OMG, am I first?? Ok, I'll go read now. Finally!! :-D

Wow! This is completely unexpected. I'm looking forward to hearing the story!

Really looking fwd to the rest of this story - I know it'll be good!

Seriously, I am like when I have a baby - "Give me the drugs" - I stink with pain, but what a remarkable story and inspiring. I am sure to, this being your second was less - unknown. Looking for part II:)

That documentary was AMAZING so I can only imagine how great the book is! Can't wait to hear the rest of the story!

Seriously, I am like when I have a baby - "Give me the drugs" - I stink with pain, but what a remarkable story and inspiring. I am sure too, this being your second was less - unknown. Looking forward to part II:)

AWESOME!! I've been waiting for this. I can't wait to read part II.

...sewing up the lady parts...

I still get my share of the drugs though right, to take at my leisure? To help me get through those long nights of nipple burning loneliness.

I just found out I am pregnant. I had seen The Business of Being Born back in January and my husband and I were totally on board with home birth right then. We are in San Francisco and there is an incredible network of midwives and homebirth options here! Since our big news, I started thinking of my own labor and upon reflection I could sense that my will had flagged a bit, and I was seriously considering a hospital birth again. (but with the Midwife and a birthplan.) But after reading this I am back on board. Heading to Amazon.com to order those books right after I hit the send key here.

Can't wait to hear the rest... thanks!

Thank you for sharing :)

I haven't had a baby and am totally terrified of going through childbirth.. I am very interested in how you did this!

I'm really looking forward to hearing about your labor story. I was told (even before I went into labor) that my child was going to be HUGE and would need to be taken out via C-section. It was the "only option".

She was only 8 pounds.

I have felt robbed (cant think of a better word) since then and always a little disappointed. Yes....disappointed that I wasn't able to feel the horrendous pain.

Since I had her, I have watched that documentary and am now going to buy the book you recommended.

Thanks Dooce,
Rachel

Although my 2nd child's birth was NOT planned to be "natural" it ended up that way and I was so glad it did. First, that I survived the pain and second, the bonding and recovery were so much better it was all worth it. I am really excited for you. You can do ANYTHING!

I love the idea of a natural birth but I'm sure I'd chicken out when push came to shove. You are a brave woman Heather. Can't wait to read Part Two

It needs to be the way your heart guides you. I was all hospital and pain killers, but you need to bring that baby in with your best mental foot forward and I am glad you found your path, assuming this was it...

I totally respect your decision, and although the pain sounds, um, HORRIFYING, I hope that I am as brave as you are when it's my turn to make those decisions.

um, the story was just getting good! come back! I can't wait to hear how it turns out.

Oh my God... i so hope this story ends the way i think it does. Seriously, I am crying right now with goosebumps up and down my arms. Four years ago my little one came into the world... and the only drug I popped were two Advil when it was over... It was the most amazing, incredible, sacred thing that has ever happened to me...

Please let this story end good. If someone like Heather can help women stand up and not be afraid. Afraid like everyone tells us we are supposed to be.... the doctors, books, media... other women... then the world will be a better place indeed.

I am so proud of you. Even if it you didn't see it through to the end, the fact that you even opened your mind to it is a miracle.

Bravo sister. PLEASE WRITE THE END BEFORE I DIE OF SUSPENSE....

I'll admit right up front: I'm a Mormon Mom of Many. Take that for what it's worth, but I had 8 children with NO medication (the first one only because I got to the hospital too late for them to give in to my pleas for drugs)and my recoveries were faster, our babies were alert, I could get up and go to the bathroom BY MYSELF and feel human. And I could get right to the good part immediately: cuddling that sweet new baby! So, in conclusion, I just want to say: Right ON Sister! (didn't intend to rattle on-just passionate about the subject)

I respect you so, so, so much for admitting that you changed your mind. And then you did something about it. At 30 weeks pregnant. You ROCK.

I can't wait to hear about the rest of the story, and I'm particularly interested for any emerging insights on how the difference in labor has on PPD.

(And your post last week on your PPD this time around rocked big time too. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.)

Good God. Home births TERRIFY me. I'm looking forward to the rest of the story.

Holy crap, what a turnaround! Awesome! I went through that same obsessive researching when I was pregnant with my 2nd, and then STILL ended up with an epidural, just because (I later realized) my body really isn't happy being in a foreign place like a hospital when it's trying to give birth. Baby number 3 was born at home with a midwife, and it truly was overwhelmingly beautiful and spiritual.

Congratulations, Dooce! It is an AMAZING thing to say that you gave birth naturally. I did the same thing, just three months ago to a beautiful baby girl. (So, I am very much enjoying seeing your pictures and am really missing that newborn stage...it goes by so quickly.) I NEVER would have thought that I would have been able to do it...I cry at papercuts. And, EVERYONE thought I was crazy for wanting to go without drugs. People kept saying, "No one is going to give you an award for giving birth without an epidural." No, I didn't get an award, but I got a very beautiful baby girl who was extremely alert from the start and was breastfeeding within minutes. And, I tell EVERYONE I see that I gave birth to her without drugs. And, I also plan on holding it over her head until she's 52.

I didn't read the Ricki Lake book, but I watched the video, and while some of it is extremely biased, I'm glad that I read it. Another good one (that is extremely hippy) is Ina May's Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin. I would recommend that any pregnant woman read something on natural childbirth so that they can make an informed decision on something that is so important.

Congrats again, and can't wait to read Part 2...Part 3...and Part 4....

Holy crap! I was so drawn into the story and then it was over! Can't wait for part two! I didn't see this coming at all!

Edge. Of. My. Seat.

I also had a medicalized first birth that inspired me to research natural alternatives for my second birth. We were so nervous about going to the hospital that I ended up having the baby at home by mistake. Afterwards, I wished we'd planned for a homebirth, because I didn't want to give birth without an attendant, but it was SO MUCH BETTER at home. The worst part was when the paramedics showed up. Looking forward to hearing the rest of the story!

I am one of those NUTSOs who had two homebirths. No drugs, stitches done under the light of my own bedside lamp. I am also the least hemp wearing, whale music listening woman in the world. I did it because I, like you, had read so much about the over-medicalised nature of modern childbirth. Like you, my experiences were amazing. Snuggled up in my own warm house with my happy, alert, non drug affected moments old infants. Priceless!

and "Misconceptions" by Naomi Wolf! I will now add Ricki Lake's book to the list of books/movies I tell pregnant women (or thinking of being pregnant women, or men who may impregnate a woman, etc.) to read/watch. That was the starting point for me - congrats and can't wait to hear the rest of the story!

