Epidural or natural? Those who have had experience with both?

Question

I'm pregnant with my first and want to go natural. I'm scared to death of the pain! I want opinions from mothers who have had experience with both, and which did you prefer? If you've only gave birth with or without I'd like to hear your experience or opinion also! Thanks!

Answer 1

If your interested her are some great books that can give you tons of great information and then you can make up your own mind- you do have 9 months to decide so keeping your options open is the best way to go.

The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer
Birthing From Within by Pam England
Ina May's Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin
The Pregnancy Book by Dr. Sears
The Birth Book by Dr Sears
Gentle Birth Choices by Barbara Harper
Creating a Joyful Birth Expereince by Lucia Capacchione, et al

and because I'm a labor doula and I have a slightly biased opinion :)
The Doula Advantage by Rachel Gurevich

See if your local library has any of these and check them out. Or you can peruse the shelves at your local book store and flip through them and see which ones you'd like. There are websites where you can get cheap books too like ebay and amazon.


Side note- before I was a doula I had 3 natural births and all of them were great- and I can honestly tell you that I was really afraid of labor.
With natural labor your recovery time is shorter and breastfeeding is easier.
There are pros to epidurals too. Sometimes women who are having a hard time relaxing and are not progressing get the epidural and they progress rapidly and have their baby just fine.

Here are some helpful websites as well:
www.motherfriendly.org
www.childbirthsolutions.com
www.childbirthconnection.org
and my website :)
www.apeacefulescape.net

Can you tell I'm obsessed with birth? :)

The main thing is to enjoy the journey and to learn about your options. Information is power, especially when it comes to the health of you and your baby.
Good Luck!
p.s. DO NOT get the book "what to expect when your expecting" and if someone offers to give it to you you can kindly decline.

Answer 2

I started out naturally with an indued labor which most people freak out about. I will have to admit it was not that bad but they did tire me out and I had back labor where the baby is facing up which causes his spine to run across yours and hurts more than normal. At 4 the pitocin was started and around 10 or 11 I requested an epidural just an hour before I was fully dialated because the pain in my back hurt too much so I think if he had been the right way I could have done it naturally. Tell the nurses you want it naturally but will leave it open for an epidural if the pain gets too bad.

Answer 3

I had an epidural with my first baby. It went perfectly, I got it when I was dilated to a four. not because I was in pain but because they wanted to put in a catheter and i said they could not do it before the epidural, bc I have had a lot of trouble with those in the past. I never felt a thing. they broke my water at a seven and I delivered three hours later, but they had to turn off the epidural it worked so well that I could not feel wether or not i was pushing or just makig noises. She weighed 8lbs 4oz!
With my youngest daughter I tried an epidural, but the anesthesiologist messed up and placed it where it caused stabbing pains in my legs and did not eliminate any pain. It hurt so bad, and he wanted to move it and try again. I said no way he was going near my back again. the nurse suggested an injection in my iv for pain and I took that and asked the guy to leave! i delivered 15 minutes later. Much more quickly without the epidural because I could feel my body working, and could work with it. I have had back problems ever since the screwed up epidural, so I will never do that again. The pain was pretty intense, but as soon as the baby came, you completely forget it, and only have eyes for her (or him). I recovered much more quickly with my youngest and she weighed 10lb 6oz.

Answer 4

If you want to go natural go for it. You can still have an epidural if the pain is to much for you. I went natural for most of my first pregnancy after 30 hours I went to the shot. It still wore off just before so I was able to have him totally natural. The second one I was in no pain. It is really up to you. Try it is all I can say, then if it is too much do something else. Good luck.

Answer 5

With my daughter who is now 13 I went natural. She was a micro premee and there was no time to start one. She was only 1 pound so wasnt much pain. And due to an incompetant cervix I dont feel contractions. My son who is now 8 months old I was put on Pitocin so I could feel the contractions. I went all the way to 9cm without feeling anything the only way even on a max dose of Pitocin I knew I was having a contraction was if the nurse or my husband told me I was having one I would feel like a little "flutter" but nothing major. Then at 9cm I got up to go pee and on my way back to the bed I felt ONE and ONLY ONE contraction it was so bad I felt like I was going to vomit and I almost started to cry. My OB came in and I have no idea how long that contraction lasted but if felt like forever so he ordered my epidural. And after that I was back in heaven. I wont have any more children but if I had to do it all over again, I'd still go with the epidural after feeling that ONE big contraction.

Answer 6

I'm 30 weeks with baby number 6...had the first 3 w/o meds for various reasons...the next 2 I had epidural an what a night and day difference...it was wonderful to be able to rest when I wanted to and have a controlled birth experience...by controlled I mean being able to do what the doc said like when to push and when to stop...I am going to have another epi but it's ultimately your decision. Just make sure your doc knows in advance which way you're thinking of going.

Answer 7

Going natural does not make you a better mother, nor does going with an epidural make you a worse mother.

It's all about what you want. If you're afraid of pain, I suggest getting an epidural. I personally would never go natural. There's no reason to put yourself through that kind of pain if you don't have to.

Answer 8

on no account in my view had an epidural yet have cared for a variety of of ladies human beings who've. a variety of of the flaws women human beings say on listed under are real. The epidural can take the discomfort away, notwithstanding if it has many skill downsides. It impacts the conventional mechanisms of labour that would decelerate labour which in turn can effect in extra interference and an extra suitable threat of asssisted transport and c area.; it additionally softens the tone of the pelvic floor, making it extra tricky to your toddler to rotate into the the terrific option postition for start and lowering the urge to push. this means that notwithstanding you have got a reletively discomfort loose labour you will go through extra afterwards. you're actually not as waiting to circulate approximately which may additionally impression progression. you're actually unable to experience any sensation of wanting to pee maximum of gadgets now positioned a catheter into the bladder which consists of a threat of urine an infection and you will choose an IV in. Having reported all that on the tip of the day that's a private selection yet do make beneficial that this selection is totally counseled.

Answer 9

Epidural is a much better way to go. I have done both and it was alot easier and alot more comfortable to have it that way. Natural is not always the way for me anyways ans i have had 2 natural and 2 epidural my first was natural by choice my last was natural not by choice.

Answer 10

Ive given birth to 3 babies all natural and am pregnant again and will do it natural. Dont want an epidural. Too scary. My friend just had a baby in November. IT was her 3rd baby and she used an epidural for the first time and said she would never do it again. She told me not too either. She said that natural was definitley better.