# Getting ready to give birth **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 5, 2004, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-ready-to-give-birth/222871 "2004-01-05T20:28:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Palo\_Verde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2004, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-ready-to-give-birth/222871/1 "2004-01-05T20:28:36Z")
A little background. I already have 3 kids (ages 6.5 years, 4 years, and 22 months). All of them were born to midwives, without any medications. All were without problems and are happy healthy kids. So now I’m due in 2 weeks with my 4th (and last) baby. Everything has been normal and healthy with the pregnancy. Although anything can happen, I have no reason not to expect a normal and healthy birth. But I’m still nervous. You’d think I’d be an old hat by now, but even with experience, _natural childbirth hurts_. A lot. I’m really not looking foward to the labor part. At all. Somebody say something reassuring! ---
**Author:** ![zephyrine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/35a633/32.png) [@zephyrine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zephyrine)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2004, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-ready-to-give-birth/222871/2 "2004-01-05T21:14:51Z")
Congratulations! You know you’ll get through the pain, and that it will end. But unlike other pain you get the big prize at the end! It’s the only pain that’s worth it, as you well know. ---
**Author:** ![Horseflesh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horseflesh/32/7502_2.png) [@Horseflesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horseflesh)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2004, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-ready-to-give-birth/222871/3 "2004-01-05T22:58:30Z")
The pain will be over in 18 years and 2 weeks. Keep your chin up. 😃 So congrats! What’s the baby name situation like? ---
**Author:** ![Roadwalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19b73/32.png) [@Roadwalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roadwalker)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-ready-to-give-birth/222871/4 "2004-01-06T00:25:36Z")
Everything will work out great for you. You know what to expect and if you have three already you’re tough. You can do this. ---
**Author:** ![angelicate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@angelicate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/angelicate)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-ready-to-give-birth/222871/5 "2004-01-06T01:52:51Z")
I had my daughter 10 months ago, and although I remember labor and delivery hurting, I don’t actually remember the pain, if that makes sense. ---
**Author:** ![SnoopyFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d07c76/32.png) [@SnoopyFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnoopyFan)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-ready-to-give-birth/222871/6 "2004-01-06T02:12:08Z")
Sheeyet. It’s been 3 and a half years and I remember the pain **vividly**. So **autz** : what’re you having? ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-ready-to-give-birth/222871/7 "2004-01-06T14:15:12Z")
Be brave. Remember, this is really the only time you can curse at your husband like a sailor and get away with it. Let’s think of some imaginative curses…I think at one point I screamed, “Yeah, you had your fun, didn’t you!!” ---
**Author:** ![CartoonSuperHero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/35a633/32.png) [@CartoonSuperHero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CartoonSuperHero)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-ready-to-give-birth/222871/8 "2004-01-06T14:49:22Z")
I’m glad I’m not you. Me…I’m having all the drugs they will give me because I am a big wimp. > [@](#): > > Let’s think of some imaginative curses Ok…how bout “Your parents were never married!” or “This is all your fault. You did this to me!” 😃 CartoonSu ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-ready-to-give-birth/222871/9 "2004-01-06T15:46:13Z")
Go for the drugs. Millions of moms have done it and billions of babies have survived it. I see no valid reason WHATSOEVER to put yourself through unnecessary pain. Do the drugs! Do the drugs! ---
**Author:** ![madline](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@madline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madline)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-ready-to-give-birth/222871/10 "2004-01-06T15:55:04Z")
You have done this before. Remember the strength you gained when you did it the right way. You felt better about yourself and you know your children will have the advantage of not getting their newborn senses trashed with chemicals. Your advatage is that you have done this many times before and each time it gets easier. Your body is used to this now. Remember when you had no idea what would happen? Knowledge is power. I give you so much credit. I was such a wimp, I begged for all the drugs they could give me. And cried when they said it was too late “Here she comes!” ---