AWESOME. I am so glad you are posting about this!!! Before I was pregnant, I was all, "Epidural? You betcha!", but then I started to research like you did, and I was able to go throughout a 32 hour labor without pitocin, a C-section, episiotomy, or any intervention whatsoever (at the hospital too). It was the most empowering experience of my life, and I am so glad I had the birth experience I wanted. Congrats!!! :)

uh...10lbs 4oz...not 40oz

My first birth was a vile experience with no pain relief and the baby stuck in the birth canal for 40 minutes (in a hospital) and ended in forceps and a spinal tap. I was badly traumatised.

I had an epidural for the second and I found that experience incredibly empowering, fulfilling and (the best part) not stressful or painful.

So I don't think its the pain relief that "dis-empowers" women giving birth. I think the feeling of disempowerment comes more when you find yourself in a situation where you are in pain and feel helpless about it.

Thanks for the great blog - we saw you on tv in Australia a few weeks ago (on Oprah) :)

Cait.

Oh, and to add another book recommendation to the list that seems to be compiling in the comments, "The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth" by Henci Goer. Facts, straight up, unbiased.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I have just done more for the the case against medicalized birth than you will ever understand. You have just opened thousands of womens' minds to the possibility of a different kind of birth. Thank you. I'm so glad you had a great experience and I can't wait to read the rest of the story!

Kudos. If I ever decide to have another child, I think I will end up going this route because I've done (semi) natural and c-section. I'm so cool on the dr. cutting and stitching up my vajayjay, the extra long needle to the spine and the obtrusiveness of some of the hospital staff. And the drugs didn't really help anyway.

Btw, your post flashed me to the time I was in the car with my son's godfather and my milk sprayed everywhere..dashboard, windshield and both side windows. He was so traumatized....he still brings it up to this day and my son is 16.

Yay! I had planned to have child #1 naturally, but a mid-preg kidney operation and a 30hr labor kind of derailed that idea. I did however, successfully have a natural childbirth with child#2. I was in labor for 5hrs, that's it. It was kind of funny really. I ended up in the back seat of my dh's subaru, draped over my birthing ball, trying to survive the monday morning rush hour traffic ride to the hospital. I must have been going through transition at that point, loads of fun, I tell ya. We get there, they check me, I'm at a 10. Wohoooo!! Nothing like showing up to the hospital ready to push. 40 minutes later, my son was born. It was worth every minute. Can't wait to hear the rest of the story!!

seriously.. I love reading everything you write... you tell the truth like no other person. You have me so pulled in that I can't wait to hear about the rest of your birth story!

This post is useless without a photo of Marlo. :)

Seriously though, way to go! I'm proud of you.

My husband and I watched The Business of Being Born when I was about 7 months pregnant with my second. It (along with some other reading) influenced me so much that I ended up ditching my OB who wasn't very natural-birthing friendly and switched to a certified nurse midwife who had hospital privileges, hired a doula, and wound up with an awesome experience. And then I started writing completely in run-on sentences. Can't wait to read the rest of your story!!

Just gave birth 2 months ago, was all ready for the drugs when the epidural failed completely. I had to do it all natural and honestly it was the best gift that crappy anesthesiologist ever gave anyone. It was a beautiful and empowering moment, I felt like I could climb Everest afterward.

I do things all the time just so I can be pissed off, be "right," etc. Drives my husband nuts. He's been known to call me a martyr a time or 400.

Oh, and though I have no babies (yet), I am totally on board with natural birth and am very interested in homebirth, though I have a feeling my neighbors in my condo building might not be so thrilled with that. A midwife came and talked to one of my classes in college, and it was totally eye opening! My friends all have had epidurals and thing that I am certifiably crazy.

I am SO glad you saw that documentary. I saw it in nursing school and I think it's one of the most intelligent, convincing arguments for natural childbirth.

Can't wait to hear the rest!!

Hmmm, I have mixed feelings on this. I love reading your site, but as I started to read your post, I was all "oh crap, here goes someone else on this topic....." I am so happy you got the birth you wanted. Really, truly, happy. I am happy for ANY woman that achieves the birth that she wants and is important to her. And I do not mean to undermine the importance of the actual birth in any way. But HOLY CRAP I want to run and hide from all this emphasis on the EXACT means in which our children enter this world. Sometimes women get the birth of their dreams and that's totally awesome. But sometimes our children with enter the world in varied ways that are not of our time and choosing. I have had a couple of those births and perhaps this makes me jaded. Perhaps it is just because I have lived "on the other side" so to speak.

Women should feel empowered to have the birth they want and they should be supported. I just feel very strongly that should include all kinds of births, natural, epidural and yes, even c-sections. And this rant is not toward you specifically at all, but Ricky Lake kinda irritates me. Success is measured in many ways. Sometimes I feel she is more, natural birth equals success and awesome and everything else is......meh. Of course there is much more to it than that. And I have watched her documentary. That's all I am saying. I get too riled up about it and could say so much more. So I'll just stop:) Looking forward to part 2.

That's so great Heather! I agree completely with you, although most of my medical colleagues scoff and make jokes. Congratulations on having such a great, empowering experience, and having things go beautifully just the way you wanted them too. Another great book, besides the one you mentioned is Henci Goer's "The Thinking Womans Guide to a Better Birth." I can't wait to hear the rest of your story!

Awesome! You rock! I am so glad that you are sharing this story, and I know that because the best way to inspire is by example, that you will positively impact lots of pregos out there. This may sound cheesy, but I am so proud of you!

Love your stuff, even if it makes me flinch at times.

Can't wait for Part II!!

Both my births were natural, the first was terrible, and the second joyous. I had a doula and more support (and knowledge and confidence) the second time around. Not sure if that made the difference, but I'm sure glad it happened the way it did.

I do not ever want to be pregnant or give birth, but if I did, I would do some variation of homebirth. I've read about natural birthing centers, and I would probably prefer that to being at home. I definitely would not want to be in a hospital, which is the most hated place for me.

But mostly what scared me about birth in a hospital is birth "rape." I know that's a controversial term, but however you choose to label it, I don't think anyone can deny that a large group of medical staff performing procedures and giving you drugs without your consent is completely unacceptable.

Also in a hospital, I fear I would be treated more like an object. To the nurses and even doctor, I would just be something to clean up after, to poke and prod to write down vitals. And that's understandable to an extent because they're understaffed and overworked. I just know that for me, being treated with respect is very important.

I do get angry when people say that those who are pro-home birth or pro-midwife-assisted birth are just crunchy liberal people, as if we go along with whatever is "natural," as if we haven't researched the issue and decided we know what is best for ourselves, not tradition.

