Best ways to prepare for natural birth, yes anything can happen and I may not get what I want but I also dont focus on…

Honestly, what is your pain tolerance level?

Rebozo scarf, stress balls and peanut balls to begin with. Buy them all.

Also have your support person learn techniques to focus you during contractions and positive affirmations

Counter pressure works WONDERS.

Okay I'm done

A lot of breathing technique videos I watched which came in handy cause I was able to get the contractions worse part was the ring of fire 😭😭😭

Yes, do not forget to breathe

@worlds.okayest.mom I'm great with pain, I haven't given birth before so ofcourse I'm nervous of the pain a little but I'm also so terrified of medications. I'm just looking for breathing etc. To help with the pain, theres no way I'm giving into any medications taking anything freaks me out lol but I'm just starting to finally start looking into things for natural birth since I'm nervous for it! So thank you, I've heard of the balls but not the scarfs so will def look those up!

@jellybeans_mumm is the ring of fire when babies crowning? Lol I will forsure look those up!

@kendrab, yes!!!!!! I wanted to die !!! It hurt so bad and burned .. lol

I understand! I have an extreme phobia of needles. With my youngest after 3 days I caved to the epidural. Still needed a c-section. Birth is a crap shot. You need to prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

My husband and I prepared for a VBA2C because I refused to even think about pain meds and he was amazing the weeks following up to it. Rebozo and counter pressure worked the best for contractions. CBD salve helped too.

@jellybeans_mumm ugh I can imagine but I also can't imagine! Lol were both your children natural? If not was the healing process directly after different? I always hear going natural is best within the few hours after birth but I'm still a noob.. I have soo much studying to do that I've been holding off

@worlds.okayest.mom I have to be honest not sure what the vback is even though I've seen it a million times on here! I'm so nervous I'll need a csection because then I probably wont have the choice but to have medications and i know i sound crazy but with my fears I'd rather feel it all 😅 ugh so nerve wracking when you dont know what you're getting into!

I had 2 csections. I was trying for a vaginal birth. Vbac is vaginal birth after csectiob

@worlds.okayest.mom oh! Thank you

Csections are only for medical purposes. If you doubt needing one, ask the purpose. My gut told me I needed one. The biggest reason you'll need one is for malpositioning which a peanutball helps with!

@worlds.okayest.mom what week do you suggest me having the balls/scarfs bought and ready to go? I want to start mentally preparing for the birthing process because I think itll take alot of stress off of me but idk when I should start buying everything for it😞

Now!! You can always practice. Are you having any noticeable Braxton hicks?

Rebozo helps with counter pressure even if you're just having lower back pain.

And a peanutball can help opening your hips when you're sitting. Also get a stability ball and sit on it whenever you're sitting.

@worlds.okayest.mom sadly no, I kind of want to have BH to start preparing myself so awkwardly I want them even tho I always see women complain about them, which I understand but I'm so unprepared for this at the moment lol

You probably wont your first. And enjoy it honestly. Just take it as it comes. Be prepared no matter what. How strong is your support person emotionally?

@yvelid thank you that's relieving to hear! I was worried about after getting the head out how smoothly the rest would go since I've heard that's a rough part!

@worlds.okayest.mom all I have is my hubs and I'm kind of worried how he will be when I go into labor :/ hes a strong guy but he gets nervous too quick for me which makes me worry how hell make me feel during the whole process :/ hes great support but idk how hell be in a situation like this.. I wish I could have a midwife or doula or who ever is supposed to be awesome support just in case if he makes things worse while trying to make them better lol

So, they have programs with free midwives/doulas! Look at local colleges nursing programs.

Honestly, I thought my husband was going to shit his pants when I went into labor. We only ever had to deal with csections so when labor hit, he kind of zoned out. But it kept things stable. Let him know your wishes so he can speak up whe you cant. If you dont want pain meds, tell him no matter what, dont give them. Make a safe word so that he knows when you're asking for them out of desperation vs. out of fear.

My husband spoke up for me when I needed it the most. I was passed out almost dead, but because he knew my wishes beforehand, he was able to speak up and it saved my life!

You should read the book mindful birthing , really helped me with my natural labors. I love her techniques.

@worlds.okayest.mom I will def look those up! And yes I really dont want pain meds unless I HAVE to get a csection otherwise I dont care how bad I want them cause I know deep down I dont want them at all

@sendbend thank you I will def look that up♡

With my first, I just needed a nap! I was up for 3 freaking days in active labor. There is no shame in needing pain meds. Labor and delivery is not a contest. But personally if you dont want them, I totally advocate for that

With which baby?

