https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 18 Apr 2026 14:30:52 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-natural-birth#post-748675 Sat, 27 Apr 2013 22:27:06 +0000 pregnantbee 748675@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>These suggestions are all great. For me, it was stubbornness and determination, but all support from my husband. We also took a "tools for active birth" class that taught coping mechanisms and positions for getting through the pain. They stressed that the more relaxed you are, the easier it is to get through the contractions. That was spot on. Do everything you can to remain calm. Low vocalizations helped so much, as did the shower for its magical soothing powers. I got to the hospital at 8 cm so something must have worked :) I also had a doula help me once I got to the hospital since it was too late at home. She was great, too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-natural-birth#post-748628 Sat, 27 Apr 2013 21:54:25 +0000 bpcmarj 748628@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Being able to labor in the tub. DH was by my side, my midwife turned off the lights, and I went into a zone! I was able to stay relaxed and focused and the tub felt SO good. As soon as I got out (after 3 hours!) things were so much harder. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-natural-birth#post-748626 Sat, 27 Apr 2013 21:53:33 +0000 JoyfulKiwi 748626@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@runsyellowlites: &amp; @Andrea: Yes! I really believed that unmedicated births could be done (I read a lot of positive stories and watched videos of calm, positive unmedicated births). I wanted to do it and I knew it could be done, so that helped me get through the tough moments.</p> <p> @Orvis18: short term goals were super helpful in the moment. I would tell myself, "if I'm _x_ cm then I'll keep going",etc.</p> <p>@grizz: I had most of what everyone mentioned, especially support (my husband, my midwife, and happily a great nurse and supportive hospital). I credit not having an epidural (with pitocin - I was induced) to two things. 1)prenatal yoga. I learned so much about focus, calmness, and listening to my body and I definitely drew on all those things to keep myself comfortable during labor. 2) having no shame. If I had been self-conscious about anything, I would have held back and not let my body do what it needed to do. So whatever you feel like you need to do in the moment - a position, asking someone to give counter pressure, moaning (which ended up being very helpful for me and I never would have guessed that beforehand!) - just go for it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-natural-birth#post-748568 Sat, 27 Apr 2013 21:12:23 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 748568@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i forgot to mention, it's good to go in with a birth plan even if things may not turn out exactly as you hope... this at least allows the staff to be on the same page as you. you don't want to have to explain every detail while you're there and already in pain. also, having a good nurse was instrumental in helping me get through it too!! i had such a wonderful nurse with my first labor, and a horrible nurse my second one... and although i was able to successfully birth both babies unmedicated... it made a big difference in how i felt about the whole experience. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-natural-birth#post-748565 Sat, 27 Apr 2013 21:09:43 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 748565@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@grizz: definitely doing the prepwork of practicing the relaxation exercises with my husband helped, and also having a doula (she was absolutely invaluable throughout my first unmedicated birth, but i didn't have a doula the 2nd time around)! a lot of the other things ppl already mentioned really helped me too.</p> <p>what @looch: said - "The most comfortable position was standing, bent over at the waist, resting with my upper body on the bed. Then on my side when I got further along." </p> <p>and what @runsyellowlites: said - "Pretty much staying OUT of bed b/c contractions laying down, regardless of position, straight up SUCKED! lol"</p> <p>my most comfortable position was bending over the bed in a 90 degree angle at the waist. lying down was AWFUL!! i loved it when my husband put his fist and kneed my lower back too... for some reason that pressure helped so much. </p> <p>a lot of it is mental too. i know some people prefer music, but i needed absolute silence so i could go to my "quiet place"... i didn't want anyone to talk to me so that i could focus on relaxing and letting my body do its thing. plus, i was in too much pain to talk anyway, so controlling my breathing "in and out and in and out" helped a lot. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-natural-birth#post-748505 Sat, 27 Apr 2013 20:18:19 +0000 duckduckkristen 748505@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A quick labor! I went from 4 to 10 cm in under an hour so even if I had wanted an epi there was no way I was getting one! But also I just tried to focus on getting through on contraction at a time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-natural-birth#post-748481 Sat, 27 Apr 2013 19:57:47 +0000 Corduroy 748481@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My doula, for sure. She kept me going for 51 hours. </p> <p>I also appreciated that in accordance with my birth plan the hospital staff made almost no mention of pain relief drugs. It was helpful to not have to refuse them. I really didn't think about them at all during labor. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-natural-birth#post-748463 Sat, 27 Apr 2013 19:45:37 +0000 reyorra 748463@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My husband was awesome at keeping me calm and helping me through the contractions with humor and love. He told knock-knock jokes to make me answer so that I would keep breathing. He rubbed my back, arms and legs when I needed it, and he played whatever song I asked for on the iPhone.<br /> I labored at home for half of the 12 hours I was in labor, but my husband was at work for most of that, he got home and 45 minutes later I told him it was time to leave. So most of his help came in the hospital portion. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-natural-birth#post-748436 Sat, 27 Apr 2013 19:25:54 +0000 matador84 748436@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a precipitous birth tht made me progress very quickly and was extremely painful. The nurses were amazing at keeping me focused on getting the baby out and having a positive attitude. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-natural-birth#post-748278 Sat, 27 Apr 2013 16:41:24 +0000 Andrea 748278@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My own determination! I really made up mind not to have any drugs. I also had a doula who made me write a birth plan. I never gave it to my OB or anyone else but seeing the words "NO DRUGS" on paper really made it real in my mind. It is also really important to keep moving even if it's the last thing you want to do. Walk and move!