https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 08 May 2026 10:18:45 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-your-planned-natural-birth-turn-out#post-533149 Tue, 29 Jan 2013 00:21:44 +0000 FarmWifeGina 533149@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yep. Planned for an unmedicated birth both times, did what I could to make it happen, and trusted God and my body for the rest. Granted, I almost surely would have ended up with the cascade of interventions (epidural, pitocin, c-section) with my first if I hadn't been giving birth at home with a patient, attentive midwife- 26 hours of labor, 7 hours in transition. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-your-planned-natural-birth-turn-out#post-475605 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 14:19:17 +0000 mrs. wagon 475605@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>After 3 failed epidurals and a 24 hour labor with my first (despite going into labor on my own and being on pitocin the whole time) I approached my second birth with a different mindset... I knew I'd be induced at 39 weeks due to GD, so I planned on going as far as I could before asking for an epidural since I knew it would give me pain relief for at least a few hours before it failed again, and hopefully I could deliver in that time. I got to 6 cm on pitocin contractions (and after they broke my water), then got the epidural (which turned into a spinal), and an hour later I pushed my baby out completely pain-free. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-your-planned-natural-birth-turn-out#post-475599 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 14:17:57 +0000 yellowbird 475599@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was planning for natural, I ended up being induced and in labor for 3 days. I got an epidural! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-your-planned-natural-birth-turn-out#post-475572 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 14:10:43 +0000 sarac 475572@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had to be induced due to low fluid and baby distress at 41 weeks. My daughter was very not ready to be born, though, and suffered some complications from my difficult induction. I had an epidural after a while because of all the interventions they wanted to do. I managed to deliver vaginally, which was about the only good part of it.</p> <p>I will certainly be attempting a natural birth again. Hopefully next time I'll go into labor earlier. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-your-planned-natural-birth-turn-out#post-475416 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 13:20:50 +0000 Minnie_Girl 475416@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LittleFox: Your birth story reminds me a lot of my own! The outcomes were different but I had the same obstacles...labored for over two days, all back labor, LO's head was in a weird position and would.not.move. to where it needed to be, and my contractions stalled out around 9cms.</p> <p>After my water had been broken for 12ish hours we transferred our home birth to the hospital. Got an epidural in the hopes that I could get some rest, docs pushed for a low dose of pitocin...I ended up delivering a few hours later. </p> <p>The next time I doubt I'll need anything. My labor was just weird! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-your-planned-natural-birth-turn-out#post-473828 Tue, 01 Jan 2013 14:16:12 +0000 prettylizy 473828@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I ended up almost 48 hours after my water broke getting Pit to keep my contractions regular but coped without any pain meds as planned. It is possible to labour through synthetic contractions without pain meds, my doula was a big help with that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-your-planned-natural-birth-turn-out#post-473821 Tue, 01 Jan 2013 14:10:08 +0000 Mrs.B 473821@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I asked for an Epi at 9cm but it was to late. I pushed 3 times and DD was here. I got my med free birth and if I were to do it again I would try med free again. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-your-planned-natural-birth-turn-out#post-473796 Tue, 01 Jan 2013 13:56:08 +0000 LittleFox 473796@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I planned for natural, but requested an epidural around 5cm. I wasn't progressing and LO was posterior so I was having such intense back labor that I was screaming and throwing up. When the nurse checked me after a while and I was still 5cm, I decided to get it (I'd also been laboring over 24 hours at that point). I think being able to sleep and relax helped a lot- I quickly progressed to 8cm. I later ended up needing a c-section because I had a cervical lip at 9.5cm which I couldn't push past. My doctors and nurse were very supportive and gave me plenty of time and help, but in the end I couldn't do it- my cervix became more swollen and I needed the c-section. