Comments on: Your questions about c-sections & labor

By: AllisonO

AllisonO — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 19:29:35 +0000

I’m going to be a broken record and say that next time, I think you’d love a Bradley class. They are 10 weeks long and there’s just SO much information that is empowering so that you know what to expect and what a HUGE range ‘normal’ is. We did read the book as a class (although I skipped a lot of it) but still felt completely informed and prepared for birth. I can’t imagine having only read a book and trying to stay strong in labor. That must have been hard!

Blessings!

By: Heidi J

Heidi J — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 19:29:51 +0000

I’m so sorry that things ended up the way they did. I hope your able to successfully have a VBAC in the future. Was a forceps/vacuum delivery ever discussed? I’m just curious as I had a very long labor (25 hours) that came very close to ending in a c-section, but they tried forceps as the last resort before that and it worked. I also had an epidural that may contributed to my labor being so long, but I also don’t regret it. I needed to rest and it allowed me to sleep.

Background: I was planning giving birth at a birth center, but had a hospital birth due to being mildly pre-eclamptic, but I had both my birth center midwife and a doula in addition to my husband there with me. They were all great.

By: keyalus

keyalus — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:05:58 +0000

I used HypnoBabies and I loved it. I won’t say labor was pain-free, but HB worked wonders to keep me calm and when your whole body is tensing up with contractions being able to relax through them makes a huge difference. I was in the transition part of labor and the doc walked in and inquired about my epi (which I hadn’t taken). He assumed I must have had one to be so calm and quiet! This was after hours of awful back-labor too. I will definitely use HypnoBabies again. If you search online you can usually find 20% off coupons for the home study course.

By: Tara (crunchymommy73 on Twitter)

Tara (crunchymommy73 on Twitter) — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 17:21:22 +0000

Hi there!

I’m following you on twitter and I think it’s great that you took this opportunity to talk about your experience. I’m sorry you didn’t end up with the experience you hoped and planned for. It is always difficult when this happens, and I hope you are healing both physically and emotionally.

I just wanted to jump in as a Bradley Method instructor and say that I tell students that Husband Coached Childbirth (by Dr. Robert Bradley) is a great introduction to the Bradley method. It’s got a lot of the “whys” but not really a lot of the “hows.” It’s also nice for dads to understand the importance of their role in the birth process. It was written by a doctor who started his practice in 1947, and it shows in his language and attitudes, but the basic premises and methods ring true 60+ years later. For more nuts-and-bolts of how to use the method, for your future births, may I humbly recommend Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way (by Susan McCutcheon), just for starters. I would also recommend Gentle Birth Choices, Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth, and The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better birth, to name a few. One I haven’t yet read (shamefully!) but that would probably be of great help to you is The VBAC companion.

All of this being said, a Bradley class series gets WAY more in depth than either of the Bradley books, and gives couples a chance to practice techniques hands-on. If your Bradley instructor is also a doula (as mine was and as I am), this can help dads feel more comfortable and confident in the idea of a doula, knowing that a good doula rooted in the Bradley method (and really, any good doula) would never overstep the father and take over his role but supports the couple. Especially if planning a VBAC would I recommend a doula. My husband did not want to hire a doula at first, but we ended up hiring our Bradley teacher, whom we had come to know and feel comfortable with.

Best wishes to you, your husband, and your sweet little one. Happy breastfeeding!

By: mamaseoul

mamaseoul — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 09:24:36 +0000

Hypnobabies Home Study is only $150, the live classes are usually in the $350 range. I did it for my VBAC. It really worked and was very easy.

Natural Birth Download is another hypnosis program that is cheaper. I haven’t used it, though.

http://www.birthdownload.com/

I definitely recommend Hypnobabies and a doula. Most doulas don’t say no for you, but they will help you remember what you wanted, why you wanted it and help you stall to think about things and speak for yourself. My VBAC was so fast and my birth team was so supportive, I didn’t have any problems, like that, but it was still great to have my doula. Her presence was just so reassuring that I was able to just let my body go.

If VBAC is something you are interested in the future, you can definitely do it.

http://cairomama.blogspot.com/2009/03/how-to-plan-your-vbac-vaginal-birth.html

By: Alanna

Alanna — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 05:54:40 +0000

Thank you so much for answering these questions! I’m definitely glad we are starting classes early. Thanks again for sharing your experience — it is truly appreciated, and helpful!

By: Miracle Pending

Miracle Pending — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 05:29:42 +0000

I just wanted to add something about requesting a different nurse. I had a similar situation: one good nurse, one horrible. The first nurse I had was bad enough that we wanted to file a complaint. We discussed our disappointment with the nurse supervisor and she proceeded to tell other nurses on staff about our complaints. Our second nurse didn’t like that we had any complaints to start with and defended the first nurse wholly. My point is that you shouldn’t be surprised if asking for a different nurse results in defensiveness. At the end of they day, they’re coworkers and will probably share the same views on a lot of issues.

By: FutureMama

FutureMama — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 04:36:35 +0000

Thank you! We’re going to do at least two classes together (probably Lamaze and Hypnobabies or Lamaze and Bradly) and talk to our OB about these things monday! Great responses!!!

By: Whitney

Whitney — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 04:28:40 +0000

I used the Bradley Method with great success. 2 day labor and no pain meds. I did attend the classes and thought they were awesome and provided SO much info concerning birth. But as you said-every woman’s labor pain is different and each woman has to decide what’s best for HER in labor. My friend used Hypnobabies (check for it on diaperswappers.com-might be cheaper) and it did not work for her cause she had an intense, quick labor. I think it’s be awesome to try-very cool concepts. Ultimately, you have to do what works for YOU. Thank you for sharing your birth story. I know it was a hard experience for you. I’m so blessed to have had the birth I wanted. Keep up the good work on being a Mamma!!