why did you/do you want to go natural? - Page 5

[snarky]

I wanted a natural birth to avoid C-section. Hired a doula, the whole nine yards.

Of course wanting a natural birth and getting one are two different things. I was induced at 40w5d for high blood pressure, which ended up in c-section. I didn't take the epidural though (they did spinal on the operating table), so I did try my best but ultimately failed due to factors outside of my control.

[Bellabaz]

I genuinly believe its better for both mom and baby. I went into birth number 1 wanting natural but open to pain relief. Ended up with pain relief, episiotomy and stupid coached pushing because the epi didn't wear off in time.

I also think, having experienced both kinds, that natural birth is really empowering and it really showed me what my body can do and handle. I know a lot of women who have the attitude, why suffer if not necessary. I had that attitude before becoming prggo myself. I mean if you have a headache you take something right? Wel labor pain is different. Its pain with a purpose. ( I guess all pain is when you think about it though) Plus knowing that one intervention leads to another so often is scary.

For the record no one I knew at the time went natural.

[JayGee]

I wanted natural births with #2 and #3 because #1 was a cavalcade of medical intervention (failed induction, epidural, c-section). I never wanted to go through any of that again, so staying away from the hospital as long as possible (or totally with #3) seemed the best way to avoid it all .

[neverdoingitagain]

With my first, it wasn't that I wanted to go natural. It was more "I don't want an epidural". My sister didn't have an epidural with her births and I didn't want to be the wimp that gave in when she didn't I did get induced for medical reasons, though knowing what I know now, it wasn't necessary. I did take drugs to ease the pitocin-induced cntx. It turned out to be...not a horrible scarring experience but definately scary. I never wanted to get pregnant or give birth again. I didn't want THAT again.
When I got pregnant with #2, I knew what I didn't want and did as much research as I could. I planned for a natural birth though my doctor and I discussed what we would do in case things went bad and I needed a c-section.

There was also a bit of "I know I can do this!" to it too. I had already seen what I can do when I put my mind and my will into something.

[Lilygoose]

I originally wanted a natural birth b/c I was afraid of the effects of any medication would be on the baby. When i became pregnant i felt strongly about this and my husband and i attended 3 months of Bradley courses to prepare for a natural birth. I learned A LOT about the cascade of interventions and stayed committed to a natural birth. After having my beautiful DD (all 10lbs, 12oz of her). I realized that as much as my journey had been about her the end was all about me. I am really glad that she was not affected by meds, but what it did for me as a woman and a mom to labor that way was awesome! The sense of awe, competence, connection, and joy of an all natural labor is wondorous. it is indescribable. And the props are pretty cool too. My DH in particular was really impressed!

[annablue]

I want a natural birth because I trust my body; it was designed to do this, and can accomplish delivering a baby without a slew of interventions and drugs. I believe pregnancy and childbirth is a natural, normal process, not a medical emergency. I also don't want a cascade of interventions that lead to a more difficult labor, fetal distress, c-section, etc.

[Joyster]

I had one baby with an epidural and one without. I recovered WAY more quickly from the second labour, even though my body was way more battered from my much bigger DS2.

I am also not fond of needles, catheters and the like, I'm also terrified of surgery knowing that anesthetic doesn't always like me.

Frankly, I just want a quick birth and recovery. God willing I will get both. However I don't have any illusions about it being anywhere near a pleasurable experience (eta for me) until birth is over, and I have the baby in my arms.

[yara1]

Just a few years ago I didn't know anything about these things (natural birth) and wasn't even interested to know.
Than I had a baby in the hospital ... and actions and methods of medical workers seemed just WRONG. So I started to do a research and was puzzled (in a good way) by what I finded out

[Greenlea]

My mother and mother in law both had 4 kids all naturally. I wanted to do it all natural mainly because I felt it was best for the baby. I didn't want the drugs I took during labor to effect him negatively. That and I was more scared of the epidural than actual childbirth.

[Galatea]

I had an epidural with my first and was totally annoyed by it. For one, they make it seem like an epi will make it not hurt. Well, I couldn't feel contractions, but as soon as the baby started to descend, it hurt! I signed up for the numb vagina and was gypped!

Also, it took forever to push ds1 out b/c I couldn't feel what I was doing. 2 hours with no progress. Then the epidural wore off and all of a sudden he was coming out and I could feel it and it was amazing - my body was doing this work with or without me and it was almost easy! Like puking - you can't stop the heaving if you wanted to. Once I could feel the contractions, I could tell that they were doing all the work to get him born, and the epidural had just delayed and confused that natural feeling.

Finally, after the epidural birth of ds1, I felt bad for a day or so, but after my natural births, I was up and about immediately and felt like a rock star for weeks. The endorphin rush gets blocked by the epidural, which is a shame and frustrates nature's design to give women lots of good feelings and energy for the first couple of trying weeks.

So I had natural births for #2 and #3 and hope to do so with #4 too!

[transylvania_mom]

Originally Posted by Tizzy

My short answer: Someone mentioned something about getting a medal?

[CI Mama]

I'd say the two biggest influences on me were Our Bodies, Our Selves and Spawn of Dykes to Watch Out For. I read both in the early 1990s....long before I was ready to have kids...and after that it never really occurred to me to approach childbirth any other way except naturally. The concept of empowered women doing this marvelous thing with their bodies was, and is, such a compelling vision for me.

I was also drawn to the idea that natural childbirth allows for an experience that's very present, self-aware, and mindful. Which is how I want to approach all of life.

I also remember just a few things that my mother told me about the births of my sisters. She talked about how they gave her an enema and shaved off all her pubic hair at the hospital, and how itchy the hair was when it was growing back in. She also talked about getting an episiotomy and how difficult it was to recover from that. I remember thinking, "no one is shaving my beaver, giving me an enema, or clipping my vagina open, NO WAY." Again, NCB seemed the way to go!

Also, I hate being still. I can't sit still or lie still for long and feel comfortable under any circumstance. So it was really important to me to be able to move around during labor. Again, NCB!