Epidural

I had one of mine without the epidural I say everytime you get a contraction try to breathe in and out and remember that the contractions are the worse part if the hospital will allow you ask them for a ball it helps a lot

Just do your research! I’m pregnant with my first but I’ve been listening to podcasts and practicing breathing. And I just bought an online birthing course with Mommy Labor Nurse that goes over how to prepare for an epidural free birth.

I've been reading Ina May's Guide to Childbirth, and it's helped to motivate me for a (hopefully) unmedicated birth. Best of luck to you!

I was induced and birthed un-medicated. Finding your thing to focus on would be my best suggestion. I listened to the same meditation tracks over and over for 5 hr :)

I gave birth to my first with no epidural. My advice is to be careful with any interventions. Added pitocin or having your water broken is going to cause stronger contractions.

After they broke my water (with no indication they just wanted to speed things up) I was crying for an epidural and screaming, vomiting etc and I think it could’ve been less intense if I had waited for it to rupture on its own or just waited in general.

It’s hard to be at your best when you are in pain. It’s easy to give in to fear. It may be unknown to you but it’s not to the female body. Have compassion for yourself- it can be traumatic you shouldn’t feel guilty if you give in to an epidural or have to get a C-section. Inform and prepare yourself as much as you can prior. During labor just lean in.

My last piece of advice is to have your birth plan ready to go. Your support person should know it well and be able to stand up for you.

You’ll do great!

This is my first so I don't have the experience of giving birth unmedicated but this is what I learned in theory, im sure it's harder said than done but our bodies are built to do it so I'm just trusting what I learned. I went through a natural birth class and it really helps with building confidence and preparing you for every circumstance. If you can afford a class I highly recommend it. Research also helps alot, fear is what usually makes the labor pain worse, you need to surrender to the contractions, breath and try to relax through them and let them do the work they are meant to do. Also research everything about the cycle of interventions and their results and why you want to go unmedicated. Like alot of things its mind over matter so just find what you can do to calm your mind durring the contractions. Also do your research on the different stages of labor because the more you know the less you fear the process. Like I said I haven't experienced it yet but this is just what I learned in theory.