**Author:** ![Palo\_Verde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-ready-to-give-birth/222871/11 "2004-01-06T17:53:51Z")
I’m having a boy. That will make 3 boys and 1 girl for me. There will be no drugs, that’s not an option for me. **Kalhoun** , just because you don’t see a ‘valid reason’ to give birth naturalyy doesn’t mean they don’t exist. It’s healthier for mom and baby to do it without pain medication. This baby (as were the other 3) will be born in a jacuzzi in a warm, relaxing atmosphere. I’m still nervous, but feeling more confident today. When I’m done, I’ll post my birth story! ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-ready-to-give-birth/222871/12 "2004-01-06T19:34:54Z")
Autz said, > [@](#): > > It’s healthier for mom and baby to do it without pain medication. Understood. But it’s just like the breastfeeding thing. Just because it isn’t the best option doesn’t mean it’s a bad option. If you’re stressing about natural childbirth, get the drugs. You said yourself, > [@](#): > > but even with experience, natural childbirth hurts. A lot. I’m really not looking foward to the labor part. At all. . I would much rather look forward to the birth of my child and have a safe anesthetic administered so I would enjoy the birthing process more. But hey, it’s your uterus. ---
**Author:** ![tanookie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/48db29/32.png) [@tanookie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanookie)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-ready-to-give-birth/222871/13 "2004-01-06T19:44:20Z")
Good luck with baby number 3 🙂 The jacuzzi sounds wonderful… I would have liked to have tried something like that. I’m all for babies no matter how they arrive. I understand not wanting drugs but I really have to disagree with madline’s statement that that is the ‘right way’ to have babies. I had 2 emergency C Sections and if you think I did them without drugs! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![tanookie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/48db29/32.png) [@tanookie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanookie)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-ready-to-give-birth/222871/14 "2004-01-06T19:46:53Z")
Make that baby 4 … the lack of sleep seems to be killing my reading comprehension. ---
**Author:** ![Palo\_Verde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-ready-to-give-birth/222871/15 "2004-01-06T20:42:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kalhoun \* > **If you’re stressing about natural childbirth, get the drugs.** Oh, I would stress a **lot** more if I were to go through the whole doctor / hospital / drugs things than the way I’m going to do it (midwife / jacuzzi / no drugs). Of course I’m nervous, who wouldn’t be? But I know that for me, it’s the right decision. That doesn’t mean it hurts any less though! ---
**Author:** ![velvetjones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5f9b8f/32.png) [@velvetjones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velvetjones)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-ready-to-give-birth/222871/16 "2004-01-06T21:02:27Z")
Congratulations **autz**! Here’s hoping that it’s over as quickly as possible. My sister in law has had all four of her children (3 boys and 1 girl btw) with a midwife and without the aid of chemicals. She did, however, employ the services of an acupuncturist for the last two or three. I think it made a big difference for her in the pain department. You might want to look into that. Good luck. Keep us posted. ---
**Author:** ![Palo\_Verde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-ready-to-give-birth/222871/17 "2004-01-06T23:28:34Z")
Thanks **velvetjones** for the info. I looked into hypnobirthing and decided it wasn’t for me, but I hadn’t thought about acupuncture. I’ll read up on it! ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-ready-to-give-birth/222871/18 "2004-01-07T00:16:37Z")
If you weren’t nervous, then I would be nervous. One should never be cocky when Mother Nature is in control. It is pretty much the one time in your life where you really can delegate the situation on to anyone else. It is all up to you, baby! Sorry, that isn’t so comforting from your angle, but I found it complete empowering. I also had an epidural. I honestly don’t remember the pain ( except the final pushes for both of my angels to have tearing.) in fact, if it weren’t for the nagging baby-fat belly that stubbornly hangs around me, I would swear I don’t remember where in the heck the two clones of my moi and my husband came from. It’s like they’ve always been here. Making things sticky. Good luck and try to relax. On a side note, can midwives to tubals ( if that is what you are having done after #4 arrives.) Just curious. ---
**Author:** ![leechbabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@leechbabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leechbabe)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-ready-to-give-birth/222871/19 "2004-01-07T00:29:10Z")
Good luck **autz** and remember no matter what the pain there is a very special reward at the end (sleepless nights, vomit, dirty nappies 😛 ). I remeber being told during ante-natal classes that it can help a great deal to have a piece of bubs clothing in your hand. It is something to squeeze rather than breaking your partners hand and it also gives you something to focus on. Congratulations and best wishes for a safe delivery and healthy baby 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-ready-to-give-birth/222871/20 "2004-01-07T13:10:28Z")
My mom did hypnosis for my sister’s birth. She didn’t feel a thing. Amazing, considering it was 1960. She was a real trailblazer, my mom! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-ready-to-give-birth/222871.md?page=2)