Had two normal, medical births at hospitals. Then I had two all natural homebirths. NO contest. I will not willingly give birth in a hospital again. :-)

Can't wait to hear part 2, I'm completely fascinated by birth stories lately. If you have a moment, I think you'd really appreciate this one, esp given your desire for a natural birth. This is from the father's perspective & is just awesome:

http://pacingthepanicroom.blogspot.com/2009/07/birth-of-tessa-tangerine....

Also, he did a fantastic photographic maternity series, really really good stuff.

xoxoxo

I feel a book coming on....Patchouli Birth! How I did it without Vodka!

I had a c-section and one natural. Absolutely hated both. Am glad I can never get pregnant again. I did not find birth to be any sort of spiritual experience.

Now when my Dad passed away, it was the most incredible spiritual experience I ever had. I felt honored to watch and feel his soul leave his body. It was almost like his soul came to me. Just awesome. I am hoping my kids will get to experience the same thing.

Can't wait for the next chapter, Heather. Great reading!

I was my mom's labor coach for her natural birth to my 10.5 lb baby brother 14 years ago(I was 14). She had me there in part to make me not want to have babies for a long time, but in part for her own little campaign for natural births. I saw her do it, with minimal screaming and teeth-gnashing and realized even at 14 that I too could do it someday. So that's my eventual plan and I am glad to hear it was wonderful for you as well.

plus the idea of a needle in my spine is g-ross and bothers me more than the thought of losing an arm or something.

i have never had a child, and perhaps i never will, but i, too, watched ricki's documentary and it totally changed my thinking about homebirth, midwives, and the whole 'business' of the hospitals. having worked in hospitals in the past (good ones, even), it's clear to me that SO much of what is done in those institutions has much to do about the almighty dollar and so little to do with what's good for the actual patient (imagine that!). if nothing else, it definitely makes you think!

love your stories; can't wait to read the next part:)

I read a bunch of natural birth stories on mothering.com to get an idea of what I would be in for. Surprisingly, although I am all about natural birth, the stories that made me feel better about everything were the ones where the natural birth didn't result in bliss. Knowing that things may not go according to dreams and plan and knowing it will be okay and there may be disappointments, put me at ease. No one is less of a mother for having more medical intervention, but reaching for the ideal of a natural birth should be a societal norm!

Like other posters, I am grateful for you publicly putting your story out there and giving this option such a voice. Thank you!!

I am so jealous. Once you have one c-section you'll be lucky if they let you go into labor on your own . . . I am green wtih envy and delighted for you all at the same time, because you got the birth experience I dreamed of. Well done, Dooce!

I had 4 kiddos all in the hospital....the idea of home birthing always scared the shit out of me. So did the idea of nursing, yeah I didn't do that either.

Heather, I'm *SOOOO* glad that this birth went so well! I can't wait for Parts 2, 3, 4, and 5!!! :-)

I bow down to all of you who go drug free. Kudos to you! I'm not sure I could do it.

Can't wait for part deux!

I am HAPPY for you....but a little sad too. I think that the natural childbirth option is great, but some moms really dont get to make that choice. Some of the issue I took with that movie (loved it, by the way) was that it makes the non-natural births sounds "less-than." I know that isnt the intent--or maybe it is, but it does feel that way to me as a c-section'd mom. When I hear from champions of natural birth, I wonder if I am supposed to feel bad about my own experience? For what its worth, I took natural birthing classes, a natural birth just wasn't in the cards for me.

Can't wait to hear the rest of the story! Though I don't have children and generally believe any way babies make it into the world safely is okay by me, The Business of Being Born was an incredible eye opener about the over-medicalization of labor. Thanks for sharing your thought process.

My favorite post I've ever read of yours. Of course, I'm pro-natural childbirth and pro-doula and I just love hearing about your own change of heart when it came to this subject. Plus, I've always thought you were a pretty spiritual person simply because you react so strongly to spirituality and religion.

I can't wait to read part two!

Yay! I'm so excited to hear how everything went. I'm also really pleased to see someone that has as much public influence as you taking resources like The Business of Being Born and Birthing from Within so seriously.
I had a beautiful natural birth. It was hard damn work, but certainly nothing to be fearful of, and I'm so glad for the experience.

I am a convert to natural childbirth too! My first baby was induced in hospital 10 days late. Like a domino effect, we suffered through every intervention possible, barring a c-section and most complications resulting from the interventions such as hemorrhaging, blood pressure drop, and many others. It was a train wreck and a bloodbath. He was a big boy, 10 lbs with a 15 1/2 head, but I was having no trouble at all til the epidural was administered. I still have an episiotomy scar on my inner thigh even though it was 19 yrs ago. I swore afterwards he was going to be an only child.

He was the best baby ever, as perfect and happy as a human can be, so I later decided to do it again but entirely differently. The next two babies were also born in hospital (I have two hour labors and the only birthing center was too far away) but had wonderful midwives, no meds, no episotomies. I was walking to the shower within two hours, and the babies were alert and nursing within minutes. They were 9 lbs and 9 lbs 8 oz each so the size was not significantly different. If I could have done a birthing center I would have done it without question.

I have so much trust and confidence in and respect for my body as a result of these births, and I would do it again in a heartbeat if my life allowed it. This was especially powerful for me since I also suffer from chronic profound depression and anxiety and had often felt like my body/brain was flawed because of it. (I have been living better with pharmaceuticals since the 80's!)

Congratulations, Heather and all the Armstrongs!

When I was pregnant with my second daughter, I wanted to arrange for the epidural in the hospital parking lot. I loved reading your post and can't wait for Part 2. It's so great that you admit openly about changing your mind about something you already had a strong opinion on. I love reading your blog. It encourages people to be authentic.

Oh, I *remember* those days of looking down at my breasts and knowing that they had their own agenda and then just giving in and going "Mooooooooooooooooo". The oooooh and owwwwww of fullness and the sweet release and aaaaaahs of successful nursing. I actually miss the absurdity of those days. Thanks for the reminder!

And now the Outback Steakhouse has its new t-shirt saying.

I haven't even finished reading this post yet and I had to comment. I'm pregnant with my first, and a friend of mine recommended that I check out the midwives at UCLA. I, too, had always thought that "midwives" and "homebirth" were something for crazy hippy people who didn't shave very often.

But from there, I went and rented The Business of Being Born - I was probably only about 2 months in when I watched it, and I was HORRIFIED, after watching that movie. Horrified at the state of birth in the United States, that is.

I immediately decided that I was going au natural, using midwives and I have to say - considering this is my first child, with all the research and reading I've been doing about natural childbirth, I'm not the slightest bit scared. I'm not even afraid of all the pain - especially after hearing about how all the drugs, and that nasty pitocin they give women, actually makes the pain WORSE.

There's so much research to prove that giving birth naturally is SO MUCH safer & better for your baby, and isn't that who you should be most concerned about?

