@scarlettsmama well I don't think tearing is just BC of an epi I had one and didn't tear at all. But does kinda force u to be on your back however it depends on the hospital and how numb u are @captivated said she was able to move and change positions. That being said I think it's great your going natural this time around and wish u the best. I hope you have much better experience this time and easy recovery. We all know medicine free is always great way to go if you can handle it. In my eyes babies are blessing and miracle no matter how the her here. But IM adopted soo I might have different view point.
If you can control when you push and birth in a position that suits you and not be told when to push then you have less chance of tearing...of.course its a little harder with an epi lol...I birthed my last at home in a squatting position and didn't tear
If i would've known more about natural childbirth when i got pregnant, my birth plan for this baby would be different. But, i would like to have 2 more babies after this one, so maybe the next two can be natural. It would be an awesome experience.
I had an epi with both and did not tear either time. i also practiced perineal massages and my OB did the same during the birthing process to reduce the chance of tearing. Very thankful that I never experienced it!
They pretty much message you down there during labor and you can do it before to. Butwhat my doc did is she goes around with her finger while I was in labor and run/pull tinny bit in between pushing then during contractions and pushing she would continue to message that's all I could see she could have been doing more but I was distracted lol maybe @captivated can shareher experience too.
Same thing with me @Jules. She would put about 2-4 fingers in and stretch in between contractions while I was pushing.
During my last trimester I began doing perineal massages with olive oil. I would insert a finger and rotate it around by my perineum to help stretch the skin. This doesn't make you "loose" sodont worry. I also did kegels regularly before and after with Ben wa balls.
@captivated I didn't try doing it myself with olive oil I was doing my kegels regularly as well, I also towards the end kinda started taking and inserting primerose oil capsule before bed usually and had red raspberry leaf tea. I did research and asked on here and my doc to make sure it was ok. Some women believe it is a way to self induce which I guess is true since it makes everything softer and more ready for labor. From the people I read about whose midwives had then take it had easy labor didn't push long and helps everything go back in place. It must be true since I did it with my daughter and that was the case for me but who knows. IM gonna do it with this baby as well after all it's all natural so not much negative to say about it. Plus it says on the bottle itself it's used with pregnancies. Did u try any of those?
I used borage oil (similar to EPO, but supposedly more effective). I started orally at 35 weeks then vaginally at 36. I was 75% effaced at 37 weeks so it definitely helps. My labor at the hospital was less than 2 hours. It doesn't induce, but helps immensely once labor hits
@captivated ya I don't think it induces either but some do. I personally think there's not much we can do when baby is ready it happens. I do however think those things really help make labor faster and easier with better recovery. I'll have to look into the borage oil since I used my primerose up pretty much. Did u find it at health food store.
My first 2 I had no epi. The first one I had an episiotomy and my second I tore. With both my boys I had epis and didn't tear what so ever. But I haven't had any side effects either. Also, I knew exactly when to push every single time. I wouldn't go thru what I did with number 2 ever again. Dr told the nurses not to let me push. Um...no! My water broke at home and I had meconium and baby needed to get out and i knew i had to push. The nurse delivered her and the dr was so mad. And then he stood there looking at my awesome tear andbi had to tell him to stitch me up. Then he told me I wasn't feeling the pain of the stitches just the pressure. No homeboy, I feel the pinch every time! My first epi was pretty awesome. They had to replace the vile cuz i used all. They had to stick me a few times and then switch sides of my spine but all in all pretty ok. My second epi tho...wtf. The guy said don't worry I haven't made a lady cry in 20 years. Well congratulations buddy I broke a record. It hurt so bad I dug my nails into my husbands shoulders and cried and cried. And I'm a pretty tough cookie when it comes to things.It was almost pointless to go thru that because by the time he was born, I felt it. Annnnd my contractions just randomly stopped and his head got stuck
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If i would've known more about natural childbirth when i got pregnant, my birth plan for this baby would be different. But, i would like to have 2 more babies after this one, so maybe the next two can be natural. It would be an awesome experience.
I to had an epidural I didn't tear but I did have to be cut.
During my last trimester I began doing perineal massages with olive oil. I would insert a finger and rotate it around by my perineum to help stretch the skin. This doesn't make you "loose" sodont worry. I also did kegels regularly before and after with Ben wa balls.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0013343JM
@Jules