Quote:
Originally posted by tmdiva
Well, count me in the other camp--I had an epidural, but wasn't thrilled with it though I had no complications. Family members who were there to witness the birth loved it because it made me easier to watch (no more moaning and groaning, etc.), but I think ultimately it led to further interventions (pitocin and breaking my waters) and eliminated any connection I might have had with the process. Magnus stubbornly presented with his head turned sideways, and COULD NOT come out until he turned when I vomited after 2.5 hours of pushing. Pitocin-aided contractions jamming his head downwards and the elimination of the amniotic cushion could not possibly have helped. He finally came out with a very weirdly-misshapen head, screaming before he was all the way out, and refused to latch onto the breast for the first week of his life. I can't help but feel a smoother delivery could have led to a different result.
So, for #2 I am doing my best to prepare for an unmedicated and intervention-free delivery (in about 10 days if baby cooperates). I've borrowed my sil's HypnoBirthing materials, and I'll see my acupuncturist for help with pain relief and relaxation. I also recommend reading the chapter on labor and delivery in Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom--I read it for the first time a couple of years ago and wished I had read it and internalized it before Magnus was born.
RP, feel free to PM me if you want more info. I totally understand if you want to wait to see if I am successful in meeting my goals this time around.
tm
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I wish you the best of the best with #2. I did want that sort of natural experience, but pit. did me in and I quickly flipped to the other side. Your Magnus story sounds very difficult - did he get pretty okay after that first week. How stressful for you and him. (Oh, don't want to remember the first weeks of nursing - OW)
I will say, though, that (and you may have found this, too) my nurses were like pushers when it came to the epi. Particularly the first time. I had to tell them for hours I didn't want anything, and you just know they were thinking "I told you so" when I finally caved. And frankly, they looked pretty relieved on #2 when I said right away I was planning for it. Self-interested!
