Hi I'm Crystal, I'm pregnant with my 4th. I went natural with my last baby. I was telling DH that I want to go natural again. He said "Why?" I know while I was in labor I asked "Why am I doing this? What the heck was I thinking?" But I loved how I felt afterwards. I didn't even need tylenol after. My question is I pretty much grunted through labor. This time I want to try things to make the pain less or at least be in more control. I was telling my DH that I wanted to try new postitions to find a more comfortable one than on my back. He says if the MW didn't have me do it that way with DS than that is probably the best way for me to be. I want to know what I could bring up to my MW of ways to relieve pain without drugs. I know my husband will not be supportive of me using a method that costs $$$. He'll say I didn't need it with the last so I don't need it with this one. So if you ladies have anything that worked for you that I could try or any advise. I would really appreciate it..

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Crystal 29
DH 31

I completely understand your birth feelings. I wondered too what I was doing during labor (though a part of me was patting myself on the back the whole time saying, "you're really doing it!"). I felt so amazing afterwards. I am so looking forward to that again.

First suggestion would be to look into a doula. She can help offer your dh ideas during labor that can help him be more involved and make the pain easier for you. A good doula is unobtrusive and won't take the place of your dh. But, you can have some reassurance that you have someone there who totally supports your goal. You can expect to pay $200-1000 depending on where you live...or you can get one in training for free. Check out http://dona.org/ to find doulas in training (they need about 3 solo births to complete their certification but they will have been through lots of training and apprenticed births).

2nd, I picked up "The Birth Partner" by Penny Simkin for dh to read. He hasn't started it yet so I started to read it. It's been really helpful. Tons of basic position change ideas as well as other tips and techniques. Maybe you could read through it and come up with a list for dh? Maybe he'll surprise you and read it too.

There's lots of good reasons to be up and moving in labor. I'm surprised your mq didn't encourage that more. Maybe you were handling things so well that she didn't feel the need to intervene?

Over on the DIN board we had a thread on natural childbirth tips. Here is a link to that. I will also copy my 2 lists here.
http://talk.sheknows.com/showthread.php?t=633281

I'm going to post a 2nd reply so I don't go over the character limit.

Beth

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ds #1 6/02 and ds #2 12/07

Be sure and go through the links at the bottom especially the birth beliefs' one, pain med preference list and the sheknows ones.

This is my personal list of ideas:

-Be sure that you are on the same page as your careprovider with your hopes and plans. They can make or break the experience.

-Learn about the routine policies where you are giving birth. If you don't agree with them talk to your careprovider. They can usually make standing orders that support your hopes.

-Write a birth plan and make sure that you, your partner and your care providers are all on the same page. Have contingency plans too. Think about how you would want an induction to go if one became necessary. Same thing for a c-section. Newborn care is an important thing that you shouldn't ignore. I'll give you some links to info on birth plans and tools to help you write one.

-Try the “20 Minute Rule.” Once you decide that you want pain medication, try something new for 20 minutes first and then reasses how you are doing. Walk, try a new position, use water, a birthing ball, toning, a heating pad anything that you haven’t tried yet or recently. You might find that after 20 minutes you have progressed more and/or you feel up to continuing just a bit more. Remember that for most moms they don’t get the feeling that they can’t do it anymore till they are almost about to start pushing. That "I can't do this feeling" (self doubt) is the 3rd emotional signpost of labor according to the Bradley method.

-Ask for an internal exam before accepting pain meds. You might find that you are already 7+cm and that you can get through just a bit more. Transition is often the most intense part of labor but usually the shortest too. Some moms have transitions that last 20 minutes or less! (Of course, it could be longer so don't be discouraged if it is!)

-Hire a doula! A doula can be an absolutely tremendous asset to the birth. While my dh and I were very well prepred (lots of classes and reading), it was still great to have someone in the room who was a professional labor support person. She was full of good tips and ideas to help me stay comfortable. She also helped dh help me feel better by giving him more ideas. She was there exclusively for our physical and emotional needs. Money well spent, imo.

-Know about interventions and use them wisely. Know what strings come attached to the various interventions. For example, if you consent to having your water broken do you also inadvertently consent to laboring in bed with a continuous monitor (whether it be internal or external)? Just know what chain of events can get set into motion by your choices. In general, unnecessary interventions can make your birth harder. Use them sparingly and wisely.

-Stay out of bed- unless you are able to master the Bradley Method of full relaxation. Change positions frequently to help the baby come down in the best possible position. Walking, position change, water, using a birthing ball, rocking in a chair, "slow dancing" with your partner...these are all great ideas to help you stay comfortable and manage the contractions.

-It might sound silly but vocalizing (aka, moaning) feels great! Saying, "oww, oww, oww!!" just makes you tense up all over. Moaning forces you to relax your shoulders, face, and chest. In my prenatal yoga class we practice "toning." We say 3 "ma" 3 "ah" and 3 "oh." At the end of that sequence I feel so relaxed. There is supposed to be a connection to relaxing your face muscles and throat muscles to relaxing your cervix and vagina. I did the "oh" sound with ds and it really helped!

