Wow, that`s great! I didn`t have a choice with my two boys . . . pain medication wasn`t an option where I gave birth (in a public hospital in Guatemala) and I seriously didn`t think I could do it with my first one who was induced. But it really is amazing what the body is capable of and it is SUCH a rush afterwards!

Thank you so much for sharing your story. Your writing is lovely and I am happy for you for the birth experience you had and your beautiful new baby boy.
I just had a baby girl on 6/18/08, without pain meds. It was not by choice – baby was coming quickly and the anesthesiologist had an emergency and could not get to me in time. I even had an epidural in my birth plan. But I am so grateful for the experience. It was very different pushing my daughter out and feeling everything than it was 2 1/2 years ago when I delivered my son with an epidural. I ‘felt’ more with this pregnancy anyways – I really felt my body preparing for her birth. It seems fitting now that I got the full experience.
I also have to add that I read your birth plan after we got home from the hospital, and I really liked how you wanted your 3rd baby’s birth experience to be unique to him. That is exactly what I got with my daughter and again, I am so grateful for how she was born.
Thanks for sharing – it is nice to read your story and the comments to it and know that childbirth is indeed an experience to be treasured, no matter how your baby gets here.

I’ve always been fascinated by pregnancy and birth, and having watched both my sisters born at home, I wanted the same when I got pregnant. ATTITUDE is SO important when you want a natural birth, and I was VERY surprised that when push came to shove, I had the right attitude. My labor was 72 hours, and I pushed over 4 hours, but in the end, I felt like I could do anything! I never once even thought to ask for pain relief, and that was a HUGE surprise to myself as well as my mom and youngest sister because I’m a bit of a drama queen and always have been The birth of my son was a beautiful experience, and I’m so happy that I was able to have him at home with my husband, mom, sister, and 3 midwives present!! Thanks for sharing your birth story!!

Firstly, congratulations, and thanks for sharing such a wonderful birth story.

This sounds SO much like my second labour!! (Minus the puking, thank God.)

My dear friend told me some other wise woman told her to ENJOY the contractions, and that is what I did. I was like, “YEEEAAAHHHHH!!! Bring it on!!” but only in my head, because I also tend to stay almost silent in my labours (just breathing).

Then when it felt like I couldn’t handle it anymore and asked for the drugs, the midwife checked my dilation, and said, “Your baby is right there!! On its way out!” and with a few pushes, out she came.

Chanie- I know what you mean.
I find these debates and comments about natural vs. epidural and all this angst women go through with deciding which one ridiculous. And I don’t get these comments about women convinced that they ‘can’t do it’ without the drugs. We don’t have and option of an epidural (you have to make an appointment with the anesthesiologist before time and it’s not covered by the state insurance, so hospital’s don’t really offer it) and everyone gets through it (as do 90% of women in the world). So, if there isn’t a medical reason for needing a C-section or something, we CAN all do it, it’s only a matter of whether we want to or not.

Sorry, I wanted to add…I totally agree Diane! This is a great story for her son to read. It’s really impressive given it’s the 3rd child, and sometimes subsequent children don’t get such details like this! That’s great, and I hope I can do the same for mine.

When I was about 8, I had two teeth pulled without any drugs, which is probably the way it was done for hundreds of years. I don’t feel a sense of empowerment though…and I definitely wouldn’t think someone who had teeth pulled with drugs to have had less of an experience than me. Neither do I think that those who have surgery under anesthesia go against what nature intended.

One day your son will read this. One day, your son will truly appreciate the miracle of his life, the love of his brothers and the devotion of his parents. Congratulations again Chantal. What a beautiful capture of this new chapter in your life.

Your birth story was so empowering to read Chantal! You definitely took the time to write this story – which we appreciate (sharing your story with strangers must be a little weird?) and that you will hopefully treasure for years to come. It makes me want to go the natural birth route when I eventually have children. I’m so happy that you got the birth you wanted, with your husband there to support you. Congratulations on a gorgeous new addition to an already beautiful family.

ZaraB, Emily didnt say she doesnt want to go through natural birth, she said that she didn’t understand the empowerement the women who did went through. But she didn’t state she doesnt want to go through the same thing, she just said she didnt.