Natural delivery vs interventions...(long/detailed)
Shamma posted this question....
I wanted more than anything to go natural. Julianne was 2 weeks post date...and we were going for post date stress test to ck the amino fluid levels and her heartbeat and amt of movement. Last appt was Thurs. Started contractions on a reg basis at about 3am Fri,..every 15 min until 1-2pm Sat...and from there they picked up speed.
By 950am on they were every 5 or 6 min aprt- some were 2 min apart. We called the drs office,,,left a mssg and the midwife called us back in like a minute.
She thought we should leave and begin our 1 hour plus drive into bklyn.
Got there and walked in by 130 to triage, barely could walk and whelping through the contractions.
The labor nurse reminded me to take cleansing breaths...so I contentrated on that instead of whimpering or yelling.
Even tho I was only 3 cent, they admitted me due to the severity of the contractions. Got into the L & D room by 12 mid.
SO at this point, I didnt need to be induced![]()
but the antheisologist ( sp?) came in to fill out his paperwork..and I could barely answer his ?s without grunting thru the contraction.
FOR me, the best position was NOT on the bed but standing. whenever I felt the cotnraction come on, I had to stand, I would either place on foot higher on a stool, or sway back and forth...but was like pounding my hand on the bed or gripping the bedrail. Rob was by my side, encouraging me to take deeper calmer breaths and WHOOSH them out. Helped me to focus and not think I was going to hyperventilate. Midwife applied hot packs to my back and my groin area that were VERY soothing.
Did vomit a few times ( sorry its gross!)
Did a lot of praying
Asked for help/support and midwife and hubby would ask what would help me the most at this point, and they had a LOT of positive feedback.
I wanted to cave in a few times but they kept tellling me how great I was doing, how strong I was...and how close I was ...so I didn't want to give up my goal.
If i had an epi, then I would have to stay in the bed ( which sounded very uncomfortable to me) and I had to be monitored.
Without the epi, I had a surface monitor- just to hear the baby's heartbeat...and I had a IV for fluids since I was vomiting. BUT THAT WAS IT. I could walk around,go to the bathrm, sit on the birthing ball,etc of my own free will. WIth the medical interventions, the epi numbs you which is great- but You cannot stand now, or go to the bathrm, they have to give you a bedpan or catherdise you ( accding to all I read and was taught)
- IMHO- while it may seem that the drugs may give you 'control' ( cause you are not screaming or writhing in pain) what they also do is confine you and limit your choices..
Hope I didn't 'preach' too much.
Beleive me it was one of the hardest things I had to do...and def the most painful...transition contractions are the worse sice they come on so heavy and so FAST...but I am glad that I did it!
My point is that it is VERY important that if you go natural....that you need a GREAT support team...who know how to comfort you and be your cheerleader
I wanted more than anything to go natural. Julianne was 2 weeks post date...and we were going for post date stress test to ck the amino fluid levels and her heartbeat and amt of movement. Last appt was Thurs. Started contractions on a reg basis at about 3am Fri,..every 15 min until 1-2pm Sat...and from there they picked up speed.
By 950am on they were every 5 or 6 min aprt- some were 2 min apart. We called the drs office,,,left a mssg and the midwife called us back in like a minute.
She thought we should leave and begin our 1 hour plus drive into bklyn.
Got there and walked in by 130 to triage, barely could walk and whelping through the contractions.
The labor nurse reminded me to take cleansing breaths...so I contentrated on that instead of whimpering or yelling.
Even tho I was only 3 cent, they admitted me due to the severity of the contractions. Got into the L & D room by 12 mid.
SO at this point, I didnt need to be induced
but the antheisologist ( sp?) came in to fill out his paperwork..and I could barely answer his ?s without grunting thru the contraction.
FOR me, the best position was NOT on the bed but standing. whenever I felt the cotnraction come on, I had to stand, I would either place on foot higher on a stool, or sway back and forth...but was like pounding my hand on the bed or gripping the bedrail. Rob was by my side, encouraging me to take deeper calmer breaths and WHOOSH them out. Helped me to focus and not think I was going to hyperventilate. Midwife applied hot packs to my back and my groin area that were VERY soothing.
Did vomit a few times ( sorry its gross!)
Did a lot of praying
Asked for help/support and midwife and hubby would ask what would help me the most at this point, and they had a LOT of positive feedback.
I wanted to cave in a few times but they kept tellling me how great I was doing, how strong I was...and how close I was ...so I didn't want to give up my goal.
If i had an epi, then I would have to stay in the bed ( which sounded very uncomfortable to me) and I had to be monitored.
Without the epi, I had a surface monitor- just to hear the baby's heartbeat...and I had a IV for fluids since I was vomiting. BUT THAT WAS IT. I could walk around,go to the bathrm, sit on the birthing ball,etc of my own free will. WIth the medical interventions, the epi numbs you which is great- but You cannot stand now, or go to the bathrm, they have to give you a bedpan or catherdise you ( accding to all I read and was taught)
- IMHO- while it may seem that the drugs may give you 'control' ( cause you are not screaming or writhing in pain) what they also do is confine you and limit your choices..
Hope I didn't 'preach' too much.
Beleive me it was one of the hardest things I had to do...and def the most painful...transition contractions are the worse sice they come on so heavy and so FAST...but I am glad that I did it!
My point is that it is VERY important that if you go natural....that you need a GREAT support team...who know how to comfort you and be your cheerleader