-Deep breathing makes more sense than patterned breathing for most moms. It helps you to relax rather than try and distract yourself. Tension can really hinder labor progress and make the contractions harder to manage.

-Bring a heating pad with you. It can really help if you have back labor.

-Consider making up flash cards of all of the pain relief tricks you learn so that you can refer to them when you are in labor. It can be hard to remember all of them and there might just be one that perfectly suits your needs.

-Labor at home as long as possible, or as long as you feel comfortable. You avoid feeling like a watched pot waiting to boil. You can also probably relax better at home.

-Consider returning home if you go in to be checked and are less than 4-5cm.

-Learn about fetal positioning. For example, something like a posterior baby can throw labor for a loop. The contractions are working to change your cervix and the baby's position so that can make labor longer. Also, baby could cause back labor. I found with ds that I could not be in bed- it was just way too uncomfortable. I later learned that I did the right thing listening to my body. I needed to follow the cues and get out of bed. Baby stood a better chance of turning in a different position. By following my body's lead and doing what felt good I think that helped ds turn. So, learn about the curve balls baby's position can throw- and strategies to fix it.

This is a good article about alternative pain management techniques AND info on the actual pain medications:
http://askdrsears.com/html/1/T010800.asp#T012000

To find a doula near you, here is a link:
http://dona.org/FindingADoula.html

Birth Plan Maker
http://www.birthnaturally.org/HospitalPlan.htm
http://www.babycenter.com/calculators/birthplan/

Pros and cons of birth plans
http://pregnancytoday.com/reference/...lanarticle.htm

More reasons to write up a birth plan:
http://birthplan.com/plan-why.htm

Common interventions and risks/ benefits:
http://www.lamaze.com/birth/choices/...-2,00.html#npo

Tips to have an easier first birth [or second, third…]..:
http://sheknows.com/about/look/609.htm

15 tips to have an empowering birth:
http://sheknows.com/about/look/102.htm

Birth Beliefs’ Questionare:
http://transitiontoparenthood.com/tt...ts/beliefs.pdf

Pain Medication Preference Scale:
http://dolphin.upenn.edu/~doulas/documents/PMPS.pdf

Fetal Positions- a diagram slide show:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm...9B78DF2B94E9AF

Back Labor and Optimal Fetal Positioning:
http://www.motherspirit.net/articles...reventpost.htm

Optimal Fetal Positioning
http://www.homebirth.org.uk/ofp.htm

Malpositions and Labor:
http://www.plus-size-pregnancy.org/m...20Malpositions

I am 39 weeks pregnant with my second child and have been told my baby is lying in the posterior position. Is there anything I can do to encourage him to change position?
http://www.nctpregnancyandbabycare.c...sp?newsid=7083

Preventing Back Labor
http://members.rogers.com/bcircle/To...%20Labour.html

Pain in the Back: The Occiput Posterior Baby
http://www.birthcenters.org/faqchild...ivebirth.shtml

Signs and Symptoms of Posterior Positioning
http://www.mother-care.ca/pos_sym.htm


Accept that contractions aren't your enemy. Keep this acronym in mind.
PAIN
P- Contractions are Purposeful. Every contraction works to help you efface, dilate, move the baby down into the pelvis or change your cervix from posterior to anterior.

A- Labor contractions are Anticipated. You learn in labor the rhythm of your contractions so you can gear up for the next one. You also can practice coping strategies before the baby comes.

I- It is Intermittent. You will not spend all of labor having contractions. There will be a break between them. Use that break to the best of your advantage.

N- Labor pain is Normal. It is there because your body is working really hard to deliver the baby.

(I got this from the workbook they gave us in our hospital sponsored birth class. the book is called "Prepared Childbirth the Family Way" by Amis and Green)

Beth

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ds #1 6/02 and ds #2 12/07

Finally, here is a specific list of ideas that you can make flash cards out of. I got this list in a childbirth class I took at my hospital with ds. Teacher was Roberta Aldred.

-Kissing
-Apply chapstick (the lips are a pressure point that can help make you feel better)
-squeeze a ball
-hold hands
-massage feet
-walk
-squat
-standing
-pushing on a hard surface
-rocking
-feel partner's face
-use cordless massager
-"birth dance" (dance with someone while putting a lot of your weight on them- it feels great!)
-deep back pressure (you can use things like tennis balls in a sock, paint roller, or just your partner)
-smell (some moms are relaxed by certain fragrances like lavender- lotion, oils, candles...)
-accupressure
-hugging
shower
-bath
-hot packs (you can make a rice sock, take a cordless heating pad or maybe wear a Thermacare type thing)
-cold pack
-massage abdomen
-brush hair
-pelvic tilts
-use a birth ball (swirl, bounce, lean on, rock)
-sit backwards on a hard chair or toilet
-lean back and sway into a blanket being held by someone
-lie on side; for added relief have your partner push on your front knee and lower back at the same time
-lean into a wall
-kneel and rest head
-sit on chair and have partner kneel on floor in front of you, rest your head on their shoulder
-sit back to back with your partner
-find some quiet and privacy (bathroom) and just relax
-if some stress related or unrelated to the birth is bothering you try and find someone to talk to (I found it very helpful to have 10 minutes by myself with dh to just talk about how we were about to become parents!)

