Giving birth

I like to watch birth vlogs on YouTube I think hearing about other women’s experiences helps.

I’ve had two epidurals and they were fabulous. Honestly I cannot recommend them highly enough. Contractions are painful and the pain escalates as you dilate. It’s critical to relax and focus on your breathing as you go through labor. Once you reach the later stages of labor the epidural is lovely, the contraction pain goes away and you’re able to relax and push. There is an amazing birth consultant named Rachel Yellin. Look up her site and watch any videos there. I signed up for her Yes to Birth program and loved it, and I paid for it with my company FSA. But you don’t have to buy it, just read about how to relax and breathe through it - don’t worry Mama you’ll do great!!

Another thing to remember is contractions come and go. So it’s like an intense cramp for a few seconds then it’s gone. Then it comes again then it’s gone. Contractions get closer together as you dilate more so that’s when I recommend getting the epidural. In the earlier phases of labor you can breathe through the contractions. But I’ve known many women who went au natural and they had great experiences, just know the option is available to you at the hospital.

Thanks yall! I’m just so scared to give birth! I will have to read up on it more I’m just mainly afraid Bc I heard like if they do the epidural wrong you can become paralyzed and that’s so scary to me. I can’t even handle cramps so I’m like how will I handle giving birth! I wish men gave birth😂

I gave birth without an epidural twice and hope to do so a third time in August. I watched a lot of videos and read a lot of books on hypno-birthing beforehand. During labor I used a lot of visualization and had my partner apply counter-pressure during contractions.

I have a phobia of needles, it's pretty bad. Just let the nurses know right away and ask them to let you know when they bring any into the room and then look the other way and close your eyes. It's what I do and it helps a lot. When they put the needles in you start small talk about anything and don't have them tell you when it happens.

Look on YouTube !!! U got this !! Only push when having contractions three big push baby will be out !!! U got this

Im scared of birth too.. This is my 2nd pregnancy

Honestly the pain is not that bad. It’s not fun by any means but it’s necessary pain so it’s manageable. I did natural with our first baby and are going to be doing it with this baby! Taking classes and researching helps a ton.

When I was pregnant with my first.. I was terrified of the needle.. a kind nurse gave me the best advice ever..
"When the contractions become scarier than the needle.. get the epidural "..

8 hours in.. I was begging for that needle..and boy did I feel better after I did :)

I'd say needles don't even compare to labor + recovery 😬😂 epidurals are magical!

If youre only saying youd rather natural because youre scared of needles, Im going to break it to you now... when those contractions start getting real, youll be screaming for an epidural.
I had an epidural/hospital birth with my first. The pain and healing after that birth was terrible, so I opted for a natural homebirth with my second. I feel as though I traded the after pain for labor/delivery pain. I 10/10 recommend the natural route, but your resolve will need to be greater than fear of a needle lol

I was the same way you were. I was so scared of the epidural. I was in a ton of pain from the contractions, though, and don't handle pain well. The epidural ended up being easy. Kind of like a bee sting but I don't think even that painful and I felt a lot better after. I had a lot of anxiety about birth in general before giving birth. You're going to do great! It's different than normal pain because it's pain with a reward - your baby! 💜 When my water broke, I was filled with so much excitement that my baby was coming that I just wasn't scared like I was leading up to that point.

The best advice I have is... If it was really that bad who in their right mind would do it more than once? Yes its sore but there are ways to minimise the pain and as cheesy as it sounds it really does melt away when that little human is placed in your arms for the first time. Its completely normal to feel this way though. You got this 🙌❤️

There’s no need to be scared! Our bodies were made to birth babies, as long as you trust your body and breathe through contractions then it will be fine. I have birthed two babies now both with only gas and air when at pushing stage. Good luck x

Has a lot to do with mentality. I liked knowing when and how I needed to push since I could feel everything. Exercise if you’re able. The pain is only temporary

My mom told me something before i went into labour that really helped, she said, "wen the contractions feel unbearable know that u are almost done" and it was just like that wen I felt the strongest contraction I knew that it was almost time to push and it was, the pushing was the easiest part for me and I was so scared of pushing 😂

Is normal to be worried , my first I did it natural and pushed early and got ripped really bad . The second I wanted to do natural and they had to do an emergency c section because he was too high . And pain is bad after but the delivery is so easy I would do it again . Now take a lot of ibuprofen abs you will be fine.

