How do you plan to give birth?
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Forum Description: Pregnant! Wanting to chat to other mums-to-be (or dads-to-be)? Share your thoughts, experiences, and ideas... This is that place!
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Topic: How do you plan to give birth?
Posted By: peanut butter
Subject: How do you plan to give birth?
Date Posted: 18 April 2007 at 12:00pm
| I know I am a long way off this ( I hope) but it is something I am really curious about. What do people plan to do, home birth, water birth, "normal"birth...what is normal..etc |
Replies:
Posted By: mamanee
Date Posted: 18 April 2007 at 12:03pm
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I want them to knock me out cold, take the baby, give him a wash, put him in some nice clothes then wake me up.
But that isn't very realistic, so I plan on using a pool or bath for pain relief and then birthing on a bed, movie style, ie; in a hospital gown, with my legs up around my ears, (or as far as they will reach) screaming bloody murder. |
Posted By: MyMinis
Date Posted: 18 April 2007 at 12:15pm
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With Haleigh I planned ocmpletly natural without pain relief and my midwifes homeopathy as needed.
but ended up with epidural and forceps. Thsi time Im wanting ot try for the same, but i am open to pain relief alot sooner this tiem if i need it. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
http://tweetytweety85.bebo.com - bebo |
Posted By: MelanieAndBree
Date Posted: 18 April 2007 at 12:26pm
LOL yep me too (the realistic one, although the first one would be very nice!)  ------------- Melanie. Mum to Briahna Robyn, 3yrs |
eomachine wrote:Posted By: caraMel
Date Posted: 18 April 2007 at 12:29pm
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LOL Renee you crack me up! ------------- Mel, Mummy to E: 6, B: 4 and: 
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Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 18 April 2007 at 12:55pm
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I like the inrealistic one better. A friend and I are both planning to go to bed one night, wake up to the sun shining in on the white bedspread to find a beautiful bassinet at the end of the bed with a clean smiley baby cooing gently inside....I think it should also be lightly perfumed. "oops I must have coughed in the night".
This theory fits with my other plan that bubs will sleep through the night from day 1, feed itslef and put the jug on for mum and dad in the morning....it will also be an allblack (maybe the first female all black) and primeminister, millionaire by 15 etc etc. Who wants to be realistic anyway....oh and birth wont hurt a bit. 
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Posted By: Skyflame
Date Posted: 18 April 2007 at 1:04pm
I had planned on having a water birth, and having everything as natural as possible. Unfortunatly we never got to the birth centre to have a water birth, but i mean really what is more natural then having your baby on the bathroom floor.
I am thinking we might try for a water birth next time (which wont be for a couple of years) but I guess we will have to see how things go. |
Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 18 April 2007 at 1:54pm
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What happens in a water birth? I am very curious about them. Or maybe I just want to be in the bath during labour. I LOVE my baths especially during pregnancy so it would be nice to incorporate that.
Do any chch mums know if you can use a bath etc at Christchurch womens or St Georges? |
Posted By: Anna
Date Posted: 18 April 2007 at 2:21pm
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First time round I was hoping to be drugged up to my eyeballs, ended up having a water birth (Apparently I tried numerous times to get out of the pool hollering drugs drugs but couldn't get out!). Second time round planned and got my water birth.
Water birth is fantastic! Although i spose it works well for some, not so great for others. You just jump in a pool that is spa pool sized, and go forth and birth! Kinda grossed me out that there would be floties in there but first time round there was nothing! Second time round not so flash but I bled a lot afterwards. ------------- Anna http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: MyMinis
Date Posted: 18 April 2007 at 3:02pm
the bathroom floor  wow he was really eager to get out.
------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
http://tweetytweety85.bebo.com - bebo |
Posted By: Mama2two
Date Posted: 18 April 2007 at 3:15pm
LMAO - Renee you crack me up  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: megrac
Date Posted: 18 April 2007 at 3:17pm
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i dont plan too much i find it better to go with the flow i have had two hospital births just because i feel more relaxed there. i usually jump in the spar bath with some nos (trick is to keep your eyes closed when you feel the gas working then you dont feel sick) ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Mama2two
Date Posted: 18 April 2007 at 3:20pm
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My plan is similar to Nikki's. I plan to wake up on the morning of my due date to find that the baby has walked out during the night (placenta under arm), cleaned herself and is now tugging on my toe to let me know she is hungry. Of course she will be the perfect baby, there will be no pain and small cartoon butterflys will be floating around the room
More likely she will stay posterior, I will have to be induced 10 days after due date, have 3 days of labour and end up with a c-section! Still no point worrying about it........right? 