*don't use all these tricks in early labor! Save them for later on.


According to the instructor there is a study that says that changing positions at least every 20 minutes can reduce time in labor by 6 hours. [I admit to being skeptical of such a big number but it's worth a shot! On the other end of the spectrum some studies show that breaking the water sometimes doesn't speed things up at all or just does by about an hour...I'll take 6 hours and less risk ]


I do have a handout called "Wise advice during intense labor" which is ideas for your partner and other people who will be with you during labor. If anyone is interested in that I will post it. I also have one on affirmations for mom and partner in labor.



So, those are all my ideas. I hope they help!

Beth

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ds #1 6/02 and ds #2 12/07

Thank you sooo much. I'm printing off the page. I think the card thing will help, cuz I seemed to forget everything when I was in labor. I know I can make it through labor but I just want to be more in control. Thank you for all your advice!!!

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Crystal 29
DH 31

on your back isnt always the easiest way to give birth but sadly it seems to be the position that you are put in at the hospital. Exploring birth positions would be a real benefite, ad labouring methods. I gave birth standing up to my youngest (by accident LOL) and I have to say it was the easiest birth ever. previously I laboured sitting and walking, leaning standing, and laying on my side - Its all up to you. I also learned relaxation methods and for my last one did the Mongon method hypnobirthing and it was a real definate should I ever have another baby.

Now I know its not big in the USA but in the UK we would use tens machines for labour and they are little electronic pads you stick to your back, when you reach a contraction you press the little button and it helps your body release the natural pain meds by sending additional signals to your brain. I used this for one of my babies almost to the actual birth, and although it does not take away all the pain it offers a real distraction and a feeling of being in control without drugs.

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You've gotten excellent info already so I don't have much to add.

I'll just say from my experience:

Best labor positions:
bent over a chair on my knees
squatting at the end of the bed
sitting up straight in bed with legs crossed

Worst labor positions:
lying on back
lying on side (though my doula had me do this to help move her at one point)

The key for me was changing positions every half hour or so. I had 4 hrs of hard labor followed by 2 hrs of pushing. I did deliver on my back but honestly by the time I was able to push it provided so much relief from the back labor that I didn't care that I was in the bed.

Also key for me was not having an IV to tie me down to the bed. There is really no need for one so if you can help it tell them thanks but no thanks!

Besides position changes I used counterpressure on my lower back and I counted each contraction in my head. That's all!

Best of luck with your upcoming birth.

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I hired a volunteer doula and she was free. I got lucky and she was good although she didnt do much for me. She did prepare me for the natural birth and had various techniques of relaxation ready for me.
I labored mostly at home with not much pain at all.
When i got to the hospital my birthing suite was not ready so they put me in a regular hospital birthing room. It was awful. They forced me to lay in bed and strapped something around me. I was so uncomfortable.
When i got to my birthing suite about a half hour later i immediately jumped into the hot tub for about an hour with my doula pusing on one pressure point right about my buttox. It was a great release of pain.
I stayed in the tub until i felt the urge to push and then got out of bed and pushed for about a half hour.
If i could do it again i would love to give birth in the tub. It was not an option at the time though.
good luck with your decisions.
Everyones suggestions seem very helpful.

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Wow ladies there is ALOT of great info here that I didn't know. Thanks so much and I can only hope for another great birth.

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Donna ~ Mommy to 5 Wonderful Boys!

Wow, Beth! You shared some GREAT info! Thanks for posting all of it. (Better your fingers than mine. )

Just a reminder to those of you who were "made" to do things you didn't want in labor (i.e., lying down in bed, routine monitoring, getting an IV, no food, etc.): Remember that you do not give up your rights when you check into the hospital! Just because your hospital has its protocols and your care provider has his/her standing orders, it does NOT mean you are required to follow them. (None of the examples I listed should be routine....thought they commonly are, they're not evidence-based.)T

The flip side of "informed consent" is "informed refusal". (It doesn't mean you have to refuse in a defiant way...better to discuss it with your care provider before going into labor.) If you find that what's important to you is something your doctor is unfamiliar/uncomfortable with, then you'll know you've got the wrong provider. Same with if the type of birth you want is a foreign concept at your hospital.

Lar

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Thanks for all the great ideas! I'm new here as well, and having my first (natural at a birth center) in June. I loved reading all the suggestions!!

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Andrea, wife to JZ, mommy-to-be to Lil' JZ