If you only had two choices concerning childbirth, first being a natural unmedicated delivery, second being a c-section, which would you choose? I'm doing a survey of how many people would chose an elective c-section.
Hi Sue,
I have 2 kids...the first was slightly medicated vaginal birth. The 2nd was totally natural...unmedicated with a midwife. Even after 41 hours of labor...I prefer the natural unmedicated and would for sure choose it again. The healing, recovery and feeling right after was much much better than medicated...or what a c section would entail.
i would only do a c section is it was medically needed or i was having more then one baby. with my daughter (my only child right now) i had an epidural due to being induced. i wanted to go all natural but my contraction were horrible and i wasnt allowed to walk around because they broke my water. my back labor was terrible so i opted for the epidural. with my next baby (whenever that happens) i want to try to go natural no meds. i think that it is wonderful for people to go all natural and use midwives. i also think that the society presses people to do the elected c section so they have their body back sooner and dont have to go through the pain.
I'm always amazed when I hear of or meet a woman who wants a c-section for her first baby "just because." I've had 6 vaginal deliveries - some medicated, some not. My first four were all very different, but good. The last two were a whole different story for reasons other than choosing interventions over the natural birth process. With all my different deliveries I tell first-time moms to have their babies with a midwife at a birth center or in a hospital that allows midwives to deliver (not enough around the Los Angeles area, unfortunately).
With both my girls, I went natural, sort of. With my second one, I was not holding amnio fluid, not losing, but not holding it and I was drinking all the water and then some. So I agreed to be induced. I had a lot of back pain throughout my pregnancy and refused every offer of meds. I did not want any meds what so ever to be transfered to my baby...I don't care how safe they said it was.
I would definitely go for the natural unmedicated delivery if there were no complications. Unfortunately, things don't always work out that way.
Natural- all the way! :)
Had my first one at home with a nurse midwife and was a wonderful experience. Had my 2nd in a hospital with another nurse midwife, another great experience. Didn't use any drugs with either of them... I wouldn't have changed a thing.
well one is a lot easier to do than the other, but then again one is more dangerous to the mom than the other, I had 2 c sections, and I yearned to have a natural birth.. if you have the option to birth naturally I just think its all a part of the whole pregnancy
I have 4 children and had only one without medication. Not my favorite thing. But given the choice between a natural birth and a c-section, I would choose the natural birth just because of recovery time. With the natural birth, I was up and around very quickly, but with a c-section you have a much longer down time with more restrictions on your activities, as well as a scar. I'd definatly prefer the natural birth to a c-section.
I've given birth once naturally and once with the help of an epidural. I loved giving birth naturally and as has been stated the recovery time was, well pretty much immediate, for me anyway. However, my natural birth was a short labor and so was quite do-able, my birth with the epidural was anything but short, 27 hours of labor. After eighteen hours I just threw in the towel...I simply needed some relief. I would not choose to go back and do that birth without the help!! Each birth experience is different. If there were no complications, I don't see any reason for me to actually opt for a C section.
I would chose a natural, unmedicated delivery, also no monitering so I could be out of bed. I have given birth to one son and I only had the epidural at 5 centimeters because I was being monitered and HAD to stay in bed. I would never opt for a c-section unless I had no choice because it's surgery with a long recovery time. I am having another child this summer so we'll see what happens this time.
Hi Sue,
I had a natural childbirth with no epidural. I did a lot of reading and discovered that delivery without an epidural is best for baby and that was my ultimate goal. I also planned on breastfeeding, and babies born without the use of an epidural have an easier time learning to nurse. Another reason I chose natural is because I did NOT want a c-section, and I read that those who ultimately do have an epidural have a greater chance of having the baby via c-section in the end because they cannot read their bodies signals to push, etc. But then, you being a nurse, midwife and lactation specialist -- you surely know all of this already! :)
BTW, our epidural-less birth was successful and my daughter nursed for 21 months. When she was born she was alert and latched immediately. Although I won't say that a natural childbirth was easy, I would do it all over again. I stuck to my goal and accomplished it. But then, I'm a bit of a stubborn person! For me, the hardest part of the natural birth was mentally and physically trying to keep from pushing until I was dialated enough. And my labor lasted 39 hours, 23 of it in the hospital.
natural unmedicated, that's what I did
prenantal pilates and yoga helped me achieve that
I walked and went to the gym throughout my pg too
my hospital had a bath, that helped as well
I've had both. I would do the natural unmedicated delivery over the c-section.
If it were MY choice, I'd go natural-no meds. It isn't as bad as people make it out to be. Lamaze works.
I would and did choose a natural unmedicated delivery. It was the most intense and amazing experience of my life. Granted, right after giving birth, I thought "I can never do this again" but now 6 months later I know that I will do it again with our next child (in a couple of years:)
Smiles,
Janine
I have done both and NATURAL would be my choice, I loved being the main part of my delivery!!
i guess I am different.... i had two c-sections. They weren't that bad.
I had lots of meds... childbirth is not for sissies!!!
I would do natural. I finally gave in to medications on my first one after about 22 hours of labor when they told me it's be another 8 but I would do it naturally if the option was that or cut me open. :) Good luck!!!
I had all three of mine naturally without drugs or anything (though I wish I'd had something for the last one with that two hour contraction! NOT kidding!). I'd do it all again, too.