Hellobee Boards Topic: If you went unmedicated, how prepared did you feel?

Hellobee Boards Topic: If you went unmedicated, how prepared did you feel? https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 07 Apr 2026 22:38:29 +0000 Mrs. High Heels on "If you went unmedicated, how prepared did you feel?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-went-unmedicated-how-prepared-did-you-feel#post-796836 Mon, 20 May 2013 22:27:50 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 796836@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @grizz: I did the same prepwork - bradley classes, relaxation techniques, books, hired a doula... but I never got to a point where I felt ready. You just go in doing what you have to do! How can anyone feel ready for something they've never experienced?? You've done all that you can and the rest is all mental! I did feel a lot more ready with my 2nd though because I already knew what to expect. mrsbabycakes on "If you went unmedicated, how prepared did you feel?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-went-unmedicated-how-prepared-did-you-feel#post-796623 Mon, 20 May 2013 20:07:31 +0000 mrsbabycakes 796623@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I read a few natural childbirth books, and watched videos online, but never attended any classes. I was a bit nervous right up until I went into labor, and then I just felt ready and excited. My DH was there, but to be honest I was totally content just going into my head and being by myself. I did have an extremely easy/relatively fast labor though. Andrea on "If you went unmedicated, how prepared did you feel?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-went-unmedicated-how-prepared-did-you-feel#post-796611 Mon, 20 May 2013 20:00:30 +0000 Andrea 796611@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I felt prepared only because it was my 2nd child. I didn't do other types of prep but I did hire a doula to help guide me. I had my first with an epi and I felt like I could do it med free for my 2nd since the labor is supposed to be shorter. Um, overall it wasn't any shorter, but the pushing part was so that made a big difference. birdofafeather on "If you went unmedicated, how prepared did you feel?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-went-unmedicated-how-prepared-did-you-feel#post-796121 Mon, 20 May 2013 15:19:50 +0000 birdofafeather 796121@https://boards.hellobee.com/ i had a doula and read hypnobirthing. my DH was in paramedic school and we did a couple hour meeting with a hypnobirthing instructor. like PPs, what i kept in mind was that my body was made to do this. i listened to the hypno birthing affirmations a lot, learned about the physiology of labor and my doula reminded me that it was all for a reason and i kept thinking of my little girl coming to me. good luck! JoJoGirl on "If you went unmedicated, how prepared did you feel?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-went-unmedicated-how-prepared-did-you-feel#post-796058 Mon, 20 May 2013 14:59:03 +0000 JoJoGirl 796058@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My doula was totally essential. I haven't written up my birth story yet but made it 17 hrs with contractions around 3 mins apart only to hear I was 1 cm dilated. Could not have done that without her. Since my water had already broken both my midwife and doula recommended medical intervention and I reluctantly agreed. All things being equal I felt as prepared as possible but most important thing is to be open to whatever happens :-) eta: their recommendation ended up being the right one- baby was born vaginally 5 hrs later after epi + pit. runsyellowlites on "If you went unmedicated, how prepared did you feel?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-went-unmedicated-how-prepared-did-you-feel#post-796029 Mon, 20 May 2013 14:52:27 +0000 runsyellowlites 796029@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @artbee: I don't completely agree with that.... P wasn't "my first" but it was definitely my first non-induced, non-medicated, first time pushing a baby out birth & I really did resolve to feel confident in my body & my ability which I think says alot on this being possible since I planned an hbac! lol I do think this is hard to do though, especially with the perspective we have concerning birth these days... it's easy to fear the "what could happen", even though when left alone these things are rarely issues, not the norm. heffalump on "If you went unmedicated, how prepared did you feel?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-went-unmedicated-how-prepared-did-you-feel#post-796009 Mon, 20 May 2013 14:47:26 +0000 heffalump 796009@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I didn't have a natural birth.... but I feel like first of all nobody feels super prepared for birth. Especially if it's your first, you just don't know what's going to happen. The unknown is SCARY! Plus, everybody is different so you'll have to figure out what is going to work for you during labor. That's not something you can know until labor actually comes. I think knowing and studying different things is helpful, plus your doula will be able to point you in a new direction if what you're doing isn't working. wheres_c on "If you went unmedicated, how prepared did you feel?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-went-unmedicated-how-prepared-did-you-feel#post-795924 Mon, 20 May 2013 14:27:12 +0000 wheres_c 795924@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I think the doula will make all the difference. I was prepared for the pain, but really not prepared for how pushy the nurses would be with interventions. I wish I'd had a doula. I was I medicated for 18 hours of labor but ultimately ended in c section. I still wonder if I'd have had a doula, if the c section could have been prevented. We didnt take the Bradley classes but read the Bradley books. The most unsettling thing about labor was not the pain, but that my doctor wasnt present for any of it...just various nurses that came in and out, trying to push pitocin and pain meds. joyjoy on "If you went unmedicated, how prepared did you feel?