https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 15 May 2026 20:54:44 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-moms-did-you-really-want-it-why-or-were-you-neutral-to-it/page/2#post-1288797 Wed, 18 Dec 2013 11:03:08 +0000 septca 1288797@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I really wanted it. I wanted a med-free birth for many reasons, but I also wanted low-intervention prenatal care. I wanted to be with a practice that celebrated pregnancy and didn't treat it as a disease. I wanted to be cared for by women, and especially women who had been through a natural birth. All of this led my to a midwifery practice. I didn't have the easiest, most ideal labor by any stretch. It was long, hard, and painful. But I trusted my MWs and it never occurred to me to ask for an epidural, even after 45 hours of labor. I will definitely be returning to the same practice when I get pregnant with #2.</p> <p>FWIW, I had a pretty crunch mindset about my pregnancy and childbirth, but I also believe in hospitals. I am lucky to live in a city that has a WONDERFUL hospital-based midwifery practice, but it is disgusting how hard it is to get into the practice. The supply is way too low for the demand. I wish this type of care was more readily available to American women - I think it would lead to much better birth outcomes and many fewer c-sections. Okay, stepping off my soap box. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-moms-did-you-really-want-it-why-or-were-you-neutral-to-it/page/2#post-1288785 Wed, 18 Dec 2013 10:56:16 +0000 googly-eyes 1288785@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't know if my answer counts because I am all for epidurals. But I didn't get mine til 8 cm. I actually almost didn't goto the hospital until a killer contraction! I had been having back labor for about 2 days but they still weren't regular and I was following the l&amp;d nurse's advice from the day before when I went in to get checked out before attempting to go to bed.. Anyway, looking back in glad I didn't stay at the hospital the first day and get an epi like they offered. Even though it hurt, it still took awhile for LO to be born, more than 24 hrs. I can't help but wonder if that epi earlier would have meant a c section. Who knows, maybe the c section a day earlier would have made me less exhausted and maybe pp would have gone better? My gut still says that if I can last til at least a five next time around I have a decent chance to avoid both pain and a c section! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-moms-did-you-really-want-it-why-or-were-you-neutral-to-it/page/2#post-1288761 Wed, 18 Dec 2013 10:48:26 +0000 Mrs. J 1288761@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I really wanted a med free, intervention free birth. After two days of laboring at home, we went to the hospital where I labored for about 8 hours. I was 8cm dilated when we got there. The only thing they did to speed up my labor was break my water because I was so tired after laboring for three days, and they had me try pushing sooner. My labor was really untraditional...my contractions never got closer than four minutes apart, and I pretty much skipped transition in the traditional sense, but maybe that's because I started pushing when I did.</p> <p>I made it though with no meds and no crying, so I was/am really happy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-moms-did-you-really-want-it-why-or-were-you-neutral-to-it/page/2#post-1288258 Wed, 18 Dec 2013 07:52:32 +0000 Dandelion 1288258@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wanted natural for S. But, when everything flew out the window, I had almost every intervention, except a c-section. I resisted the epidural, but when I finally gave it, it was the only time of peace I had during my induction to get her out. I almost had a fear of interventions before my labor with her.</p> <p>Since then, I have decided that I hate labor, and I have no desire to go through it again. I'm opting for a c-section. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-moms-did-you-really-want-it-why-or-were-you-neutral-to-it/page/2#post-1288237 Wed, 18 Dec 2013 07:09:22 +0000 knittylady 1288237@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was leaning heavily on the sofe of natural birth when I found out that due to spinal surgery I had in 2000 I was not a candidate for an epidural. So I had no choice! That being said I believe I asked for "all the drugs" about 150 times throughout my med free labor... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-moms-did-you-really-want-it-why-or-were-you-neutral-to-it/page/2#post-1288217 Wed, 18 Dec 2013 05:58:53 +0000 SugarplumsMom 1288217@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a failed epidural. But I went into it with an open mind - who know's maybe I can handle it? I had to convince myself this. I was always frightened of giving birth (thanks, 8th grade home economics teacher that made us watch a natural, water birth to scare the crap put of us)! I was also abroad and lived in a crunchier country, so I HAD to convince myself. I watched The Business of Being Born and felt empowered.</p> <p>By the time i felt the ring of fire, I was cursing Ricki Lake! If we ever decide to try again, I'm not only requesting an epidural early on, but if the need arises, I wouldn't second guess having a c-section! </p> <p>** The fact that I was sick with the cold, and was induced greatly affected my experience. Bad combo! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-moms-did-you-really-want-it-why-or-were-you-neutral-to-it/page/2#post-1288181 Wed, 18 Dec 2013 02:33:35 +0000 lamariniere 1288181@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had an epi with my first. </p> <p>DD was born at the end of November. She arrived so fast that I was only in labor for 45 minutes. There was literally no time for an epi because by the time the anesthesiologist showed up, I had progressed from 5 to 10cm in 15 minutes! It was a terribly painful process, but I'm glad it went as fast as it did. I do not know how ladies go through hours of unmediated labor! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-moms-did-you-really-want-it-why-or-were-you-neutral-to-it/page/2#post-1287859 Tue, 17 Dec 2013 22:10:46 +0000 Ash 1287859@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I labored naturally for 20hrs (20hrs of back labor) before I ended up with a c section. My goal was a med free birth. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-moms-did-you-really-want-it-why-or-were-you-neutral-to-it/page/2#post-1287855 Tue, 17 Dec 2013 22:09:33 +0000 MapleMoose 1287855@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was induced so drugs from the very beginning (assuming you count Pitocin as a drug). DD was sunny side up and I was having back-to-back contractions on top of back labor. I wanted the epi and was glad that it made it so I could focus on turning baby girl around. Prior to labor I was neutral to drugs and was waiting to see what happened. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-moms-did-you-really-want-it-why-or-were-you-neutral-to-it#post-1287839 Tue, 17 Dec 2013 22:03:37 +0000 prettylizy 1287839@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I really wanted it. I was neutral leaning toward natural until we took our prenatal classes which were given by our doula. She really helped me trust in my body and going natural was what I wanted. I went natural though I did end up with Pitocin. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-moms-did-you-really-want-it-why-or-were-you-neutral-to-it#post-1287820 Tue, 17 Dec 2013 21:56:08 +0000 Greentea 1287820@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went natural until 9.5. The staff was pretty impressed. I came to the hospital at a 6. None of the months of prep I had done prepared me. My labor was unlike anything described to me in my classes and general guidelines did not apply. It was like a lightning electrical unbearable storm in my hips and back. I have been through some crazy things but man! </p> <p>I started at 5 minutes apart. I never had early labor really. 17 hours later I never got irrational or had the emotional signposts. I wanted the epi at that point and it was my decision and I am so.glad.I.got.it! I was only medicated for delivery that was one push but I now have a good memory and association with the experience.</p> <p>I wanted to go natural as an ideal. I am an idealist but trusted myself in the moment. I broke my leg foot ankle toes and hiked around Europe like that... my mother ripped my nail off to use tweezers to get to some metal in my finger through the top of my finger where the nail bad been... my organ burst and i didnt go to the hospital for a week... i got an infected root canal the size of a golf ball on the roof of my mouth... i won't go on. Just saying that I have been through some crazy painful freak things but nothing prepared me for labor! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-moms-did-you-really-want-it-why-or-were-you-neutral-to-it#post-1172436 Thu, 24 Oct 2013 15:38:57 +0000 Ree723 1172436@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Revel: @Adira: Ahh, thank you both! I have my 28 week blood draw coming up in a couple of weeks and will ask then. I also just checked my platelet count on my initial blood work and they were 287,000 so they have a pretty long way to go before dropping under that 100,000 mark. Hopefully that's a good thing! Anyway, thank you both for your responses! </p> <p>Again OP, I'm so sorry I totally thread jacked here! Stepping back to just reading now! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-moms-did-you-really-want-it-why-or-were-you-neutral-to-it#post-1172420 Thu, 24 Oct 2013 15:36:33 +0000 lizzywiz 1172420@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: @Revel: I had low platelets from HELP syndrome.</p> <p>@Mrs. Sketchbook: I went natural (except for pitocin). I was more afraid of a needle to the spine than any pain labor could dish out. Yes, I wanted to go natural and avoid the drugs, but I wasn't against epidural, just afraid. I ended up being induced at 37 because of HELP, so it ended up not mattering anyway. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-moms-did-you-really-want-it-why-or-were-you-neutral-to-it#post-1172409 Thu, 24 Oct 2013 15:32:46 +0000 Vegmama 1172409@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I haven't had our baby yet, but we're planning on a natural birth (at home). Having no interventions is VERY important to me. I believe any one piece can cause the 'cascade' effect, and that all too often ends in a c-section. Because we're having a homebirth, I won't even have the option for drugs or augmentation, but in the event of a hospital transfer, it would still be very important to me that I deliver naturally ... or as naturally as possible. