If they offer you a Caesar, take it. I’ve given birth naturally, no interventions and also had an induction which ended in an emergency caesarean. I would take a Caesar any day. After my natural birth my fanny was so fucking sore I couldn’t sit for a week. Everyone expects you to bloody bounce back as if you haven’t just had a traumatic fucking event. At least with a Caesar they give you meds for the pain and you can tell other people to lift things and do shit for you while you sit around and concentrate on caring for baby. My husband had to stay home instead of just fucking off back to work like with the first. After my natural birth I was in fucking agony from my poor mauled fanny and all they tell you to do is take ibuprofen and sit on an ice pack. For the love of god, don’t tell your midwife you want a natural birth- did that with my first and ducking bitch of a midwife kept saying “remember you wanted a natural birth” everytime I asked for pain relief. Caesar all the way, just give Bub probiotics as soon as can to help microbiome- i did with my second and he was fine.

Tell them your situation how stressed you are, the fact you might not have your partner and push for a planned Caesar.

Heat pack, shower and the ball lol
I was hospitalised, induced three different times in different ways - stretch and sweep anyone 😫 - over two full days before being given an oxy drip and being forced into labour which included no break between contractions.
I was told I had to stay in the bed, on my back because of the heart monitor wrapped around me.

It ended in an emergency c section.
I opted for an elective c section for my second son.

Best thing you can do is have a baby in a hospital and realise this has been going on since the dawn of time. If you get a health baby and you come through it physically fine then celebrate that.

😂😂😂😂😂

I wanted to die, I thought I was dying. The ring of Fire isn’t what left such an impression on me it was the contractions towards the end and the pure exhaustion, with no energy left to continue on.

First baby, no drugs, I had the most control With pushing and didn’t tear. Second, I had pethidine (didn’t do much and had it hours before the baby was born and gas (took the edge offa little) small tear not requiring stitches. Third I had gas and tore a lot (very quick delivery, was 10 cm in the first hour when I arrived at hospital and he just flew out. Had to go into theatre for stitches. I never contemplated an epidural (because of fear of the needle) but had one after my third delivery so I could have my stitches done. I was surprised how painless it was, the local anaesthetic was the worst part! I found the shower, birth pool and heat packs very effective in the early stages. For me, I found the late stage contractions to be the hardest part, at least when you are pushing you have the finish line in sight. Also, I was wondering induced with one labour and that was more painful in terms of the severity of contractions. Best wishes and congratulations!

Try to ignore the burning ring of fire bit, ive had 3 kids and never experienced it:.. you may be the same... good luck... you can do it and you will do it xxx

I had two natural births - no epidural.
Tried gas that was ok but a shot of pethidine did the trick - it makes you relax enough to concentrate on learning to push. I didn’t need it for the second - it all comes back to you. It really is a bit like doing a number 2 from your front. Oh and you must ride that contraction, once you get to the peak where you think I’m gonna die that is when you push and honestly the momentum of the contraction will push bubby out - three pushes for my second.
You use the pain to push and if you do it right you won’t feel it and it’s a bit like surfing, riding the wave.
I don’t think as women we are prepared right for childbirth. Once you understand that the pain is there to serve you to let you know when to push then it’s actually very effective and like driving a car. The worst is if you waste your energy pushing too early as you won’t get the baby out and tire out also you will be too tired at the peak and then you will have to feel the pain. The pain is there to be used it’s like an energy source. That is why it comes on gradually. It’s like get ready, ok are you ready do you feel like your being killed now it’s time PUSH!!!

I had an epidural, but it wasn't so much the pain (it was painful) but for how bloody long it was going for. I didn't try the gass until I was getting the epidural and had I tried it before I would probably have got a lot further. There are lots of other forms of pain relief, don't panic talk to your midwife about options.

Gas while useless from a pain relief point of view was a great distraction and gives you an altered sense of what's going on with the pain.
I used it with my third after a short labour and failed epidural and i thought i was actually going to die, but you don't die, you and your body can cope with it, distraction helps!

You just have to be open to whatever happens and deal with it then. You can have the best plan and it goes out the window! Research your options and ask questions at your appointments. If you feel something is not right, speak up. You'll be fine and have a gorgeous little baby at the end. Just think about all the people before you that have done it - that really helped me!

Pethadine?

I had nothing but showers/bath. I couldn't handle having anything over my face such as gas etc so just focussed on breathing, pacing and breathing. To be honest it was not as bad as movies or people make out. No screaming or carrying on. I was alone for 11 hours of my 19 hours. I too said no to epidural and meds at 22 I wanted all natural. Its very empowering. You will feel nervous its natural as you arw not in control suring labour but your body knows what to so try to relax. Take drinks and food thats something I forgot o do and was exhausted. Take relaxing music as well and focus on breathing.

