My mother-in-law's entire life story was a series of "near-death experiences" and childbirth was no different. After hearing how she brought all six of her kids into this world, I was convinced I wouldn't survive and die a horrible death. Ha!

DON'T LISTEN TO THE HORROR STORIES!!! I agonized for so long in fear, and it was nothing at all like I imagined! (And I had 3 cesareans - -all three very routine. Small pelvis so I couldn't deliver normally, but it went so smoothly!)

And I watched my daughter have my grandaughter naturally. With the epidural, she was in no pain at all. (And I thought I had it easy!)

I wasn't afraid at all. In fact, I hadn't really thought about it. Pregnancy is the hard part. Labor and child birth don't last long at all in comparison. I know that my husband was terrified, but I felt fine! Now that I'm 7 months pregnant I find myself looking forward to giving birth, mostly just because that means that I won't have to be pregnant anymore!

 I loved the whole experience.  I mean really loved it.  I was so excited to meet me daughter, to hold her, love her that it completely overtook all my emotions.  I felt that I was experience something bigger than myself.  It was very euphoric.  My husband was scared - our daughter was 6 weeks premature.  He was the mind of reason.  I was just so excited that I was oblivious to any thoughts of concern.

Childbirth" back in the day" was all natural and Lamaze if done correctly was the answer. I had three children all natural and the first one was breach( butt first) and I would do it all over again. Today there are too many C sections, epidurals , etc. When my babies came out and the doctor placed them on my body to nurse WOW there was nothing and I mean nothing more spirItual than that. I loved the whole experience.

I loved being pregnant! I had a tiny bit of nausea in the beginning, but that was very short lived. I didn't have any of the weird cravings, mood swings, etc. and worked all the way until a few days before I was scheduled to go into the hospital. When I went into the hospital (to be induced) I was nervous. It was my first child so I had no idea what to expect. They gave me the cervidil the night before and pitocin in the morning. I didn't start having significant contractions until about 5 pm (5-6 cm dilated), and even then they just felt like period cramps. They gave me the epidural at that point so they could break my water. After that I had some pain bc the baby's shoulder was grinding into my left hip bone with each contraction. Honestly, that was the only real pain I felt and it was only during contractions (and made me push even harder!) I delivered in an hour. The next day was rough...but the doctors gave me pain meds so I could manage. All in all, pregnancy and child birth are NOT nearly as bad as some women like to make it out to be. Sure, you can dwell on the negatives if you want (I had to have 2 epidurals, etc..) or you can focus on the fact that you have this beautiful new person in your life :) I just wish someone would have shared a story like this with me instead of all the horror stories!

had 2 epidurals- neither worked. the pain was incredible. pushed for 3 hours-threw up the whole time-developed eclampsia after delivery- blood pressure at stroke level. 3 days on magnesium sulfate. needless to say I only have 1 child. BUT he was worth it...

The resident who handled my first child's delivery (after my doc never showed) was terrifying, and I really felt robbed of the experience I think i could have had with a more caring staff. Now that I'm pregnant again, I don't think I can relax in a hospital so we're going to use a birthing center. Obviously, there is a chance we'll end up at a hospital, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

www.raisingstinker.com

During pregnancy, I read positive, uplifting birth stories and I believed that I would have a joyous and beautiful birth. When you take out the fear and replace it with light and knowledge, you open yourself to the ability to birth in a safe and loving place. I became educated about natural childbirth and surrounded myself with a positive support team, including wonderful midwives and loving family. I took care of my body and my spirit throughout my pregnancy, and when it came time to give birth my daughter entered the world peacefully and completely healthy. She was born on my own bed, and I 'caught' her myself. It was so powerful, and giving birth naturally without fear was a defining moment in my life. I felt my essence, the strength of being a woman, and I wouldn't change it for anything in this world.

I was a little freaked out but by the time I gave birth I was a week over due and my husband had to go back to the East Coast (I was on the west) the very next day so I was SUPER ready to just have my daughter in my arms. It was fine at first and I could cope pretty well as long as I was in the whirlpool tub with a very mild pain killer but it did stop working after I went into natural labor on top of being induced. That was the worst of all my pain and it really didn't last that long thanks my friend the epidural. I got to take a nice nap after that and rest until it was time to push. Then I woke up and pushed out my daughter with very very little pain. I just felt like I really had to poop (which I was caught on video saying)...

I crave pregnancy and childbirth. I've had three children, two at home, one was a breech home delivery. I was made by God to bring babies into this world and I feel so very sad when I read stories like the one above. The lies women are told to make a doctors day easier. Most doctors don't have any idea how a woman's body was made to deliver babies. Your body will not make a baby in you that can not come out. And it's silly that a doctor can make you think it can. Our culture has become so dependent on the medical professionals opinion we are too scared to ask questions or challenge them. Please ladies do the research ask for a second or third opinion and even still get your own answer. Stop trusting doctors to your children births and your over all medical care. Realize they are not trained on delivering babies naturally but with medications and utensils. Your body KNOWS how to birth a baby and it will naturally. All you have to do is be calm, relaxed and present. Birth is NOT painful, it's uncomfortable.