On a more serious note, I have no major birth plan, willing to try the birthing pool if available and just plan to see how it goes in relation to positions, drugs etc. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: .Mel
Date Posted: 18 April 2007 at 3:52pm
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With my other two, I had no real birth plan. Once I got to the hospital I basically did what felt comfortable and right at the time... with a little bit of coaxing from the midwifes...I intend to do the same this time around, if I can.. and yes it won't hurt a bit ------------- Mr Mellow (16) Miss Attitude (8) Destructa Kid (3) 
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Posted By: bumblefoot
Date Posted: 18 April 2007 at 4:27pm
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Well, when we are finally pg, as lovely as all the above sound, especially the water birth... Ahhh, dreams... I have to have a c-section due to my pelvis being too narrow for bubba to travel down. They arent certain, but will prob just go with c-section to be safe, as will be our first, and prob only bub. Best wishes to all the expectant Mums out there. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: MummyFreckle
Date Posted: 18 April 2007 at 5:09pm
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In my world, I will have a nice cold glass of Chardonnay in one hand, the lastest Cosmo / Vogue / Tattler in the other, whilst my husband (who strangely - in this fantasy - has started to look like Daniel Craig - dont ask!!!) massages my feet / shoulders, only pausing to feed me fresh chocolate dipped strawberries. At some point I will be rudely interuppted by a very well dressed and polite midwife, who will inform me that the baby has made its arrival, is beautifully clean and dressed, and is now ready to be cuddled, at which point I will put down my wine (after finishing it of course) and take my beautiful baby into my arms. (I am pretty sure at this point their will be some appropriate music played by a string quartet who have appeared in the corner of the room)...... Hmmmm.....maybe hard drugs ARE the way to go!!! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 18 April 2007 at 5:27pm
| I'm going to go with the flow. I'll try about anything for pain relief which includes getting in the bath or shower, whatever works at the time. I don't see much point in planning it much because no doubt whatever I decide I want won't really work for me when I'm actually in labour! lol |
Posted By: WRXnKids
Date Posted: 18 April 2007 at 6:50pm
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Well when i do get preg and give birth i will have all your fantasy births because i definaltely plan on being doped up to my eye balls so will probably be imagining a baby swimming out pain free while drinkin champers. I really dont think i have a good pain threshold so will probably want to be drugged at the first labour twinge.
I wonder what my future midwife will think of this plan? -------------   
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Posted By: Spudling
Date Posted: 18 April 2007 at 8:35pm
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quickly and painlessly
------------- http://tickers.families.com"> 
http://tickers.families.com"> 
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Posted By: mum2paris
Date Posted: 18 April 2007 at 9:42pm
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I went with the flow, thought labour would belong, got to hospital each time in time to push instead, and lol Renee - actually, having your feet in stirrups, or one foot propped up on someone's waist on either side, with them supporting all your legs weight - is soooo good, opens your pelvis right up.. yes the whole world sees, but out comes baby. it's great. I can see why people like upright positions too but i tried those and felt like the weight of the gravity was pulling me downwards. probably helped the girls drop as i stayed that way until time to push. ------------- Janine and her 2 cool chicks, Paris & Ayja 
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Posted By: mum2paris
Date Posted: 18 April 2007 at 9:44pm
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have i scared anyone? lol ------------- Janine and her 2 cool chicks, Paris & Ayja
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Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 18 April 2007 at 9:58pm
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I don't know if you want some experience on here, but here goes anyway lol
With Hannah my plan was for water birth, no drugs, as natural as possible. But when I tried the bath I absolutely hated it! Then my placenta tore a bit (nothing to do with the bath), I started haemorraging, and she ended up being an emergency c/s - so there came the drugs! With Briona (my second baby) I was keen to have epidural (cause it was bliss when they gave it to me in preparation for the c/s for #1) and to deliver VB if possible, which I did. But in hindsight I wished I hadn't had the episiotomy because I felt like my pushing could have been far more effective if I had felt the pushing sensation. With Krystiana I was introduced to a new drug called fentynal (sp?) which is one of the ingredients of epidural but not as strong as that. I got the sensation alright! But I felt like I knew exactly what to do (apart from a couple of moments of panic but I told the mw how I was feeling and then she was able to reassure me). It was the first pg that I tried the gas and it was good at first but when the contractions got longer I found I couldn't have "enough" gas because I was feeling a bit sick and giddy. I'm planning to do the fentynal route again some day, it is administered via IV (far simpler than epidural going through your back) and was just the right level of pain relief for me. I absolutely love active labouring in the shower. In fact with Kryssi I active laboured at home and I was worried we'd run out of hot water!
