Posted by Teacher on June 30, 2003 at 15:07:01:
In Reply to: What's your opinion on "natural" childbirth? posted by Mels on June 30, 2003 at 14:04:16:
Mels~
I'm having the same delimma. I think I've read too much about it, actually. My mom's labors all went very quickly. Her first was 4 hours, her 2nd was only 2 hours, and her third was about 10 minutes. She had pain meds for her first, but declined on her 2nd and 3rd. My dear friend also did homebirth with no meds (in her first homebirth she had to be rushed to the hospital and hooked up with epidural right at the end to get the baby out--she had labored for 48 hours already with no progress--baby was in bad position).
I was reading one of the books on it and it said that statistics show that people who complain most about the pain of childbirth after the baby is born are those who actually took the meds/epidural (which totally blew my mind) and those who didn't have an epidural have faster healing time, feel pretty great afterward, and have a better overall "remembered" experience.
I wish I could say with confidence that I can absolutely do it meds free. I know that I want to stay on my feet as long as possible and be able to get into the squatting position, etc. because it helps so much. I've been told that if I have an epidural, I will have to be laying down the whole time and, therefore, the labor will be slowed.
I am so anxious to hear your story. Childbirth, regardless, is an amazing thing. Probably some day they'll have it to where women just go to the doctor, they're given a shot, the baby pops out, and they get up and go home. Until then...we're stuck with our punishment all the way from the garden of Eden (where our childbirth is meant to be 10 times more painful than God originally meant for it to be). THANKS, EVE! (j/k I know that it's because of all humans sins, not just Eve's).
Keep us posted on how you're feeling and what signs you're seeing here at the end. I kinda have butterflies in my tummy just knowing you're so close! We're all here waiting to hear!
Tight hugs,
~Teacher
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