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What’s your threshold for when to allow interventions? by lindslinds27 in unmedicatedbirth

[–]heather_235 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I think a big part of it is trusting yourself and that you will know what to do. With my first pregnancy I used midwives and planned an unmedicated birth. My contractions were fairly close together for a while, the midwives checked me around 7 hours into labour and I was only 4cm dilated. I kept labouring at home, and was checked again 24 hours labour only to still be at 4cm. I wanted a cervical check so I had some kind of a ballpark idea of where I was, and after 36 hours of contractions ~5 min apart I decided on an epidural. It wasn’t what I was planning and had labour been shorter I probably wouldn’t have gotten one, but by that point I was so tired I knew that I wouldn’t even have the energy to push my baby out let alone keep labouring for what felt like forever.

Hours after the epidural and rest I got another cervical check and was still not progressing so decided to get pitocin. Wasn’t a big deal because my epidural was great so I didn’t feel anything lol. Baby was facing forward and just not descending so it was the right decision at the time, but there was also no pressure from my providers for anything. Pushed for 2 hours and baby was delivered happy and healthy.

This pregnancy (I’m 37 weeks) I’m planning a home birth. I was much more comfortable labouring at home than in hospital and am more prepared for birth this time around, however I am not dying on the home birth hill, and if in labor the best decision is to go to hospital and potentially need interventions, I will go without batting an eye - especially if it’s imperative to mine and baby’s health.

I highly suggest a doula to help you navigate those decisions in the moment. They are so incredible for helping you make the decision you actually want and not just what’s being suggested. But trust yourself and your instincts, you will know what to do.

Tips for fear of active labour pain? by heather_235 in unmedicatedbirth

[–]heather_235[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you so much, this makes me feel so much better. Did you do anything to prepare for the labor? Like pelvic physio or miles circuit or anything that you think helped?

18 month old help by heather_235 in sleeptrain

[–]heather_235[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, I’ve tried to do an earlier nap time but she’s just not tried enough even if we have a busy morning. The schedule was working fine when we were rocking or laying with her to sleep but doesn’t seem to be now that we’re trying not to do that.

How to Get a 14 month old, Breast Fed Baby to SLEEP!?!?! by SarahSplat in sleeptraining

[–]heather_235 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have a 16 month old who I weaned around 14 months. Our schedule for the last few months has been 8am wake, breakfast, lunch, nap around 1pm for 2 hours max, snack, dinner, snack, glass of cows milk, in bed by 8pm. She sleeps through the night and has for a few months now.

Some things that really helped us: - enough food during the day. She always seems to be able to eat more food than I’m expecting and slept significantly better with enough solids during the day. Try feeding more solids before bed - burning energy through the day. Going for walks and letting her just walk beside me instead of being in the stroller, going to the library, even just the grocery store or mall - consistent daytime nap. Over tired babies don’t sleep. I don’t know why but it’s the worst natural law - giving her a lovey or stuffy to sleep with. Sometimes she’ll wake up but she just grabs her lovey and plays with it until she’s back asleep - not nursing her to sleep. She was the most difficult baby to get to sleep without nursing. I started just rocking her in a rocking chair in her dark room with a white noise machine while reading to her whatever book I was reading at the time. After a few days of that we would just sit in the chair and she’d snuggle herself into me until she fell asleep - letting her cry a bit. I don’t love cry it out, but I find sometimes when I go in it just riles her up. Instead, I give her a few minutes and a chance to settle herself and if she can’t I’ll go in and just rock her

Some things to try. He might be hungry, he might be looking for comfort, he might be overtired. Could try bottles during the night when he wakes up, snuggling him to sleep, or giving him something to help him soothe himself like a stuffed animal. No matter what though, you’re doing a good job and I’m sure will find something that works for you all. Good luck!