amitymamaThe Attachment Parenting Community

Sunflower_Momma · 10-24-2006, 01:02 PM

tell me the personal. I don't want to provide any other direction because I just want to hear what first comes to your mind/heart/soul. Wait, one more thing: would you do it again and why?

We know that it's definition is no medicaiton. I want it's MEANING to you personally. Not the definition. The value. What it symbolized for you. Etc.

Sandi · 10-24-2006, 01:03 PM

unmedicated childbirth to me means no meds at all - no epidural, no spinal, no nubain, no pitocin, no cervidil

eta: I had to go read the other thread and think before I replied *for me* and my births.

I have not had an unmedicated birth. For me, and my births, it's been a long journey and lots of issues along the way. I believe in relief from pain. I do not feel less of a woman because I sought out pain relief when I was in agony. I think it's similar to the VBAC versus cesarean thing - the means by which the child enters the world does not make the woman any less a mother.

juliec · 10-24-2006, 01:06 PM

all of mine were un-pain-medicated (two were induced with pitocin), but not for any heroic or spiritual needs at the time - I'm just not very fond of the idea of a big needle being stuck in my back.

that said, in retrospect I am so glad I didn't have any pain medications. I think the pain gives you a connection to your baby that you wouldnt have otherwise, but that's just my thought. i wouldn't have wanted to be disconnected in anyway from the birthing experience - pain and all

kimberlee · 10-24-2006, 01:09 PM

#1 I considered unmedicated at the time. I would not now. The birth was pit induced (pre-eclampsia). As I was pushing they slipped "A little something into my I.V." Ugh. I did not ask for that or agree to it. (It was some sort of pain med).

#2 Was unmedicated. He was born in hospital but no I.V., No medications. etc.

#3 and #4 were both UC.

#4 was a UC waterbirth with only my friend there. Her birth was VERY difficult emotionally and physically. I doubt I will have a waterbirth again. We will see though. Hopefully my husband will be there. I will likely have a DEM with me next time and a house full of friends and family. I felt very, very abandoned during her birth. During pushing there were things a midwife could have helped with to get our sweet girl into a better position and maybe I wouldn't have pushed for 2 1/2 hours. I wish I would have had someone there to get me snacks and water, to hold my hand, hug me, and tell me what a great job I was doing.

I hope and pray our next baby will still be born at home. I will just have a slightly different support system in place.

~Bethany~ · 10-24-2006, 01:11 PM

For me it meant nothing beyond oxygen, food and drink passed into my body while I was in labor and giving birth. I've done it twice, and assume I'll do it again the same way, while leaving room for any possibility.

Sunflower_Momma · 10-24-2006, 01:13 PM

okay, let me rephrase, what was it's spiritual/physical meaning to you. I am not saying no medication. I'm saying the process of birthing without medication - how did you value it? What did it "mean"?

Sandi · 10-24-2006, 01:15 PM

I edited mine. I needed to reflect before answering.

Sunflower_Momma · 10-24-2006, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChasingChe

unmedicated childbirth to me means no meds at all - no epidural, no spinal, no nubain, no pitocin, no cervidil

eta: I had to go read the other thread and think before I replied *for me* and my births.

I have not had an unmedicated birth. For me, and my births, it's been a long journey and lots of issues along the way. I believe in relief from pain. I do not feel less of a woman because I sought out pain relief when I was in agony. I think it's similar to the VBAC versus cesarean thing - the means by which the child enters the world does not make the woman any less a mother.

I agree 100%. It absolutely does not make the woman any less of a woman or a mother.

But, I also believe that there is something additional on a spiritual/soul level that comes from birthing without medication. So, while I do not believe birthing with meds makes anyone less of, I do believe that birthing without is an - for me - incredible journey and experience that cannot be devalued or discredited.

Sunflower_Momma · 10-24-2006, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChasingChe

unmedicated childbirth to me means no meds at all - no epidural, no spinal, no nubain, no pitocin, no cervidil

eta: I had to go read the other thread and think before I replied *for me* and my births.

I have not had an unmedicated birth. For me, and my births, it's been a long journey and lots of issues along the way. I believe in relief from pain. I do not feel less of a woman because I sought out pain relief when I was in agony. I think it's similar to the VBAC versus cesarean thing - the means by which the child enters the world does not make the woman any less a mother.

I agree 100%. It absolutely does not make the woman any less of a woman or a mother.

But, I also believe that there is something additional on a spiritual/soul level that comes from birthing without medication. So, while I do not believe birthing with meds makes anyone less of, I do believe that birthing without is an - for me - incredible journey and experience that cannot be devalued or discredited or minimized and cannot be achieve through a medicated birth.

And, I'd also say that the same difference can be said between an unmedicated birth and an unassisted birth. My unmedicated birth - which was honestly the most incredible and most intense and most real experience of my entire life - was in a hospital. And, while it was as unmedical a birth as I could ever imagine in a hospital; it still occurred in a hospital and I don't think it can be compared to that which a person gains from having that experience at home. Given that we are done (officially in only a few weeks time) and I will never birth again, I will never know what it is like to have either a home birth or an unassisted birth. And, I am certain that the personal growth, intensity, gifts (whatever, I cannot think of the right word) will be something I can never truly *know*.