Ugh I had the needle put in and no time for medication as I had baby 5 minutes later. I’d say no medicine as it can have effects on baby and I wish I didn’t have to pay for it. But everyone can handle only so much

I had a natural delivery with my first and it was a lot lol.. try to just distract your mind, breathe and relax. I ended up screaming a lot but the minute he was out, I felt nothing. I recovered pretty quickly but it was a hell of an experience that’s for sure

I was the same way, I tried pushing off the epidural for as long as possible and got to about 11 hours into labor before I finally gave in and the contractions were too much for me. My advice would be to get a midwife or doula. They will help you with pain management techniques, that’s something I didn’t have, but if I had I think my experience would have gone smoother. Your body was made for this and if you’re set on a natural birth, you got this mama!! But I would also reccomend keeping your mind open to the option of an epidural and mentally prepare just incase, so you’re not disappointed if the pain gets to be too much and you end up getting one. Either way, you got this!!!

Watch natural birthing stories on YouTube... always the positive ones! And look Into hypnobirthing.. someone doesn’t run a marathon without training first... so we shouldn’t have a baby without knowing a little bit first! Hope that helps.

Start researching nonpharmacologic pain management options. There’s a lot of options! And most hospitals will accommodate your wishes.

Have a read of “the positive birth book” it really helps to change your perspective on birth xx

I can’t recommend hypnobirthing enough. Look up the Positive Birth Company’s digital course - really affordable too.

Hypnobirthing sounds more wacky than it is - it‘a about understanding what’s going on in your body through labour, and it teaches you relaxation and breathing techniques. I used to be quite scared of labour and now I’m not at all!

I thought the same but I ended up getting g the epidural and it was the best decision I ever made . I gave birth in 40 seconds

My advice would be to let gravity help, stay stood or upright as long as possible, it's a big help. Remind yourself that birth is what your body is made for, you can do it! It doesn't last forever, and if you don't have medication it's usually over faster and you'll get to meet your little one sooner and without the groggy effects of drugs on you both!

I had planned on having a vaginal birth, and all went according to plan in that aspect. However, long story short ... my contractions/labor went so quickly I didn’t have time to even have an epidural. I know people say not to tell anyone about delivery stories because you don’t want to scare them, but I’m all about being honest and an open book. The pain from the contractions and pressure were like nothing i have ever experienced before! I have heard, the epidural works wonders though, so vaginal birth with epidural should be easier! What i will say is, go with what you want to do and what you’re most comfortable with. I was petrified of delivery but i made it through with a little tearing (and emotional scarring 😂) Looking back, it was totally worth it for my little princess 💕 and you’ll have the same thoughts regardless with your little one that you welcome 🙏🏽

100% Recommend hypnobirthing! 🙏🏽

I am totally the same!!

Is it just the sight of the needle that scares you? I'm not scared of needles but I still opted to just never see it and the epidural itself hurt way less then I was led to believe. I waited till I was very far along before I finally got one and I loved it. I don't necessarily with I had done it earlier but im so glad I didn't try to just muscle through the pain of the actual birth because I personally am just so happy with my overall birth experience.

Two things:
1) labor is slow! It happens in stages. So you won’t go from 0-100 in contractions- it’ll slowly build and you’ll be prepared for it in the moment as it continues to build.
2) my contractions were less painful and more tolerable than the pregnancy pains I had. I needed to be induced and it caused me to have 3 contractions in a row and at a longer length, so after 12 hours of that I was too exhausted and asked for the epidural. I was set against it as I’m extremely phobic of needles but I didn’t feel a thing and it was WAY easier and less scary than I thought! If you go that route you litrteallt won’t feel a thing and it’s way easier than any needle you’ve ever gotten.

Hypnobirthing!!!

I'm pregnant with my 5th. My first ended with an epidural. But my other 3 were all natural. This course below is a refresher for me but it is soo good and it teaches nearly everything I have learned over my previous 4 pregnancies! I think it's still on sale for $100, which when it comes to birth courses is a fantastic value! https://mightymamamovement.com/order-form-practically-pain-free-birth1602158568315

I had the same freezing fear of pushing a whole human out before I gave birth. But honestly, once your body goes into contraction mode, it literally operates itself and puts u in a drunken state. You do what it tells u!! I don’t think it was as unbearable as I pictured up. (Plus gas and air worked so well for me because I held off having it until I was about 2-3 cm dilated!!

Tips:
-give birth on all fours, it works WITH the natural way ur baby is positioned to come out
- take a cheeky breath in and push again when you’re pushing that final push, it will BE THAT BREATH, that makes the rest of bubbs come out instead of being a failed push bc u didn’t gulp down some air to continue pushing!
- walk a lot in between contractions
-keeeeeeep drinking water make sure ur birth partner knows to keep offering u water. You’ll tell him no no, but they need to make sure you’re hydrated. Pushing is THIRSTY work.
-LISTEN to the nurses about pushing!