How about a doula? I often do a mini-crash-course on coping techniques when I'm hired late in the game. Otherwise, maybe a childbirth educator or doula could do a private class or couple classes? Maybe she has a friend who has had a good birth experience who would be willing to support her? I would suggest her partner (if she has one) read The Birth Partner. Good books for her might be Active Birth or Gentle Birth Choices. I would second the idea for 30 minutes a day for relaxation. Good luck to your friend!
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I agree about hiring a doula if at all possible.
She needs to get her spouse on the same page as her, especially if spouse was part of the first, epidural birth. So at the very least, spouse should also watch BoBB, and hopefully participate in and read up on whatever online solution she comes up with.
She should think about what will be most relaxing for her. I took our hospital birth class which taught breathing techniques and some other things. It was a good class, not like a lot of the ones I've heard about for hospitals. That said - there's no guarantee at ALL that the nurses will be able to suggest alternative methods of handling birth (birthing ball, birth tub, walking, rocking, etc.) - I've a good friend whose natural births were with nurses who suggested things to help her relax and focus, and her medicated births were with nurses who did not (even after having successful med-free births - in the moment, she didn't think of those relaxation techniques 'til they'd brought in the epidural
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). This is also where a doula and/or educated spouse comes in really handily.
Is her OB good with natural births? She should tell him/her that she wants one this time, and ask them to support and respect that. My OB is awesome with NCB and very supportive of it. Not all are (and if hers doesn't seem so, then she should consider especially the doula etc., or else a different provider).
My additional advice:
Stay home as long as she can, distracting herself with things like house cleaning, walks, whatever.
When she gets to the hospital, have as few people in the room as possible, and keep it dark(er).
When she hits the point where she thinks this was a horrible idea, she's probably nearly to the end, consciously relax her body slowly and she'll feel less pain and know that she is almost done.
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She needs to get her spouse on the same page as her, especially if spouse was part of the first, epidural birth. So at the very least, spouse should also watch BoBB, and hopefully participate in and read up on whatever online solution she comes up with.
She should think about what will be most relaxing for her. I took our hospital birth class which taught breathing techniques and some other things. It was a good class, not like a lot of the ones I've heard about for hospitals. That said - there's no guarantee at ALL that the nurses will be able to suggest alternative methods of handling birth (birthing ball, birth tub, walking, rocking, etc.) - I've a good friend whose natural births were with nurses who suggested things to help her relax and focus, and her medicated births were with nurses who did not (even after having successful med-free births - in the moment, she didn't think of those relaxation techniques 'til they'd brought in the epidural
Is her OB good with natural births? She should tell him/her that she wants one this time, and ask them to support and respect that. My OB is awesome with NCB and very supportive of it. Not all are (and if hers doesn't seem so, then she should consider especially the doula etc., or else a different provider).
My additional advice:
Stay home as long as she can, distracting herself with things like house cleaning, walks, whatever.
When she gets to the hospital, have as few people in the room as possible, and keep it dark(er).
When she hits the point where she thinks this was a horrible idea, she's probably nearly to the end, consciously relax her body slowly and she'll feel less pain and know that she is almost done.
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