Questions for the moms

[Wildsky]

Texasgirl - I had my last baby at home - so no meds at all....
It was hard, I'm not going to lie, but it was also easier - being home I could eat and drink when I needed to, I could walk around, get in the shower, lie down or do whatever it was that made me more comfortable.
(I've got 3 children - 1 in hospital with pain meds, 1 c-section, 1 at home - in order)
Comparing them, the home birth was EASIER - there was pain but I was able to manage it. I was able to keep up my strength..... the recovery was amazing, within an hour I was up and in the shower, within a couple of hours I had family around to see the new baby and bring food... I was out and about "shopping" the second day - it was AMAZING, and people were amazed.
It was extreamly empowering as a woman, and I wont' go on and on (or try not to)
And above all, my husband was the one who actually "caught" the baby, he did EVERYTHING with a midwife standing by (taking pic's - LOL)
the effect it had on my husband was really amazing, he felt really connected and felt like he was actually DOING his part.

I would TOTALLY do it again at home, absolutly!!!
Without a doubt!
And as far as the babies go.... the baby born at home was the most alert, the calmest of all - she didn't sleep alot - no drugs, but she was alert - could really LOOK me in the eye, didnt' cry as much. the not sleeping as much might seem to some to be a problem, but it was great in the long run, she learned pretty quick the difference between night and day - she slept with us (still does some nights) so nursing was easy, after a while I didn't even wake up - she'd find her own food - LOL

Before I write a book... I'll stop!

 

[RubberChickenLubber]

Okay, as far as pain meds, I have had 2 epidurals, no make that 3 epidurals, and one delivery with just IV meds. It all depends on what you want at the time. Also epidurals can sped or delay delivery. It sped up my first 2, and slowed down my last (but my first 2 were 2lbs 14oz, and 3lbs 13 oz, and my last was 8lbs 3oz, that could have played a factor). The iv meds were the worst, made me fell like I was out on the parking lot and become pavement myself.

I nursed my son until 11 months would have longer, but my supply was extremely low due to being pregnant with my daughter. I nursed my daughter 13 months, and stopped with her b/c she was sooooo clingy. If their is a breastfeeding support group in your area, go to it. It will help soooo much. I started right after I had my son, and went to my last meeting right after I quit nursing my dd. It will help you get all your questions answered.

Wipes: Sam's Club has great wiped in the Members Mark brand. Also I had to make wipes for both my kids out of paper towels for the first 3 months, they couldn't handle commercial wipes. I didn't use soap in them.

Sorry for the long post, I hope it helps.

 

[BantyChickMom]

I don't have anything to add about planning -- everyone else has covered that.
Even though this seems like forever and a day away,
CHERISH THEM when they're babies, ENJOY the growing years when they don't want to leave your side and want to share everything with you, and most important,
BEWARE the teenage years when your sweet, innocent little darling turns into this horrible creature that you no longer recgonize.

 

[arlee453]

I am a firm believer in natural childbirth, meaning no IV meds/narcotics or epidural. Heck, Ito paraphrase a famous ad campaign, 'I not only used the product, I bought the company' and became a childbirth teacher myself. I am very passionate about helping moms who are interested in pursuing a more normal and natural birth experience prepare themselves mentally, physically and emotionally.

In a healthy, normal labor adding interventions like IVs, continual monitoring and drugs introduces risks that simply weren't there before. That is a fact that can not be denied. ALL drugs and procedures carry risks that are not always outweighed by the benefits in a healthy labor. Once you accept the routine interventions that are given to most laboring moms in this country, you basically give up most control and choices and your labor become a 'medical event' instead of a healthy and normal part of living.

I teach the Bradley method and had all 4 of my babies totally naturally. Being a control freak, I wouldn't have traded ONE OUNCE of the discomfort of labor contractions for signing virtually all my participation and choices in the labor over to have the epidural. I was TOTALLY in charge of my labor, how I handled it and was up and feeling great in no time after labor.... no IV, no drugs at all, no catheter making me sore for days, no sleepy baby from the drugs....and I was able to walk out of the hospital after only a few hours and go home, where I desperately wanted to be. (I had 3 hospital and one home birth, which was the greatest!)

Of course, I'm very biased on this topic - there are many women who would never consider natural birth, which I think is sort of sad, but that's their choice. It does bother me that most women don't think a lot about their choices though - they just are so afraid of the concept of labor, or don't know there is another way that just might be a great experience for them. But it's not for everyone, I suppose and I've learned it's better to preach to the choir than try to convert the masses for my own sanity.

I definately am appreciative of the medical interventions that are available when things go badly in labor. BUT if 80% of women really needed their labors sped up with artifical stimulants, over 96% of women (in my area) needed to be totally numb to survive childbirth - ie epidural, and fully 1/3 of babies needed to be cut out of their mother's bellies to survive, we would have died out as a species LOOONNNNNGGG ago...

I love this quote that another teacher friend of mine uses as a tag on her emails:

We have a secret in our culture, and it's not that birth is painful. It's that women are strong.

I don't want to stir up controversy - if you had a positive epidural/birth experience that's your choice and I don't want to detract from that. It's just for me, even way before I thought about having a baby myself, birth just seemed to be something that shouldn't be that much of a big deal. For me attempting a natural birth just was the logical choice, and I chose the Bradley classes for my first baby because they seemed to me to be the most comprehensive preparation and were highly recommened to me by a co-worker.

OK, now for the commercial...

