It’s funny how set you think you are in your opinions about things – your diet, drinking, even the little things like taking medicine. And then, if you’re a woman, you get pregnant. And all of those opinions change. You want to start eating better for your baby – lots of lean meats, proteins, fruits and vegetables. And that’s great. But let’s be real here. That will go out the window once those sugar cravings kick in. Which they will. And I for one say LISTEN TO THEM. You will go bananas if you don’t. If your body wants Oreos, give your body Oreos. Otherwise I can promise that you will be thinking and literally dreaming about Oreos until you eat them. Plus, there will be days when your want to throw up at the mere thought of vegetables or fruits you used to be able to eat by the pound. Weird, I know. But it’s the truth.
And then there’s medicine. Where you could once take almost any medication known to man for any kind of ailment, your list has now been reduced significantly. In fact, think of your list as Tylenol Extra Strength. That’s it. Oh, and by the way, Tylenol Extra Strength does NOTHING for migraines. I learned that the hard way. The migraine medicine you need you’re not allowed to take when you’re pregnant. So say hello to caffeine. I don’t care if you didn’t drink soda in the past or don’t like coffee. It’s your only option. In my case, I also never wanted to get the flu shot. I think the flu shot is a load of crap. Let someone essentially inject me with a virus that may or may not fight the other flu viruses that may or may not be out there? I’ll pass. But hey, the flu vaccine is great for pregnant women and will reduce the risk of your baby being affected if you do get sick during pregnancy; so shoot me up!
Speaking of shots and needles. I have never had a problem with them. Ever. I am that child that giggled when I got my kindergarten shots. Seriously though. I laughed. Ask my mom. Weirdest child ever award. Needles literally have no affect on me whatsoever. Not when it comes to shots, getting blood drawn, getting numbed at the dentist office, piercings, nothing. That being said, imagine my surprise when I found out I was pregnant and the first thing I knew in my heart was that I absolutely did not want an epidural before I delivered.
Which brings me to the topic of natural childbirth. A decision I made almost immediately after finding out I was pregnant with Baby M. My mom gave birth naturally to both my older sister and myself, and I’d be lying if I said that didn’t influence my decision. But my decision was largely instinctive, too. Nothing is going to prepare you for the pain/discomfort most women feel during childbirth, but this is something we were created to do. I believe we were created to feel this – it’s part of the miracle of bringing another human being into this world. All of this, of course, is pending there are no complications when it’s time for Baby M’s arrival.
A few health and emotional benefits of natural birth:
- You can try a variety of positions during labor, including standing, leaning, sitting, kneeling, squatting, etc. Some of these will help ease the pain and can even help the baby descend at a faster rate.
- Natural birth is overall healthier for the baby, and the baby is much more alert afterward.
- Labor can occur more quickly with a natural birth. Often times drugs slow down the labor process.
- More endorphins are released during natural labor, which are calming and pain-relieving hormones.
- A majority of the time, natural birth lessens the time Mom and Baby spend in the hospital after the baby’s born. Aka get home and in my own bed faster.
- Natural birth will give me more control over my delivery. Knowing me, having control and being able to actively participate will absolutely lessen the pain I feel during pregnancy.
- Natural childbirth is empowering. It instills confidence and an “I can do it!” attitude to the mother.
As if I needed more encouragement, one husband timed the periods where his wife said she was in actual pain during labor, over a 24 hour period of time. In that 24 hours, she was only in pain for approximately 45 minutes. That’s less than 2 minutes every hour. Completely doable.
Luckily I’ve discussed these things with a few of the doctors at my clinic, all of who agree that walking in to delivery with a calm mindset and a goal for natural birth is a great place to be. Of course, I am (and have to be) open to other options in case something doesn’t go as planned. I trust my doctor’s advice if that proves to be the case, however they also understand my ultimate wishes and will try not to deviate from them unless absolutely necessary. I was also happy to find out that at St. Joe’s (where I will be delivering) they offer almost, if not all, of the same services that birthing centers do. They offer a variety of useful tools like medicine balls, balance bars, etc. to aid in moving around and changing positions for mothers who are giving natural birth.
All of this aside, I hold absolutely nothing against anyone who knows they want an epidural as easily as I knew I wanted natural birth. Women have been doing it both ways for years and years – and we all turned out okay, right? That being said, I do wish there was more acceptance and support in the decision to give birth naturally. It seems like the people I have told (before writing this blog), with the exception of a few, have had sarcastic responses like, “Oh, good luck,” or, “You’ll beg for the epidural, trust me.” It’s unbelievably disheartening, especially coming from friends. Where is the support? The encouragement? Where is the, “You go girl! I wish I could do that! That’s awesome!” I have absolutely no idea what will happen on the day that sweet Baby M comes. But I know what I want, and I know that I can do it.
Our Little "Whoops!" 