I would appreciate it if people tried to remember that c section moms and moms that used meds during delivery also had "natural" births. Thanks.

[SandKmommy]

[Resi]

yeah.. maybe the better choice to call it would be med free l&d.

I love those smilies

I am sure I have used the term myself too. But things change when you experience what a lot of us c section or med birth moms have.

and I don't mean to make a big deal at all. The term just bugs me now, as it bugs other moms. Like I said, I have used it myself but I no longer feel it is very accurate since I very much consider Jack to have had a "natural" birth even though I had sooo many interventions. No one likes to hear reference to their birth being "unnatural" though I know no one ever means to say that, especially no one here since we all are so awesome and all You get the idea

[Chelnae6]

This is just a curiosity question since I'm a newbie to this and havent even given birth yet... but what really constitutes a natural birth?

I just always thought that it mean that it just meant that you delivered vaginally with no meds. I really dont have a clue as to what the term "natural" means.

yes that is what they often call a med free vaginal birth - natural. As nature intended, apparently.

Did nature intend that I never get pregnant with Jack to begin with since I used meds? Did nature intend that I have seizures and die in childbirth? If so, nature can go fug herself When it is so easy to say med free birth instead of natural, why not try to? kwim?

Sometimes it feels like a kick in the stomach to see the term "natural birth"used. A lot of us moms that used meds or had a cesarian with our children had pretty bad labors and deliveries. Believe it or not, in many cases, our births were "worse" then the med free moms. We had interventions for a reason. I know the last thing I want to feel is that my child's birth experience was unnatural, after everything I went through. I had induced contractions, meds and surgery to finally get Jack out, but I still did it! That was his birthday, and it is something that I hold dearly even if it was in many respects awful. I never want to feel or have his entry into this world referred or implied as unnatural. So the term bugs me (not those that use it, I know you don't mean it that way )

Please understand though, I think all moms here, whether you delivered vaginally and med free or not, did a kick a** job! Seriously! Everyone should be proud of themselves. And really we should all feel lucky to be holding our babies in our arms healthy and safe anyways.

[Bre*n*Will=Reid]

What?! You mean aliens didn't beam your kids out of the womb?! I kid, I kid....

Although I had a medicated birth, I don't find any offense to the term "natural". I can't really explain why it doesn't bother me, it just doesn't. I still desire an un-medicated birth, but won't feel like less of a person if I don't get one. I don't have any ill feelings about Reid's pitocin induced, epidural relieved birth...but I still want to try and experience it as natural as my body and my sanity will allow! If they won't allow for it, than I am okay with that. I have to be!

[soImarriedAnerd]

To me there is three "types"...Natural, Medicated, and Surgical. I think of them as that way because all three have different care plans as far as teaching/care/followup and assessments. Its just the way this old nurse brain works. I wish I could say I would use med free instead but I know I would forget and I would just be lying if I said I would.... I can say I will TRY when answering thread of those who say it bugs them. So just know that when I use the terms its with a medical mind. I know that my terms I use do upset at times (NOT my intention) I got in trouble using the term spontaneous abortion instead of miscarriage in the past also. I come from generations of Dr and Nurses.... I just tend to go to the medical definition because I figure I will offend LESS people with that way then using other more "slang" or "PC" terms.
Hope everyone gets that about me at least.

And hey nature gave us medicine for a reason to help when needed

[SandKmommy]

Originally Posted by soImarriedAnerd

spontaneous abortion

When I had my m/c I was turning in my paper to the front desk(the one that my ob writes what was done that day and such) and read this and I started bawling, thinking that I caused it to happen till he told me.

the only thing that bothers me about the "natural" births is that I feel less of a person because I will never have one (for my problems with bp, gd, and such when pregnant and I have 0 pain tolarance). And I've felt like a horrible person for having a c-section with Kieran like I screwed her up because she wasn't born vaginally and "normally" and because none of my kids made it to 40 weeks (seamus a couple hours shy though)

[soImarriedAnerd]

Originally Posted by SandKmommy

When I had my m/c I was turning in my paper to the front desk(the one that my ob writes what was done that day and such) and read this and I started bawling, thinking that I caused it to happen till he told me.

the only thing that bothers me about the "natural" births is that I feel less of a person because I will never have one (for my problems with bp, gd, and such when pregnant and I have 0 pain tolarance). And I've felt like a horrible person for having a c-section with Kieran like I screwed her up because she wasn't born vaginally and "normally" and because none of my kids made it to 40 weeks (seamus a couple hours shy though)

You are a strong brave wonderful woman who has great children..... NEVER feel bad about that hun! You are NOT less of a person.... NOT for one mili-second.

[ANGWife]

I have so much admiration for med free birth mamas and hope to be one next time

But I too LOATHE that my childbirth is not considered "natural". Maybe if my uterus hadn't have almost burst I wouldn't have needed the epi. But ANYWAYS, I created a baby and birthed him.