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-moms-did-you-really-want-it-why-or-were-you-neutral-to-it#post-1172398 Thu, 24 Oct 2013 15:29:15 +0000 Mrs. Palette 1172398@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I really wanted the natural all the way the first time. I was 8 days late, went into labor for 22hrs, went to the hospital and was only at a 3! damn. I was SO upset. My contractions started to become irregular and they told me I'd have to get pitocin if I wanted to stay. Mini breakdown. Got the pitocin because I was getting tired from the labor. Got the epi in transition...... 2nd time around I wanted to try again. I was induced via cervidil, 9 days late again, (thinking my body has a hard time inducing labor.) I went to a 7 naturally and then was just tired and got the epi... It was a lovely birth.. she arrived about two hours later. Hate the pitocin love the epi as a resting period before pushing. I had always intended on having a natural birth but my body just has a hard time progressing. I did a lot of research on it and think I have prodromial labors... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-moms-did-you-really-want-it-why-or-were-you-neutral-to-it#post-1172393 Thu, 24 Oct 2013 15:27:05 +0000 Adira 1172393@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ree723: I suspect that if you were able to get an epidural before, you'll be able to again! You could ask at your next appointment if during the 28 week draw if they did a CBC and what your platelet levels were. Plus I have no idea what the rules are like where you live.</p> <p>Just to give you some insight, normal platelet counts are anywhere from ~140,000 to ~350,000. They need to be 100,000 (here) to get an epidural, though I was told they only need to be above 50,000 for a c-section, so maybe some anesthesiologists will give an epidural with lower levels.</p> <p>Pregnancy and going into labor can cause them to dip, but if your levels are usually normal, it doesn't usually dip so low that you can't get an epidural! Unless you're unlucky like @Revel: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-moms-did-you-really-want-it-why-or-were-you-neutral-to-it#post-1172374 Thu, 24 Oct 2013 15:18:38 +0000 Revel 1172374@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BananaPancakes: @Adira: I felt like my recovery wasn't too bad either, even though I had a fourth degree tear. I more credit that to staying active during pregnancy though than not having the epidural.</p> <p>@Ree723: I didn't find out until the hospital had already started my induction. I guess I was borderline low in my third tri bloodwork but no one told me - not sure if this was normal, if someone forgot, or if it was because I was planning on having an unmedicated delivery. My understanding for why the platelet count matters is because an epi is an elective procedure and there is some elevated risk with the low platelets, not that it is some bright line test, so possibly other countries have different protocols? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-moms-did-you-really-want-it-why-or-were-you-neutral-to-it#post-1172352 Thu, 24 Oct 2013 15:14:03 +0000 Ree723 1172352@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: @Revel: This platelet talk is freaking me out!! Not being able to get an epidural is my worst nightmare (other than something happening to the baby obviously). I loved my epi and had an amazing experience with a super easy recovery. I 100% plan on another epi with this pregnancy and am now going to worry about whether or not my platelets are too low. Just out of curiosity, how did you find out they were low? My last blood draw (ETA: referring to my pregnancy with DD, not there yet with this one!) was at 28 weeks and they didn't draw it before giving me the epi, maybe they don't test them here?</p> <p>*. Sorry OP, major thread jack! :-( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-moms-did-you-really-want-it-why-or-were-you-neutral-to-it#post-1171756 Thu, 24 Oct 2013 13:07:01 +0000 Lindsay05 1171756@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Had the same experience as @Mrs. Jacks. I went in with an open mind and ended up with the epi. It was heavenly and didn't feel ashamed or weak because I used medication. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-moms-did-you-really-want-it-why-or-were-you-neutral-to-it#post-1171744 Thu, 24 Oct 2013 13:05:00 +0000 Adira 1171744@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BananaPancakes: I have nothing to compare it to, but I do feel my recovery was really easy! I was only sore for about a week and then I felt almost completely normal after that! My SIL says she has nerve damage because of her epidural, so that makes me kind of glad I didn't get one! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-moms-did-you-really-want-it-why-or-were-you-neutral-to-it#post-1171716 Thu, 24 Oct 2013 13:00:55 +0000 BananaPancakes 1171716@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Revel: @Adira: One of my best friend's had this happen to her, as well. She was pissed about it for days, but then ultimately felt she recovered so quickly because of it, though she vowed never to go natural again. And her 2nd was a breech c-section, so she didn't have to worry about it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-moms-did-you-really-want-it-why-or-were-you-neutral-to-it#post-1171682 Thu, 24 Oct 2013 12:52:18 +0000 Revel 1171682@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: I have no idea - I think because of pregnancy. The first I heard it mentioned was about two hours after they started the pitocin! Apparently I was borderline low on my 3rd tri blood work, but either they don't usually mention it or because I was planning on going without an epi it was never mentioned to me. Definitely a surprise but the MW said this conversation went easier with a mama who was planning on going drug free so I can't imagine how you handed the info!