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-your-planned-natural-birth-turn-out#post-473127 Mon, 31 Dec 2012 23:33:10 +0000 Kemma 473127@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@zippylef: that's just what my midwife said! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-your-planned-natural-birth-turn-out#post-473024 Mon, 31 Dec 2012 22:01:00 +0000 loveisstrange 473024@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wanted natural and ended up with a failed epidural, induction, spinal block, episiotomy and forceps.</p> <p>Hey, at least I got to deliver vaginally. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-your-planned-natural-birth-turn-out#post-472990 Mon, 31 Dec 2012 21:27:53 +0000 wheres_c 472990@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I planned for natural and really didn't find it all that painful. They tried to get me started on pitocin when I arrived and i refused.</p> <p>20 hours later i had an emergency c section due to blood pressure issues and infection :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-your-planned-natural-birth-turn-out#post-472950 Mon, 31 Dec 2012 20:23:04 +0000 Andrea 472950@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I planned for natural by hiring a doula and followed her advice about having the "I can do this" mind set. Baring any emergencies, it's mind over matter and you CAN do it because so many women have done it before us without drugs. Try to remain calm, confident, and focused! Doing those things really helped me, but having my doula cheerleader was also essential in not asking for the drugs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-your-planned-natural-birth-turn-out#post-472683 Mon, 31 Dec 2012 15:44:46 +0000 Mrs. Pen 472683@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had to be induced due to being pre-e but I still did it without meds so I still say I went natural. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-your-planned-natural-birth-turn-out#post-472673 Mon, 31 Dec 2012 15:38:53 +0000 Kemma 472673@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I voted other.</p> <p>I went into labour naturally then failed to progress beyond 5cm after twelve hours so my labour was augmented with Syntocinin (pitocin equivalent). I had an epidural to cope with contractions and help me get some rest and I had several doses of antibiotics as my waters had broken about five hours before I went into established labour.</p> <p>When it came to delivery, Baby wasn't quite in the right position so I was given an episiotomy and she was delivered by ventouse after two hours of pushing.</p> <p>Although we were aiming for unmedicated, I'm ok with how it all turned out as I know my midwife wouldn't have suggested or administered the interventions if they weren't necessary and my recovery was excellent </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-your-planned-natural-birth-turn-out#post-472667 Mon, 31 Dec 2012 15:32:52 +0000 immabeetoo 472667@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JoJoGirl: I would not say I was planning natural butwanted to if I could and was terrified of escalating interventions. Labor started before I went to bed and by the time we got to the hospital I was at five but so tired I couldn't stop shaking. After much dithering and uncertainty I did get an epidural because I was afraid I'd get too tired to push. I was able to sleep and woke up at a ten and pushed for forty five minutes. The hospital was very laid back I never felt rushed and I don't regret how it turned out at all. If I'd been able to labor on a nights sleep I think I would've gone without but of course that's easier to say now! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-your-planned-natural-birth-turn-out#post-472630 Mon, 31 Dec 2012 14:56:28 +0000 JoJoGirl 472630@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@runsyellowlites: I feel like I may have already because that sounds familiar :) But i'll go back and read it again! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-your-planned-natural-birth-turn-out#post-472623 Mon, 31 Dec 2012 14:53:24 +0000 runsyellowlites 472623@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JoJoGirl: You definitely know when it's time! Your contractions will actually change &amp; start pushing the baby out on its own if you don't! My last check was almost an hour before I delivered &amp; I totally knew when I needed to push.... I actually tried not to at first bc the last I had heard my cervix was swollen &amp; I didn't want to hurt myself! You can actually read my birthstory here on the birthstory board... Very long &amp; detailed. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-your-planned-natural-birth-turn-out#post-472616 Mon, 31 Dec 2012 14:47:26 +0000 plaidpants 472616@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JoJoGirl: I did! It was pretty intense but I am really happy with my decision. Luckily my labor was relatively short (I guess? It was like 6 hours before I pushed) so that helped. If it had gone on much longer, who knows! