Just my opinion, but if you want a natural birth, and be able to walk around, you shouldn't have your baby at the hospital.

I'm not saying all hospitals are the same, but usually you are strapped down, have continuous monitoring, and don't have supportive staff.

I would recommend watching the Business of Being Born, and Born in America. Both powerful films, and shows what an "industry" obstetrics is in America.

I'm in total agreement about reading Ina May's books. She is a wealth of knowledge for the natural birthing mother.

Maybe you could consider giving birth at a birthing center, or even a home birth.

I've had 2 home births, so if you would like more information, just let me know.

Good luck!!

With my first daughter I took raspberry leaf capsules and evening primrose oil capsules from 36weeks - I was only in active labour for 2 hours and hour of that was traveling to the hospital. There was no time to have any pain meds. I wouldnt make any plans for labour just see what happens when the day arrives :)

This is my 3rd pregnancy. I had epidurals with my first two. The first epidural was fine but the second one came with a lot of problems. They had to turn it off and I pretty much had nothing. This time around I will not be getting an epidural. Yes it hurts but honestly as soon as you push that baby out it's over. Plus I found that the labor progresses much faster without the epidural and the recovery time after birth is also faster. People say I'm crazy too for not wanting one but honestly I don't want to go through all the complications again.

And girl are bodies were made for that. This is my sixth (6) baby and I had all of my naturally except one and the ones I had epidural and pit with was incredibly stressed and sick from pitocin they gave me. There are valid instances it's the best way to go but for most people natural is totally doable and the best thing for you and baby.

Of all my 4 kids ive havent had a epidural and my daughter back in 2015 i had to get induced....i just cant take a needle goin my body that u cany see. And if u move u could b paralyzed. I have a high tolerance for pain tho....so natural is best for me. With this baby i think im gonna go natural too

I did with my first and imagine I will with this one too. I was induced first time round so xontractions were super strong. Sitting on a stool in the shower helped with the pain letting the hot water hit my back, and basically just do whatever you need to. I have never sworn so much in my life but for some reason it helped!! My labour was quick though so i might have opted for pain relief if it was any longer. I was 6 hours start to finish but can totally understand getting some pain relief with a long labour! Just go with wat you want not what you're being told to do (unless it's medical advice of course) aim for pain relief free but remember you haven't failed if you change your mind!

I had two natural with nothing and the last one o chose to get the epidural i will never have a natural no pain meds ever again. It went faster with the epidural too.

Don't worry about what other people say, they just like to scare pregnant women!

I had two natural births (no gas n air, no epidural, no drugs not even paracetamol.. literally nothing) and yes it was hard and extremely painful (not gonna lie, very intense pain) but it is very do-able! I have scoliosis so had bad back labours plus the contraction pain, my first was 24 hours and second a bit quicker. Prepare yourself beforehand mentally and you'll be fine x

I’ve had 2 and 2 very different births.

My 1st was entirely back labor , never felt a single contraction in my stomach. I stood for the entire 9 hours I was in labor. They tried pushing for an epidural and I refused. My son was born sunny side up with his hand on his face after almost 3 hours of pushing at 8.5lbs :)

My 2nd son was just as you see on TV - regular contractions , I laid in the bed on my side and DH cuddled me , 4 hour labor 5 minutes of pushing it was easy peasy! I would have 10 more babies if my labor’s could all be like his lol

I was very very adamant that I wasn’t even offered pain meds and aside from my 1st son no one asked and I just carried on like it wasn’t an option

Look into a Doula! They can advocate for you and your wishes, help support you and hubby and basically be your voice! :)

I had three labors, no epidural. With my first, my labor started with my water breaking. And I wasn't dilating fast enough so I was put on pitocin (drug from HELL!) The pain was so bad I cried.. With my second, the Dr had to break my water when I was 9-10cm. OMG the pain is SOOO much easier to handle before your water breaks!!! They did put something in my iv tho I have no idea what it was but it was weird, I felt like I was filled with water.. I was super swollen.

With my third, I asked them not to hook me up to anything and it was my shortest labor! The Dr broke my water at 6.5cm & baby was born an hour later!

After the waters break, the pain is much stronger but the moment you feel like "pushing" I get this wave of relief and calm and its this indescribable feeling when you KNOW baby is almost here!!

