I just wanted to know how much difference having an epidural makes vs. a natural birth. Does it make labor and birth a lot easier? Do you still feel the contractions during labor and the burning when pushing the baby out? Does it make it harder to push?
I did ask for an epidural, but no one was in a hurry to get me one and by the time they got around to it, it was too late as I was already 7cm. dialated.
Having a natural birth was incredible and I am glad that I got to have the experience, but quite frankly I am really scared of going through it again!
Either way all of the pain was MORE than worth my precious baby!
Thanks for any answers!
2006-10-27 14:50:25 · 22 answers · asked by seraphyne923 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
Sure it does. However, natural childbirth is chosen, not for the purpose of pain, but for the purpose of avoiding medicines administered that can have a harmful affect on (immediately and in the long-term development) a new born.
2006-10-27 14:54:16 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
I had an epidural and was thankful for it. And I got mine at 7 cm--I don't know why they told you that was too late. 8 cm is the cut-off. I am glad I got it because I was in labor another 12 hours after I got it and if I hadn't gotten it, I would not have been able to rest and save my strength for pushing. I felt nothing until I was about 9 cm--then I felt a lot of pressure with each contraction. They shut it off before you start pushing so you can feel what's going on and control your pushing, so I did feel all of the stretching and other unpleasantries, but I also got to feel my daughter come out which was awesome. I am pregnant again and will have an epidural again, and this time I will ask for it sooner. I did experience back pain for a couple of days after the birth, but even so, I feel it made my labor experience very pleasant.
2006-10-27 21:54:39 · answer #2 · answered by gspmommy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are up/down sides to both having the epidural and going natural. Epidurals do take alot of the pain away but the baby may come out lethargic or because you can't feel anything it makes the pushing phase longer or harder..and a very remote chance of c-section. I had my first child all natural and it hurt but in the end (and years later) you forget all about that pain. I am pregnant again..39wks!..and will try to go natural, without pain meds but I reserve the right to change my mind later during the birth. they say that if a woman has a good support system during labor then she can usually go through labor just fine with no meds.
Really it's a personal choice...just study upon the pros and cons so you feel confident in your decision. :)
2006-10-27 22:11:58 · answer #3 · answered by surat108 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Congratulations with your new baby... I have to give it too you, that you are very brave. I had my daughter 3 yrs ago and I was trying to go natural but I could not take the pain. I felt like I was going to die.. So I told the doctor that I need the epidural immediately, I could not take it. When I got it, it was such a relieve it felt great to be in labor and not screaming and mourning.
I did feel pressure when she came out but it was better then not having the epidural. I am pregnant now with my 4th child and I will get the epidural if I need it.. I can't deal with pain... I am 36 weeks almost time too deliver and I am afraid.. You are lucky, too have had your baby...
2006-10-27 22:58:44 · answer #4 · answered by Vicky 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If an epidural is administered properly, you won't feel a thing. You'll be completely numb from the waist down, and will need to be told when to push. The trick is to get the needle in the correct space in your spine, otherwise, it may only work on one side, or not at all. In rare cases, the process can leave you paralyzed. Also, epidurals may cause the baby to get drowsy and somewhat disoriented, making it slightly difficult for him/her to travel down the birth canal. The experiences differ with each woman, and sometimes with each pregnancy for the same woman. So, the best thing you can do would be to research as much as you can so that you can make the best decision for you and your baby.
2006-10-27 21:58:32 · answer #5 · answered by dorky_goddess 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Put it this way, my wife has said that the next best thing to an epidural is ice cream. She had 3 natural births and an epidural with all of them. You feel the pressure of the contraction, but not the pain. It made the birth much easier and there were no issues with any of our boys.
2006-10-27 21:53:00 · answer #6 · answered by VR 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You SHOULD have got the epidural!!
Takes away ALL pain.
They try to get around it because it is expensive and time consuming and sometimes it is hard to get an anesthesiologist in there to do it.
It does make labor and birth a LOT easier. Yes, you still feel contractions, but they don't hurt, they are just like pressure or they feel like the very beginning ones that don't hurt bad at all.
No burning, you just feel the baby coming out with no pain and it does not make it harder to push because it does not effect the muscles that you use to push. It only effects the muscles that are in your hips on down. You can use your upper stomach muscles to push.
Don't be scared next time, just get it. Make them give it to you.
2006-10-27 22:34:23 · answer #7 · answered by AveGirl 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I had my daughter on July 6th with and epidural and I wouldn't have done it any other way granted my anesthesiologist almost killed me beause he put it in my blood vessel the first time and when i had a hot spot -a small area where i could still feel the contractions and he went to put the medicine in my iv and I started to have a seizure on the table and my heart rate went up to 148. However after they put the second one in properly I was fine and I couldn't feel the contraction except for in that one spot which we later discovered was my daughters arm stuck. They had to tell me when to push and it was actually hard and exhausting even though I couldn't feel anything except for the pressure down there but it wasn't painful. And I didn't feel any of the burning. Hope this helps.
2006-10-27 21:58:36 · answer #8 · answered by Tanya 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You know what..for me...I had the first two with the epidural and the last one was all natural. I actually had less pain and faster recovery with the natural child birth.
I am not but if I had to have another child..I would have natural child birth.
2006-10-27 21:52:24 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I haven't had children or an epidural but my sister had one with her first child and had her next two children naturally.
She said there was a big difference, especially with larger babies. She doesn't remember much after having the epidural but she has a permanent numb spot where she actually received the injection, it's about as big as a fist.
I know that's not much info but I hope it helps.
2006-10-27 21:55:26 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
That is very personal and unpredictable. I have heard of women giving birth naturally without pain. I have heard of complications with medication used for pain management. None of it is predictable. No one could predict the complications or the times when no pain was experienced naturally. How many women gave birth with medication who would have felt no pain without it? We will never know. There is no way to predict future experience based upon past experience. Each birth is unique. I encourage you to continue to educate yourself and make informed choices. In the end it is your choice.
From a statistical point of view, medication during delivery does help with pain management. There are questions about what it does to the baby since some gets into the baby's blood stream. There are questions about the alertness and bonding process immediately after birth. There are questions about risks associated with any procedure.
You have a right to ask questions. Your doctor works for you. You have a right to informed consent. You have a right to know.
2006-10-27 22:31:32 · answer #11 · answered by Jack 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