Having a baby, working out, and other miscellany.
Good morning, Monday! It’s almost afternoon already and it’s been a productive day so far, which I love. I thought I would join Miscellany Mondays today.
1. Labor, delivery, and pain relief.
There’s a nice, cheerful topic to start out your Monday! I wrote about pain relief during my first pregnancy. I thought I would “try going natural,” but I wasn’t 100% committed to it, and being barely progressed for 6-7 hours of hard labor, I got an epidural.
I’ve been trying to educate myself a little more this time around. I’ve watched The Business of Being Born, and last week I read the filmmakers’ book, Your Best Birth. Now I’m reading Easy Labor.
My conclusions so far: I will always be most comfortable giving birth in a hospital. Labor pain is more manageable when you realize that the pain is working for you, not against you. Epidurals and Pitocin are hard on your body, your baby, and increase your chance of a C-section, which is the last thing I want. I would like to delay pain relief and have a natural birth if possible, but I am open to an epidural if my labor is long.
2. Prenatal exercise revisited.
Amazingly I’ve been sticking to my workout plan! I read Reshaping It All and it was very motivational. I also read a great article called 33 Reasons to Exercise While Pregnant, and seriously, an easier/shorter labor, a healthier baby, and better sleep? Sign me up! I have been sleeping wonderfully and feeling great, and I am controlling my weight gain. I officially love exercise.
3. Too perfect to last.
I’ve been through so many changes over the past three years – college graduation, a long-distance relationship, engagement, moving to Florida, getting married, my first pregnancy and baby, and now a second pregnancy. It’s been a roller coaster ride, and there have been seasons of upheaval and chaos throughout.
I’m in a season of relative calm right now – second trimester, feeling great, a toddler who still takes two naps many days, and a good routine. These seasons feel so rare that I start being afraid of the future with a newborn and lack of sleep. I don’t want to descend into chaos again. It’s a fear I need to give over to the Lord, and cling to Him as He teaches me that I depend on Him and not on outward order and peace.
I didn’t really exercise during my first pregnancy. I took walks a few times a week, but they were more like strolls. 
So from experience I can tell you it definitely makes a difference!
I have heard of Hypnobabies! In fact, I just read a birth story where the mom used it. I’m sure I will be reading about it in Easy Labor soon.
That’s really neat that two of your friends gave birth in a hospital naturally. Although I want to give birth in a hospital, I think the accessibility of an epidural really decreases my chance of not using it, because I’ll know it’s there! 
What they say about using the pain to motivate instead of hinder is so true. With each contraction you have to allow your body to use it. I’m a natural “pain fighter” meaning when I get hurt, I run. Seriously, I stub my toe and immediately start hopping away from the source of pain before I finally sit down and realize that I didn’t break my toe, I just stubbed it. 
So, harnessing the power behind labor wasn’t easy for me, but once I got it set in my head that I was going to have a baby and wanted it out as soon as possible, things moved. If they will let you use birthing balls, or get in the shower, any of that helps relax your body enough so that labor progresses. I think that’s why a lot of times, epidurals result in a baby soon after a hard, long labor. The body finally has a chance to relax and let go of the tension.
Of all the take-home messages to every birthing story, video, or book I’ve ever looked at, the key is to stay active. Keep moving, even if you are hooked up to a line, to pelvic tilts, bounce on the ball, soak in a tub or shower, be active while laboring and it helps so much. I think it’s awesome you’ve been exercising. I was always lame about that.
I so know what you mean. During the non-medicated portion of my first labor, I remember how difficult it was to breathe and relax through contractions instead of fighting them. Rarely was I able to, but when I did, I could feel the difference.
It was hard for me to move around once I was in the hospital. I just didn’t feel as comfortable. At home during early labor I often got on my knees during a contraction. It seemed to help a lot. I’ll try to remember that this time around.