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-natural-birth#post-748252 Sat, 27 Apr 2013 16:17:22 +0000 Mrs. Chocolate 748252@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Good support helps a lot. I had my husband and a doula and they were both wonderful and supportive and helping me believe I could get through it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-natural-birth#post-746005 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 09:33:49 +0000 bushelandapeck 746005@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: this is exactly what happened with me too. I only wanted to bend over and had my DH rubbing my lower back the whole time. I had bruises the next day from how hard I had him rubbing. Haha. </p> <p>I also felt that breathing and focus were absolutely necessary for me. I kept setting little goals for myself (just get through two ore contractions, or only 30 seconds left) and that helped a lot. I am also pretty stubborn and wanted to prove to myself, and to my OB (who said I wouldn't be able to handle the pain with Pitocin), that I could do it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-natural-birth#post-746000 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 09:32:17 +0000 pelikila 746000@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@allison: Unknown but after I had my son and took a shower at the hospital I noticed it would not have been a shower that had a high enough shower head (was about mid-face for me and I'm not all that tall) and the pressure wasn't what I would have wanted and being able to just get in and out as I wanted probably would have been more of a to-do if I hadn't been at home. Also, though my OB told me I wouldn't require constant fetal monitoring during labor as long as everything was looking normal, when I got to the hospital they wanted me to be monitored constantly for the first hour before they would let me free. That would have negated the shower altogether during that time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-natural-birth#post-745956 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 09:19:28 +0000 runsyellowlites 745956@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: "The most comfortable position was standing, bent over at the waist, resting with my upper body on the bed."</p> <p>This too!!! Oh how I loved this position! Sadly, I couldn't use it b/c P wasn't descending &amp; this position closes the top part of the pelvis. My MW banned me from it! =( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-natural-birth#post-745937 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 09:13:33 +0000 looch 745937@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The key for me was being able to move around and find positions that were comfortable. I had requested the delivery room with the birthing tub, thinking i would want to use it, but it wasn't appealing during labor. </p> <p>The most comfortable position was standing, bent over at the waist, resting with my upper body on the bed. Then on my side when I got further along. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-natural-birth#post-745933 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 09:11:45 +0000 2PeasinaPod 745933@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@runsyellowlites: "Pretty much staying OUT of bed b/c contractions laying down, regardless of position, straight up SUCKED! lol"</p> <p>This times a thousand! Holy cow did contractions lying down suck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-natural-birth#post-745928 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 09:09:48 +0000 mrskc 745928@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My doula! She really pushed me and helped me! When I got to transition, I felt like I couldn't do it. DH was ready to do anything to make the pain go away. But my doula, on the otherhand, told me I could do it and really helped me cope. I didn't do any preparation before hand. I trusted me doula to coach me thru. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-natural-birth#post-745915 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 09:07:11 +0000 runsyellowlites 745915@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hmmmmmm all in all I was doing really good until I got discouraged from my progression, or lack there of, so I think the very best, most important factor is TRUSTING YOUR BODY! It makes it so much more doable! But there were also some practical things that helped me.. Here are my top 5 things I used &amp; feel pretty confident they attributed to my success.</p> <p>My list:<br /> 1. I had a 5 hour playlist of worship music on my iPhone that played literally the WHOLE time I was home (which was just up until I was about pushing)<br /> This helped keep my focused. I wasn't always paying attention to it but there were times that I would zone in on whatever was playing &amp; get my perspective back to what I was doing and how blessed I felt to be able to birth my baby.</p> <p>2. Hands &amp; Knees was a great position during contractions as was leaning on DH w/ him practically fully supporting me through transition contractions.<br /> Pretty much staying OUT of bed b/c contractions laying down, regardless of position, straight up SUCKED! lol</p> <p>3. HUMMMING!<br /> I hummed as I breathed out through pretty much every contraction (even before they got hard) up until I hit transition, then I vocalized more (still low toned)</p> <p>4. A warm bath with DH pouring warm water over my belly through each contraction.<br /> I of course couldn't get fully submerged in my bath tub so him doing this was FANTASTIC... which I said joyfully more than once. lol</p> <p>5. Being home! This had to be the #1 factor...<br /> I was comfortable, knew my surroundings, where things were if I needed them, and felt very calm which changed COMPLETELY when I got the the hospital with the questions, lights, and standard procedures of IV, blood draws, and very annoying blood pressure cuff &amp; fetal monitor. lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-natural-birth#post-745848 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 08:53:24 +0000 allison 745848@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pelikila: would they not let you do this at the hospital? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-natural-birth#post-745810 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 08:43:39 +0000 sslm 745810@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Honestly I think it was stubbornness and determination! Also, having a midwife and a husband who were totally supportive and on board with no epidural really helped. I was in a lot of pain and probably told DH 20 times that I couldn't do it and needed an epidural but he was so calm and just reminded me that that wouldn't be what I wanted and was just the best cheerleader :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-natural-birth#post-745805 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 08:41:31 +0000 pelikila 745805@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Being at home and able to stand in a hot shower when I wanted helped me a lot. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-natural-birth#post-745802 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 08:40:45 +0000 allison 745802@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hmm, this is a good question. I had a med-free labor and delivery, and I labored a lot at the hospital (not really by choice). Having a doula was REALLY helpful, I think, because she and my husband were able to remind me of the choices I made before I went into labor (I asked for an epi a couple times--I feel like everybody probably does!). I feel like if it had've just been my husband there, he might have wavered more because I'm sure it wasn't easy seeing me in so much pain.</p> <p>For the record, no one told me I COULDN'T have any meds. They just encouraged me to think it through and try for a little bit longer without, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-natural-birth#post-745770 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 08:30:42 +0000 Boheme 745770@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you had a natural birth, what would you say was key to your success? Focus points, a doula, laboring at home, etc? </p> <p>I think I read somewhere on here that Mrs. High Heels said relaxation practice was key to her births, so I've been working on my Bradley relaxation exercises every night. I'd love to add other coping techniques! </p>