Can I actually do this???? - Page 2

[tdunk]

I recommend looking into a childbirth hypnosis class. My first birth was horribly painful, even though I thought I was "prepared" (Bradley method). I got an epidural late in the game which caused a host of problems that I of course regretted.

For my second birth I used childbirth hypnosis, had a great, unmedicated, peaceful and fairly comfortable birth (in a hospital, so I did have access to drugs). I'm now a certified Hypnobabies Childbirth Hypnosis Instructor. Hypnobabies is a great program, you can check it out at www.hypnobabies.com.

The great thing about the hypnosis is it deals with all the doubts, fears and anxiety and really made me feel confident and calm. I just knew that I could and would do it. Also, instead of just helping you "deal with the pain", hypnosis helps elimlinate the pain. I'm all for that!

Be confident and trust in yourself!

[HeatherB]

Yes, you can do it! First off, the environment will be totally different in a birth center. Rather than being strapped to a bed, you'll have the ability to move around and work with your labor, rather than against it.

Secondly, you have time now to continue the preparation you've already been doing. I know precisely the reaction you speak of to birth stories. Whether watching or reading them, there is no question my emotional response is *completely* different to a natural birth. You know in your heart that this is what you want, and you CAN acheive it!

As a PP said, it's basically all a mental thing. If you KNOW you can do it, you WILL! For me, I learned as much as I could about birth. I read the Dr. Sears books backwards and forwards. I KNEW that labor would be hard, but I also knew that it would not be impossible. I practiced relaxing my body deeply and fully, and the deep relaxation and deep breathing (they really go together!) helped me deal with the pain. I naturally talked to my baby with little mantras during each labor - nothing planned or practice, just what came to me then. I really believe that the mental preparation makes a WORLD of difference in labor! There are those who think it's impossible - and for them, it may be. But for those who know it IS possible, there's no reason they can't do it!

Get lots of good support and make sure you are completely comfortable with your birthing arrangements. If those surrounding you know what you want and are eager to help you acheive that, I have no doubt you'll have a beautiful birth.

[hairpin]

Here's how I thought of my birth, and it helped a lot even though I didn't realize it at the time...

You have a RIGHT to have a natural birth and share in the life-giving experience all mothers have had through the generations. It is a gift to you.

[sedalbj]

If you were terrified and resisting the pain in your prior labor, then it was probably worse than it needed to be. When you are supported by your family and midwife/doula and confident that you can do it and don't try to run away from the pain, the pain will be more manageable, and your labor will probably be shorter and more productive. Keep telling yourself that you can do it! It hurts, a lot (for me anyway) but I knew it wasn't going to last forever. During the contractions I concentrated on visualizing myself opening up, and I swear I could feel it happening.

Think about how you deal w/ pain now (like a really really bad headache or bad intestinal gas). I know that I curl and uncurl my toes and squint my eyes when I am in big pain. So I gave myself permission to do the toe thing while having contractions, but nothing else besides visualization and relaxing my muscles from head to (almost) toe. Make sure you don't clench your jaw, even wiggle it a little. I also knew that I wanted to be alone, and i wasn't ashamed to kick my DH out of the room and be alone in my bed. You really have to evaluate yourself and how you think you will react to all the facets of labor/delivery and give yourself permission to do what you have to do to deal w/ the physical and mental challenges. But you can totally do it, I have no doubt that every woman can do it. I took a hypnobirthing class w/ my first pregnancy and while I wasn't successful at using the technique, the book was enlightening and described how your muscles work when fully relaxed. It showed why the relaxation was so important, even if you can't do the whole hypno thing.

You can do it, no doubt in my mind. But is there doubt in yours? If so, you have to get rid of it.

[hapersmion]

You can do it! It sounds like you already did pretty much when the epidural didn't work - so just think - that was with no preparation, no knowledge of pain relief techniques, and you were probably stranded in a hospital bed. If you can give birth like that, you can do anything!

Several people have mentioned that it helped them to be at home or somewhere where drugs weren't available. I agree - I had a breech birth outside the hospital and knew that I only had two options - either stay where I was with no pain meds, or go to the hospital and have an automatic c-section. Actually, the pain wasn't that bad for me, but it was nice not to have to spend any mental energy on the question of drugs. I definitely recommend letting your support people know how much you want a natural birth, so that if in transition you feel like you can't do it, they can suggest natural pain-relief methods for you to try.

Go for it!
hapersmion