Anyway, so - YAY! Thank you so much for writing about this, because I feel like the truth about drugs/birth/natural childbirth really needs to be told to more women. Before someone suggested the midwives to me, it never really occurred to me that I had other options.

I sincerely believe if they could capture and bottle the amazing cocktail of hormones you get after a natural birth, it would be illegal. THE HIGH IS THAT FUCKING AMAZING.

Oh wow didn't see this one coming. Can't wait for the rest of the story. I've had all my children natural (the last two at home..including a 10lb 4oz baby while standing in my bathroom). Now if we could get you to open your mind up about vaccinations. Baby steps I guess.

Awesome, Heather!

I didn't think I could love you any more, and then you wrote this post.

I planned on a intervention-free birth for a long time, reading everything I could find (esp. the Ina May Gaskin books), taking a Hypnobirthing class and also hiring a doula.

But then my OBGYN was all, HELLO! You're having twins and that's a whole OTHER deal.

And then I ended up getting sick in my 38th week and a scheduled c-section was penciled in to my Kate Spade organizer.

I went from home birth candlelit tub birth to a planned section, but in the end both of my babies were born healthy and that's what mattered.

I can't wait to read the rest of your story!!

OMG OMG OMG THAT MAKES ME SO HAPPY.

I'm only a lowly 17 year old but I would desperately love to be a homebirth midwife one day, so obviously I'm a massive advocate of natural birth. When I read you were pregnant this time around, I was actually convinced that exactly this would happen to you. I'm just so glad you took the initiative to educate yourself and had the birth you wanted :D

And yeah, those statistics are terrifying. C-section rates up to 80% in some states, where the maximum safe rate is 15%? Ow.

I went through a similar shift, and ended up with a totally natural homebirth. It was safe, it was awesome, and I felt empowered to make a peaceful, responsible choice.

It's my hope that every woman has the opportunity to make that choice--whether it finds her in a remote cabin in the woods, or with every medical intervention she can get her hands on--and to feel totally comfortable with her birth decisions.

Interesting comments re: the bikini wax as prep for birth (#50).

I forgot that waxing was a critical step to labour preparation. Since having a sparkly clean bikini line is going to make a big difference when you're pushing so hard you're shitting yourself.

PEOPLE. WE HAVE PUBIC HAIR. Get over it!

*shock*
Rikki Lake? I had no idea.

My first (only) childbirth was natural by default. It really IS everything they say it is and more.

The only things that could have thrilled me more about this post would have been if 1)the rest was already written and 2)I had been your doula. And I mean that in the least-stalkerish way possible.

As a hippy-crunchy-crazy-homebirthin-doula, I'll say nothing makes me more excited than seeing women take back their births.

Wow! Totally unexpected, and possibly ... inspiring? I'm 26 weeks pregnant and I'm not SWEARING to anything, but it sounds ... intriguing. Tell more!

Yay Dooce! Heather, I am so happy that you had such a wonderful birth experience.

I had both my boys at home -- made the decision with my first after I read "Ina May Gaskin's Guide to Childbirth." I approached the book with the same trepidation you describe in your post but by the end of it -- after reading dozens of birth stories written by the mothers, midwives, and even the fathers which really served to demystify the whole birthing process for me -- I realized that having a natural childbirth at home really would be the easier, less painful way to do it.

... And it was. Sacred and spiritual, just like you said.

I think we as a society would be much better served to remember that giving birth is not a medical emergency but something our bodies were created to do. We are as strong as we think we are, and anyone who thinks, "OMG there's no way I'll be able to stand the pain!!!" is going to have a much worse time than someone who thinks, "Bring it ON!"

As to why birth survival rates are better now than 150 years ago? I remember reading somewhere that it's actually tied to increased cleanliness in the hospitals, not so much the delivery methods practiced by doctors. (I mean, on your back in stirrups? SERIOUSLY? How about working WITH gravity instead of against it, people?)

Thank goodness that someone with your reach is able to spread the message that birth doesn't have to be a pain-filled nightmare we can only face when we're numb to the eyeballs with drugs.

I can't wait to read part II!

Ahh this story is making me so excited. So happy that you have had this amazing experience.

I have two kids. Had two natural births. Both in hospitals but it's really supported here (Australia). I had easy recoveries. I was totally open to anything first time around, drugs if I needed them, didn't care. But I am so glad I had an amazing midwife and I could stay "sober". When pregnant the second time I was genuinely looking forward, yes you read that correctly, to experiencing birth again with my son.

It's terrible how afraid of pain women are made to feel. It's GOOD pain not BAD pain. It's your body, doing what it knows how to do. You just need to get the hell out of your head and listen to your body.

DAMMIT I sound like a dirty hippy. Ick.

Can't wait to hear the rest of the story. Congratulations again.

I took a Bradley Method class and was 110 percent into the natural childbirth method too. The only thing I don't understand is how you did it w/o an epidural. PLEASE EXPLAIN.

3 hours before my daughter was born, I gave in and asked for an epidural, because the pain was so horrendous, that I could not move. I was doubled over in pain, clammy, red, sweaty, trembling, could not control my breathing, could not concentrate.

The last inning epidural was just what I needed to complete my natural childbirth. A friend of mine from my Bradley Method class did the same thing, and the epidural allowed her to get two hours sleep, wake up and push the baby right out.

I do think most women get the epidural way to soon, and the medical interventions snowball.

I am really looking forward to your part II. I want to know how you had control over yourself w/o an epidural. I tried the whole mind over matter, and it just did not work.

Dude- you are much stronger then me if you made it through without drugs. I have three children I used some sort of drug each time. Much stronger. Good for you!

Thank you so much for writing this post. I realize medical intervention is sometimes necessary and I wouldn't deny that to anybody, but it's so ironic to me that women who won't have a sip of cola or an aspirin during their pregnancy are so willing to take absolutely anything to avoid any pain during the birth.

The answer I have given to everyone who's asked me what childbirth is like is "It hurts and it's worth it."

Let's hope you've inspired some women to try "natural".

i'm glad you had such a great birthing experience. i wish i'd been able to have that with my two children.

Wow, this resonates for me so much (right up to and including the sprinkler tits) except with my 2nd delivery I chickened out again and demanded the epidural en route to the hospital. Reading your post makes me wish I'd summoned the huevos to do it naturally... and I'm so curious to hear how it went for you! Please don't keep us hanging too long.

I wanted a natural childbirth when I had my first child. When the pain became unbearable, I begged for relief and my midwife, believing she was helping me keep my "promise" to myself, left me alone for an hour to think it over. I was in such pain I couldn't think. I knew then that if I were ever tortured it would take me less than two minutes to cave in.

My child ended up weighing almost ten pounds and being turned the wrong way around. I pushed for three hours and when he came out, I tore all the way through. I couldn't have sex without pain for six months.