... hmmm maybe love was the wrong word lol -------------  |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 18 April 2007 at 9:58pm
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Oh phew! My comp froze when I posted that and I thought I was gonna have to type it all out again! ------------- |
Posted By: Mazzy
Date Posted: 18 April 2007 at 10:09pm
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I had a fairly flexible plan, wanted to get in the water, happy to try pain relief if and when needed but wanted to try for as close to a natural birth as possible without pain relief, trying lots of different positions etc. - I was preparing myself for a long labour!
All that went out the window when I had to be induced two weeks early because of health problems and went into active labour so hard and fast that all I had time to do was get off the bed and stand up leaning over some pillows that were on the bed. Used the gas but not long after DD was born standing right there - didn't even get close to the bath! One thing I want to do next time is try and listen to my midwife when she tells me to stop pushing/slow down. At that point I was so freaked out my only thought was 'hell no! this baby is coming out NOW!' and I ended up with a 2nd degree tear. I was initally really disappointed with my birthing experience but it went so much better than it could have, given the circumstances - we were both ok. I'm a bit of a perfectionist so next time I'm not going to plan for anything except to give birth however it happens! But the pain free, sweet smelling babies sound good to me
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Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 18 April 2007 at 10:53pm
| Busymum, experience is exactly what I am after here. I really have no idea what I want to do. I am intrigued by the water birth plan, but maybe just the bath or shower would be enough for me. |
Posted By: mum2paris
Date Posted: 19 April 2007 at 9:14am
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The bath is wonderful. with both my girls i just plonked myself int he bathand there i stayed, i was at home and waiting for things to get established, lol.. they were already established i just didn't know it. it was nice to just be wedged int he bath, upright semisquatting almost, and just lean on the bath with contractions. I am a woosy baby with pain, but managed extremely well with the births i think, simply cos once i found out paris was nearly ready to push out i was like YAY! I love the idea of a water birth but i think i like being on dry land also, because that legs on the hips position i mentioned before just gets things done so quickly. lol
I did go into things with just an open mind about what would happen and was willing to try the gas and had a tens machine.. but didn't use any of them, still had the same prepared 2nd time as well just in case. I think it's best to be flexible, write down things you think you would like and your midwife can tell you if they are realistic, but be prepared to compromise or change as you need to, don't go drug-free if the pain is getting too much to bare, no one's going to look down on you later for it. you still get your baby at the end and that's what counts, even if it ends in c-section, still, you have baby. ------------- Janine and her 2 cool chicks, Paris & Ayja
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Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 19 April 2007 at 9:39am
I used the bath a lot when I was labouring at home with Maya, I must have had at least 6 baths. Getting in and out was a performance, but the warm water really helped. I laboured at home from about 4pm on Wed until 11pm on Thurs when I couldn't cope with the pain anymore and got to hospital to find I was only 4cm  I had an epidural which was brilliant, they let it wear off during transition which wasn't brilliant, Lil Miss Posterior turned herself around and I delivered her flat on my back with my knees pulled up.
