There really isn't anything *you* can do to prepare.

You're body was meant to labor, and it *will* do it on it's own. (except if the baba is breech, or the heartrate is rapidly dropping due to a neucal cord)

I didn't take any classes. I just did my fair share of research, and watched *tons* of drug free births.

you've got to realise that you are a woman. And birth, no matter how it's done, is an *amazing* thing. This human being that was growing inside of you for 10 months, is now in your arms. You get to meet what's been kicking, punching, and hiccuping inside of you all this time!!

Sarah

Well I was induced, so I don't know if that goes with your natural labor theory. The entire first day I watched tv and breathed through my contractions. The second day they were much more intense, and I no longer felt like I could handle them. I took the epi and pushed her out about an hour later. I was in labor for about 28 hours and only had medication at the end, so .i'm very proud of myself.

The transition stage of labor is the most intense and is where I begged for my epi. If I had known that I would be pushing my daughter so soon I wouldn't have taken it, but it definitely helped me to relax and enjoy the rest of my labor. To go from all-consuming pain to nothing is bliss. I felt no pain when I pushed her out, which in my case was a blessing because I tore considerably.

Something that might help you is looking at the machine as it records your contractions. I would watch the monitor as I breathed so I could see where in the contraction I was, how close the peak was, and when it was going away. And I think I mentioned this in the other thread, but imagine each contraction as a wave - going up one side and down the other, heading towards the shore. Try to breathe as slowly and evenly as possible and keep your body as relaxed as you can manage. Vocalize the pain if you like - channeling it might help you deal with it.

My attitude towards my labor was, what happens will happen. I took everything as it happened and didn't worry about what was coming. The nurses were very supportive when I said I didn't want to take the epi yet (I was paranoid about a c-section and didn't want my labor stalling) and helped me find ways to deal with the pain, like rocking on a labor ball and using a heat wrap on my lower back.

Good luck, hon! No matter what happens you'll do an amazing job. Bringing a baby into this world naturally, medicated, or through c-section is such an accomplishment. Creating life and bringing that life forward is nothing short of a miracle.

Yeah! I was just reading birthing from within and they talk about going through your contractions like riding a wave. That sounds like a really positive way to experience them. I know better than to think that I'm gonna have this all figured out just from reading books and taking classes. It just makes me feel less anxious going into it and I think that will help me keep calm at the beginning at least. The birthing from within book really emphasizes the fact that your body is made to give birth and you need to listen to it and let it do what comes naturally. I'm hoping I can do that as much as possible and ideally do it without an epi or c-section. Of course I'm not so presumptuous as to think that I know how I (or the baby) will handle it after being in pain for 20 hours (or more) on end!! Your birth stories are nice to hear and very inspiring. I can't wait to experience it myself and meet the little karate kid in my tummy that's always kicking me. Thanks for sharing.

mine's not that great but i'll share anyway.

i went into it thinking i'd take it as it comes. i didn't take any classes or read any books, i just spent a lot of time on here and another forum and heard about what others had been through.

i was induced 3 days after my due date because his heartrate dropped to 60 during my non stress test. long story short- i had a horrible nurse, i was having agonizing back labor, my monitors wouldn't pick up my contractions or the baby so i had to have internal monitors (those hurt so bad being put in), my baby was face up and too big to come down (even though he was only 8lbs 5oz), i went 10 hours without an epi and thought i was going to die, when i finally got the epi it wore off half my body after an hour and a half, i never progressed past 2cm, after 14 hours i had a c-section.

it was a bad experience and very traumatic for me but it really doesn't matter now. i've put it all behind me and i have a beatiful baby.

i'm looking forward to my next birth experience because i know i'll be having a scheduled section and i won't be so out of it when the baby is born. i was a wreck this time because i was so exhausted from labor and drugged from the section and a little in shock from the experience.

with my first child i wanted a water birth. i started having contractions at 3am (i came in at 1am from a night out lol) i was two weeks early and my mum kept telling me i's be overdue so i went out for my brother in laws birthday and, lo and behold, the one night i decide to go out- labour starts

i wasn't living with my husband at the time so i left it til 6am for him to get some rest then i rang him and went to hospital. i expected to be nearly fully dialated but i was only 1cm!

i told the midwife of my plans so she kept me in the 'natural birth' section. the contractions got worse after a few hours and i asked for gas and air and she wouldn't give it to me so i asked to go to the other section.

as soon as i got there i begged for an epidural. i was silent throughout my whole labour but it hurt like hell and i couldn't cope. it was really busy though and the doctor was in theatre. i got my hubby to put a hot water bottle and my back and rub it but it didn''t help.