The birth of my second child was like a miracle (apart from the absolute terror I felt until I got the epidural). I talked, laughed and participated in the birth. When she came out, I did not feel as though I had just been in a horrific car crash. I felt happy and exhausted and intact.

I wish drug free childbirth had been something I could have loved and could have encouraged others to do. In theory, I do love it. In practice, it almost broke my spirit.

I tell all first time mothers: Keep an open mind. Trust your instincts, either way.

So glad you had this experience. SO GLAD. I wish you didn't have something against the hippies... because it's the hippies that know how eff'd up stuff's gonna get if we keep treating the earth and ourselves the way we are... but I'm REALLY glad that this particular light reached you. Like, stoked. Because people read you and love you... me included! And I only shave sometimes, and recycle everything, and cry about our atmosphere, and subscribe largely to a nature faith, and believe the disposable diapers are symbolic of our culture's shortsightedness and pain. But whatever. You rock and I wish the number of times I ping your site and read what you write would somehow fund your use and advocacy of sustainable stuff. But we can all dream, right?

Best wishes with your beautiful little girls.

I can't wait to read the rest of this story!

I've had two natural births. The first was in a hospital, and the second was at home. Both were amazing in their own ways, but giving birth in my bathtub and being the very first one to pick my baby up, discover that she is a girl, and then hold her for two hours straight without interruption made me realize what a disservice the American medical system does to healthy moms and babies every day.

I'm so glad you got to experience that incredible hormone rush and high after a natural birth! People look at me like I'm crazy when I try to describe it!

I saw Business of Being Born after my daughter was born and was saddened again by my experience. I had been induced because I was ten days overdue, and everything I had read about induction happened to me, horrible, unnatural contractions, scary issues with my baby and all wrapped up in a c-section. The next time around I plan to empower myself and take control of the birth. I am looking forward to hearing part 2!

Heather, I'm sure that doulas everywhere can now see a jump in business, thanks to your mention. Can't wait for part two so we can see how everything went! I'm a labor doula and a midwifery student in Portland, OR and I am so appreciative of your willingness to think outside the box. Natural birth isn't for everyone, but it should at least be a viable alternative. And every woman giving birth in a hospital should be able to have a doula! Doulas can be a great source of support and encouragement, and numbers of women requiring cesareans and pain meds go way down with doulas. Thank you for this!

Oh WOW! I can't wait for part two, this coming from someone so incredibly petrified of giving birth that I'm up for cutting me from toe to fingertip if necessary to just get the thing out without an episiotomy!!!
All of you natural-birth mothers out there are liken to superwoman in my eyes. I'm such a wuss!

I feel like I'm reading my birth story. I also wanted the drugs (this was my first pregnancy) but once I started doing research I discovered I didn't want any of that at all. And what really pissed me off was that when I went to my OB/GYN (who I had been seeing for years and knew it took us almost a year to get pregnant!) told me she didn't even deliver anymore! WTF? Why did she never tell me? Probably because some people would be ok with that. But I wasn't. I found a midwife (who rocks like there's no tomorrow!!!), hired a doula and took the Bradley class for 8 long weeks. And you know what?!...people thought I was crazy. I actually had someone tell me that I should get the drugs because when you go to the dentist you get drugs...and I'm like "you're equating birth to getting a cavity filled?" Anyways...I was fortunate that my labor went fast, my doula rocked and helped my husband (who does not like the sight of blood) stay calm, and my midwife delivered my little boy with no episiotomy and no drugs. I am proud of myself because I did the best for my little guy. I don't run around telling people I did it...but man am I proud!!!

I can't say that I understand any of this natural stuff but I can't wait to hear the rest of your story. :)

Birthing my two kids naturally, drug-free, was the most powerful, painful and profound experience of my life. I'm so glad you got to experience that. Looking forward to the rest of the story :-)
PS Heh, when I was doing the yelling duing labor it felt so primal--then, when I heard other women yelling later, I was all, oh, it just sounds like yelling... :-D
PPS Love the new masthead

I don't really ever leave comments, I figure you've had enough comments to last you many, many lifetimes, but I wanted to second the suggestion of reading Misconceptions by Naomi Wolf. I'm fairly sure you will like it, it seems in the same vein as the Ricki Lake book you mentioned.

I LOVED that documentary! I can't wait to read the rest of your labor story.

Yeah, no. I am due in January and labor scares the HELL out of me! I have already told my doctor to have an epidural on hand cause I will need it! Plus, I am scared to death about a c-section. Let's just hope that doesn't happen. It may send me into convulsions.

~Meredith

I've never commented before, but I just had to say that I had a very similar experience to you...only without being pregnant. I've always scoffed at the notion of home births but I randomly came across the Business of Being Born at 9:00 on a Sunday night and like you, it changed my life. I feel so ridiculously naive for not even taking the time to do the research on this subject. I am not pregnant yet but plan to be in the next few years (hopefully) and I'm so glad I have that time to do the research. Your story gives me hope and is so encouraging.

I am so not good with pain so I'm really excited about reading about how it all went. I'm definitely the one that would be right there with you on the epidural on the rocks, but knowing that that was you, makes me wonder if I could do this too. When I'm thinking about kids, I'll definitely be checking out the book and movie you recommended.

Wow, I am REALLY intrigued to read the rest of your post and give that book a look because I, too, have viewed it skeptically and hope to get some painkillers two days before I'm due.

Yay Heather!!

I had my baby in May and also did it all natural. I'm the biggest baby when it comes to pain, seriously. The other day when I asked my husband to rip off my band-aid, I was shaking! But learning about how unnecessary medical interventions have a greater chance of leading to c-sections sealed the deal for me.

I had a wonderful birth experience!!
(you can read about it here: http://mattrosanna.blogspot.com/2009/05/fins-birth-story-as-told-by-mama... )

Heather, to be honest, I couldn't believe your doctor offered to induce Leta because he was going on vacation (if I remember correctly). But that sort of thing is sadly common. I believe our society's cavalier attitude toward interventions has led to a high C-section rate and to other problems that are harder to see--more difficulty breastfeeding, maybe more PPD, etc.

However, though I did two natural water births in the hospital I would never do a home birth, precisely because things can go wrong so very quickly. One of the most exciting things about birth in the U.S. in recent years is the conjunction of the medical and wholistic--hospitals are starting to offer birthing centers, practitioners are seeing the benefits of natural births and becoming comfortable with doulas, etc.

I'm so glad you had that serendipitous encounter with Lake's book. After my first birth I felt like I was high for MONTHS and I think it was something to do with it being natural. (Just had a second a week or two before you, it wasn't quite as fabulous, but heck, it's good for the baby too.)

