EPIDURAL or C-SECTION? expecting in october?

Question

Ok im expecting my first baby in october. Im scared to death about childbirth pain. Now excuses are endless....during 5th 6th month i had worst stretching pains and bone pains in pubic area and lower abdomen back, i was literally immobile and paraalysed. couldnt lie for even good 5 mins.

its back again. couldnt do any work in home for even half an hour without getting most painful nights for next two days. i talked to doctor she said sometimes its happen. sex life has gone down the hill with my huby. also i had panic attack problem since ccouple of years.........its gone now since 8 months. but im sacred to GET PANIC ATTACK at last moment or have unbearable pain which will lead me to pubic bone dysfunction to a level of permanent damage.

so want to go for either EPIDURAL OR C-SECTION. suggest me wts better and why.

Answer 1

First off, a c-section should only be a last resort recommended by your doctor. The recovery time is longer and I've heard they're no fun afterwards.

I was 17 when I had my first. Trust me, I was petrified. We ALL ARE!!!

But once the labor pains hit, I got so excited!!! I felt like a real woman, if that makes sense. It felt nothing like I thought it would ... it hurt, but it wasn't "breath taking". I took off walking with my mom, and we had a wonderful girl talk!

Once the contractions are really close, you'll start to want to ring some man's neck ... usually your husband, boyfriend, maybe your male doctor ... lol .... but it's nothing like you see on television! No screaming and carrying on ... it's just not like that!

I opted for an epidural after a few hours of hard labor. You just get tired of waiting really. I had also heard horror stories about epidurals ... how horrible they felt, blah, blah, blah. It was nothing !!!!!! And afterwards, I felt no pain. I picked up a book and read it till the baby was born. The needle doesn't hurt at all ... the "pain" which I found was just more of a discomfort, came when the medicine was injected. You can feel it going down your buttocks ... it feels like someone pressing real hard on the tops of your "cheeks" ... it actually made me laugh :) I felt so silly after being so scared!!!

Trust me, the worst part of the whole pregnancy is the first 3 months (with morning sickness) and the last month when you're so big that you're miserable, hot , can't get comfortable, etc. The birth itself is wonderful!! And the reward is to die for!!

Relax girl !!! You'll do fine!!

I also suffer from panic attacks ... so I feel you. But birth is nothing to panic about. With the technology today, it's easier than going to the dentist. If you don't want to be in pain, you won't have to be. Your doctor can make sure of that. Some women want to experience it all and refuse epidurals .... horse cr-ap in my opinion!

So get happy ... you're gonna be a mommy !!! Congratulations!

Answer 2

Epidural. If there is no medical reason you need a C-section you don't want to be cut open like that. I know it's becoming fashionable. But they keep you pretty comfortable through
the labor. My mother was asleep when I was born. There are other ways to go about this than C-section.

You need to be working at this with your husband--take a lamaze course together or something. You can let your feelings control you and then have to live with the cut for the rest of your life and scars and maybe always need a C-section delivery,

or you can take control over your own feelings with the help of some people around you. There are people out there who can help prepare you for the labor and help you through it. If your doctor doesn't know anyone then start making calls to clinics until you can find someone.


Fear is just that. Fear. And it's the worst of it. I've been through a lot of surgery, and the trick is to keep you in control, and not the fear and not the pain.

Answer 3

I'd recommend that you have the epidural, so that way you won't feel the pain of the birth. I would not suggest a C-Section unless it is absolutely necessary. I had an emergency C-Section when I had my daughter, cuz they had left me in labor for 3 days! I told them something was wrong, but they wouldn't believe me. So, I told them that either they were going to take this baby, and take it now, or I was going to take the IV out and go to another hospital where they would listen to me. So, they quickly prepped me for the surgery and sure enough, I was right! My baby's head was too big to fit through my pelvic bone! But the recovery from having a C-Section takes much longer than natural birth, so if I were you I would opt for the epidural. In fact, they gave me an epidural (cuz they didn't have enough time to put me under) and I didn't feel anything from the waist down. So, since it is the pain you are worried about, do yourself a favor and choose the epidural!

