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06.16.08, 12:55 PM General Topics
22 replies
can anyone suggest a book on natural childbirth that is not hippy dippy and doesn't try to convince me that i only feel pain during childbirth if i choose to interpret it as pain? i tried dr. sears' book and it just pissed me off. i'm considering natural childbirth as a matter of practicality and just want tips on how to get through it as peacefully as possible. i'm not interested in hearing about the horrors of the hospital the way "birthing from within" describes it. [ Reply | Watch | Flag ]
General Topics 06.16.08, 12:55 PM Flag
 

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Out of curiousity, why wd it be a matter of practicality? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.16.08, 12:56 PM Flag
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epidural never kicked in last time. i suspect that it was misplaced b/c i NEVER went numb but nurses said my labor was so quick that it didn't have time to "catch up." i just want to have some coping skills in case this happens again. i was so completely terrified and i think that made the whole thing worse. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.16.08, 12:58 PM Flag
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I hear ya. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.16.08, 12:59 PM Flag
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np: I had this experience last time (except that there just wasn't time for the epi, not that it didn't work) and my nurse had no suggestions about breathing or anything else. On top of the pain I was shaking violently, which I didn't even know was a possibility - my OB recommended just taking the basic hospital run birthing class this time around. I'm going to try it. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.16.08, 01:01 PM Flag
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op: have you ever taken a birthing class? i took a general one 8 yrs ago and i don't think that would do it for me again. i wish i had the nerve to take a natural childbirth class. i think i may need to suck it up and just do it. i just need to get over myself i remember that taking the class does not mean i'm required to go natural. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.16.08, 01:03 PM Flag
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No, I didn't do anything. Was induced and had an epi that worked for first. 2nd was just a horrible experience. Apparently they spend a good deal of time on breathing techniques at this class, which is all I'm really looking for. I'm afraid of the natural childbirth classes too! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.16.08, 01:05 PM Flag
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Ina May Gaskin's books are very empowering and clarifying as to exactly what happens. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.16.08, 12:58 PM Flag
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True, but they're also a bit "hippy dippy," as OP notes. OP: most of these books are that way--just try to read between the lines to get the info you need. That's what I did. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.16.08, 01:01 PM Flag
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or: ITA with this, and suggest that OP read it with an eye for the incredible amount of information as to what normal birth entails and how to manage the process. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.16.08, 01:03 PM Flag
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op: thanks for the advice. i will definitely check out her books. you're right about reading b/t the lines and getting the info i need. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.16.08, 01:06 PM Flag
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the best advice i was able to gleam from ina's books were the testimonials from women who delivered naturally and their experiences and howthey coped and to think of pain as coming in wavws and not to fight it. I had two surgeries earlier in life where I had to wait in the ER for @ 12 hours before they operated waiting because they didn't know what was wrong with me. And they couldn't give me drugs. After a few hours of fighting the pain and being upset by it from sheer exhaustion I just concentrated on relaxing as much as i could. This experience helped so much with my natural child birth. I loved Ina's books. Good Luck! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.16.08, 01:20 PM Flag
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This is kind of a ridiculous conversation because everyone deals with pain in different ways. I deal really well with pain - but the experience I had delivering my dd was something I never could have prepared for. The pain almost made me pass out - I thought my body was splitting in two - and it kind of was. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.16.08, 01:31 PM Flag
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op: itda that this is a ridiculous conversation. i've had medicated and unmedicated childbirths and i truly believe that fear made the pain worse. just b/c you don't think anything could have made your experience better doesn't mean we are ridiculous for looking for relaxation techniques to improve our experiences. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.16.08, 01:39 PM Flag
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But - you also have to be prepared for ALL experiences - you can't prepare for every situation. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.16.08, 01:41 PM Flag
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what, exactly, are you arguing against here? reading books about childbirth? thinking that it's valuable to learn about others' experiences? natural childbirth in general? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.16.08, 01:43 PM Flag
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you are allowed to try to prepare yourself-or- and I felt the same way. I knew I wanted natural and read up on how the body progresses so I knew what was happening with my body and in ways to relax as much as possible. Also, what i tell all pregnant friends, Tennis Balls! They are a savior. I was told to have my husband use them to massage my back, but i was dealing with INSANE siatica and I literally was using them to relieve pressure points. They were so helpful, especially when you first get to the hospital and are strapped to the monitors and told not to move for 20 minutes while they monitor you and the baby. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.16.08, 02:07 PM Flag
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I don't think there is more hippy-dippy than this one and the Farm [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.16.08, 02:09 PM Flag
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Childbirth can be extremely painful even if you think you are mentally prepared. Sometimes it comes so fast there is no way for it not to hurt in an astounding manner. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.16.08, 01:12 PM Flag
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I had natural twice and I am neither hippy-dippy nor afraid that the epidural is bad for the baby. I can't say I read anything that "resonated" with me in a book per se, but if you want to do it, you can do it... The pain is fucking pain, but it does come to an end... [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.16.08, 02:09 PM Flag
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You might like "the birth partner" by P. Simkin. The illustrations are pretty dated, but I don't recall the info being all "birth is painless and beautiful". It was more practical than uplifting--at least the parts I read. And I had an unmedicated birth; the class (Bradley-esque) we took helped a bunch. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.18.08, 04:31 PM Flag
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My advice is to remember that the pain you feel is for a good reason. When you feel pain, think about relaxing and opening (I just repeated these words to myself over and over and over). And as corny as it sounds, it helped to think about a flower opening. Also remember not to scream (which will tense you up), instead moan, dropping your jaw and saying uhhhh. I went natural without reading a book on it (for db #3)...I just asked for advice here on UB several times. And I found a website that was helpful...wish I could remember the name, sorry... [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.18.08, 04:40 PM Flag
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Sheila Kitzinger's "Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth' [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.18.08, 04:23 PM Flag
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