Congratulations again. Marlo is GORGEOUS. The most beautiful baby I've ever seen, honestly--except mine, of course :)

So here I sit, a week and a half away from my due date with baby boy number two and I'm hoping for a second home birth. I myself was a home birth baby (my Momma was a rebel!) but I'm pretty much the opposite of a hippie. I scoff at hippies and my husband and I make fun of them, but gosh! My first experience was labouring and giving birth at home and I wouldn't have had it any other way.
We've had to work around a few obstacles this time around, but I'm still hoping for a home birth or if I have to go to the hospital to avoid all drugs.
I had no idea this post was coming and I'm now eagerly anticipating part two!
I also heard about this documentary recently and am hoping to watch it soon.

I just LOVE you! Even READING the word "doula" made my eyes roll. But I SO want to read that book!! And I'm not even dating anyone let alone planning kids. And I Detest smug anything...hippies or religious zealots...all the same. But I also detest corporate America...so this should be interesting!
CONGRATULATIONS :)

If your part two says that you had a beautiful and natural childbirth I'm going to have to hate you. At least for a minute. That's SO what I wanted. And when I said I wanted to go drug free, EVERYONE, including my doctor discouraged it. In the end, it was probably better that I had changed my mind and decided to get the epidural. I had to have an emergency c-section. So it saved them some time with getting me ready.

Ah, I cant' wait for part 2!! I've gotten goosebumps every time you talk about your birth experience so far, so I've been wondering WHAT happened!
I know my husband was thrilled to have a doula with us after he figured out that she would/could do anything he deemed 'icky' (which is about everything, lol). I'd love to hear your husbands version after we read yours!
Yeah yeah yeah!
And hey, there have been a lot of us midwife, natural birth, homebirth loving so-called-crazy people that have been posting HINTS here too!!!!!

I'm so glad you got from that book a spark that gave you information. THAT's the main goal those 'crazy' radicals have-- give women (and parents) information so we can make our own damn decisions!!!!

I still can't write my birth stories (the not-so-amazing one and the amazing empowering natural (hospital) birth and it has been 5 and 2 years. I get angry every time I start because of what I didn't get with my son, and that not everyone is offered the amazing birth like my daughters. Someday I'll write them....
In the meantime I LOVE to read empowering birth stories and try to find ways to calmly and respectfully encourage women to seek out information.
I've been wanting to reply to several of your recent posts (Hugs for mastitis, go you for your beautiful baby and birth, kudos for breastfeeding and keeping the ppd at bay, etc etc) but this one I HAVE to respond to... even with my little one crawling all over me(-;
Jessica

i can't wait to read whether there was pitocin - a drug invented by dick cheney before he got into gov'mint. cause the pitocin is not a friend of natural childbirth like the bush admin was not a friend to democracy...

Oh my goodness, I'm so excited you're writing about this! I, too, saw "The Business of Being Born" and it shifted my worldview as well. I've never been pregnant before, but suddenly I found a confidence in my ability to bear children I'd never had.

I can't wait for the second installation! Maybe next you can tell us how you recovered from mastitis while still breastfeeding. After a natural childbirth, do you no longer feel any pain?

I had never heard anyone say they could feel their milk "drop" or "come in" before I read your blog. I'm so confused - isn't the milk already always in your boobs? Or does it shoot into your "top area" from some mysterious, milk-making gland that I don't know about?

I'm not a mom, so I'm just so curious and baffled by this process.

Bravo to you, Heather! I saw "The Business of Being Born" when I was about 5-6 months pregnant, and went into absolute hysterics (I watched it by myself while my husband was out of town -- bad move) knowing the kind of medicalized birth my hospital was known to encourage. I ended up meticulously developing a birth plan with my doctors and nurses for a natural birth, and ended up with pitocin, blood pressure medication, an epidural, and... an emergency c-section! Next time around I will definitely employ the help of a doula and a birthing center to get the natural birth I was hoping for.

Thanks for sharing your story!

Had 3 natural births and loved it. Well, it hurt like hell but was so worth it. Dropped my OBGYN at 32 weeks with my first cause she LAUGHED when she read my birth plan that did not include an epidural. I'm not one of these judgy women who think it's horrible women have epidurals. But it's also something that can be done and, I believe, is better for you and the baby. So congrats :)

Also? Had a doula with all 3 as well. Couldn't even tell you if my husband was in the room with any of them. LOVE that woman!

Great. And here I had full intentions of having an epidural for the first time when I give birth to my 5th child in Dec. Now I'm going to have to go read that book and change my mind. Thanks a LOT.

I am excited to hear the rest of the story. I had an epidural for both of my pregnancies and I am excited to hear from some one who did it both ways. I do believe what I did, pushing a baby out of my vagina, was natural (with or with out drugs). It just bothers me that people call it natural w/out "drugs" and I guess unnatural with out? Anyway can't hear the rest.

I applaud your courage. Epidurals were helpful to me, especially with my first child. I had four baby girls ranging from 9 lb. 3 oz. to 10 lb. 3 oz. I was so stressed and out of it for the first, it couldn't have been good for my daughter. All but one were also posterior. Obviously, you had a good result..she's adorable...they are adorable; I look forward to the rest of the story, and let's all be open minded and support each other. Those who didn't choose this route shouldn't feel a sense of regret. Each situation is so very individual. Despite epidurals, all four of them were very alert, active, and were nursing immediately.

Just thought I comment for the first time to mention.... in Canada at least, the midwives have full hospital support and privileges. I gave birth in December to my beautiful Charlie, supported by my midwives, IN THE HOSPITAL- which was my birth plan. It is truly the best of both worlds. My delivery room door stayed closed to any medical personel except my midwives until I needed them, and when I did, (after completing my whole labour and 2.5 hours of pushing with no meds), the OB/GYN Chief came in to help me and my horribly stuck and now distressed baby. I am a huge fan of natural birth and I support home birth. I just knew that home birth wasn't in *my* comfort zone- my intuition told me no to home birth. Instead, I had a lovely experience with my midwives, and knew that others were standing by if I needed them.... and I did- on top of the stuck and distressed baby- I hemorraged. I'm proud of my birth plan.

Heather- good for you! Midwives are amazing, and for those who are convinced, but need to quell some fears... midwives in the hospital may work for you.

How cool! I just watched the documentary last weekend and also found it perfectly logical and very compelling. I'm 63, so it's not for me, but good for you! Watching the film, I was struck by how peaceful it was, and how intimate. Way to go!!

I had home births. When child #3 was born #2 climbed in the bed (after everything was cleaned up) and read to the baby. It was the sweetest thing. We also ordered pizza. Maybe the birth wasn't spiritual but it made for good memories.

I am imagining Coco at a home birth.

