Ok, that was a bad idea...

Kristina921 · 10-12-2008, 09:14 PM

I just watched a bunch of actual birth videos on You Tube.
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Did anyone do this to themselves? I was really hoping to do natural childbirth but now I am sufficiently freaked out. Am I a freak to be worrying about this already?

(*slowly steps away from the computer*)

a_beautiful_disaster · 10-12-2008, 09:48 PM

No, I haven't, I've seen child birth live on location two times. For me, that was enough to decide that an epidural was the ONLY way to go for me.

jolin4utopia · 10-12-2008, 10:02 PM

check out hypnobirthing. It is birthing through relaxation. I want to birth naturally and will use the hypnobirth method good luck in what ever you choose. I watched those video's and gosh it is such a miracle to birth a child what ever way you go.

NishaG · 10-12-2008, 10:11 PM

I am always in such awe of the natural birthing process! The human body is amazing! I had 2 natural births, and want my (hopeful) third to be a homebirth.

I think many women approach labor fearfully; to me, it's a progression of milestones so to speak. It's painful, yes, but, it's a pain that will end. And, what an ending!

Daisychain · 10-12-2008, 10:28 PM

I used to watch A Baby Story and Birthdays all the time. But those shows are different...I actually thought there would be some sort of MODESTY when I had my DD#1..no tasteful draping for me!

It's normal to be scared. It's nerve-wracking to know that at the end of this uncomfortable long process (pregnancy), you have to go through big pain and push a really big object through a tiny hole
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Fleegle4 · 10-12-2008, 10:54 PM

As you get to the end of your pregnancy, you will realize that there is NO good way to get that baby out. (There was once some Star Trek episode where they beamed the baby out, but I don't think that's an option yet.) It has to be done, but every method has serious drawbacks. My best advice is to not have a set-in-stone way you think this has to be done ahead of time, which can lead to disappointment or guilt when you get there and it doesn't go as planned. And it never goes as planned. The goal is not an 'optimal birth experience' but a healthy mother and baby. It's not always a matter or will or discipline, and pain doesn't enoble you -- it just hurts, and it's pretty draining. You want to try natural, try natural, but don't make it such a goal that you may ignore signs that it's time to do something else.

And yes, step away from the computer and stop watching that stuff! :-)

PrincessVictoria · 10-13-2008, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fleegle4
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My best advice is to not have a set-in-stone way you think this has to be done ahead of time, which can lead to disappointment or guilt when you get there and it doesn't go as planned. And it never goes as planned. The goal is not an 'optimal birth experience' but a healthy mother and baby. It's not always a matter or will or discipline, and pain doesn't enoble you -- it just hurts, and it's pretty draining. You want to try natural, try natural, but don't make it such a goal that you may ignore signs that it's time to do something else.

Yeah, that. I didn't have a "natural" birth, or even a vaginal birth for that matter. Both of my children were born via c-section, which we recorded. Does that make me weird too? lol The videos are even on our family website (ok, THAT might be weird...), let me know when you get to your c-section research. lol

NishaG · 10-13-2008, 01:41 AM

I just wanted to say that, although you may not get the "optimal birthing experience", whatever that is, it doesn't mean you shouldn't try to get it, if that's what you want.

Most women walk into the hospital with a Birth Plan. Some walk out of it with almost everything going according to that plan, others, not so much. Does that mean they shouldn't write said plan? Not at all.

I believe in positive thinking. It doesn't always do its job, but, if you can visualize yourself having a natural birth, then maybe you can. If not, well, at least you tried, if that's your goal.

I personally want a homebirth because, I've done the natural birth in a hospital thing, and, in all honesty, I'd rather not experience it again, if at all possible. Doesn't mean I think all women should do the same. I believe in the Midwifery Model of Care, and I really want to experience the difference. JMO.

Kristina921 · 10-13-2008, 11:47 AM

Thanks all for the encouragement. I feel better this morning, lol. I was thinking about it last night and I guess I am of the thinking that what ever way I have this baby doesn't matter much as long as I come home with my baby. I've been thorugh so many losses and I am sure that a few hours of pain will not top the pain in my heart of never having a child.

My husband seems to think I am going to need drugs. He thinks he knows me or something haha. I am a baby when it comes to pain. Ah well, lots of women get epidurals right?

BeckyS727 · 10-13-2008, 02:58 PM

I think the biggest thing you need to remember at this point is to research everything. Sounds like a big task, but it's best to be informed about all your decisions instead of just going into labor and delivery with a set in stone way of thinking. My DH and I knew that we preferred natural childbirth before we even got pg, but I also knew that there could be complications, I could be in terrible labor for hours and hours and hours, there could be a lot of things that come up, so I was OK with the possibility of having to go with an epidural or a c-section if that's what was best for our baby.

As it was, I was in the hospital for 2 1/2 hours before DD was born, so I didn't need to worry about having a really long labor.
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If you are interested in NCB, though, I agree with jolin4utopia, HypnoBirthing was really good. There are a few Baby Story episodes about HypnoBirthing (I didn't find them overly beneficial), but if you're interested, there are several videos that they sell on their website of HypnoBirths. It really is amazing (if you end up taking the classes, they show you the videos in the classes).

And the biggest thing to remember about NCB is not to be scared of it. The more scared you are, the more difficult it is for your body to realize that this is an OK thing. And yes, it is painful, but I've said before that I got severely burned on my hand about 4 months after my DD was born and I said that I would have given birth 100 times again before going through that again. The pain from labor and delivery accomplishes something and it has an end - when the baby's out and the placenta's out, the pain of the contractions is over. With other pain, you have no idea when the pain is going to end.

Reebs12 · 10-13-2008, 03:40 PM

Kristina921 - Thanks for the warning! I have watched a hundred episodes of Birthday and A Baby Story but they obviously have great editing. I have never seen a real live birth but I think i will wait to look anything up until my final months when you are so uncomfortable any way to get that baby out looks good.
I am all about going as natural as possible but I am also realistic and want to do what is best for the baby. As scary as that needle in the back is I would love to be comfortable during the experience.

cinnamongirl · 10-13-2008, 06:20 PM

LOL!! It's funny you posted this because I did the same thing when I was about 5 months along. OMG it HURT me to watch it..I had to get up and walk around b/c it made me so uncomfortable. I haven't made this mistake again needless to say!

puffnstuff · 10-13-2008, 06:53 PM

I've watched a few, but I've focused on water births, since that is what we hope to have. I actually thought they were very beautiful to watch (at times, I even cried because they were so touching) and relatively non-traumatic. Maybe try looking for a variety of "natural" births - women in different positions and environments (tubs, showers, etc.) and see if that helps. I'm not scared of the birth or pain itself quite yet, I know that women have been through it for so long and my mom did it twice and I trust in my body to do its thang. That's not to say I think it will be easy or go exactly as I want - but it won't last forever and with lots of hope and support, I'm looking forward to getting through it.

TechLady77 · 10-13-2008, 07:22 PM

My DH did and he's been threatening to "birthroll" me a link...haha. I figure that I'm not supposed to see that anyways, so no sense getting myself upset about it! All I'm going to see is a baby come up over a large hump. It's magic.

Stacie M · 10-13-2008, 09:08 PM

I'm not PG yet, but I want to throw my two cents in here...

I had watched several birth videos before I ever had to the opportunity to witness a birth firsthand. To be honest, the videos scared the crap out of me. But, when my best friend had her baby (natural) in 2005, I was present for the birth and it was AMAZING! It was one of the most awe inspiring moments of my life, and after seeing her go through it I am not as afraid as I used to be.

Good luck with your birth!