I Prefer to Talk Post Partum for a Reason
April 2, 2006 by kate baggott
Filed under Labor & Delivery
If you haven’t written your birth story and posted it for others to read already, comment on this post and let us have a read. I think there is something cleansing about telling the story of your birth to those who have been there. At least, it helped me heal. There is a reason why I have a post partum recovery blog. I hate talking about birth itself. During both of my deliveries, for entirely different reasons, I screamed in pain during certain points.
My inspiration going into labour has always been the story of how Grey Forest Walt was born on a mountain top while his mother grasped a tree branch. That story, combined with my own belief that women are tough…let’s face it I am very macha, and worries about possible side effects, led me to give birth without the aid of an epidural.
Being educated about birth, how slowly or how quickly it can go, what happens physically helped me get through it. Because I could name the ring of fire, I was less frightened of it (although having that Johnny Cash song run through my head while it was happening changed me forever).
That said, I really don’t recommend that anyone follow my philosophy of a drug free birth. What I recommend is educating yourself about pain control and all the options available, something I, in all my machisma never bothered to do. According to a new article in Newsweek, I am not alone.
The article features an interview with Dr. William Camann, the author of Easy Labor and an associate professor of anesthesia at Harvard Medical School. While I doubt one article can tell every woman everything she needs to know about pain management during labour, this probably is a good place to start.
What were your own experiences with pain management, or lack thereof, during labour?
I did it without traditional pain relief both times, too. I *did* have the benefit of “gas & air” (nitrous oxide) — I don’t know if I could have coped without the mouthpiece to bite down on, knowing that if I just gulped enough in, I would get a tiny bit of relief. Some people hate gas & air, but for me it was enough to get me through to the other side. That said, I did my share of screaming and begging for drugs. who wouldn’t?
I really loved giving birth in the UK, because progressive is normal. I birthed Zoe up on all fours, and for Niccolo they moved the bed out of the room altogether. I was leaning back on Cedric when Niccolo was *finally* born. (We tried to do a water birth, but they couldn’t get the water warm enough — typical english plumbing!)
In both cases, I rested for a couple of hours, gave the baby a first feed and had a bite of food myself, and then took a shower/bath and went home. Zoe was born at six pm, and we were ordering Lebanese take out at 9.30 at home. I loved not staying in the hospital. I don’t know if it’s medically true or not, but I think that I was able to go straight home because I hadn’t had a bunch of drugs (and had had very straightforward births). I always wonder how different my recovery would have been if I was recovering from an epidural as well as the birth.
I think every woman is different, and every birth is different, and there’s no reason to do it in a way that feels horrible to you. But, for me, I am glad that it worked out the way it did for me. I’m proud of my body (which is rare for me). And I was glad to have experienced the whole thing. Not that that’s the most important — the safety of the baby is. But I was so glad that I had the tools and the preparation that let me go through that and experience it in a positive and not a terrifying way.
Not that it was a walk in the park. My first thought after Nicco was, “thank god I’m never doing that again.”
OH. This is the kind of story I love.
I wish I had known about gas and air. Really, I had no idea that was even an option!
I might do it a third time just to try it…
I don’t think they offer it in the States, but it was just enough to get me through it.
I remember at one point telling them that the tank was empty and they looked at the dial and told me there was still some in there. And I started to feel panicky and sure enough the flicked the dial with their finger and it was empty. I was in cave-woman/lioness mode and I was like BELIEVE ME, it’s empty!!
You can even contemplate/joke about a third? You’re a bigger woman than me!!
I don’t know Jill, putting away the tiny baby clothes after such a short time and thinking “that’s it. We’ll never see that again” is hard.
Seriously, I grew up in a family of three and its much easier just to duplicate what you’ve lived through than it is to find a new path…but I know I have to figure out what’s really happening with me before I make any decisions about one more child.
I’m one of three, too. I think if I were younger, and had more family around, I’d be tempted to have another. I wonder who the next one would be, the first two are so different from each other! On the other hand, I think that there’s always a certain sadness about the “last” baby, no matter how you have…
Does an ongoing birth story count?
My second baby seems to be taking soooo long to arrive. Although the due date is a few days away yet, we’ve had a lot of fit and starts, and I am ANTSY to have it over with! 
Good luck. I am sure you are anxious to get that baby out. Are you overdue? If so, by how much?
Not overdue at all. I’m just impatient.
Yeah. Impatience is as big a part of motherhood as it is of pregnancy. I wish there was a cure for it. I know meditation helps, but it just takes so long…
I chickened out and had an epidural with all three
I was able to sleep until it was time to push when I could feel the contractions and ring of fire. I have 3 girls now and want another 2 or 3 kids, but give me a couple of years before I start my next “batch”! 
With less than 3 years between the oldest and youngest, I have plenty on my plate right now.
Revka,
If you want five or six, I think an epidural is the way to go.
I can’t believe you had three kids in less than three years!
Wow, Revka. I knew you had 3 kids, but not so close together. My 2 kids are close enough in age with 2 years apart, for me anyway. I think my body is done with 2 kids. It certainly doesn’t seem to want to cooperate now after the second child. LOL I’m still doing my kegels and my son is 16 months old.
you can better,
Hi Kate,
I am inspired by your story. I am a labour and postpartum doula and I would like to invite you to share this story on my blog spot. There are many women out there that can benefit from your thoughts and words of advice.
Please feel free to contact me, I have a few questions for you.
Best,
Mama Sayana Doula Support.