When I was pregnant with my first child, a friend gave me an old book "Childbirth Without Fear". It changed my life, I'm sure my birthplan would have been much different and unnatural without it. I'm glad you had such a great experience!

I love that the book and movie were done by Rikki Lake because she sits there in her fancy New York clothes and swills her Starbucks and chats with her girlfriend about the miracle of natural childbirth. It's great because she is so not a hippie, but she gets it that birth doesn't have to be awful and terrible. I am so glad that you had such a wonderful birth experience with Marlo. She's a lovely baby.

I'm so excited to hear about your birth experience. I've never given birth before, but am trying to become pregnant right now, and have been researching pregnancy and delivery.

I'm not sure how, but I stumbled upon the documentary by Ricki Lake a few months ago, and was transformed about how I thought about labor and delivery. My friends are getting tired of me talking about it. When I saw she had written a book, I read it in one sitting. I agree, both should be read by every pregnant women, actually every women for that matter.

I'm so glad you're writing about natural child birth. I feel like a change is coming in America, and its great that such a popular blogger, such as yourself, is writing about the subject.

I can only hope the discussion is wrapped around women's choices in childbirth, and not a divisive battle between proponents of each side. Every childbirth method that ends with a healthy baby and mother is a good method, but a lot of women don't realize they have more choices than just epidural or no epidural.

Thanks Heather, and congrats on your beautiful baby!

Good for you Heather! I had an epidural-free hospital birth 5 months ago and would love to have a home birth for baby #2. The Business of Being Born is an amazing documentary. I've emailed Oprah to have her do a show on it, but alas... Maybe now that you're a fan of TBOBB, she'll listen up!

Hang in there with the mastitis. I had that as well as thrush and nipple vasospasms. Breastfeeding is harder than childbirth, hands (and boobs) down. Keep it up though because it will pass...

Very much looking forward to reading the rest of your story, as I've been considering an unmedicated birth since I had my daughter via a forceps delivery that resulted in a giant episiotomy that prevented me from sitting down for six entire weeks. My recovery was so painful that I started reading more about unmedicated births and it seems that gee, if I hadn't gotten the epidural maybe I could have pushed better and then I wouldn't have needed the forceps that required the giant episiotomy that had me nursing my baby standing up for six miserable heavily medicated weeks.

Anyway, can't wait to hear *your* story!

I had an eerily similar experience...a hefty epidural the first time, and a totally out of character decision to go natural the second time around. An amazing accomplishment in this day and place. Congrats on your natural birth, I look forward to reading more about it!

I can't wait to hear the rest!
I really, really, really wanted a natural birth. I did a whole lot of preparation, but after the 48 hour "emergency" induction with a whole lotta unwanted, but necessary pitocin, I just needed that stupid epidural. I hope it all worked out for you.

I'm so glad you enjoyed Ricki Lake's book and documentary and doubly glad your birthing experience was so positive and memorable for you. As an Ob-Gyn, I found the documentary extremely one sided and biased against doctors. ALL deliveries are not medicinized. Obstetricians are not the anti-Christ; we save a lot of moms and babies. We want healthy moms and babies too, and sometimes that calls for medicine. What I remember most from the movie is this: Abby in the diner saying how small her belly was. Abby's midwife not confirming fetal presentation while she was in labor and allowing her to labor with a breech infant. The emergent cesarean delivery she underwent of her growth restricted baby. An obstetrician might have caught the growth restriction and the breech earlier. That's all. Congrats on Marlo again.

I'm so happy that you're posting this. I am looking forward to Part II. I loved the birth of my daughter, and I will agree that a natural childbirth is absolutely a spiritual experience. There was some pain, sure, but it was far outweighed by the feeling of empowerment, the intensity and the sheer sense of joy that came out of me with that tiny life. It was just a bonus that I got to prove wrong all the people who thought I was crazy for wanting a natural childbirth.

I had a natural birth with all three of my children. My only reason was that I didn't want to have nausea when they handed me my beautiful baby (pain meds make me vomit!!!) and it was the best decision every made. All of my nurses said my deliveries were some of the best births they participated in and it was an honor to be with our family. Birth is hard, but when it is over, it is over and the pain is gone. Preparedness is the key....obviously you had the golden key!!!

I had my second child without any drugs, largely because he arrived in such an all-fired hurry....I was just grateful I was on a gurney in the ER and not in the front seat of our family car!
BUT...for the third child, I opted for natural birth, and am so grateful. p.s. she was 9 lbs., 13 oz. Recovery was such a breeze in comparison to the cutting and pasting in the firstborn's delivery...and it was indeed very spiritual.
Thanks for sharing your story!

from another homebirth nutso--thank you and welcome to the other side. and look, you made it w/o smelling like patchouli. :)

from another homebirth nutso--thank you and welcome to the other side. and look, you made it w/o smelling like patchouli. :)

I didn't really like The Business of Being Born but if that's what it took to get you an awesome birth experience, great. For me, it was the book Birth by Tina Cassidy. Changed my life and made it possible for me to consider going through labor for a second child (my first one was induced and high-intervention, juuuuust this side of a C-section).

The birth of my second child - drug and IV-free - was the greatest thing I'll ever accomplish. Birth story here.

Ricki Lake? As in..."Hairspray" Ricki Lake? I'm having trouble getting past that.

First off I have to say that I can't wait to read the rest of this story; I love birth stories, especially when injected with a good dose of humour and written by people that know how to write a great story! I'm sitting here 3 days overdue with #2, so a very timely subject as well.

But I'm actually commenting just to throw out a line to other people that might not go the "natural" route to say that that is OK too. You have to do what seems right for you. With #1 my labour came on fast and hard and mother did it ever hurt. I went into the whole thing with a totally open mind, hoping to try to do it without drugs, but OK with going that route if I decided I needed to. Maybe if I had prepared the way Heather did (I read a lot and had an arsenal of breathing techniques and positions etc, but no doula or grand plan) I could have done it, but at 8 cm I asked for the epidural. None of the positions I tried were helping and I was in so much pain I couldn't even think about how to breathe.

In the end there was a cut and some forceps involved to get my very large son out of my little body, but I was quite happy with that since it meant no c-section after 2 hours of pushing. Besides being completely exhausted, I was very "present" when my son was put in my arms and he started nursing right away. I feel like I received excellent care and I was not cheated out of anything. Maybe my situation is different because my doctor is actually a GP with special training in obstetrics, so kind of mid-way between a mid-wife and an OB. I don't know. I'll be going into my next labour (soon please!!) with the same approach - I'll do what I can without drugs, but I'm not going to beat myself up over it if I end up going that route again. Nor should anyone else.

