Any information or opinion on midwives, birthing centers, and epidurals?

Question

(Not pregnant, just looking for facts.)

Alright, for one, I do not want an epidural, I know that everyone will tell me that I need one when I have a child, but I do not like the idea of a needle in my spine.

I have heard that using a midwife and/or birthing center could help reduce the stress and the pain, also the prescence of the dad could as well. Has anyone had an experience with one of these things or know of somone who has?

Thanks for all the answers so far, I just want to explain why I don't want an epidural.

Like it's been stated before, the fear of paralysis ect, but also I have heard that you can't feel anything, and I want to feel my child's birth, not be so drugged up I don't know what's happening.

Answer 1

Had my first two naturally (no drugs at all) and I took the childbirth preparation classes first and had a good partner with me to help me focus and breathe. Still, the last hour or so was truly horrid, like trying to hold onto a bucking horse, or get control of a speeding car. You just hang in there and then it's time to push. Pushing also hurt like hell but it was good to be able to DO something and I knew I was that much closer to getting baby out. After baby is out, pain is miraculously gone and you feel fabulous, get right up, walk to the bathroom, eat a sandwich, breastfeed. Nice.

With my third labor was stalled and he was 9 lbs so I did give in and get the epidural. I didn't like it, the needle was scary, my blood pressure dropped because they gave me a hefty bolus of fentanyl (painkiller). The room got dark and I was so drugged I could barely move, they had to give me epinephrine and run in a liter of fluid to get my blood pressure back up. I let the thing wear off and had them take the catheter out so the pain came back but by that time I was nearly all the way done so it wasn't so bad.

The most important thing is to take classes on ways to manage pain, take a lamaze class, learn about different pain control methods, have a GOOD partner with you who can calm you and focus you. If you have the cash, consider hiring a doula (birth assistant). I had one who did accupuncture, massage and aromatherapy during labor and it was fabulous.

Also, take one moment at a time during labor. It's too exhausting to think about 12 hrs of progressively painful contractions. Just promise yourself you'll "see how it goes" and give yourself another 30 minutes to think about and discuss options. When 30 minutes is up, take another 30 and so on. You may just find you can do it. If not, that's ok, birth is not a contest you have to win, they don't give out prizes for natural birth. If you get pain meds or an epidural, that's ok too.

Answer 2

I had an epidural. I went in with the same fear you did...needle in the back, I'd be paralyzed, etc. Epidurals are fairly safe though...your chances of the doctor hitting a nerve or doing some long term damage (paralysis, etc.) are less than one in one million.

Once my contractions started, I changed my mind VERY quickly. My dr. broke my water for me when I was 3 cm dilated. It took me 3 1/2 hours to dilate to 5 cm, and that's when I begged for my epidural. From 11:30 p.m. to 1:15 a.m., I dilated the other 5 cm and was ready to push. During my contractions, I was getting so tensed up, I wasn't letting my body do what it was supposed to do, so that's why I was dilating so slowly at first. Once I had it, it was smooth sailing. It took away about 95 % of the pain from the contractions, making them feel like nothing more than bad menstrual cramps. I pushed for 30 minutes and out came my first son. :) And people say first labors are long. Psah!

I can't tell you about midwives or birthing centers though. Both of my boys were born in hospitals and delivered by ob/gyns. If you're considering having an epidural when you become pregnant and go into labor, midwives can't insert them...only anesthesiologists (MDs) can.

My second son was under distress when I had contractions, and his heart rate would plummet. He was an emergency c-section, and boy am I glad I chose to go to a "cold, sterile" hospital to have him. If you had been at a birthing center and had this problem, you better hope you're close to a hospital. While I'm sure midwives are lovely, they are NOT surgeons. ob/gyns ARE.

Answer 3

I have two children and i totally agree with you on the epidural thing my first child was borne in the hospital and all i had was Demerol was pushing for a long time the doctor used a vacuum and gave me a episiotomy not a good time at all my second child i had a midwife and used gas i was also induced at 3:45 i had my child at 6:18 and went home at 9:30 no tearing no complications i would defiantly recommend a midwife but i chose a hospital just to be safe

