How to Have Unmedicated Birth

You’re Meant to Do It

“This is what you wanted. You were meant to do this.”

Those were the words my husband said to me in my most fearful moment of having an unmedicated birth with my daughter, Celia. She was our second baby and my first VBAC. I had started asking for the epidural, but the nurse gently told me that it was too late. I was too close at that point to get it. I’ll never forget looking at Josh as if he could do something about it. Haha! What he doesn’t realize is that he did do something. He reminded me that I could have Celia without any intervention. I was meant to do it; all women are meant to do it. We just have to trust the process.

You Are Not Peeing Here

The truth is, I purposefully got myself into that situation. That was what I visualized for months when I was pregnant. I’d sit in the tub at night and imagine arriving to the hospital barely able to walk into the hospital. The funny thing is, that’s what happened. I waited as long as I possibly could before I left for the hospital. Josh kept joking that he’d have to deliver on the interstate. Once I got there, I was so close to having her that they wouldn’t let me pee in the registration area. The thought of the receptionist still cracks me up. “Oh no girl, you are not peeing down here. You can go straight upstairs and pee in your room.” 

Preparing for Unmedicated Birth

For me personally, I chose to do both back-end preparation, as well as utilize strategies during the birth. In addition, I went into the situation with an open mind. I wasn’t going to be disappointed or hard on myself if I didn’t do it. It’s so much better that way. Here’s what I focused on for the back-end preparation:

A Meaningful Diet

Food matters, and it especially matters to hormones, pregnancy, and birth. My plan was simple; eat stuff that rots. Stay away from processed sugar, artificial anything, minimize caffeine, and drink lots of water. My mainstays were greens, avocado toast with eggs, grass-fed beef, and raspberry leaf tea for the last month of pregnancy. I also ate a lot of dates. Raspberry leaf tea is great for priming your uterus, and dates help soften the cervix for birth. Think plants, protein, healthy fat, and hydration.

Proper Exercise

Doing too much, or too intense of exercise can be detrimental to your hormones. You have to be careful to not overdue it and run yourself into the ground. I basically walked a lot, did squats, and stretched as much as possible. Listen to your body. Don’t push yourself. I have recently been educated by Kailee Venzin of Kailee Venzin PT on strengthening the pelvic floor as well. This is very important for birth and postpartum! Check her out!

Visualization

Regularly imagine yourself giving birth naturally; in the way you want it to be. The tub or shower has always been a great place for me to imagine how I wanted the birth to be. I would visualize it pretty much daily. Mine was simple; I imagined a fast labor and the baby coming out of my vagina. Haha!

Lowering Stress

Stress hormones steal from sex hormones, pregnancy hormones, and birth hormones. You really have to do everything you can to keep stress as low as possible. I run two businesses with my husband, and had two children when I was pregnant with my third baby, Brooke. I freaking get it, and had to reel myself in many times. It’s worth it. You have to give your body the best chance to be there for you.

Your Provider and Support System

Your provider MATTERS. Don’t be bullshitted by doctors who say “Oh yeah, no problem, we support women who want VBAC….yeah we support women who don’t want an epidural or pain meds.” Ask for the statistics. Research their culture. What’s the success rate? Ask questions and get feedback so you’re getting the truth. Be annoying.

Also, if you don’t want certain people at your birth, then don’t have them there. I understand it’s difficult to tell your family member or parent you don’t want them there, but if their presence is going to screw up your experience, then you have to do what you have to do. 

Chiropractor

This is really something I focused on more in my VBAC post, but it’s equally important to planning for an unmedicated birth. Why? Chiropractic care during pregnancy encourages the baby to be in the best position for birth. Not only is this great for the baby, but it helps with easing pregnancy discomfort, and fosters an efficient labor and delivery for momma and baby. My chiropractor, Dr. Kerstin Zock, is certified in the Webster technique. She kept my pelvis and hips “lined up” for the birth of both my daughters. I encourage anyone pregnant to seek a chiropractor like her to ensure the baby is in a healthy position for birth.

Doulas and What Not

Doulas can be awesome to have with you too. I had one with my first baby, but my practice did NOT like her being there. She had no chance in being able to help me. Your provider is most important. Their culture is EVERYTHING, which is why I LOVED being at The Midwife Center. I actually did not have a doula with my VBACs because I felt so supported at The Midwife Center. The nurses in the hospital were awesome, and it all worked out really well. So, having a doula will just depend on your preference and support situation.

Staying at Home as Long as Possible

Because I was a VBAC, I had to give birth in the hospital with both my girls. For that reason, I stayed at home as long as I possibly could. I wanted their labors to basically be nearing the end when I got to the hospital. That right there is so important. The more chance there is of messing with you and the baby, the more of a chance there is that there’s going to be an intervention that could lead you down the wrong path. 

Tips for the Actual Birth

Some women prefer to take a class such as hypno-birthing, or maybe utilize a form of meditation or yoga to get through the actual birthing process. I think that’s great. You have to do what you’re most comfortable with. The thing that really made an impact on me was this book by Ina May. This book gave me the tools and confidence to have my VBACs and unmedicated births.