Thank you for reminding women that if we did it without epis and shots of friggin' pitocin for thousands of years, we can keep doing it. Our bodies are made to push babies out. And please explain to the world that going without an epidural does not make one a martyr. Oh, and Marlo is gorgeous!

I didn't realize that you were planning a natural childbirth. Prior to my first baby, I simiarly started reading about all kinds of childbirth and started to see the patterns that all pointed to how much it made sense to be ambulatory and fully functional during childbirth. I hope that your message will reach many women of childbearing age and will at least open their eyes to the possibiity of natural childbirth. I have now had four babies at home under the care of a midwife and feel the decision to have natural childbirth is probably the single most defining aspect of my life to date....that's how big a deal it is to me.

My only other advise to you is to not lock yourself into only having two children. I know it's not the right time to even think about that yet... but just keep your mind open.

About halfway through this post I breathed a sigh of relief. I've never read one word that you've written that has ever upset me, until you went on about how crazy people are for having natural births. But who am I to judge? I had the same opinion until I was in the delivery room with a friend and her epidural went horribly wrong. After that I did a ton of research on natural births even though I'm not pregnant *yet*. My husband looked at me like I was crazy when he heard the words "bath tub" and "no epidural". When I said I wanted a doula he said, "medulla oblongata?" and asked if I've been neglecting my armpits lately. He's on board now, but his very conservative mother still thinks I am nuts! Congratulations, I cannot WAIT to read the rest of your birth story!

This is EXACTLY what I did - I feel like you just described exactly what I went through. I read Pushed: The Painful Truth About Childbirth and Modern Maternity Care by Jennifer Block. Totally worth reading - it will change how you feel about childbirth entirely.

I literally squealed with joy for you reading this post. I am not an evangelical natural birther, but I got the sense from earlier posts about us crazy hippies that if you only knew WHY we were so crazy you'd understand. And her you are, with a sacred and spiritual birth experience and I am so happy for you. Women who haven't had that kind of birth don't seem to understand how meaningful birth is. But it is, isn't it? My birth was the most powerful and amazing thing I have ever done in my life, and I can't imagine anything topping it.

I can't wait for the rest of this story! I'm so excited that such a huge and varied audience gets to read it along with me.

I am future midwife and a huge, huge advocate of homebirth, so by extension, a huge, huge advocate of drug free births, and I am just pleased as punch that you got to experience it. I am being completely sincere when I say that my heart is swelling with joy right now, knowing that another person has experienced birth the way we were intended to.

I've given birth six times and every one of them was a heavily medicated,"Okay, I'm 2 cms....where IS the guy with the epidural?!!?!?"

Now that I'm too old to do it again, you've made me think about the woulda, coulda's. Does that count?

YAY! I can't wait to read the rest! I am a natural childbirth educator and eat this stuff for breakfast, lunch and dinner!

I love your blog, Heather, but as a homebirth, attachment parenting mother I always felt a bit put off by some of what you write. I NEVER would have guessed you'd change your mind about this...never in a million years. I have SO MUCH more respect for you now, not just that you came to same conclusions I did ;) but that you were willing to change your mind mid-game.

FWIW I too planned on a hospital birth and at 38 weeks fired my doctor and hired a midwife. My son's birth was the most amazing thing in my life and I could not be prouder of it. Congratulations to you, mama. You rock.

Well wait until you figure out why the crazy hippies homeschool then! Unschooling/natural learning at that!

I'm very, very excited to read this first part...I jumped on the bandwagon about, oh, one week into my first pregnancy and never looked back. Yes, childbirth can be a sacred experience! No, I don't smell like patchouli!

Couple more great recommendations: Giving Birth by Catherine Taylor, and Baby Catcher by I can't remember...it's about a midwife, though. Both very good.

The epidural was so awful, that I just might consider natural birth next time! Seriously. I think I would prefer all that pain to being shot in the spine several times. Makes me cringe just thinking about it.

I nearly cried when I read this post. I had a very similar experience. I had an epi with my first child, and went natural with the second. I can't encourage people to hire Doulas enough. Bravo!

oh I'm so proud of you. I have a 10 week old and tried to do it drug free but didn't quite make it. did I mention, though, that he was 9 lbs, 11 oz??? regardless, they let me keep the baby. epidural or not so I'm happy :)

I realize that I am nobody of any consequence... but I am pregnant with my third child. My first 2 were both induced (because my OB was going on vacation, both times) and I had an epidural both times.

I do not want that again... I am wanting a natural childbirth at a hospital. And my husband wigged out when I told him that I didn't want any medication.

All of this to say, that your story means something to more than you and your family. It is hope for me. That I can do this, even if my entire family thinks I've lost my marbles.

Thanks for sharing.

I love that movie and have had that book on my ready to order list from amazon for a couple weeks now. Will definely purchase soon (to be honest I was waiting to read until I am pregnant again). A couple other ones (I read after I had my daughter and wish I had read before):Birth: The Surprising History of How We are Born by Tina Cassidy, Pushed: The Painful Truth About Childbirth and Modern Maternity Care by Jennifer Block, and Baby Catcher: Chronicles of a Modern Midwife by Peggy Vincent. I had a midwife and a doula but gave birth in the hospital - maybe home next time, we will see how it goes! Can't wait to hear the rest of your story.

Holy shit. This is NOT what I expected! I cannot wait to hear the rest of this story. I realize you have a lot on your plate right now, but if you could just prioritize finishing your labor story I'd really appreciate it. Feedings, diaper changes, making Leta feel secure and loved, eating, pooping (I hope you are pooping!)...do those things later. They can totally wait. No biggie.

Magical! Congratulations on what sounds like a miraculous realization. It's amazing how these things just pop up out of nowhere. 10 weeks isn't a long time to make a natural birth happen - it's a lot of hard work, and preparing the people around you takes quite a bit of energy (the type pregnant women rarely have). I'm thrilled to hear that Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein's work made such a big impact on you, too. I was quite impressed by it myself.

Oh, anyone looking to watch The Business of Being Born, if you have Netflix, you can watch it on your computer! I guess the laundry isn't getting done tonight...

I was due last week with my first (still waiting) and was also completely inspired by Ricki Lake, although it was prior to my pregnancy so I went with a midwifery practice (delivering in hospital). I feel like you pulled this post from my brain, reworded it all smartly and then typed it out for me.

Thank you thank you thank you for giving me a little push if you will, a little "YOU CAN DO THIS" because it is so inspiring to hear. being almost 41 weeks pregnant you start to get a little nervous about labor and I already feel like NCB advocates are so in the minority, It is amazing how many people have said to me "you'll just get an epidural" as a way to write off the pain of labor.

I am not completely out of my mind, I do not like pain, I am not a martyr but it just makes so much sense. Seriously, thank you.