I spent the next 3 years telling anyone who'd listen how great epidurals are and how I'd never give birth without one. I didn't have a choice with the gremlins, my midwife and OB planned an induced, medically managed delivery which meant I had an epidural put in before they'd even broken my waters. Labour didn't start spontaneously so I had to have synto to get the labour established and once I started having contractions we realised the epidural had failed. My midwife was keen to get the anaesthetist back to fix it but I felt I was coping OK and the OB was happy that the girls were stable. It took over an hour to push Sienna out as her head was on a funny angle (Mercedes was bearing down on her sideways) and I pushed on my back again with Willie on one side and the midwife (who is tiny!) on the other. I delivered them both in the same position, holding my own knees up coz the midwife was delivering the babies (obviously) and Willie was holding a mirror so I could actually see them being born. I didn't have a choice about birth position, with Maya I had SPD which meant squatting or all-fours wasn't an option coz it could cause permanent pelvic damage, and with the gremlins I was too big to move But birthing on my back worked for me.
If I ever have another baby I'm keen to try birthing without pain relief coz I got a real sense of empowerment from birthing the gremlins and being able to feel and experience it, far more so than with Maya. But by the same token I have no regrets about having the epi with Maya coz it worked well and helped me to get thru a very long and tricky labour. Next time around I'd be keen to try a more active birth too, walking around during labour, and maybe a different birthing position, but I guess it will depend how I feel at the time. ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: Rachael21
Date Posted: 20 April 2007 at 9:13pm
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I went into early labour at 10am but wasn't bad pain at all and that night midwife came round and I was 3cm so I went for a big walk at 8pm. I spent all the night in the bath at home hoping this was truely labour. Midwife came round at 7am and I was 8cm dilated so we went to the hospital and I got in the bath. At around 11am was still only9cm with an anterior lip so I got out of the bath and had some gas. My waters broke but the stupid lip still wouldn't move but I had to stop the gas cos I couldn't help pushing when I wasn't allowed.
I loved the gas found it didn't really help with the pain but relaxed me so I could deal with it on my own. When I was finally allowed to push at 1 30pm I got back in the bath and pushed on my knees leaning over the side. |
Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 20 April 2007 at 9:33pm
Do most hospitals have baths for labour? I really like the sound of a bath as I always want one if I'm feeling uncomfortable and when I used to get bad period pain I would often get up in the middle of the night to have a bath. It ALWAYS worked. About to hop in one now as I have really restless legs.
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Posted By: fattartsrock
Date Posted: 20 April 2007 at 9:52pm
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The bath/shower is great for pain, I used both in the transition stage (I think thats the stage, as your getting more and more dilated before you get your epi...) Both times I went in with the see how par I go, and this last time I got pretty damn far before I got the epi (mainly cos the anethetist was held up for 2 hours, lol) after the epi was in this time, m/w broke waters and 15 mins later she was here, so half an hour basically. I do wonder now if I could have done it wothout, and just let her rupture the water and go for it. Oh well. Still had all the sensation, and knew when to push an dhow to. I am a great advocate of don't rule anything out!!!!!! It makes me smirk a little when I hear fist timers saying oh no drugs, music lights massage and chanting etc, drugs are bad etc. realistically, you have got no idea what it feels like till you actually do it, and if you have really concrete ideas about your birth and how you want it to be and it dosen't happen, you may beat yourself up big time and not actually enjoy the end product so much. Just my 2 cents worth, though!
I like your fairy tale idea, though, I wanted to wake up and baby just turned up during the night as well! ------------- The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P |
Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 20 April 2007 at 10:22pm
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fairy tale?????? I'm deadly serious!!! Whats the point of a birth plan if you cant have EXACTLY what you want...including the behaviuor of your baby.
This first timer (if I have to come back down to earth) will use whatever means I need to to deliver a healthy baby the easiest way poss. whilst I would like to think I could do it without drugs, I dont really believe I would have the guts. I may be a virgo...but I'm really not a perfectionist....it will be "get the bloody thing out of me NOW!" kind of attitude.
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Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 21 April 2007 at 7:45am
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Emma you delivered in the same position as me - semi-reclined, they call it. Sounds like lounging by a swimming pool with a glass of punch in your hand ROFL
Both times I wanted to be upright, on my knees, but with Briona she started moving up and with Krystiana my bearing down sensation was so strong that I was coming down almost down to the bed - not a good idea!------------- |