https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 06 May 2026 23:38:00 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/give-me-a-crash-course-method-of-preparing-for-a-med-free-birth#post-1682489 Thu, 05 Jun 2014 17:03:35 +0000 matador84 1682489@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had two med-free births. Nothing can prepare you except mentally you have to be ready not to cave to the pain. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/give-me-a-crash-course-method-of-preparing-for-a-med-free-birth#post-1682451 Thu, 05 Jun 2014 16:48:43 +0000 Mrs. Cookie 1682451@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Haven't given birth yet (32 weeks) but am taking a natural birthing course! So far it's been lots of anatomy and explaining what labor is (still have 4 weeks left) but also about telling your partner what positive affirmations you need to hear during labor. </p> <p>Also, I know this is a bit abstract, but they also said to remember that labor pain is purposeful. Not all pain has a purpose and an end result like a baby. So each one gets you closer. And once you get to transition that *should* be the shortest of the three labor stages.</p> <p>We've also done some light massage and breathing and visualization exercises. The teacher said to not add tension to other parts of your body (super difficult) when you're feeling such pain in your back or wherever.</p> <p>I'm super nervous about birth but going to do my best to go med-free! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/give-me-a-crash-course-method-of-preparing-for-a-med-free-birth#post-1678248 Wed, 04 Jun 2014 12:43:02 +0000 jedeve 1678248@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrskc: I wanted to labor down! My MW had me start pushing when LO was like at 0 station because she wanted to see if that would help him move down since he was stuck from being OP. It worked, but I had to push for like 3 hrs! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/give-me-a-crash-course-method-of-preparing-for-a-med-free-birth#post-1678237 Wed, 04 Jun 2014 12:38:00 +0000 mrskc 1678237@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jedeve: seriously! I'm more scared and nervous this time because I know what to expect and I remember how freaking painful it was. Why does everyone say that you forget the pain?! I think they are liars! My DH says I should just get the epi but I'm scared to get it! just in my head I think that it wont' work or I'll get a spinal headache or something. So yeah, going to try and go med-free again. </p> <p>Yes I definitely think leaning forward helps take pressure off the back. I remember I also hunched over the couch at times. Oh and I remember I labored down for awhile. I reached 10 cm and started feeling the urge to push. My doula told me to hold back that feeling until I can no longer hold it back. I guess that was what they call laboring down? So I held it back until I told her that my body was pushing whether I wanted it to or not. Then I only pushed about 30-45 minutes after that before my son was born. I think holding back helped me to not push for too long. Might be something to consider. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/give-me-a-crash-course-method-of-preparing-for-a-med-free-birth#post-1678054 Wed, 04 Jun 2014 11:42:59 +0000 jedeve 1678054@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrskc: I know right??? I think in some ways it was easier to prepare for the first birth not really knowing how hard it is!</p> <p>I am going to try leaning forward more and see if that helps if I have back labor again. I was looking at some positions like that, like sitting on a ball and leaning onto the back of the chair. I think that might have helped take some pressure off my back? Although really I felt it mainly in my hips. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/give-me-a-crash-course-method-of-preparing-for-a-med-free-birth#post-1676884 Tue, 03 Jun 2014 23:11:41 +0000 mrskc 1676884@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think you gotta try different positions until you find what works for you. For me, with back labor, at the beginning on my knees with my chest to the ground and then later standing up leaning on my husband, sitting on the edge of the bed leaning on my DH or sitting on the toilet leaning on my DH all felt most comfortable for me. (My DH said he was glad he had worked out a lot before my labor lol) </p> <p>Also for me it helped to keep my moans low and not let them get high pitched. My doula had to constantly remind me to do low moans.</p> <p>Ack! Writing this out makes me not want to go through it all again! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/give-me-a-crash-course-method-of-preparing-for-a-med-free-birth#post-1676813 Tue, 03 Jun 2014 21:49:09 +0000 jedeve 1676813@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@googly-eyes: no idea. It worked some. I think the way the baby was positioned (op) meant he was hitting nerves and stuff not blocked by the epi? Or that it prevents the medicine from settling evenly? No idea. It works for some people though!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/give-me-a-crash-course-method-of-preparing-for-a-med-free-birth#post-1676451 Tue, 03 Jun 2014 19:16:53 +0000 Cole 1676451@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I haven't given birth yet so take this idea with a grain of salt but what about prenatal yoga? My instructor throws in tidbits about things that night help and had us practice breathing different ways so it might be a happy medium if you don't want to actually take a birth class. There are a few options near me that are drop in so that makes it much less of a commitment then a while series. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/give-me-a-crash-course-method-of-preparing-for-a-med-free-birth#post-1676407 Tue, 03 Jun 2014 18:53:39 +0000 MrsA 1676407@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a med free birth with back labor, and credit my doula, DH, and the shower for getting me through :silly: </p> <p>In all seriousness, what I found most helpful was being on the yoga ball in the shower, DH in front of me so I could drape over him, and the doula behind applying hot water and counter pressure. I also used breathing the entire time. If it makes sense, I was trying to breathe "louder" than the pains were intense. I agree that when my breathing got out of control the pain started to take over and I'd panic. Good luck!