I had a beautiful baby girl.
If I decide to do it again, I will probably still try the natural route. I will problaby also still have a doula. Good luck with whatever you decide!
Make a pregnancy ticker
word. I didn't have a birth plan b/c I wanted my baby to be born safely - that's all I cared about.
I had both a vaginal & c/s delivery.
Going into the vaginal birth, my plan was get her here safely. I had contractions for 12w, went to the hospital weekly with contractions 3-5minutes apart for hours and would be on the monitors for hours and then they'd suddenly stop & I'd go home. The only time I walked into L&D w/o contractions was after my water broke. I ended up with pitocin to get them going again and then had an epidural. I pushed for over 3hr and J got stuck. I give MAJOR credit to the drs who delivered her. I ended up with a lot of tears (inside & out) and 37stitches. *I was able to take tylenol afterward, b/c I'm allergic to NSAIDs.
C/S was scheduled on Friday the 19th for Monday the 22nd b/c N was estimated to be huge (I was scheduled for an induction b/c of her conditions I couldn't go overdue). I had a spinal with duramorph and after that had percosets & ultram for pain management.
I didn't really have a set plan about how i wanted my childbirth to go. I did think about trying to go med free but knew that if it got to be too much then i would get the meds. Like everyone else said, its different for everyone and it's your choice. That being said, here's what happened to me.
My water broke 3.5 weeks early. I never started contracting on my own so they started me out with Misoprostol(sp) to soften my cervix. We waited pretty much a full day to see if anythign would happen. At 10am the next day i was induced with Pitocin. At first it wasn't too bad. The my doctor checked me and found some of my water hadn't broken. Then it got really bad for me. I was in tears. I know some women do it without meds but i couldnt handle it. I got some medication to take the edge off(mommy brain is causing me to forget the name of it). That was good for about 45 mins. Then i opted for an epidural. I was glad I got one as it allowed me to rest for a bit before pushing. I ended up pushing for 2.5 hours and he didnt want to come down so we went ahead with the csection. So I would have had to get medication anyway. I had a really good experience though.
hey there!
i had both girls vaginal and without any meds. it just happened that way... i took a lot of yoga when i was pg and was in that hippy dippy frame of mind during labor. with mila i was in labor for @ 19 hrs. with isla i was so so so tired - the pre labor for 2 days and real labor for @19 hours. both had about 45-1 hr of pushing. i like having babies ... being pregnant on the other hand- thats the hard part for me ; )
i went to the hospital with an open mind and will stay that way for this baby. whatever happens happens. BUT dont let them push you into anything that you are not comfortable with... you will be in pain and might not be yourself so it is good to have dh on the same page. ask the drs, nurses, etc questions- even if it makes them mad that they have to explain something they do a billion times a day.
I went in to labor a day before my due date. I had back labor which I guess is pretty bad. Our plan was go with the flow but I did not want an epi right away. I knew I would end up getting one but I wanted to try other things first.
They were over booked when I went in so I was in the er from 2-7. They gave me morphine but that did nothing. When I went upstairs I was giving an epi. I was 7cm dil. After that life was great. I had NO pain and I was sooo happy. I had no pain pushing Allie out. I enjoyed it 100%!!!
I do not remember much before the epi. I guess I was in a lot of pain and I was getting sick. I remember little things but I guess that is the bodies way of blocking out the bad so we will do it again! LOL
Our plan was to do what was best for me and baby. If that was a c-section then that was it. We went with the flow. I wish I could do it all over again right now!!! I loved every min. of it!!!
I decided long before delivery that I would have an epidural, I have no desire for extreme pain if I don't have to endure it. I have tremendous respect for those who do it naturally, but it wasn't for me. I had a great experience with the epi both times.
With both girls, I was at 4cm dilated at 38 weeks, when I went into labor. I had back labor with both girls. With my first, I went into labor around 8am, got to the hospital around 12pm. They broke my water around 1pm and ordered the epidural before they even did that. I had about three horrendous contractions before I got the epidural and then life was happy. They turned down the epi when I started pushing and it actually ran out then. I pushed for 2 1/2 hours and delivered vaginally with a tear and a lot of stitches. I had a total of 11 hours of labor.
With my second, I went into labor around 8am again, got to the hospital at noon, epi by 1pm and delivered at 5:38pm and about three pushes and no tears. It was the easiest delivery and I felt like I could have gone home later that night.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do, and like others have said, regardless of what you decide the baby and/or your body may have other needs that become more important.
It took 5 failed IUIs and a failed IVF, but our FET worked!
My pregnancy after Infertility Blog
Our baby girl was born on April 27, 2011!
My labor and delivery went ridiculously fast. I had intended to do the "wait and see how it goes" approach to pain management, but as it turned out, there wasn't much time. At my 38 week doctor's appt, I was 4cm dilated (having had no noticeable contractions beyond a few Braxton Hicks). Four nights later, I went into labor. I thought I might be in labor from about 9pm onward, but was waiting for the magic every-5-minutes contractions. Contractions didn't get uncomfortable until I had my bloody show at 10pm. We left our house at 11:47pm and got to the hospital at 12:05am -- when they examined me, I was 8cm dilated with a bulging bag.
I was having very painful back labor and my contractions were about 2-3 minutes apart when we arrived in triage and I asked right away about my drug options. They told me "it might be too late" for drugs, but got me upstairs (I was afraid for a few minutes that I was going to give birth in triage or the elevator) and did try to administer an epidural. Unfortunately as I sat up and tried to hold still for the needle, my water broke and I immediately started feeling the urge to push. So I did. Without any drugs.
My son was born with the help of a vacuum (his heart rate was dropping) at 12:59am, 54 minutes after we got to the hospital, 15 minutes after I got into the L&D room, and 5 minutes before my doctor got there (a resident delivered my son). I had some tearing. They gave me a few shots for local anesthetic for the stitches (it didn't feel like the shots did much) and then offered morphine after that. The morphine didn't really numb the pain, but helped me relax a bit.
I'm not going to lie. It hurt like an m-effer. I made sounds I didn't know I was capable of. I think I scared my husband. But I got through it. I'm not sure I'd want to do it without drugs again, but I know I can.
Best advice I can give you is to keep an open mind. Be ready for anything. The doctors are there to make sure that you and your baby stay safe. And practice your breathing, just in case.