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-your-planned-natural-birth-turn-out#post-472613 Mon, 31 Dec 2012 14:47:16 +0000 JoJoGirl 472613@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@runsyellowlites: Your first experience is basically the experience of all of my friends (advantage to being the last to have kids). It's one of the reasons why we're even trying for natural. </p> <p>If you don't have cv checks, what happens? You just 'know' when it's time to push? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-your-planned-natural-birth-turn-out#post-472606 Mon, 31 Dec 2012 14:42:22 +0000 runsyellowlites 472606@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did pretty good until I had some things happen that discouraged me. </p> <p>1. I got checked at 7cm &amp; felt I should've been farther along (I won't have cv checks after 5/6 cm next time).<br /> 2. I had an anterior lip at 9.5cm</p> <p>When I was told my cervix was swollen I pretty much asked to be transferred (homebirth). The only time I asked for anything was upon arrival to the hospital bc I was an automatic repeat cesarean.... I told them "I don't need to feel these anymore, give me something for pain". Otherwise this birth went as planned.... Only intervention I received was getting an IV &amp; fetal monitoring upon arrival &amp; pitocin after birth ONLY because I wasn't able to immediately bf (P had a temp) &amp; I had a very tired uterus (loooong labor).</p> <p>ETA: My first was a planned unmedicated hospital birth that ended in "emergency" cesarean after lots of interventions (pretty much all unnecessary). My first experience is why I went a completely different route for my second. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-your-planned-natural-birth-turn-out#post-472605 Mon, 31 Dec 2012 14:41:26 +0000 JoJoGirl 472605@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@plaidpants: So maybe this goes against my theory: you went natural AFTER being induced?! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-your-planned-natural-birth-turn-out#post-472603 Mon, 31 Dec 2012 14:40:52 +0000 JoJoGirl 472603@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@skibobrown: This. The funny thing about my 'plan' is if I have to get pitocin, I fully plan on getting an epidural too... I absolutely don't believe we are made to endure medicated contractions and those scare me way more! I feel like for me the epi or not question would ONLY be in the lack of all other interventions leading up to that point. Rock on for even trying :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-your-planned-natural-birth-turn-out#post-472601 Mon, 31 Dec 2012 14:39:18 +0000 plaidpants 472601@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wanted a completely natural birth, but I needed to be induced after my water broke and I didn't go into labor. We waited about 18 hours and then my midwife was concerned about infection. Other than that, it went as planned! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-your-planned-natural-birth-turn-out#post-472598 Mon, 31 Dec 2012 14:38:32 +0000 skibobrown 472598@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I got an epidural at 7 cm, even though I was initially very opposed. At that point I had been in labor for 3 days. We had finally started pitocin to get my contractions closer together b/c they were still too far apart. I was exhausted, experiencing the horror of pitocin contractions, and the final straw was the doctor telling me that it would be *at least* another 2 hours until it was time to push. At that point I agreed to an epidural. </p> <p>I got my epidural (which by the way was amazing, and only took away the painful parts of the labor sensations). 30 minutes later I was pushing the baby out. If I had known I would progress from 7 to 10 cm so quickly I would not have asked for the epidural, but that is just how the cookie crumbles. I am still hoping to have my fully natural birth experience next time around. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-your-planned-natural-birth-turn-out#post-472591 Mon, 31 Dec 2012 14:35:02 +0000 BelugaBean 472591@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I picked other. I ended up wanting an epidural but progressed too fast and didn't get it. I did get half a dose of Nubain though to help me relax between contractions although it took away none of the pain. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-your-planned-natural-birth-turn-out#post-472583 Mon, 31 Dec 2012 14:33:12 +0000 JoJoGirl 472583@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is sort of a spin-off.. we are in the camp of 'aiming for natural but open to interventions as needed' for our birth. I often hear about people who are 100% hoping for natural and then unexpected things happen. But I also know plenty of moms who were adamant about going natural and did! So here is my unscientific (and completely judgment-free) poll on a VERY slow New Year's Eve at work :) </p>