So I was watching A Baby Story........

[Mouse House Mama]

I gave birth to my 3rd child laying on my side. It was great. The first one was in the stirrups the 2nd just laying on the gurney (she couldn't wait to come out) and the 4th was a C-section. He would have been birthed anyway I liked as well but was wayyyy too big for me to give birth to it seems. He was twice the size of the other 3.
tigecat

Twice the size? How big was he?

 

[bumbershoot]

Is it just me who thinks this practice is ridiculous?

You are not alone.

You do not HAVE to deliver in that position!!!

Pain aside, you are pushing uphill in that position. Put it in your birth plan that you want to squat or be in whatever position you find comfortable at the time.

Go visit the ICAN boards. See how many people thought their hired help would pay any attention to their birth plans. See how many people got HOSTILE hired help who went directly against their plans, just because.

It's good that your hired help went along with it. Not all do. Not even midwives.

why?

Epidurals slow labor down. They are also dangerous. Epidurals cause problems. You're messing with the system. Women who have them have higher numbers of surgeries, and it's also a great way to get women to saying yes to surgery b/c it's all ready to go.

When you have an epidural, you are saying "yes, please increase my risk of complications, surgery, and death for both of us".

Sure, you might be comfy, IF the dang thing takes [I have a friend whose spinal didn't take and her doctors performed surgery on her, REFUSING TO BELIEVE her that she could feel it all. They finally knocked her out at the very last moment. She couldn't walk for a month, because her body had locked up muscularly and wouldn't release.] But if you end up with migraines caused by putting things into a closed system (I took many a health intake from women who'd suffered from horrid migraines post-epidural or spinal), that's not comfy. If the needle misses, that's not going to be comfy. etc etc.

Epidurals raise the risk of everything.

Good for Iceland, Freyja!

 

[jemgumby]

Because there is a lot of risk involved with the use of epidurals and too many women do not do any/enough research of the pros and cons.

There are risks with everything. There are risks with childbirth with and without pain medicines/epidurals. There are risks of anesthesia during surgery but it sure doesn't mean I wouldn't have anesthesia. I can say I was REALLY glad when I had my appendix out I was under anesthesia. I sure as HELL wouldn't have surgery/dental procedures without pain meds and if women want pain meds/epidurals for childbirth they should be granted that right either BEFORE or AFTER birth!!!!!

 

[lovetonap]

It wasn't a need, it was a want - heck, I had an epi with #2 before I felt the first contraction! Pain free labor, except for the IV insertion. Feeling that wonderful numbness was one of my favorite parts of labor!

I agree! LOVED my epidurals! I wouldn't want to have a baby any other way.

 

[jemgumby]

You are not alone.



Go visit the ICAN boards. See how many people thought their hired help would pay any attention to their birth plans. See how many people got HOSTILE hired help who went directly against their plans, just because.

It's good that your hired help went along with it. Not all do. Not even midwives.



Epidurals slow labor down. They are also dangerous. Epidurals cause problems. You're messing with the system. Women who have them have higher numbers of surgeries, and it's also a great way to get women to saying yes to surgery b/c it's all ready to go.

When you have an epidural, you are saying "yes, please increase my risk of complications, surgery, and death for both of us".

Sure, you might be comfy, IF the dang thing takes [I have a friend whose spinal didn't take and her doctors performed surgery on her, REFUSING TO BELIEVE her that she could feel it all. They finally knocked her out at the very last moment. She couldn't walk for a month, because her body had locked up muscularly and wouldn't release.] But if you end up with migraines caused by putting things into a closed system (I took many a health intake from women who'd suffered from horrid migraines post-epidural or spinal), that's not comfy. If the needle misses, that's not going to be comfy. etc etc.

Epidurals raise the risk of everything.

Good for Iceland, Freyja!

Are you one of THOSE women who if a lady is pregnant and it comes up in casual conversation she is going to get an epidural you look as if she has just said she ate nails for breakfast? The point is women have a right to choose what is best for them and we certainly do not need a war over women who had natural childbirth verses those who didn't. I didn't view my labor as a time to "prove" I was a "real women" as some do.....

 

[2binak]

The first thing I told my labor & delivery nurse was "No stirrups & no feet above my head". Instead, my bed was set up like a chair with the bottom portion tilted down. When I had a contraction, I was able to stand up and squat (using a squatting bar that attaches to the end of the bed) and when I got tired of squatting, I could lay on my side. We did try laying on my back a bit, but it was uncomfortable so I stopped. Unfortunately, none of it helped since DD was stuck on my pelvic bones with no hope of coming out, but it was nice to not have to be on my back with my feet up in the air the entire time!

