Today I am 14 weeks pregnant. It's pretty damn awesome.
Last night Aaron and I sat down and watched The Business of Being Born. Since this whole 'I'm having a baby thing' has started to sink in, I knew I wanted to make a full blown effort at a natural birth. It seems to me that my body was set up to be able to give birth - and I should let it do it's job. Also - I'm somewhat fed up with the high amount of drugs that I've already dealt with just to get pregnant. I'd like to think that my body can do this without medical intervention.
I have a lot of support from friends in this area - I have 2 friends that are doulas (of course they don't live close). And a college roommate of mine actually had a home birth a few years ago.
Thing I was nervous about in this natural birth quest was twofold. The first was Aaron. Aaron doesn't like to see me in pain. He loves me. And he listens to doctors as though they are gods. Which many of us do - and usually that is the right thing to do. But with birthing - your body, if left to it's own devices, will do the right thing 98% of the time. And in Aaron's family, the last three children born have all been c-sections. So to him, it's 'normal'.
The other thing? I know me. When I was in pre-op for my D&C, there was this woman in the bed next to me who was totally freaking out. Screaming, crying, everything. We had all been there for 11 hours at that point - most of the people who were in pre-op at that point were the elective surgeries that had been postponed for emergencies. I was tired, hungry and sad that I had to be going through all of this. I wasn't freaking out. I just wanted it to be over. But this woman had people rushing to her bedside, and then she got this shot of something - and she went from a completely panicked woman to calm and totally fine. And oh how I wanted a little bit of that medicine.
So anyway. Back to The Business of Being Born. In the beginning of the movie, Aaron was kind of commenting on all the negative comments that the people were making on the medical take on birthing. By the end - he was totally sold on my bodies ability to birth without drugs. It was cool. Aaron is totally on my side with the whole effort for natural birth.
Even though I have Aaron on my side - neither of us have had a baby before. No matter how many books we read or videos we watch - we really won't know what is 'normal' or 'OK'. I want to get the help of a doula to help guide Aaron and I through this birth. Over the next few weeks, we are going to interview a few and see who we click with. I may not have been able to get pregnant without medical intervention, but god damn it - I'm going to bring this baby into the world the old fashioned way!
24 comments:
I'm so impressed by you! I'm such a wussy. If you want to do a natural birth then do it! More power to you.
Jeramy was being a butthead one day and said that he thought I should go the natural route. His logic was that he wanted to hear me get all loud and pissy during labor and yell "You did this to me you a$$hole". So that way he could remind me that it was my doctor who did this to me.
I'm impressed as well. I haven't seen the movie yet; I just added it to my netflix.
I too am impressed. I've been meaning to watch The Business of Being Born but just haven't (in part because I'm not sure P would watch it). Maybe I'll Netflix it.
I'm open to going natural, but the natural childbirth class didn't work for me (they only do it weeknights, and two sessions are when we're out of town), and I wasn't sure what resources would be best if I couldn't go the easy way and take the class.
Happy 14 weeks.. Good luck finding a great doula for you both
All the power to you, I think it's great that you are taking charge and taking a stance.
When I'm lucky enough to get pregnant I am totally getting the drugs. I'm just so adverse to pain and there's a certain family history that there really doesn't seem to be much of a choice for me.
You can do it! I did it (twice) and know I'll be able to do it again.
I have to say that I caved and asked for an epi with BOTH of my deliveries, but "lucky" me - epidurals do ~not~ work on me. I had both babies feeling every ounce of pain.
Oh damn. I have to do it again. Wow, it hurts.
BUT - it's doable.
Good luck!
I think the idea of natural childbirth is the way to go...but in reality...I don't know if I could do it. Hopefully some day I will have the chance to make the decision whether to do it or not!
I have always wanted to have a natural birth via water birth. I still have hope for that one day LOL
That seems to be the way a lot of women are going nowadays. I have done it 4 times. 2 drug free and 2 doped up. I admit I would take the drugs over natural if I ever did it again. For me, it was just so much easier and less traumatic. Hell, I could have shot out 1,000 kids with my handy epidural. I still miss it.
I am such a wussy too, and my husband would not handle me being in pain very well.
I am all for it though, I wish I could but I know I would be a big ole bock bock. Will be praying that you will be able to have a natural birth and it all goes well.
Good for you! What a great attitude!
I think the best thing about what you're saying here is that you're going to prepare yourself mentally for a natural birth. When the time comes, you may or may not stick with that, but at least you'll be prepared. I did not prepare for a natural birth at all. I saw no reason to go through that kind of pain when I didn't have to.....and then the epidural didn't work for me. Well, it did work in the sense that it make my entire right leg completely numb for hours and hours, but as far as contractions and all that pain..felt every bit. It was awful, and I think that part of that is because I hadn't prepared myself for that kind of pain. I wasn't ready for it. So, with this pregnancy, I'm preparing myself mentally for what I've felt before, and I think I'll be ready for it when the time comes.
I absolutely love "TBOBB"! Even though I know my own birth experience--should I get pregnant again-- will be heavy with medical interventions because of my pre-existing physical conditions, I am so thrilled that there are women getting in touch with the fact that birthin' babies isn't an illness or a injury. And that in most cases, all that doctor hoodoo isn't necesssary.
Good luck in choosing your doula!
I haven't seen that video yet, but I was an assistant for a prepared childbirth class for over 2 years and sometimes on the saturday class DH would bring me lunch and happen to catch one of "those" videos. Makes him cringe every time, and when I told him I really wanted to try and see how far I can go in labor without drugs he almost went white (this was while we were still trying). He usually always jokes, "then fine, if you don't want the drugs...give them to me!!"
It still makes him really, really nervous (especially now that this labor business is actually a reality!). I still want to try and see how far I can get, but I am also considering the epi to try and make an overall better birthing experience for both DH and I because the thought of me getting said drugs...calms him down, lol.
Good for you!! I wanted to have Pea without drugs...but then push came to shove...and I had to have 'em.
Welcome to the 2nd trimester.
I hope that your natural births work out.
I've been wanting to watch this for a while...glad to see your positive review of it.
My DH is the same way - he's kinda clueless (much as I love him) about medicine and health in general, so his only recourse is to just listen to the doctor...
I'm stopping by from NCLM. Just want to wish you good luck!!
I'm stopping by from NCLM. Just want to wish you good luck!!
Two of my close friends just had natural births and would like to go that way again with their next child if that is possible. Good for you for listening to what you want and taking steps to make it happen. There are so many good plans out there, and people should do what they feel comfortable with. I have netflix, so it was a good movie? I'll have to check it out. Thanks for sharing!
Congrats on making the decision to go natural! Good luck with the birth!! :)
I haven't seen this yet but want to.
Congrats!
I have to see that flick.
And good for you girl, go natural we have put into sh*t into our bodies thus far trying to even get pregnant! I hope I will have to make this choice someday too. xoxooxo
I still haven't seen that flick, but my goal as well is to have a natural birth - mostly just to see what my body can do. Good luck to you!
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