There was a poster on the wall in my Midwife’s room. It read something along the lines of ‘society has a secret, it’s not that childbirth is painful, it’s that women are strong’.

You are a woman! You are strong! You’ve got this!

There is no pain like labour pain. It hurts, there’s no denying that, but it’s a different pain to deal with. Psychologically it’s a good pain but like a bad pain when there’s something wrong/injured with your body.
Contractions only last a minute (or there about), you can endure anything for a minute. Just take it one contraction at a time and breath.

I got severe preeclampsia & had an emergency c section. No time to do things gently so afterwards I would have been happy to die the pain was so great. 2nd pregnancy I opted for a c section expecting it would be just as painful but why damage my vagina AND tummy....will just wreck one. Anyway as it was planned was sooo calm, gentle & virtually pain free. Nothing like the first time. Was honestly the best day of my life!! So every birth is different & don’t be scared of c birth if it has to happen. Could go wonderfully... look it’s gonna happen so don’t think too hard about it & just go with it, you have no choice anyway.

can you get a spinal block instead of an epidural? Ask what other options are available. You dont need to actually use it but knowing its there will help calm you.

For me, it was a pain so unbearable that I wished I was dead.

It's different for everyone. And going without pain relief doesn't make you special, it just means maybe you're not in as much pain.

Look at TENS machines, it may help.

Good luck!

I’ve had two births without any pain relief except gas in the transitioning stage right before pushing, but they turned it down so it was mainly oxygen, to help regulate my breathing.
I’m the biggest sook when it comes to pain, but honestly it wasn’t too bad. My first was a back labour, and my second normal. The back labour was a bit more painful, but I found staying moving helped heaps. And the birthing ball.
The most painful part was pushing, the pressure of the head. But once that’s over it was a huge relief. My main regret was being on my back for both. My first I didn’t realise I was in labour and she was born within 14mins of being admitted. My second they needed to use an internal heart monitor and after that within minutes I was ready to push, I didn’t have the strength to get up in order to be on my knees or leaning over the bed.

You’ve got this op.

I was preparing myself to be in the worst imaginable pain. In a constructive way. I didn’t want the epidural, gas etc. I was trying to be curious about the process and not scared. I knew it would hurt a lot. Don’t tell yourself it won’t, it hurts and you will manage and once the baby is in your arms you will forget all the pain. I knew that I didn’t want epidural, gas etc. I had my “ideal birth” planned. I was also aware and open with whatever happens on the day and to “go with the flow “. Obviously the first time it’s a huge unknown. I highly recommend leading up to the due date walking a lot, hopping on the birthing ball if you can. It’s physically straining and you want to be as fit as possible. I gave birth four times. First time was the worst as far as the pain goes, I was made to lie still to have contractions monitored. That was the worst part and it was unnecessary. With second and third I walked and stayed in the shower until I had the strong urge to “push”. Don’t waste your “pushing energy “ screaming ( I did with the first one). Breath in and push. Pushing is when you do all the hard work. When the head is coming out, you get the burning sensation, it doesn’t last long. I did tear each time giving birth and had to be stitched up. Not a big deal. Hot shower helps to soften the skin, walking and moving your hips helps baby pass through the birth canal. Try to be as relaxed as possible, focus on the baby. I had couple plastic bottles with frozen water. Great to drink icy cold water as it melts or press it against your face and forehead, beats soggy face washer. I took couple over the counter pain killers to take the edge off too (although midwifes disagreed on any kind of effectiveness of panadol 😂). In a way your body knows what it wants and where its comfortable. I was birthing each time on my back, which is not recommended, but felt most comfortable And natural for me. If it helps after first time On the way home with bun I was thinking about all the “improvements “ for the next birth.

It is natural to feel scared before childbirth. It’s the biggest thing your body will go through. Temper though, childbirth is different for everyone so ignore the horror stories people
Are No doubt keen To tell you. I heard so many when I was pregnant with my first

You have other pain management options. Which you should discuss with your midwife. I didn’t have an epidural either time because of fear of a big needle in my back. I didn’t tear either time. Not everyone tears. So keep that in mind, you may be worrying about something that might now happen.

Yes. Childbirth is painful. But just remember, it has an ending. And it’s a pain with purpose. At the end you will have your beautiful baby and think how worth that all was. So worth it I was prepared to Go through it a second time!