Answer 4

When I first got preggers I made an appt. to visit my new Dr. and got an appt. with a midwife instead. Initially I freaked and told my husband I want a real Dr. not some nature freak. However the waiting period to see the actual Dr. was like 2 months so I agreed to give the midwife a try, worst case scenario I make an appt. to see the Dr. next time...... I ended up loving the midwives! The ladies I worked with were soooo comforting and calm. They all had been thru this before themselves and totally understood all my fears and concerns. While I was under their care I had to visit with the Dr. at least once so i got to meet him in case I needed his services or if I turned out to be a high risk pregnancy (good thing I did meet him b/c I ended up with an emergency C-Section at 6:00 a.m. on Dec. 23!) But a midwife can do most anything a Dr. can do except major surgery! I refer all my friends who are preggers to them and they all have the same initial reaction I did but then end up loving them as much as I do! As far as an epidural is concerned I believe it's a persons individual choice whether they have on or not! I have friends who gave birth with and with out, they all lived and have happy beautiful children. As for me I'm a wimp and I (till this day) love my epidural man. I don't know who he was or what he looked like but I love him! Good Luck! :)

Answer 5

i have 2 daughters and the first time i had an og byn.the second time i tried a midwife.she was nice but kept telling me my baby was way too small and i needed to eat more or she would die.so i ate and ate all the time.and she made me have these non stress and stress tests 3 times a week every week for about 4 months.i thought it was a little strange so i went to a og byn just to make sure she was right.he said my baby was just fine.and didnt know why she was making me have these test thsat i didnt really need.when i did finnally have my daughter she weighed more than my oldest.also when i was in labor she tould me that after i was dilated to a 5 that i couold have a spinal block which is like an epidural but when i was a 5 the nurse called her and tould her i wanted it and she said no that i was fine.and i was in A LOT of pain so all i got was 2 shots of some medicine that did nothing!then when it was time to push they couoldnt find her and i had to wait 30 min before she finally got threr.im not saying they are all bad i just would never go to a midwife again

Answer 6

For one, getting an epidural is purely up to you. With that said, by the time you would be in labor, a needle in your back would feel like a feather tickling you, let me tell ya! (trust me, I've had 2 kids and epidurals with both, even though it didn't work with the first one, but it really was worth the shot!)
I had a midwife with my 2nd child, and she was awesome!! Love her to death, she was so nice, reassuring, and helpful.. She was in the room through my whole labor and delivery, whereas with my first, I had a regular MD and she was there the last 5 min. of pushing.
I didn't go to a birthing center, but personally I believe better to be in a hospital, for the worst case scenario, than have to travel to one in case something went wrong.
Hope this helped!

Answer 7

I had 3 children, the first one I used a birthing chair- that was great. Instead of drugs, my Dr had me whiff/ whiff, not drink hot tea..that sucked big time. My 2nd child I had a shot for pain relief, I still hurt like hell. My 3rd child, I had complications and they had to put in an epidural as soon as I got there. I slept all thru labor, it was GREAT! I don't know why people are so reluctant to take drugs, there is a time and place to take drugs-- extreme pain is one of them. After having babies naturally, minimal pain meds, and an epidura--I think epidurals should be mandatory.
I think birthing centers are wonderful. I am aliitle reserved with using a mid wife, I had very large babies, 10+ pounds- I would like to have an OB-GYN there, incase of unforseen problems arise.

Answer 8

I went into my first saying I would never have an epidural. I used hypnosis for pain management which did help in labor. However my daughter was facing my front instead of back which caused me to have severe back labor. I ended up getting the epidural when I was 6 cm dilated and it was awful. It hurt and it was put in wrong so they had to come back and re-do it. The only positive side to it was I ended up having to have an emergency c-section so time wasn't wasted with anesthesia. I've had 2 repeat c-sections since.

Answer 9

I had a midwife and I gave start at a health facility. Having a midwife for my first being pregnant used to be no longer simplest strong however quite valued at it. I used to be in a position to have the usual start I desired and by way of usual I imply no suffering meds in any respect. I did at first desire a water start however in view that my exertions used to be going gradual I used to be prompted and not able to try this. I may even like so as to add I loved the closeness I had with my midwives. I used to be in a position to understand they all and believe them with no longer simplest my lifestyles however so much importantly my unborn childs. Now that I am pregnant once more I am going by way of the equal train of midwives. In truth while I referred to as them they remembered me correct off the bat and had been completely happy that I desired to head by way of them once more. The simplest factor I am unhappy approximately is that they're going to wait until I am approximately eight or nine weeks to peer me in view that I already had a typical, healthful being pregnant the final time and am at no chance for a top chance being pregnant. Other then that I advise a midwife to any one. I find it irresistible and I love the folks who do it.

Answer 10

I have had 4 boys and the last son i had an epidural.let me tell you it was wonderful..made my labor go quicker and everything. I didnt even feel it go in my spine. As for the midwife i have no experience in that area.