I also told the nurse that I didn't want anyone cheerleading me (loudly counting to 10 and yelling "push, push, push, push!", etc). I asked for as much quiet and darkness as possible. All of my requests were met which made for a relaxed, enjoyable experience. Even when my meds wore off, it was still relaxing because I was being respected and had my birth go as much to my desire as possible. I really wish everyone's dr's, nurses & hospitals were as accommodating as mine.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Getting back to the birthing position...

I delivered my 1st baby naturally. I asked the midwife and doctor how I would know when it was time to push. They both said that becaues I hadn't been medicated, I would KNOW. They were 100% correct! I was in the shower for a lot of my labor, the water felt soooo good. I was standing there during a contraction and literally felt my whole abdomen bear down. I just HAD to push, you know?

So, I tried holding onto the bar across the bed to push and that did NOT feel good. The labor nurse suggested I try sitting on the toilet and it worked perfectly. Gravity helped me out a lot. I can't imagine how hard it would have been trying to push lying flat on my back. I know women do it but for me, this other way worked.

 

[Freyja]

Epidurals can slow down labor, too. It was scary getting the shot in the spine. I'm glad I couldn't see it.

They do have an advantage over IV meds in that the epidural meds don't enter the baby's system.

This is true and I´m not sure how many pregnant women are aware of this.

You are not alone.



Go visit the ICAN boards. See how many people thought their hired help would pay any attention to their birth plans. See how many people got HOSTILE hired help who went directly against their plans, just because.

It's good that your hired help went along with it. Not all do. Not even midwives.



Epidurals slow labor down. They are also dangerous. Epidurals cause problems. You're messing with the system. Women who have them have higher numbers of surgeries, and it's also a great way to get women to saying yes to surgery b/c it's all ready to go.

When you have an epidural, you are saying "yes, please increase my risk of complications, surgery, and death for both of us".

Sure, you might be comfy, IF the dang thing takes [I have a friend whose spinal didn't take and her doctors performed surgery on her, REFUSING TO BELIEVE her that she could feel it all. They finally knocked her out at the very last moment. She couldn't walk for a month, because her body had locked up muscularly and wouldn't release.] But if you end up with migraines caused by putting things into a closed system (I took many a health intake from women who'd suffered from horrid migraines post-epidural or spinal), that's not comfy. If the needle misses, that's not going to be comfy. etc etc.

Epidurals raise the risk of everything.

Good for Iceland, Freyja!

That´s right. And that´s why it makes me sad to see so many women ask for epidurals before they even try without. A woman who is well prepared, mentally, is much more likely to be able to go through a med-free childbirth.

 

[mhsjax]

You are not alone.



Go visit the ICAN boards. See how many people thought their hired help would pay any attention to their birth plans. See how many people got HOSTILE hired help who went directly against their plans, just because.

It's good that your hired help went along with it. Not all do. Not even midwives.



Epidurals slow labor down. They are also dangerous. Epidurals cause problems. You're messing with the system. Women who have them have higher numbers of surgeries, and it's also a great way to get women to saying yes to surgery b/c it's all ready to go.

When you have an epidural, you are saying "yes, please increase my risk of complications, surgery, and death for both of us".

Sure, you might be comfy, IF the dang thing takes [I have a friend whose spinal didn't take and her doctors performed surgery on her, REFUSING TO BELIEVE her that she could feel it all. They finally knocked her out at the very last moment. She couldn't walk for a month, because her body had locked up muscularly and wouldn't release.] But if you end up with migraines caused by putting things into a closed system (I took many a health intake from women who'd suffered from horrid migraines post-epidural or spinal), that's not comfy. If the needle misses, that's not going to be comfy. etc etc.

Epidurals raise the risk of everything.

Good for Iceland, Freyja!

I guess anytime you stick something in your spine you run a risk of complications. I have heard that they slow down labor, however during my first this wasn't the case. I was induced, I just wouldn't go into labor and I was pretty overdue, and had some BP problems. I had all back labor and according to my L&D nurse, I never came down all the way off of a contraction. I was in o much pain that I was fighting my labor. She checked me and I was at 3.5 cm and she told me that she would fudge the truth a little and say that I was 4. I got my epi an with no time at all I was fully dilated, the Dr and Anesth said that my epi actually helped my labor progress because I relaxed.

