Please. Someone remind me.

[neveryoumindthere]

WHY oh why am I doing this for the 3rd time, when I could just easily go to the hospital and get an epidural.

I've had off and on labor since last night, pressure waves are getting super strong and I want off.

Times like this seriously I don't even remember what made me go this route in the first place, except that I am so against 'the system'..

so, please remind me of all the wonderful reasons to go natural at home

[camprunner]

Better for the baby to come into the world peacefully without interventions and drugs.

Better for you to be in a place where you already feel comfortable without interventions that might interfere with what you body was built to do.

It sounds like you are almost there! You can always get in the bathtub instead of having the epidural. It really does have about the same affect. If you aren't water birthing though...it is just like having your epidural turned to get out and birth.

[dogmom327]

Hang in there mama! I did three weeks of false labor each night for several hours so I do truly understand.

You are giving your baby and yourself a gift of a peaceful birth. It is worth it, even if it doesn't seem like it at this moment.

[cathicog]

Originally Posted by neveryoumindthere

so, please remind me of all the wonderful reasons to go natural at home

because stop/start labor/prodromal labor is often the uterus trying to get an asynclitic baby's head pointed in the right direction. You don't want to go into labor with a baby head cocked at an angle, or any other awkward direction. it makes for a frustrating pre-labor time, but usually a faster labor once real labor kicks in...so, by being at home, you can allow your body TIME to get the baby going right... That won't be allowed in the hospital, but I know you know that... Hugs to you

[Terrilein]

And keep in mind - hospitals are germy, but you're immune to the microbes in your own home!

[HappyMommy2]

Because no mean nurses will bug you, poke you, and belittle you, while you are at home in this mood!

Good luck mama! You are giving your baby a wonderful gift!!

[Eresh]

You are giving your baby a gentle birth and welcoming him or her into the world surrounded by those who love him/her.

[at_the_hip]

Once the hard work is over, you'll be snuggled up with dh and gazing into new baby's eyes...in YOUR OWN BED.

[UmmAbduRahman]

Because after the birth you will be on an oxytocin high and feeling better than ever, not sick or in pain from the drugs.

[UmmAbduRahman]

and because an epidural will tie you to the bed, not allowing you to get into positions that could help the baby move down and get into a good position.

an epidural can raise your temperature, causing fears of infection and the response that entails

an epidural can slow labor, leading to the use of pitocin, which could lead to uterine hyperstimulation, fetal distress, uterine rupture...cesarean

having an epidural means you have to have continuous electronic fetal monitoring, which exposes your baby and your body to more ultrasound than intermittent monitoring, and EFM has been found to raise cesarean rates without improving neonatal outcomes.

[aloneinid]

Thanks for this thread, I needed it, too, as I face my third out-of-hospital birth this fall.

What I keep reminding myself of is watching my SIL's birth just before my first was born and how every bit of her dignity was stripped away as she lay on the table naked with her legs up in the air, internal fetal monitor screwed into her baby's head, and being catheterized due to the epidural. I was a horror scene and she didn't even have any "complications".

I think I can face any amount of pain to avoid that! You know that once it is over you will be grateful- remember how strong you feel once the baby is here!

[HappyMommy2]

OMG - I forgot about the catheter! There's enough reason for ya right there!!!!

(I didn't actually have the internal monitoring thing screwed into DS1's head, but that is a pretty darn strong deterrent as well!!!)

[Fly Girl]

Because you don't want to listen to small talk between the doctor and nurse while you're pushing your baby out.