natural birth - a truly amaxing moment to be cherished - not blocked out with drugs (Natural Birth)

Member Name: scottsmum

Product:	Natural Birth
Date:	01/11/08 (31 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: no side effects for you or child, free to remain in control and move around, the proud feeling

Disadvantages: cannot always happen due to complications

With my first i had planned for a natural birth from the start, a labour where i would go with the flow and have no pain relief or intervention providing all was well. I actaully went into labour unexpectantly at exactly 36wks and off i went to hospital, 5 hrs after the intial contraction, i still had not had any pain relief and was coping well with the support of my partner and focusing on what was best for me and my baby, the strength of being able to see my baby soon helped to combat the pain and think positively. however i then felt the urge to push, i was being looked after by a student who kept telling me it would be hours yet, the pain became so intense, i asked for gas and air, had been using it for a few minutes and still i felt i needed to push, i then had an examination to find the baby's head was crowning and was infact ready to push. i then felt so cheated out of what i wanted as if she had done that first i wouldnt of needed the gas and air. my son was born an hour later, but several things had happened during labour which upset me and i felt let down.

as a result with my 2nd i planned a homebirth, providing i could reach the 37wks mark and didnt go into premature labour again. this time i was even more determined i didnt want any pain relief or intervention. i felt strong enough myself to cope with the pain and thought being at home and with a familar face of a midwife i knew would help me ease through it all, and make me feel more happier about the labour i had longed for so much.

this time i got my natural birth, although i didnt have a lot of choice as things happened so quickly. my waters broke at 9pm so phoned midwife immediately as mine was off call and knew the other was 45mins away, by 9.15 the contractions were coming and were almost constant and yes they were painful, but i had no-one telling me what to do this time, so i was free to move around and free to relax, this helped ease the pain loads and i actaully felt incontrol. by 9.40pm though i fel the urge to push, panic set in a bit as the midwives still wasnt here and my partner was downsize waiting for them as they had just phoned to say they were lost. i suppose the panic of being alone then helped to block out the pain, i went into our bedroom and climbed on to bed, by now i could feel the head crowning and was struggling not to push, but then i heard them arrive and as soon as i heard them come up the stairs i let out a big push, followed by another just as the midwife caught my daughter and my partner just got in in time. the 2nd midwife them came upstairs with not 1 but 3 bottles of gas and air. i know thinks happened quickly but it was still painful yet the situation around and being at home just blocked all the pain out and let me concentrat on what was important.

i am now pregnant with my 3rd and again all being well will be having a natural homebirth, no pain, no intervention and i want the midwives to follow my lead as really trust my body to know what its doing.

the natural birth i experience was so nice, after giving birth it was up to me when i wanted to wonder off have a shower and walk round with my precious little girl. i had no waiting for drugs to wear off or any fears of how they would of affected my child. i felt totally incontrol and so proud of myself knowing everything i did i was incontrol of and did it all by myself.

i think a lot of people just think labour and it hurts, so as soon as they get to hospital they ask for pain relief, however it is a truly amazing and special moment and the memory should not be blocked out with drugs, but cherished as its the first moments of your childs live. i simply cant wait for it all to happen again

Summary: i cant wait to have a natural birth again and feel so proud to have had one already