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Going into Labor..
Ok so i'm pregnant with my first child..and I am 35 weeks pregnant.
My due date is March 12th..as the days get closer I get a little more panicked about the whole thing.
I want to do it the natural way..no epidural..but I'm starting to really freak out about the pain and the unexpected.
I guess what I'm looking for is not really an answer but more like comfort and support from people who have experienced this.
I'm also worried that I won't know when I'm going into labor..i kno everyone says I'll know.
I'm just panicking about everything...
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The natural way is really the best way to deliver. You don't risk anything harmful passing through to your baby and you are completely alert through the entire process so you can recall every moment of the birth! :)
Relax. Women have been birthing babies for forever now. We do not NEED drugs to give birth, drugs are only a convince. If we NEEDED drugs to be able to give birth then we wouldn't have survived so long here on Earth.
You can definately do this the natural way! Give your baby a drug-free birthing experience. Give yourself a drug-free labor experience so that you can recall, CLEARLY, every second of the miracle.
Head down to your local library and ask the librarian about books regarding natural childbirth. There are many books that explain the processes to women, including special breathing techniques that keep you more confident in your drug-free decision.
Think of all of the normal things that happen when women go into labor. Your water will break so expect some fluid to drip into your panties at some point--enough that you'll think, "Did I 'go' on myself?" If you miss this clue that you've gone into labor then RELAX! Your contracts will tell you when it's time. Your body will naturally begin the process of birthing your precious baby and you will have plenty of time to respond and get to the hospital (if you are choosing to go to the hospital, of course).
Here is an excellent guide on helping you prepare for a natural childbirth!:
[Link](Mouse over link to see full location)
Next, for less pain during labor (and a quicker labor--ALL NATURAL) then explain to the doctor that you want to be on your knees or kneeling while giving birth. Believe it or not, this is the position that women gave birth in for many, many, many years previously to this "new technology" with drugs and what-not. Kneeling during delivery helps the baby to slide out easier, not having to push himself/herself over a small pelvic bone that is, naturally, in the way when the woman is laying down. Here is an article that is talking about this method being less painful:
[Link](Mouse over link to see full location)
And here are some other GOOD methods to birthing a child the all-natural way:
[Link](Mouse over link to see full location)
(Oh, and hey, by the way...have you thought of breastfeeding? It's the best for the baby, too, and I highly recommend it!)
Quoting this article: [Link](Mouse over link to see full location)
"The pain of labor is what most women worry about. It is important to understand that the pain of the contractions in labor is valuable. It is an important way in which nature actually helps women find their own ways of facilitating birth. In a very real sense, the pain of each contraction becomes a guide for the laboring woman. The positions and activities she chooses in response to what she feels actually help labor progress by increasing the strength and efficiency of the contractions and encouraging the baby to settle in and move down the birth canal. When the pain is entirely removed, the feedback system is disrupted and labor is likely to slow down and become less efficient. As labor progresses and pain increases, endorphins (much more potent than morphine) are released in increasing amounts. The result is a decrease in pain perception, quite naturally. Nature's narcotic! The rising level of endorphins also contributes to a shift from a thinking, rational mind-set to a more instinctive one. Endorphins create a dream-like state, which actually helps women manage the tasks of birthing."
A myth is that you have to have a strong tolerance for pain. This is not true according to: [Link](Mouse over link to see full location)
"[MYTH:] You have to have a super-high pain tolerance.
[TRUTH:] Almost nobody likes pain, and it is easy to assume giving birth causes large amounts of pain so only the most pain tolerant women can do it. What is less well known is how a woman's body increases endorphin levels during labor. This means as the intensity of the contractions build, so does her ability to handle them. Also, contractions peak at about 30 seconds. This means once your contractions become about a minute long they may increase in duration (get longer), but they do not tend to continue building in intensity. "
Your endorphins WILL kick in. Your contracts will GRADUALLY get stronger and longer so it isn't a sudden whammy in the tummy that would knock the breath out of you. This is all very manageable as long as you keep your head on straight and remember that this is all about bringing your precious baby into the world by the best way possible.
There are plenty of good reasons to have a natural delivery:
[Link](Mouse over link to see full location)
I am proud of you for choosing a natural delivery and I hope that you find the strength in yourself to go the entire way with it. I'm sure your child will be much healthier and happier for your decision (and since the baby cannot speak at the moment, I thank you for him/her). If you have any more questions please feel free to ask me! :)
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I had 5 children and I did take the natural way for each of them. If you have a high threshold to pain, then go for the natural way. I have to tell you it really hurts giving birth the natural way. If you have a low threshold to pain, then go for the epidural. Why suffer when you don't have to. Just make sure your doctor explains the risks of epidurals before you get injected. I have daughters-in-law that went with the needle, and everthing worked out well.
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I've had one child and am 5 weeks pregnant with my second, so i'll give you the best advice i can. I was induced, so im not sure if i could tell you about going into labour, because i gradually went into labour over a number of hours. The key is to relax about it. Labour and birthing hurts, there's no doubt about it... but you just need to remember that you're going to have a beautiful little baby at then end if it. Your own little miraculous creation. Us women were born to do this, pregnancy and birth. When my pain got intense i used the gas and it worked wonders for me and helped with breathing.
So keep focused on the goal... Your little baby... and you will have a reason to stay sane.
And the main thing now, is to relax for the last few weeks and just let it happen. If you're stressing then the baby could possibly come early or there could be complications.
Good luck!!
xoxo
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