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/give-me-a-crash-course-method-of-preparing-for-a-med-free-birth#post-1676398 Tue, 03 Jun 2014 18:48:51 +0000 googly-eyes 1676398@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jedeve: I'm just wondering... Why is she saying the failed epi is due to the back labor though? I've heard of them failing due to previous back injuries/surgeries but not just because of back labor. I also didn't realize til now that you couldn't get it removed if it didn't take.. Eek. Sorry. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/give-me-a-crash-course-method-of-preparing-for-a-med-free-birth#post-1676109 Tue, 03 Jun 2014 15:54:55 +0000 looch 1676109@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I second moving around. I had excellent midwives that basically guided me through positions. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/give-me-a-crash-course-method-of-preparing-for-a-med-free-birth#post-1676107 Tue, 03 Jun 2014 15:54:26 +0000 jedeve 1676107@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@googly-eyes: Mine failed with my first, and I couldn't move but could feel everything. It's not an experience I want again!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/give-me-a-crash-course-method-of-preparing-for-a-med-free-birth#post-1676106 Tue, 03 Jun 2014 15:53:39 +0000 jetsa 1676106@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jedeve: my doula had 10ish births under her belt but she wasn't at all comfortable with me being induced (high BP) and felt I should have waited it out even though I had a gut feeling and my MW agreed it was getting unsafe. We never clicked in the first place so I may have set her up for failure. You can do this, yes it hurts but you get a baby at the end and you will feel great </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/give-me-a-crash-course-method-of-preparing-for-a-med-free-birth#post-1676101 Tue, 03 Jun 2014 15:50:39 +0000 googly-eyes 1676101@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jedeve: idk about the med free thing, but back labor doesn't mean an epi won't work... I had pretty much all back labor for days and then got an epi and it worked like a charm. If that's what you actually want I wouldn't count that out. Not to discourage you from preparing, can't hurt to prepare anyway. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/give-me-a-crash-course-method-of-preparing-for-a-med-free-birth#post-1676085 Tue, 03 Jun 2014 15:47:38 +0000 jedeve 1676085@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jetsa: Seriously! I am going to walk in there and see if I can get the one we had last time. There was one we really didn't like, but I forgot her name.</p> <p>Our doula was just new - it was her first birth (she was still getting certified) that she was attending as a doula. She was great for the physical help, pushing on my hips and stuff. But she just seemed a little overwhelmed at my pain level. </p> <p>I started really thinking about getting ready for birth last night and now I'm not really looking forward to it. Yesterday I was all pumped and feeling like I could handle it. Now remembering how much it just flippin hurt I'm a little like "crap, I have to do that again?"</p> <p>I know that's not the right attitude. But it's the truth! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/give-me-a-crash-course-method-of-preparing-for-a-med-free-birth#post-1675917 Tue, 03 Jun 2014 14:55:46 +0000 avivoca 1675917@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Move. Walk around. I couldn't stand to be crunched up since most of my pain was in my lower abdomen, and movement really helped me. I really liked having my husband ball his fist into my lower back as well to take the edge off, but that only lasted a few contractions before I was back to not wanting to be touched.</p> <p>Also, pee after every contraction. My birth teacher told us that keeping our bladder empty would help with the pain. It also helps the baby to descend since you are opening up your pelvis by straddling the toilet.</p> <p>ETA: I did not have a doula and labored at home for 11 hours. The nurses were excellent. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/give-me-a-crash-course-method-of-preparing-for-a-med-free-birth#post-1675908 Tue, 03 Jun 2014 14:53:07 +0000 jetsa 1675908@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jedeve: that's great. I think good nurses can make a world of difference :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/give-me-a-crash-course-method-of-preparing-for-a-med-free-birth#post-1675901 Tue, 03 Jun 2014 14:51:35 +0000 jedeve 1675901@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jetsa: I loved the nurses at the hospital and was pretty so-so on my doula, so I think I won't use one again! Not that there aren't great ones out there, but I don't think we can afford another one and I'm confident in the hospital staff we have. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/give-me-a-crash-course-method-of-preparing-for-a-med-free-birth#post-1675736 Tue, 03 Jun 2014 14:12:10 +0000 jetsa 1675736@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was not a fan of my doula during labor so I don't agree with this suggestion but to each their own. I had a great nurse who kept telling me to just let my body melt into the bed during each contraction; it sounds silly now but it worked amazingly for me. I was induced and made it pain med-free :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/give-me-a-crash-course-method-of-preparing-for-a-med-free-birth#post-1675715 Tue, 03 Jun 2014 14:07:33 +0000 Chastenet 1675715@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lamariniere: 45m! oh crap, maybe I won't have as much time as I think I will with LO2!