~Bethany~ · 10-24-2006, 01:26 PM

When I gave birth the first time, it was under terrible circumstance. My partner was an alcoholic and I was living with several very disfunctional people. I was 19, poor, uneducated, and saw very limited options for my future life. I had been used and abused, thrown away, and kicked while down. The way my midwife treated me, as if I was special, and glorious, full of possiblity, strong, a giver of life- changed everything. I never knew what was in me until I gave birth to my son. What a gift it was to me to realize the depth of my emotional well, the power that came from there, and the courage to use it.

His birth was truly the first empowering experience I had had in my life, and changed the course for everything.

norasmama · 10-24-2006, 01:30 PM

With Nora, I did have a shot of painkiller, but no epidural, with Nigel, i was completely unmedicated.

For me, I find the strength to give birth by tapping into the strength and wisdom of the millions of women who have given birth before me. Adding pain meds short-circuits that connection for me.

chakag · 10-24-2006, 01:40 PM

For me, it means respect for the child.

I had one birth in which I chose Demerol (or whatever) and that choice was completely selfish. I recognized that at the time, and I was fine with it b/c I wasn't in the proper headspace to give birth to that baby.

Barb · 10-24-2006, 01:42 PM

Having a vba2c, a natural birth for me meant that I wanted to experience labor without intervention by the medical world. I labored at home, I felt my contractions, I felt my body and my baby going thru what it needed to go thru to birth my son. I pushed him out. I was alert and aware. He was alert and aware. It was a completely empowering experience for me.

Sara · 10-24-2006, 01:47 PM

With Michael I was induced but had no pain relief. I screamed for pain relief for an hour but they wouldn't give me any. It was the worst experience and most painful of my life

ladyturtle5366 · 10-24-2006, 01:50 PM

I prefer the term natural childbirth, because that's what it is. Birth without medical interventions and pain medications is birth the way it was meant to be. No matter what your beleifs, wether creation or evolution, birthing babies was meant to be done in a way that made the mother and baby the most comfortable, and the most "in tune" with each other. Sometimes that means mom alone, sometimes with her partner, sometimes with the comraderie of other women. Our bodies were "made" to give birth in this way. Why make it into something medical, scary, and regimented?

For me, I have had a hospital birth. I was told by my OB from the beginning to "keep my mind open" about pain meds, "just in case". He told me over and over that I was too tense, and uptight and that I'd "never" be able to get that baby out if I stayed that way. My lamaze class taught me crazy breathing patterns that were tough to follow in the middle of the day wide awake, let alone in the middle of something as intense as labor. My doctor never explained to me that relaxation aids the body during labor. He never told me not to be scared. Instead, he scared me at every visit. When I complained about the pressure, rather than telling me to relax, stretch and allow my body to open up, he took me off of work, and scheduled me to be induced. He broke my water without asking me, scaring me even further, and putting me instantly into hard labor that my body was not ready for. I had no support. I gave in to the medications because I had nowhere else to turn. I allowed them to do internal fetal monitoring because I didn't know any better. I watched the doctor and nurse fight over wether I was having contractions because my baby (as all mine have been) was posterior, and I was having back labor that wouldn't register on their stupid *high tech* machines. I watched them pull in a silver tray full of shiny sharp metal objects, preparing to cut me open because they didn't think I could do it. Then attached a vaccuum to my babies head because, my poor drugged baby's heart rate dropped, and in the process, they suctioned my vagina along with it. I watched as they yelled down the hallway as my poor drugged baby laid lifeless, and wouldn't breathe. I cried and cried as I watched them bag him for almost 2 minutes to get him to breathe. I cried more when they took him away to bathe him and shoot him full of toxic waste and I was left alnone in the delivery room unable to get out of bed, and starving because they hadn't let me have any food since the night before because of my induction. The night I went home from the hospital, I peed all over myself and the floor because my bladder and urethra were so damaged from the catheder that I couldn't feel when I needed to go pee. My vagina was sore and raw for weeks from the vaccuum they used on my son's head.

Am I bitter? A little, but I know that the doctors and nurses are not the only ones at fault. I am also at fault for not being better prepared and educating myself, and society is at fault for making me think that natural childbirth was an unusual thing to want, and not having more education availalbe to a 19y/o on state aid.

My next baby was born at home, in my bed, after only 3.5 hours of labor, and two pushes. I had a hard, fast, intense labor, and I did allow my midwife to break my water and stretch my cervix. (to me, this was NOT a completely natural birthing) Those were my choices, being still afraid to completely trust my body and this experience. Ashton and I were fine, amazing, actually. I was up walking around eating a gigantic sandwhich and nursing my sweet little boy withing 30 minutes of his birth, and feeling no after effects of drugs, or trauma from my baby "almost dying".

My last birth was also at home, in my bed, and was the best experience of my entire life. I was relaxed, I had fun, my labor stalled for 2.5 hours and we took pictures. I walked with my doulas, I cuddled with my husband, I ate whatever I wanted, I napped, and I enjoyed every last energy rushing contraction as it moved my baby down. I laughed and joked between pushes, I had a moment during transistion when I thought, "I never want to push a baby's bony head through my bones again" Then, I got over it. My husband did all the perinium massage, encouraged me, guided out our baby's sweet little head. He caught our child (but almost missed) as he literally shot out before my next contraction, and we ooed and awwed over him and our wonderful, bonding experience. We worked hard, but were never "in pain" and we had a great big spread aftewards to reward us for our hard work!

If you would like to read my birth story and see pics: Aeden Anthony's Birth

Unmedicated childbirth to me, means life, experience, and true knowledge of the universe and all it's miracles.