If you want more info on Bradley method you can visit my website: www.learntobirth.com or the national website www.bradleybirth.com There are teachers all across the country.

 

[Wildsky]

I took the bradley class! (during my 2nd pregnancy)
My second child turned out to be footling breech - so after all the things I tried, I ended up with a c-section...
Not to be down trodden........ child number 3 was welcomed at home into daddy's hands.!

 

[CarriBrown]

Now, my mom was in labor with me for two hours and my brother, and hour. The doctor told her that if she were to get pregnant again, she and my dad would have to buy a Winibago and live in the hospital parking lot! She went natural with both of us. She said it hurt like a *&%&^%$ but she really wasn't in labor for any amount of time! I would think that if I were trying to push a kid for hours and hours like some of these women, I would want some sort of drug. But we can handle pain better than men for a reason... I guess I just won't know until I'm there.
My mom had no complications, she was fine during both pregnancies, and my doctor says all signs point towards me being the same way. I guess she really can't know for sure, but it's reassuring anyway!
And to think.... I NEVER wanted kids until a little over a year ago... Now this clock is pounding in my head 24/7. Spending time with Justin and Taylor (nephew and niece) make the clock even stronger! But, I'm all for "things happen for a reason".

 

[bantymum]

Wow, you are organised!!!
I dont think many people are ever ready except for the poor people that have problems conceiving. Bless them.
I wasnt ready and was told Id never have children by the Drs but I was on the pill and Mikey still arrived.

I found out at the hospital as I was so sick, they did tests and the nice nursey came up and held my hand and said "did you know that you are pregnant?" WOW i nearly fainted and had another chuck from the shock!!

She said "Pleasedont get excited as you are so sick it is unlikely that it will survive,so best not to tell anyone".
But he hung in there, i made sure he did!!!by talking to him all the time.
Anyhow after 3 months, I went shopping at all the baby shops and was so excited that i cried!!!
I laybyed the nicest pram &cot which my mum and dad paid off with pleasure.
I bet you will do the same!!!
I couldnt wait to fit in the maternity denim overalls. they are good and will do you afterwards too!!!
Do keep us updated, im excited for you!!

 

[Frozen Feathers]

I took the childbirth class...but let me tell you it all went out the window when I was actually in labor...lol. When we first got to the hospital the nurses didn't believe I was in labor, I guess I wasn't "screaming in pain" like they thought I should have been.

But I was almost 5 centimeters dilated!

It was pretty short though, 8 hours of pretty mild labor (I would compare to a really intense menstrual cramps), 4 hours of some really "not nice" labor and 1/2 hour of actual pushing. I did crack and got a shot of nubain around hour 9 (I think that's what it's called) other then that it was natural. Let me tell you though, the moment that baby is in your arms, you forget the pain, sounds cheesy, but it's true.

Got torn, and had to get stitches which sucks when you go pee for the next 2 weeks, but I didn't feel it when it actually happened.

I had a midwife, which I absolutely loved, and I spent most of my labor straddling on of those giant exercise balls. I tried to get in the tub and actually found it a really uncomfortable position. Which really peed me off because I really, really wanted to be in that tub!
Anyway, do what you feel is best for you!! If you are stressed, your baby will be stressed.

Oh and get a midwife if you can. I had a miscarriage before I had DD and at the time I had an OBGYN and they seemed more concerned about my weight then my overall health, maybe it was just my OBGYN's office but they are all have "stick to the book" attitudes and I'm sorry but life isn't set in stone. I have had a midwife ever since and they just seem more personable. I'm sure you will get a lot more advice, some useful and some you should just throw out the window!

 

[wendy]

wow! those that with stood "natural" childbirth that is great. i have four children, no c sections! thank goodness, i did not want to be cut open. i tried as long as i could to go without a epidural. i was in so much pain. my labor went to my back, that was just the breaking point for me! not trying to scare you carri, it is worth all the stories you hear!
and none of my children were born in less than 8 hours of labor!

i have my last two under three years old. they are 18 months apart, i know close together, but i am 37 and not getting any younger. but i buy my diapers at sam's, i priced them at all the other places and they had the best price for the qty. and i buy my wipes there too. we live out in the country so just driving for diapers when you go through so many i like to buy them at sam's. i tried the cheaper brand/off brand because my husband wanted me to. they seem to make you go through more diapers because the my kids would feel them up fast. i was changing a diaper every hour! oh, speaking of sam's i also bought formula there. they have this brand that is identical in ingredents to the brand name my doctor recommended. they also have what they call seventh generation diapers.
don't buy a changing table, you only use it while they are little, once they start moving more and can roll over it is just easier to change them some where else. i had one with my first two and thought this is a waste!
consignment shops or thrift stores at churches would probably have some good deals on baby clothes and baby items. bouncy seats are life savers!
one of four of mine loved the baby swing the most. they are nice to have on hand. walkers are nice when they get more mobile. my youngest just made a year, if you did not live all the way in cal. i could get you some baby items i still have. i have been trying to get rid of them here and there. four kids is enough for me! i breast fed all my children too the longest was 12 weeks. i just couldnt do it longer than that. they always seemed to be attached to me constantly feeding them and that meant it was always me feeding them. i tried breast pumps three different kinds they did not work well for me. i was told you need the high model for a good one. i could not pay upwards of two hundred dollars for that!
sorry so long, hoped i helped!

 

[rosyposyosy]

If you can use cloth diapers, it is cheaper, more efficient, and helps the earth. That way our water wont taste like dirty diapers!