All 3 had totally different stories

@yvelid thank you😍 I'm not against the meds I'm just so darn afraid of them but I know I will probably be in the most pain of my life. I wont be ashamed to give in even though theres not a cell in my body that wants the meds, just hoping any techniques will pull me threw

I was in prodromal labor for 4 weeks. I got the shots to slow down contractions at 36 weeks and they didnt slow. They refused to release me but respected my want for a vbac so i was admitted and told I wouldn't be released until I delivered because I was at risk of rupture. I asked for the csection. They denied at first and my husband spoke up for me because even with my first I labored for 3 days and because of his position I needed one anyway. The doctor agreed it was too much and the risk outweighed the benefit. So I had my csection. I had a super rare hematoma. It usually resolves by itself so they stitched me up and I was in the delivery room with my baby. I was having the after birth cramps, but even with fentanyl, they were super painful. I kept pressing the pain button and screaming for help. I was in and out of consciousness, so they gave me 2 blood transfusions and 2 shots of something. I texted my mom who I didn't even talk to asking her to come because "im not ok". They then realized my hematoma wasnt resolving, so they wheeled me into a ct scan and I passed out. They woke me up and told me my hematoma was bleeding out and they needed to take me to trauma to do a discovery and I may need a hysterectomy. I get to trauma holding in my tears and when I get there, radiology calls and says "do more investigation before doing another surgery." I broke the fuck down. I get back into recovery and pass out. My blood pressure was 70/50. I wake up to 5 doctors and my husband saying "do whatever it takes" and I'm rushed back to trauma. Like literally they ran into an elevator and kick the doctor out saying "we need this elevator get the fuck out." I get into trauma and people are trying to keep it light "sorry we have to se you again" and all I see is a cooler full of blood and I'm saying to myself "why the fuck didnt I kiss my kids good bye." I was going to die. I wake up in the ICU and they tell me they needed to do a hysterectomy and I was thanking God I was alive. My husband finally came in the room and goes "uhh... no more periods!"

A doctor came in and was very solemn and asked how I felt. After the pain I was in and knowing I couldve died, I felt incredible. He was still totally serious and goes "you lost all your blood. I don't know how I'm talking to you right now." I had a rupture and bled out completely. Thank God I was in the best hospital ever and they had the blood I needed.

My husband knew my position on "of the choice was me or this baby, choose me. We have 2 other kids to think of" thankfully my son was out because if anything waited, we both would have died.

@worlds.okayest.mom jesus christ what a horrifying story

It was rare so do not think it's anything you need to prepare for. I went in a few weeks later for bleeding and a nurse I never even saw before goes "HOLY COW THAT WAS YOU?! You were the talk of the town here!"

@worlds.okayest.mom still absolutely terrifying how anything can happen. Phew really need to start preparing for these thoughts

Dont think on it. Prepare. Do you really think your husband can make the call? If not, name your mom or dad or anyone you can trust for them to call and ask what your wishes are. Chances are, things will go off without a hitch

@worlds.okayest.mom sadly my parents are 5hours away); but doesn't mean they can't call and ask them because I am nervous about how hubs will get. I feel like even if it's going "good" hes going to make me feel like its not

Exactly. They can always call. Talk to your hubs and if he even hesitates about the possibility, call your parents and ask them how they feel about being the point of contact in an emergency

@worlds.okayest.mom thank you for all of your advice 😍

You're very welcome. If you need anything else, feel free to message me.

@worlds.okayest.mom dont be surprised if I do! Haha plan on doing alot of researching tomorrow

Message me tomorrow. I'll have my hubby search for my rebozo and if you want to test it, I can mail you my old one and stress balls if you dont want to spend money on your own if we can find them

@worlds.okayest.mom sounds lovely♡ thankfully all of my big purchases are done for my baby besides crib and dresser so I'm sure it won't be a problem to get them but then I have to learn how to use them and everything lmao

Google! Just tie a knot on your lower back and lean up against a wall if your husband isnt there. Otherwise, he pulls back or hammocks the uterus

Water. get into a tub. Bath, shower....water helps a lot with the pain

I have the book "Mama Natural" that my doula recommended and I highly recommend it. It discusses the different levels of "natural" birthing, what you should do for your body to prep, etc. And of course we can't guarantee how labor will go but we are truly hoping for a completely natural process ourselves and by thinking ahead and creating a birth plan you are forming that communication with your providers (key discussion in the book as well).