they told me i wasn't progressing and asked me to go on the birthing ball that was agony and i couldn't do it. to cut a long story short i'd been in labour for 20 hours before i actually got an epidural. i was very proud of myself for going that long but i just couldn't take anymore.

once the epidural was in it was a breeze. i sat there chatting to my hubby and laughing away. she was born 6 hours later but my palcenta wouldn't come out and i had to be rushed into surgery to have it maually delivered.

my 2nd birth (10 months later) was completely different. my waters broke at 38 weeks again so 48 hours later they brought me in to bed induced. as they were setting up the drip they checked me and i was 5cm- without any contractions! i was well happy then immediately i started having them. ow!!! that was much worse than my 26 hour labour with my daughter and i was screaming out. i asked for an epiural and someone was there to give me one straightaway. my son was born after 2 hours 7 mins of labour!

i then had a stillborn birth but i don't want to talk about that

although it seems like a horror story my labours were amazing for the fact that they ended with the births of my babies. i must be crazy as i want to be a surrogate mum for couples who can't concieve. so it's not all bad

I woke up at 7.45am on a bank holiday Monday, which is very rare for me! LOL The contractions were about every 20 minutes apart. After about an hour of lying in bed wondering if I was imagining it, I made the decision that it was really happening. I asked my man to put the tens machine on and that worked well. They say if you put it on in the beginning it works better than after the pain has kicked in. It was also a good way of distracting me when the contractions were strong as i'd try not to put the tens machine up too high, but would be laughing, despite being in pain, with my man about what number I was setting the machine too...."it's on a 9"..."Ouch, that's a 12!"
I'd planned a video to watch which I hadn't seen for years and had bought it especially for the day. We watched it over 3 or 4 sittings and when the contractions came, I would pace up and down the lounge. I also helped plant tomatoes in the garden and walked round in circles when the pain was strong.
At 9.30 pm I was starting to find it all a little too much. My man was starting to get tired which was making me feel a little edgy and we decided to head into the hospital. When we got there luckily it wasn't very busy. The nurse did a check and told me that I should go back home as i'd only dilated one to one and a half centimeters! ALL DAY I'D BEEN IN LABOUR! I was very downhearted and worried about the prospect of going home. I knew I'd got to a point where I needed to feel safe and so asked to stay at the hospital.
They admitted me into the ward and a lovely fiesty midwife came to see me. She asked if I wanted things sped up and I said "Yes, just do what you need to". I think she did a membrane sweep and the contractions started to get stronger. It was uncomfortable, and unpleasant, when she did the sweep, but was over in a few breaths....mind over matter is what I strongly believe in, and for me, it works.
I was taken back to the delivery suite and continued with my tens machine. At about 12.30 I was offered the birthing pool, what I call the pond! Thinking a water birth would be lovely, I went off to get undressed and get in the pond. I didn't realise exactly how much pain the tens machine had been blocking, and suddenly I had the full bolt of contractions without anything blocking it. I can't describe the next 4 hours...words cannot tell you what it felt like. I actually remember demanding an epidural, refusing to get out of the pond until the anaesthetist (spelling!) was ready for me and then clambering out of the pond, swinging the door open and being dragged back in by my man telling me to cover up! I didn't care if the world saw me...I wanted those drugs!
Once they had put the epidural in, 20 mins later, I was fine, coped well with the following number of hours and felt like a normal person again. There was discomfort as my baby's spine was against mine, but that was nothing compared to what I had experienced in the pond. At 6.15pm on the Tuesday a bosy midwife came in and told me that she was going to bring the contractions on, and it was time for me to start working hard. She explained that there was a surgeon outside intent on doing a c-sec and that my time was nearly up. I told her that I was ready to do what she wanted me to and that was the truth.
The midwife told me to grab my ankles and push when she said. I pushed on command (and it is like having the biggest, most stubborn "movement" of your life!) I remembered that when you push, the baby moved down and when you stop, he or she moves back up, but each time you push, the further they are to being born.
After 37 hours of labour and 40 minutes of pushing my little girl was born. 8lbs7 and just as i'd imagined her.
The surgeon got to do some work as I had torn very badly (third degree tear) as we looked at our baby!
I've been ready for another baby since she was about 3 months old, and now my man has agreed that he's ready too. My thoughts on childbirth are go in knowing it's like nothing you can prepare for! Do what the midwives say (even if you don't like them!) and make sure you do what you want when you want. It's your labour not theirs and you are the one that matters.
And when your baby is born absolutely everything, all the pain and discomfort will be forgotten!
(I feel all sentimental now!!!)
GOOD LUCK