</p> <p>I read the hypnobirthing book this time around, and would love to actually try this method since it seems pretty efficient. Unfortunately, the book wasn't available at the library until I was already 38w...The method definitely takes practicing and 2w just isn't going to cut it. But, if you have time, I would try it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/give-me-a-crash-course-method-of-preparing-for-a-med-free-birth#post-1675691 Tue, 03 Jun 2014 14:01:11 +0000 MoonMoon 1675691@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Arden: @cyndistar3: this is exactly what I was going to say, I couldn't have avoided an epidural with my back labor were it not for my doulas!</p> <p>Your mw or doula might have tips for exercises or stretches to help your LO get into a more favorable position before labor.</p> <p>Also, help yourself be a good candidate for the birth you want-stay hydrated, do exercises/stretches, research your options, go over your birth plan with your mw etc.</p> <p>Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/give-me-a-crash-course-method-of-preparing-for-a-med-free-birth#post-1675668 Tue, 03 Jun 2014 13:54:53 +0000 cyndistar3 1675668@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Arden: I agree with this! With my first birth I went med free and I had back labor but my doula was a life saver and kept me alive and med free through my 48 hour labor.</p> <p>Eta: aside from the doula, just keep focused on your breathing, try to take slow even breaths. I was fine until I let my breathing get away from me and started breathing fast, that's when I started to panic and it took a little while to get it back under control. I also spent quite a bit of time in the tub with a big wet towel over me, it was super comforting. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/give-me-a-crash-course-method-of-preparing-for-a-med-free-birth#post-1675650 Tue, 03 Jun 2014 13:49:41 +0000 Arden 1675650@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This isn't what you asked, but my #1 recommendation for achieving a med-free birth? Get a doula! They can do pain relieving massage and pressure techniques, recommend positions and movements to make you more comfortable, and suggest coping techniques. </p> <p>If it's out of your budget, look into student doulas who work for an extreme discount - they still at least have the knowledge under the belt even if they don't have as much experience. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/give-me-a-crash-course-method-of-preparing-for-a-med-free-birth#post-1675625 Tue, 03 Jun 2014 13:40:40 +0000 IRunForFun 1675625@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Check out "The Birth Partner" by Penny Simkin for lots of pain relief techniques and labor positions. You can probably get it at the library and photocopy relevant pages to bring with you to consult (and have your DH consult) while at the hospital. It's a really good book! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/give-me-a-crash-course-method-of-preparing-for-a-med-free-birth#post-1675620 Tue, 03 Jun 2014 13:37:08 +0000 PurplePeony 1675620@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know you said no classes, but I would really recommend looking into the Hypnobabies self-study course. I took a Hypnobirthing class (similar idea but somewhat different techniques) and found it really helpful. What helped me most was learning the breathing and mental relaxation techniques -- that way, when I was in labor, I was able to just hunker down and focus on one thing (such as counting my breath in and out during a contraction) and sort of tune out everything else.</p> <p>One of the MOST important things for me was keeping my grunts/moans low and productive. If you can keep your voice in the lower register, you can use it to help labor down and push. High-pitched screams are counterproductive because they don't help your body move the baby along, but do tire you out and cause you to focus in more on the pain. When I was pushing, my actual thought train was "Push--low moan--keep it low--can't push any more--breathe in--push--keep it low--don't scream" over and over again. It worked, though! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/give-me-a-crash-course-method-of-preparing-for-a-med-free-birth#post-1675616 Tue, 03 Jun 2014 13:35:50 +0000 lamariniere 1675616@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had an accidental med free birth for LO2. I had planned on an epi, but I progressed so fast that there wasn't any time. I took a birth class with LO1, and the only think I could remember were some of the breathing techniques, and I counted in my head during the contractions. Nothing else would have helped anyways for me because it was SO painful that all I could do was lay on the bed. My whole L&amp;D was only 45min! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/give-me-a-crash-course-method-of-preparing-for-a-med-free-birth#post-1675558 Tue, 03 Jun 2014 13:14:39 +0000 jedeve 1675558@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>First birth, I had a go with the flow attitude. Short birth story: baby was posterior, I progressed half a centimeter in 4 hours of consistent/continuous back labor contractions, asked for an epidural at 2.5 centimeters. Didn't get it for another hour, at which point I was six centimeters. It never really worked as far as pain relief went (although it took the edge off), but prevented me from moving my legs.</p> <p>I don't want that situation again. My MW says because I had back labor with the first, that was likely to happen again, and it was likely an epidural wouldn't work again. So I want to go without one.</p> <p>I don't want to do a birthing class, but I would like to brush up on some natural pain relief techniques. I know most of the ones I tried didn't come close to helping with the first. (even the tub didn't work - I just kept getting on all fours which the nurse didn't like me doing in a bath tub full of water, haha!)</p> <p>Any books/websites/dvds/you tube videos you would recommend? Especially for back labor? </p>