scared about the pain

[lillymonster]

Last time I had my c-section, I was induced, had my waters ruptured, had an epidural, had a baby that was op, and was in a LOT of pain. After vacuum attempt, I was begging, begging for a c-section. There was no need for me to be induced to begin with, but whatever, I can't change that now, but I think that caused the c-section. I was told by many nurses that I kept taking to the pit "really well" as in they had to keep coming in and turning it off. At one point when I was given the epi, the anesthesiologist was yelling at the nurse to take me off the pit and the nurse shouted (in my ear!) "she is not on it, just do your job!"...Fun times! Yeah not the experience I wanted.

So I read Ina May's book, and I know part of the problem was I couldn't feel contractions because of the epidural, I know induction is a lot more painful than normal, and I had an OP baby (intense pain in my hip) I am scared of attempting a natural birth because I think I can't handle the pain. What if I have an OP baby again? Is there a big difference in pain? I am scared to go through it again if it's going to be like last time.

[courtenay_e]

Qualifying this with "every woman experiences labor differently and even in the same woman every labor can be very different", I think it is extraordinarily important for you to know that bone on bone pain (which is what an OP baby causes, as does some asynclitism and some neuchal hands w/elbows sticking out) is VERY different from the pain of muscles working hard.

It is quite possible that you will NOT have that kind of labor, first because it would not be induced (I am assuming you would not allow an induction on a cesarean scar), and second because, well, not every baby is OP. I would recommend strongly that you do a couple of things though. First, I would recommend that you start seeing a chiropractor who practices the Webster technique regularly, has caused some breech babies to turn and has caused many OP babies to turn with their care. I would start seeing them NOW, to make sure that you have gotten your body into the best alignment possible before you get in REALLY bad shape at the end of pregnancy.

Second I would do some work surrounding the emotions left after your last birth. Hypnosis would be a good start, and/or cranio-sacral therapy. Birthing From Within (the book) is a great call for artsy type people.

I would put yourself with a provider who trusts birth, does not routinely induce labors, and is willing to let a VBAC have labor and birth a baby without a lot of "only if" statements.

I would have a doula for emotional and physical support specifically and VBAC support in general.

Every birth is NOT the same. I had two low intervention hypnobirths and my births were different from each other like crazy. My daughter's birth was full of back labor, my son's had none. My water broke with my daughter when I was getting ready to push, it broke to start labor with my son. I pushed for 38 minutes with my daughter, and stood up and my son came out...you never know!

[JamieCatheryn]

The pain in those first two were totally variations from the norm. You had artificial Pitocin and AROM to blame for a lot of it and probably restriction of movement and stress too. A posterior baby will add a lot of different pain too from normal labor. Pretty much all the time you'll have an intense experience and some major discomfort in contractions, but real miserable pain you had before is not guaranteed at all. My last labor went long but pretty smoothly. I decided at it's start I would not pay attention to pain level but rather welcome increasing intensity. I only would call it hurting when I hated the position I was in (leaning forward or laying on my side in my case).

To help with baby's position, go to http://spinningbabies.com and do all you can to prevent another OP labor or if it happens, to find comfort in it.

[AustinMom]

If you have an OP baby again, it's important to figure out WHY you had one, HOW to prevent one and HOW to turn on if you do have another.

A Doula can help with all this. Some times our pelvises are not in align as much as we like, and it can cause a malpostioned baby (which is by FAR more painful than a correctly positioned baby), so maybe try some Chiropractic care to make sure everything is good. Some times if we are laboring on our back, the baby is forced to moved with gravity so it's heaviest part (their back) is going to be pulled down (towards your back), so keep off your back, (if you have an epidural even, you still have the option of side lying, or have a low dose of the epi so you can get into all different kinds of positions, also to help with pushing to avoid vacuum). Then if you DO have an OP baby, there are LOTS you can do to turn them, check out spinningbabies.com for more stuff, but in short you can try:

Getting on hands and knees
Rebozo sifting
Abdominal massage to turn baby in the direction needed
Arvigo massage to create space
Chiro adjustment to open pelvis up
ALL upright positions, OFF THE BACK
Belly Dancing hip movements
Lunges


If you can't turn the baby
do a hip squeeze to help with pain
hot/cold compress
hydrotherapy (shower or bath)

There are lots you can do!

A Doula will know most of them if not all, and she'll also help with the fears of pain of childbirth as well, as they are real for a lot of women, and are something serious to work through.

Happy Birthing!

[lillymonster]

Thanks everyone for the tips and reassurance.

I am going to midwife this time. I am using a doula who has attended many VBAC births and is studying to be a midwife. I started seeing a chiro at 9 weeks, only taking a short break while his wife is having a baby and starting up again after September - so I stopped 2 weeks ago at 17 weeks.

I can feel that this baby so far is very different and located in a different place. Last time, I could not breathe starting at 12 weeks, and had to sleep sitting up. . Don't know if it's because I started seeing a chiro regularly before I got pregnant or because of adjustments so far, but it feels better this time, like I am carrying more normal and comfortable.

My sister had a UR from her c-section, so I will not induce, although I have yet to get a straight answer from the midwives about what the overseeing OB will do. It was mentioned the OB would want it at 41 weeks. I have to get a firm answer at my 20 week appt, and if I don't, find another care provider.

[cairomama]

In addition to Spinning Babies, Birthing Better with the Pink Kit can help you understand your body and why baby might have been OP and what to do to help if baby is OP again. http://www.thepinkkit.com

In addition, there are many skills to practice and learn to help you manage the intensity of labor.

I did Hypnobabies for my VBAC and it worked extremely well, so well, in fact, that I want to become an instructor.

http://www.hypnobabies.com

The program can help you reduce the fear, boost your confidence and learn how to keep yourself focused and relaxed so you really work with your body.

[MNHall]

i think I can relate quite a bit. My first was also an unnecessary induction which lead to a chain of intervetion events. The super high pit, breaking water early, begging for an epi soon to follow because the pit with water intact vs pit with water broken was like night and day. Basically, I felt like my contractions went from mild, mild, mild cramps, to HOLY MOLY 10, 10, 10!!!!!

Where, my 2nd, my VBAC, I was going natural and the "pain" graudually intensified so I coped with the changes as they came. Yes, IMO,I got to a 10. But it wasn't 1-10 in 45 seconds. It was 1-10 throughout labor, so I was able to gradually change my needs and cope with each new level of intensity.

Plus, my other belief about natural labor is, you can work with your body and your baby. If baby is in a less than ideal position, movement, changes in your positions, and freedom can hopefully rotate baby to a position that will allow the best birth possible! I know that doesn't always work, but between the freedom, I'm doing yoga, and I'm going to visit the chiropractor at the end of my pregnancy, I'm hoping for a perfectly positioned baby! Fingers crossed right?