With the other 2 I was well into my labor, but I wasn't going to have a baby without one, I aint crazy. lol

 

[VillageMama]

I've had three unmedicated births (one was a water birth) and two epidurals. Like anything else in life, there are pros and cons to every decision.

I sure enjoyed feeling no pain during labor with an epidural but I found that my recoveries with the unmedicated labors were sooo much quicker.

I also found that the endorphins produced in an unmedicated birth strongly enhanced the maternal bonding afterwards. With my epidural babies I had a sense of "Hello... who are you... and how did you get here?".

Epidurals are a god-send if you are in unrelenting, excruciating pain. But the downsides are enough to have me hoping and planning for an unmedicated birth this time.

 

[mhsjax]

I've had three unmedicated births (one was a water birth) and two epidurals. Like anything else in life, there are pros and cons to every decision.

I sure enjoyed feeling no pain during labor with an epidural but I found that my recoveries with the unmedicated labors were sooo much quicker.

I also found that the endorphins produced in an unmedicated birth strongly enhanced the maternal bonding afterwards. With my epidural babies I had a sense of "Hello... who are you... and how did you get here?".

Epidurals are a god-send if you are in unrelenting, excruciating pain. But the downsides are enough to have me hoping and planning for an unmedicated birth this time.

See I knew exactly how mine got there, I had an epidrual I wasn't knocked out. Also with the last 2 I had what they called a walking epidural, you could still feel your legs. With my 2nd child, when someone came into the room, they couldn't believe that I had just had a baby and I bonded immediately. With the first, I had a longer recovery but that is because the little buggar was stuck and he tore me internally. With the 3rd I went home after 24 hours and felt great . This epidural worked for labor pains, but boy did I feel him coming out. OUCH.

I don't care how women give birth, a healthy outcome is what matters. Also as far as bonding, If I didn't have my epidurals, I don't think I would have bonded as well. I was so well rested after them that I was a happy camper and that made bonding easier for me.

If you can have a drug free birth great, but for me I would never. I hoped for it on the first time, after that NEVER again.

 

[Freyja]

I've had three unmedicated births (one was a water birth) and two epidurals. Like anything else in life, there are pros and cons to every decision.

I sure enjoyed feeling no pain during labor with an epidural but I found that my recoveries with the unmedicated labors were sooo much quicker.

I also found that the endorphins produced in an unmedicated birth strongly enhanced the maternal bonding afterwards. With my epidural babies I had a sense of "Hello... who are you... and how did you get here?".

Epidurals are a god-send if you are in unrelenting, excruciating pain. But the downsides are enough to have me hoping and planning for an unmedicated birth this time.

I so totally agree with you on the recovery time. MUCH quicker.
Hope you have a wonderful birth and healthy baby

 

[ShootingStarMom2]

I love watching that show. There are so many cool options our hospital doesn't even offer. I'd love to try a water birth, but the closest I got to that was sitting in the shower with the water running. It was nice, but not a tub.

When we went for our hospital tour we got to see how the bed came apart for the different positions. I think we tried all of them both times. The nurses just kept changing things around to see what made me feel better. What they called the high throne position (essentially squatting on the bed with the bed shaped like a 'L' leaning over a bar for balance) was painful but it helped me go from 3 to 6 in about an hour.

 

[Freyja]

I love watching that show. There are so many cool options our hospital doesn't even offer. I'd love to try a water birth, but the closest I got to that was sitting in the shower with the water running. It was nice, but not a tub.

When we went for our hospital tour we got to see how the bed came apart for the different positions. I think we tried all of them both times. The nurses just kept changing things around to see what made me feel better. What they called the high throne position (essentially squatting on the bed with the bed shaped like a 'L' leaning over a bar for balance) was painful but it helped me go from 3 to 6 in about an hour.

I´ve had 2 waterbirths and loved them! Best thing ever. If you ever can have a waterbirth I highly recommend it.
Last waterbirth, 2 years ago, DH was in the tub with me and we delivered DS together, while the midwife watched

 

[mjkacmom]

I´m glad I live in a place where women can´t get an epi before labor even properly begins. But to each their own...

I was 4 cm dilated, a week overdue, they broke my water, started the pit, put in the epidural, and I was holding him in my arms 4 hours later - glad I live here! BTW, I have a very hard time going into labor - dd13 was 2 weeks overdue, and a night of cervadil and a day of pit left me at 0 cm. Dd8's inducement was 31 hours. At 37 weeks with my twins, 4th pregnancy, I was 0 cm dilated - OB said she was very surprised. I don't go into labor on my own.