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-went-unmedicated-how-prepared-did-you-feel#post-795732 Mon, 20 May 2013 13:40:26 +0000 joyjoy 795732@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Same as other mamas above. We didn't take any classes, and I had no doula. I just kept telling myself that my body was made to birth. I tried to focus on my breathing and relaxing my body to let it do what needed to be done. I will say that I went into it with the mentality that I would do my best to go unmedicated, but in the event that I really needed it, I would be fine with that, too. I think that being relaxed and being at peace with whatever the outcome actually helped me go med free, as well. Protectlove on "If you went unmedicated, how prepared did you feel?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-went-unmedicated-how-prepared-did-you-feel#post-795677 Mon, 20 May 2013 13:20:08 +0000 Protectlove 795677@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Knowing I was going unmedicated gave me peace. I think I would have been much more anxious and ill prepared if I had to worry about the administration of any drugs and being in a hospital. I felt prepared in the sense that it was possible, aware that it would be painful, but mindful that it was natural and my body was ready. littlebittyhouse on "If you went unmedicated, how prepared did you feel?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-went-unmedicated-how-prepared-did-you-feel#post-795483 Mon, 20 May 2013 12:20:38 +0000 littlebittyhouse 795483@https://boards.hellobee.com/ same as @runsyellowlites. my mantra was that my body was made to do this. i did a lot of mindful meditation the weeks before. When labor started I became a complete introvery and focused on being in the moment and relaxing. It also helped me to remember that each contraction has a beginning and an end. They do not last forever. Kiki on "If you went unmedicated, how prepared did you feel?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-went-unmedicated-how-prepared-did-you-feel#post-795406 Mon, 20 May 2013 12:01:01 +0000 Kiki 795406@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I didn't feel prepared for my DS at all. Without my doula I don't know that would have gone med free. The best advice I ever got was make sure DH brings a swimsuit, so that he can help you while you shower through the labor. The shower and popicles were my saving grace with DS. Poor DH was still in his swimsuit when DS was born because I wouldn't let him leave my side to change. looch on "If you went unmedicated, how prepared did you feel?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-went-unmedicated-how-prepared-did-you-feel#post-795317 Mon, 20 May 2013 11:29:50 +0000 looch 795317@https://boards.hellobee.com/ All I did to "prepare" for the birth was to go to the hospital class. It was two days and it went over things like using the ball, the birthing tubs, positions you can use to manage the contractions. My husband didn't do any prep, but he was guided by the midwives, so in the end, we achieved a med free and intervention free birth. Boheme on "If you went unmedicated, how prepared did you feel?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-went-unmedicated-how-prepared-did-you-feel#post-795303 Mon, 20 May 2013 11:27:16 +0000 Boheme 795303@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @runsyellowlites: That is really reassuring to know because the thing I repeat to myself the most is to let my body do what it knows how to do, and that I need to get out of my own way and relax. runsyellowlites on "If you went unmedicated, how prepared did you feel?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-went-unmedicated-how-prepared-did-you-feel#post-795294 Mon, 20 May 2013 11:24:10 +0000 runsyellowlites 795294@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I felt prepared when I resolved to trust my body! I didn't take any classes, and really only read my Ina May book, but when I finally just gave up *that* control & decided my body knew what it was doing, I felt ready. Remember, *you* don't have to know what's coming b/c your body already knows what to do... you just have to resolve to go along for the ride. ;) Revel on "If you went unmedicated, how prepared did you feel?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-went-unmedicated-how-prepared-did-you-feel#post-795293 Mon, 20 May 2013 11:24:05 +0000 Revel 795293@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Interested to see the responses to this thread! As you know I don't have any experience, but we are less prepared than you - no doula and didn't take an extensive class like Bradley, just a natural birth class that met 3 times. I told the midwife I felt like we were "winging it" and she said everyone feels that way to some extent. I think the doula will be huge, because at least from what I've heard, the help you get from those around you (partner/nurses/doula/others) makes a big difference. Boheme on "If you went unmedicated, how prepared did you feel?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-went-unmedicated-how-prepared-did-you-feel#post-795283 Mon, 20 May 2013 11:20:34 +0000 Boheme 795283@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We are about to finish our last week of Bradley classes, I have an awesome doula, and my husband has studied his tail off on his coaching techniques in our Bradley books. I am re-reading our Bradley books and have been faithful about my exercises. But I just don't feel ready yet! I'll feel halfway ready and then whenever I have a twinge of something that makes me think I could be going into labor, I feel really unprepared! Is this normal? How prepared did you feel once labor started?