You KNOW it's almost over.

The more natural my labor was, the quicker I healed.

I plan on not getting epidural with #4 either. I will go crazy if I won't KNOW when to push or feel the baby coming..

I went into my first labour with an open mind, wanting to ideally do it natural, knowing that I was strong enough and that so many women do it! But I wanted to be prepared with the knowledge I needed as well should I decide to take any pain medications or other routes (you never know!). So, after over 30 hours of labour (back labour) and very slow progression for dilation, I nervously welcomed the idea of an epidural and got one! The main benefit for me was that I went from taking 30 hours to get to 5 cm, to 10 cm dilated in less than 2 hours after the epidural. But I am in awe of all women who do whatever they want to do for labour, be it natural, water, hypnosis, csection, epidural, gas, whatever! You do what is right for you!

I had an all natural birth. And i'd do it all again for sure. Having a bath during labour really helped with the pain.

I loved Ina May's book! I would recommend it to any mom even considering going natural! Totally empowered me in the belief that I could do it too.

I felt the same way when I was planning my first natural birth. My advice is to ignore all of the nay Sayers. You can totally do this. But you definitely need to prepare as much as possible. Don't go into unprepared. Read and watch everything you can get your hard on to help you get ready to have a natural birth. My favorite book was Ina May Gaskins Guide to Childbirth. Just do what you can to get ready and ignore everyone else!

I had a water birth with my first so no epidural. I was dead set on not having one no matter what anyone said and I'm proud of myself for not having it. I also have a very high pain tolerance so I didn't really think the pain was a 10 until I was about 7 or 8cm. But I had a really awesone support team that helped me get through it and helped me keep calm mentally. It is scary because it's your first but if you believe you can do it then you can do it.

Did it with y first! Even after getting pitocin to make me progress faster when I stalled at 5 cm. I endured about 3 hours total of 10/10 pain, but I had lots of support, I stayed mentally calm and when it was over I couldn't tell how long it had been, totally lost a sense of time while going through it! I would do it again, especially if I don't need pitocin. If you don't know what that is, it strengthens contractions making them stronger and closer together than natural and they are brutal! I felt so strong when I was done!

I'll say go for it even if u ended up getting the epidural atlease u tried and that's all that matter, with or without epidural baby still has no choice but to come do not let these people tell u other wise, I'll tell u around 7-8 cm that's when the pain will start get horribly well atlease for me and once ur pain tolerance is high u have a good chance at getting ur natural birth

@nutmeg that's why I like the idea of having a natural birth! I want to be able to feel everything and know what's going on. I don't like the idea of not being able to feel anything and then not having to wait until your legs aren't numb to be able to get up!

@angel oh wow! It just made you even more miserable than you already were! I'm really going to try and have a natural birth

@busy that's why I want to do it naturally! I like the idea of being able to still walk around and get up and move not being stuck in bed for hours it's just making me doubt myself hearing everyone tell me how hard it is

@non oh wow! Yea it'd probably be best if you got the spinal block! I have an extremely high pain tolerance so I think I'll be able to do it I hope!

I've done it both ways and preferred my natural birth. It hurt so bad but it was worth it I think. When I had the epidural I couldn't tell if I was pushing right. Without I could feel my body working the way it was supposed to. My recovery was so much faster. I could get up and walk around right away. The baby wasn't so sleepy either so we got on a good nursing schedule right away.

I had gas for my first bub (did nothing and made me throw up) for my second I had nothing and it was so much easier than my first labour. This time I'm definitely going natural again?

I did?? technically because I got the epidural at 9cm and it didn't kick in because right after they put it in like literally after 2 mins I was at a 10cm fairly quickly and baby was coming very fast so I felt everything it didn't kick i think they said 5-10 mins for it to work it wasn't that bad I used water and it progressed my labor and ease pain a little and lots of walking listen to no one negative I know plenty of 1st time moms who went completely natural and loved it,am doing it again but at a birthing centre so I won't have access to any epidural

Its my 1st baby, but my mom and sister insist that i get the spinal block, and i will. For one reason, i usually feel pain much more than other people, for example if a normal person had an injury and the pain level is 5 out of 10 i would feel it 9 out of 10 ? dont know why!