I had 5 very healthy, happy babies! And for both dd13 and dd8, my labors progressed very quickly only AFTER I got the epidural.

 

[2girlsmom]

I think epidurals have their place, but if given a choice I would not do one again. My first was natural, second with epi. It didn't slow down my labor, it also didn't entirely work (numbed external muscles but not internal at all, so still felt all the pain).

As far as position was concerned, I made the nurses crazy, because I arched my hips, apparently I have a tilted pelvis, and that was the most comfortable position for me. I did have issues with my first with the dr telling me how I should deliver, and literally pushing on me to hold me down. With second, my only issue was the nurse not wanting to deliver, so told me to pant faster cause she was crowning and the dr wasn't there yet.

 

[PRmamiDEdos]

Well I had an epi with the first 3. With my 4th there was no time. The epi only really worked with the first and they turn it down when you push anyway so the pain was ever so present.
Also, no matter what your birth plan says some hospitals/doctors will not let you be in any position but flat on your back. Trust me, I was begging with my last one because I knew as soon as I could squat she would have been born. The doctor (not my doctor because we couldn't make it to the hospital we were supposed to go to) was a complete jerk. Medically he was great but his bedside manner was atrocious. I wouldn't let him birth a hamster. The nurses however were amazing and told me after that they would have let me change position but that particular doctor has a bit of a Napolean complex.

Hospitals have tightened up on what they allow now. It really is ridiculous. I would like to start my epi now so I can make sure that it works this time and I that I actually have time!

This is b/c of the high insurance rates and those are b/c every Tom, Dick & Harry wants to sue them. Are the doctors right 100% of the time, no, but people sue anyway and in order to protect themselves, they restrict stuff like that.

OAN, I had two epidurals and I was perfectly fine and so were my children. I don't understand the need for other people to make epidural wanting mothers feel like criminals. You do it your way and I'll do it mine.

I asked for a squat bar during birth and it did help to bring the head down. My son had (still has) a huge head and I'm very petite.

 

[mjkacmom]

Getting back to the birthing position...

I delivered my 1st baby naturally. I asked the midwife and doctor how I would know when it was time to push. They both said that becaues I hadn't been medicated, I would KNOW. They were 100% correct! I was in the shower for a lot of my labor, the water felt soooo good. I was standing there during a contraction and literally felt my whole abdomen bear down. I just HAD to push, you know?

So, I tried holding onto the bar across the bed to push and that did NOT feel good. The labor nurse suggested I try sitting on the toilet and it worked perfectly. Gravity helped me out a lot. I can't imagine how hard it would have been trying to push lying flat on my back. I know women do it but for me, this other way worked.

Why do you think women give birth flat on their backs? They raise the bed! And although I wasn't in any pain, I knew when to push (my mother kept annoying me because I could feel the urge a second before the monitor, and my mom kept yelling "it's time to push." I finally convinced her I could feel it. My longest pushing session was all of 20 minutes (my first).

 

[Freyja]

This is b/c of the high insurance rates and those are b/c every Tom, Dick & Harry wants to sue them. Are the doctors right 100% of the time, no, but people sue anyway and in order to protect themselves, they restrict stuff like that.

OAN, I had two epidurals and I was perfectly fine and so were my children. I don't understand the need for other people to make epidural wanting mothers feel like criminals. You do it your way and I'll do it mine.

I asked for a squat bar during birth and it did help to bring the head down. My son had (still has) a huge head and I'm very petite.

I can´t see anyone here who wants to make epidural wanting mothers feel like criminals. That certainly isn´t my intent. I´ve had an epidural myself (didn´t want it though and made sure never to get one again). However, it does make me sad when women don´t know what risks are involved.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Why do you think women give birth flat on their backs? They raise the bed! And although I wasn't in any pain, I knew when to push (my mother kept annoying me because I could feel the urge a second before the monitor, and my mom kept yelling "it's time to push." I finally convinced her I could feel it. My longest pushing session was all of 20 minutes (my first).

Whoa partner. I was talking about my experience, which if you read what I wrote, stated that it worked for me but that I know the other position works for other women. I stated what worked for me and how after having pushed in the position I did, I couldn't imagine doing it on my back. Yes, I do know they raise the bed up too. That's not what I meant, I was comparing the position I pushed in (on the toilet) to the traditional one (lying in bed). That is all.