[IamMom]

I'm just happy all the babes got out - I could really giving a rats behind how any of them came out! It just doesn't at all matter to me and I dont know why. I don't care at all that I used the epi for my births because I would NEVER do it any other way. I don't care that other moms don't. I do wish everyone could have the birth that they want, but I guess it just doesn't always happen that way and each mom has NO control over that for the most part....but like Michelle said we're all just thankful that we have these babies here safe and sound!!!! Oh and I'm thankful for drugs HE HE HE

[Resi]

Originally Posted by IamMom

I'm just happy all the babes got out - I could really giving a rats behind how any of them came out! It just doesn't at all matter to me and I dont know why. I don't care at all that I used the epi for my births because I would NEVER do it any other way. I don't care that other moms don't. I do wish everyone could have the birth that they want, but I guess it just doesn't always happen that way and each mom has NO control over that for the most part....but like Michelle said we're all just thankful that we have these babies here safe and sound!!!! Oh and I'm thankful for drugs HE HE HE

I think I will always be using the epi too in future labor and delivery. I can't and don't want to handle all that pain! Of course for me I might just go with a repeat c/s which isn't fun but as long as I get my healthy baby and I stay safe too.

Originally Posted by SandKmommy

When I had my m/c I was turning in my paper to the front desk(the one that my ob writes what was done that day and such) and read this and I started bawling, thinking that I caused it to happen till he told me.

the only thing that bothers me about the "natural" births is that I feel less of a person because I will never have one (for my problems with bp, gd, and such when pregnant and I have 0 pain tolarance). And I've felt like a horrible person for having a c-section with Kieran like I screwed her up because she wasn't born vaginally and "normally" and because none of my kids made it to 40 weeks (seamus a couple hours shy though)

Please don't feel like less of a person because of how your pregnancy or childbirth went. Who cares if you had an epi or c/s. Your healthy and so are your children. That is all that we really want in the end. I was so set on a natural birth although I doubted myself. Now I know that it's something that I don't care to do because I don't want to deal with that pain. I wish I was strong enough to do it med free but I'm not or don't want to be..

[~*sierra*~]

i will try to switch to the term 'med free', i think its a bit more accurate anyways! I have to agree with you that other types of birth are natural too though, after having been at a medicated vag birth, i have not for a second considered that unnatural! So I can completely understand how other experiences of birth would feel natural no matter how that baby comes out, its a miracle no matter how it happens or what name u give it!

oh yeah i was shocked to see the term spontaneous abortion on my medical sheets during my m/c too, but i just asked and they said it was the same as m/c.

[LisanAndy]

What's funny is I'm ALL for medicated birth. I had one with Taylor and tried one with Rylie that not only didn't work but immobilized me for an entire week after the birth. I sat in a hospital room, drugged and all alone, trying to nurse a baby that I could hardly see or hold, or change her diapers. My husband took care of my kids that first week and I hardly remember anything. I had to crawl to get anywhere or do anything... couldn't even sit up. It was a horrible week and because of it, I am TERRIFIED to have a birth with an epidural again. They said "oops, we're sorry. We leaked some in your system". What will it be next time "oops, we paralyzed you". I totally think the birth you had is normal. My sister is a c-section mama and my grandma had 1 vaginal, 2 c-sections, and an accidental vaginal delivery in a car LoL. I don't know if my blinkie offends you, it's not my intention. I remember how badly an un-medicated child birth hurts and I'm kinda scared to go through it again so it's there to try and psych myself up for it. I spend a lot of time talking with Andy about my fears and I guess I've never really spoken about them here. So, there's my reasoning for my blinkie and I REALLY hope it doesn't offend you

[Oriyan]

I hate the terms "natural" "medicated" "surgical".I had a child. Who cares how it got here. I dont go around telling people I have a scientific intervention child since he was made in a petridish. People know I had a baby. That's all that matters.

Personally, I went 18 hours without an epi with J.J. (out of 23.5 hours). Next time, I am getting the epi ASAP. No need for me to be a hero or having bragging rights. My child is my bragging right. Once he or she is here, no one cares if i had an epi or not or when I got it or not. Apparently only that stuff matters on JM

[*krista*]

I never knew the term natural is offensive or hurtful when used in that context. I will try not to use it, but I will admit it is pretty engrained in my vocabulary, so I'm sorry if I forget, I'm not trying to be insensitive or hurtful. It will take a little rewiring of my brain, you know?

[~*Bethy*~]

I see it as a goal, not a title. The term doesnt bug me, but gives me a force or a drive to reach that goal that I wasnt allowed under OB care. I give every single c-section momma TONS of credit - its not easy going through 14+ hours of labor (stuck at 3cm and SCREAMING for an epidural that they wouldnt give me!!!) just to end up in a c-section. Its not a fun feeling, and I defenetly feel like I failed :/ I totally get where your coming from, Michelle!! but I also disagree with a csection being natural. At least IN MY CASE *before anyone flies off the handle* Where my OB wouldnt give me options and stuck my pit up so high that I couldnt move my PW hurt soooooo bad to get out of bed - My csections were FAR from natural. They were so medically UN NEEDED its not even funny. had I had the knowledge with the first 2 that I do with this one, every single one of my babies would have been a home birth!

Pitocen is the devil. Just saying for future mom's thinking about being "induced"...

[SandKmommy]

Originally Posted by ~*Bethy*~

Pitocen is the devil. Just saying for future mom's thinking about being "induced"...

It can be but not always...uh ya I was "induced", as you say, with Seamus and he was born vaginally 16hrs after the pit was started and just over 24hrs after the cervix pill went in. His birth wasn't that horrible or nasty, so no not all pit births are the devil or result in c-sections