Going Surfing

From that book, I learned the concept of focusing on the fact that labor is simply a process where your body is opening up so that you can meet your baby. Your body knows exactly what to do. It will provide hormones to help you bear the physical, mental, and emotional toll it takes to give birth.

Going through the process is very much like surfing. The contractions are waves. They last about 20 seconds. If you can surf those waves with breathing, counter-pressure, counting to 20, or doing whatever you can to get through those uncomfortable yet short periods of time, then you can do it. Every wave that I rode brought me closer to my baby. I just focused on that, and had some amazing people by my side to surf with me.

I am Opening

For both of my girls, I had a mantra that was inspired by one woman’s birth story in Ina May’s childbirth book. At home, on the way to the hospital, in the parking garage, in the hallway, and in my room, I said, “I am opening for her. My body is opening. I will let it open.” Saying that continuously and having my husband say that to me was a key tool that I used.  

The People in the Room

My midwife and nurses knew I wanted to have an unmedicated birth each time. When I asked for an epidural with Celia, and then with Brooke, they would tell me how I was minutes from pushing. “You don’t need it babe. She’s coming, and this is going to be over soon.” My midwife did counter pressure on me to help with my back labor with Brooke. The nurses kept me comfortable, counted with me, rubbed my shoulders, and did whatever my midwife or me needed them to do. That kind of support is EVERYTHING.

Position for Pushing

With my second VBAC baby, I gave birth on all fours. It is simply awesome to give birth in the manner in which we are meant to. Laying on our back is not for the benefit of the mom or baby; it’s for the convenience of the person delivering the baby. Being on all fours or being in a tub is for the benefit of the mother and baby. I was in a hospital and birthed on all fours. If I can do it, then anyone can. They put a plastic sheet on the bed, and she came out in 2 pushes.

I remember feeling the relief as I pushed her out that way. I had no tearing. With my first VBAC with Celia, I was on my back and pushed for nearly 20 minutes. My midwife had delivered two babies back to back, and she was exhausted. She just wanted to do it her way, and I didn’t push for being on all fours. I should have! It was ok, but I had some tearing.  Again, you need a provider who will support your wishes to be in a position beneficial to you and the baby. The next time, I made sure that it was in my chart that I wanted to be on all fours; regardless of how tired the midwife was! Speaking up makes all the difference. I’m still learning that.

Why Go Through Unmedicated Birth?

If there’s one thing I’ve been shown repeatedly on my thyroid/hormone journey, it’s that we were perfectly created to do our intended processes. Birth is not something that has to be augmented or interfered with unless there’s a solid, medical reason. The rate of complication and death in newborns and mothers in our country is amongst the worst in the world. I believe in my heart that’s because we are interfering too much. Why? Because people make a lot of money off of interfering. That’s why. Many interventions during labor and delivery are unnecessary. Many aspects of birth are natural and ok, but sometimes doctors and nurses dramatize things to drum up fear and establish their place in the process. I never experienced ego-centered anger until I saw a doctor who felt threatened by the fact that natural processes can happen successfully without them. 

The Benefits of Unmedicated Birth

1. No delays; labor happens efficiently without complications that can warrant interventions.
2. The baby’s health and wellbeing is primed.
3. The mom’s health and wellbeing is primed.
4. The hormonal health of mom is primed. Hormones balance out better after birth and beyond.
5. Better recovery time for mom: your body produces hormones to manage pain and discomfort. When we don’t interfere with that process, we experience better recovery. (My recovery was great.)
6. It reduces risk of postpartum depression and anxiety. Some studies show that due to a better balance of hormones after birth, mothers experience less depression and anxiety after having their baby. (I have experienced this.)
7. It gives the best chance for breastfeeding to be successful. Again, this relates to not suppressing or disrupting the natural flow of hormones. (My milk came in so fast both times that the nurse was doubting me until I pumped some out to show her!)
8. Some research shows that unmedicated birth, while priming hormones, can raise fertility in mom. (Ummm…yes! That’s how Brooke got here.)

You Hold the Power

I didn’t strive for unmedicated birth to try and be some type of martyr. The motivation came after my first birth experience, which entailed a lot of unnecessary interventions. Those interventions lead to a c-section, which was brought on by a doctor who was trying to force the birth of my son for his convenience and schedule. I promised myself that I wouldn’t be with a provider like that if I had another child. Additionally, I vowed that I wouldn’t get caught in a web of unnecessary meddling with my baby or myself. 

You hold the power to have the birth you want. There’s always that chance that things won’t go the way you want, and I accepted that fact before I had both my girls. The bottom line is that you can give yourself the absolute best chance, and in most cases, you will succeed.

Are You Ready?

Do you need help on your health journey? I’m Lindsay, a certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, who was diagnosed with postnatal hypothyroidism and HPA Axis dysfunction in late 2014. After healing, I went to IIN to train to become a coach who could work with women to balance their hormones, tame their thyroids, and enjoy life as intended. Please message me if you’d like to do a free health consultation!