Go you for being so motivated to exercise while pregnant! I seriously lost my motivation whe I was pregnant, and then I was working out more and got injured. So now i’m not doing anything, and I feel so “blah”. Reminds me why I should work out when I can, even though I don’t usually like the process – it gives you more energy!
Have you ever heard of the Bradley Method for natural childbirth. My husband and I are signed up to start our classes on August 6th. I’ve heard so many awesome stories about Bradley births and am really looking forward to the classes!
And go you for exercising!!! Once school ends on the 14th, I’m really going to try and pick up the pace with that. I go for a few strolls a few times a week, but I really miss working out.
I have heard of it. I know a lot of people who have given birth naturally using the Bradley method. I have the book Husband-Coached Childbirth checked out from the library right now, actually, just haven’t started it. I’m looking forward to utilizing some of the concepts. My husband coached me all throughout my first labor anyway, and I can’t imagine doing it without him.
I went all natural and highly recommend it, though all in all my labor was relatively easy. Next time I want to try moving around more and see how that makes a difference. For some reason, staying in bed was the most comfortable for me, despite what everyone else said.
Totally know what you mean about the season of calm. After moving too many times and too many big changes close together, I’m loving staying at home with my baby, getting a weekly routine that works and all that good stuff. It makes me scared for the upheaval of baby #2 (no, that’s not an announcement!), but I know that God is faithful.
I think the worst part of labor pain is not knowing how bad it will get, once you know you can survive it, it makes a huge difference. In my opinion, laboring at home, especially during early labor will increase the chances of delivering naturally. I had four completely natural hospital births (one mostly natural–epidural didn’t work). Educating yourself about all of this will help immensely!
I really want to stay home longer this time! My worry is that I will not go to the hospital on time since it’s not my first, but I know that’s rare and our hospital is only 15 minutes away. I agree that what scares me this time is the unknown of making it all the way to transition and pushing with no pain relief… I can’t imagine.
I am a firm believer in exercising as much as you can during pregnancy ~ I am convinced it makes strong and healthy babies! As to the labor, what everyone has said above is true… my midwife also said that your second labor is usually your shortest. But of course, this may not be always true! My second labor was not my shortest, my third one was so far the shortest at just under 2 hours long but before you get too excited I have very intense labors (it is intense because it goes SO fast and afterward my body has to catch-up (my fourth one had to be induced and born 6 weeks early ~ sometimes you do have to stop exercising when you get close to the end ~ otherwise…)
Now that you know what kind of pain you are in for I think you will find your second labor to be not as difficult unless something goes very different than normal. Most women find it that way if they have put into practice these other techniques.
Relaxing is truly the key. This last labor I was on Pitocin and practiced “going limp” and low groaning… (I am a lover of water laboring! but because of circumstances I couldn’t get into the water this time around) and it was a very good labor considering the circumstances!
Ugh, Pitocin with no pain relief? That’s amazing. I almost view Pitocin and a epidural as a package deal, lol. I love your thoughts too… and wow, how encouraging that the second labor is often the shortest! Bring it on!
lol. I mentioned that I have intense labors ~ well, it seemed to me that the labor with Pitocin was, on a whole, not very much different than my labors I had without Pitocin! In fact, the end (transition stage) was much easier! But never fear, I am not going to use pitocin when we have any more children (not really wanting to think of that right now) unless I must use it, as I had to this last time.
Maybe God just had mercy on me! I know we had a lot of people praying!
I’m with you on the exercise thing–I believe it has truly made my pregnancy so much easier. Of course, I don’t REALLY know that, but based on friends accounts of pregnancy (friends who didn’t work out while pregnant)…I’m gonna go with that having a lot to do with how great I feel
Have you heard of (or looked into) Hypnobabies? I’ve heard *wonderful* things about it from several Mama friends–one of whom gave birth at a birthing center, and two who gave birth in hospital. They were all able to do it naturally, without any type of meds or intervention and said it was the best experience ever. Hubby & I start our Hypnobabies classes in just a few weeks and I am over the moon excited!