Best wishes and congrats on your upcoming bundle of joy!! :)

Answer 4

If you want to avoid pain, a c-section is not the way to go. Anyone who tells you it is easier than labor is not telling the truth. I've had four c-sections and went through labor with two of them before having the c-sections. Labor is painful, but you can get an epidural for it and it is nothing! A c-section is major surgery with risks involved and the pain afterwards is excrutiating (multiply the pain you've described at least tenfold and then you'll get the picture). It takes weeks to recover from it and you have to deal with a newborn during that time. If you don't have to have a c-section, then avoid it. It is major abdominal surgery!!! I don't want to scare you, but just trust me on this one...once a vaginal birth is done, it's done and recovery is quick. My sister-in-law thought the same as you, and she went through a very brief labor and delivery with an epidural and she was smiling and up and walking within an hour! That will never happen with a c-section! Good luck to all of you!

Answer 5

I'd try the epidural because your recovery time will be less then c-section. You must put in your head that pain is a natural part of childbirth and your body can and will do what nature intended it to do. If you have a small pelvis you're doctor should recommend c-section even before you go into labor. Don't worry about panic attacks because if you can't calm your mind then there is medicine.

I'd suggest child birthing classes, read about meditation, and hire a doula to assist you in childbirth.

It's mind over matter -- be determined to have the best birth that you can for you and your baby.

Congratulations!

Answer 6

Well if you are scared of the pains of child birth you should proly have the epidural. It is a catheter that is placed between the lower vertabrae to administer pain medication and numb you from about the rib cage down. Pushing becomes more difficult as you are numb and cant feel when you have to.
C-section i would not suggest unless something is terribly wrong with your labour or the doctor doesnt think you can deliver naturally. The reason i say this is because it takes so long to recover from a c-section and many complications can arise after wards.

If you are worried about pubic bone dysfunction, it rarely happens with natural child birth. Women are built for this hunny. We have been doing it for thousands of years. As for panic attacks you should really be speaking to your doctor about those as there is medication that can be taken to help ease your anxiety.
Relax, and let nature happen!

Answer 7

Epidural is very good and you miss the pain of birth, and you have a normal birth. But you must go through the first pains, until you're half-way dilated.
C-section, if you have decided from the beginning, will spare you all the pain of birth, but it is an operation and it will be more difficult - and painful - afterwards, and for longer time.
So, it's your call. I would say to talk with your doctor, and start with the prospect of having epidural, and if it doesn't work out for you, you can have a c-section then.

Answer 8

First of all, I'm a guy so I can't completely understand, but I can tell you what my wife has shared when we had our first in June:

The pain isn't as bad as you think it will be. My wife said she was so scared because she didn't know what to expect and everyone told her it was way too painful.

She said it was hyped up - it hurt, but not as bad as she thought it would. As for the hip/back pain etc, thats normal.. your body is going through some major changes- my wife found it helpful to take a calcium supplement for bones, because the baby is actually sucking calcium from your body for the baby.

I would go with the Epidural, just keep in mind it can't be used after you are 8 cm dilated - C-Section is more for emergencies.

Hope that helps.

Answer 9

I had my first baby totally natural no pain meds or nothin it lasted 26 and a half hrs it wasnt too bad but my second child I was 2 weeks late givin birth and we had some difficulties so I had to have a c section my third came along and i opted to have a c section same with my fourth so ive had 3 c sections and to me they were by far much better but everyone is different I had no pain while they opperated but you will have pain afterwards thats the only difference. Hope all goes well for you!

Answer 10

Gosh, I went through 19 hours of hard labor, 4 epidurals and then finally a C-Section. If i could do it again, give me the C-Section first. It hurt like hell recupperating, but hey, anything to get it over fast. I tried the breathing, and did nothing for me. I know your pain, trust me. There is no guarantee your epidural will work either.