Grey777
12-12-2009, 09:51 PM
I decided early on in my pregnancy that I would not have an epidural, but I was on the fence about whether I would accept any other forms of pain management during labor.
The idea of putting a catheter into my spine was worse that the possible pain of labor.
My water broke two days after my due date while I was planting shrubs in my garden. I chose to stay at home as long as possible before going into the hospital, and I spent the evening packing and cleaning the house. After I arrived at the hospital I was given Pitocin as I had not yet begun active labor.
The birth of my first child was very quick; I spent only 2 hours in active labor- due in large part to Piotcin. My contractions were very close together. I remembered in the birthing videos I had watched those women had 2-3 minutes between contractions...I have 5-10 seconds between contractions.
I knew that no matter how awful the pain of labor was, it would pass and I would be fine.
Labor was painful, but it wasn't as horrific as I thought it would be. The most difficult part of my labor was trying not to push during my contractions. It was such a relief when I was able to allow my body to go what it was designed to do.
I remember thinking at the time the baby was crowning "Is this what they mean by the-ring-of-fire? This isn't that bad".
I was up and walking within 30 minutes of my son being born, and I left the hospital 24 hours later.
I am planning on having a second child without an epidural or any other chemical pain management. I found that my contractions before they offered the epidural were more painful than the contractions right before he was born and the actual delivery.
For me, natural childbirth was not painless, but it was not the most painful event I have experienced. I would classify the majority of the experience as incredibly uncomfortable. I am not advocating that every woman have a drug-free childbirth, nor that a my chosen form of delivery is superior to any other; I am simply offering encouragement and information to those who are thinking about an epidural-free birth and delivery.
My drug-free, hospital birth was less painful and much easier than I anticipated and I intend to deliver a second child in the same manner.
The idea of putting a catheter into my spine was worse that the possible pain of labor.
My water broke two days after my due date while I was planting shrubs in my garden. I chose to stay at home as long as possible before going into the hospital, and I spent the evening packing and cleaning the house. After I arrived at the hospital I was given Pitocin as I had not yet begun active labor.
The birth of my first child was very quick; I spent only 2 hours in active labor- due in large part to Piotcin. My contractions were very close together. I remembered in the birthing videos I had watched those women had 2-3 minutes between contractions...I have 5-10 seconds between contractions.
I knew that no matter how awful the pain of labor was, it would pass and I would be fine.
Labor was painful, but it wasn't as horrific as I thought it would be. The most difficult part of my labor was trying not to push during my contractions. It was such a relief when I was able to allow my body to go what it was designed to do.
I remember thinking at the time the baby was crowning "Is this what they mean by the-ring-of-fire? This isn't that bad".
I was up and walking within 30 minutes of my son being born, and I left the hospital 24 hours later.
I am planning on having a second child without an epidural or any other chemical pain management. I found that my contractions before they offered the epidural were more painful than the contractions right before he was born and the actual delivery.
For me, natural childbirth was not painless, but it was not the most painful event I have experienced. I would classify the majority of the experience as incredibly uncomfortable. I am not advocating that every woman have a drug-free childbirth, nor that a my chosen form of delivery is superior to any other; I am simply offering encouragement and information to those who are thinking about an epidural-free birth and delivery.
My drug-free, hospital birth was less painful and much easier than I anticipated and I intend to deliver a second child in the same manner.