</p> <p>Sorry for the minor threadjack. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-moms-did-you-really-want-it-why-or-were-you-neutral-to-it#post-1171655 Thu, 24 Oct 2013 12:47:11 +0000 Adira 1171655@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Revel: OMG, there's someone else like me!!! Do you normally have low platelets? Or were they low because of pregnancy? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-moms-did-you-really-want-it-why-or-were-you-neutral-to-it#post-1171636 Thu, 24 Oct 2013 12:43:14 +0000 Revel 1171636@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I really wanted an unmedicated birth, but ended up having to be induced, so thought I might change my plan. Then, my platelets were low like @Adira: (I never knew anyone else who this happened to!) so I had no choice but to go without the epidural. I'm very happy that I wasn't able to get the epidural because I got the birth that I wanted (whether I liked it or not that day!). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-moms-did-you-really-want-it-why-or-were-you-neutral-to-it#post-1171615 Thu, 24 Oct 2013 12:38:07 +0000 Adira 1171615@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I WANTED an epidural! But my platelets were too low and I couldn't get one so I had to go natural. It was not fun, but I survived it and am proud of myself for it and am actually considering natural for #2 since the recovery was so easy for me! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-moms-did-you-really-want-it-why-or-were-you-neutral-to-it#post-1171603 Thu, 24 Oct 2013 12:34:54 +0000 whodat 1171603@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Sketchbook: I feel the same way -- my first birth was a disaster that ended in a c-section, but my second was an amazing epidural birth. I went from a 2 to a 10 almost immediately after getting my epidural, after being in labor for 14+ hours with no drugs. I have no desire to go all-natural for my third, except curiosity. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-moms-did-you-really-want-it-why-or-were-you-neutral-to-it#post-1170363 Thu, 24 Oct 2013 06:32:37 +0000 looch 1170363@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wanted a med and intervention free birth because I felt my body and my son could handle it. My conception was uncomplicated, my pregnancy unevetful and there was no reason to do anything like an induction or cesarean.</p> <p>I also didn't have gd, so no reason to worry about baby's size or getting him out early. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-moms-did-you-really-want-it-why-or-were-you-neutral-to-it#post-1170165 Wed, 23 Oct 2013 22:53:46 +0000 danda 1170165@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I really wanted a med-free birth because I have an irrational fear of anesthesia - I hate the feeling of being numb. I also liked the idea of avoiding potential complications or side effects from an epidural, as previous posters mentioned. I took Bradley method classes to help me achieve this, but ultimately I was very lucky that my labor was fast and relatively low in pain. I was at 10 cm the first and only time I got a cervical check, so there would have been limited opportunity to get an epidural if I had wanted it. The doctor did put some lidocaine on the perineum though so it wasn't 100% med-free - I liked the use of the topical anesthetic which prevented some possibly extreme pain when I tore during delivery. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-moms-did-you-really-want-it-why-or-were-you-neutral-to-it#post-1170160 Wed, 23 Oct 2013 22:50:30 +0000 MrsStar 1170160@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would've been open to an epidural, but I have a bleeding disorder so it was out of the question. I got induced, had horrible back labor and did it all naturally. It was a really positive experience overall. I did stall at one point and the OB on the floor told me I had 1.5 hours to deliver otherwise I would be given a csection (which I would've been asleep for which I wanted to avoid completely) Then I managed to go from 5-10cm in 10 minutes and LO was born a few minutes later. I'm looking forward to another med-free labor (hopefully without induction) when we have our next baby. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/natural-birth-moms-did-you-really-want-it-why-or-were-you-neutral-to-it#post-1170154 Wed, 23 Oct 2013 22:45:32 +0000 FarmWifeGina 1170154@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Basically what @Anutka: said. There is, IMO, a delicate balance and interplay of hormones and all that jazz and goes on to affect mom and baby in the postpartum period and beyond.<br /> And, I'm practical and simply don't see the need for such a huge drug and hassle for what, for me, amounts to a few hours of enduring. Even when I really, really want it, well, yeah, there's gonna be a baby in about 10 minutes, so that would just be dumb. And the pros of being able to feel what my body is telling me to do and being mobile just outweigh the "need" for pain relief for me. </p>