I don't want an epidural?

Question

I'm 25 weeks & I've begun daily moderate exercise. Do u think this will increase my pain tolerance and strengthen me so I won't need an epidural?

Answer 1

Being fit will be helpful all the way around! However, there are a few things you can do to have a birth without an epidural. First of all, be fully committed to natural birth. That is the first & most important key!
Then, educate yourself - know exactly WHY pain meds are not a choice for you in your delivery. There are are other narcotics that they can give you that will have more of an effect on your baby than an epidural! Read up my freind, read up!

I delivered 2 babies who each weighed over 9 lbs without so much as an asprin. I had an amazing team to support me! And, its important to know that of all the women I know who have delivered babies naturally - all of us ask for pain relief, or wanted it at the least.
There is no way to describe the pain invloved in birth and the ONLY way to do it without pain meds is to be 100% FULLY COMMITTED. And, Educated.

Answer 2

Probablely not. But if you don't want an epidural, don't get one. I've had 3 children perfectly well without an epidural and I don't intend to get one his time either! The narcotics are a nice option. They leave you and the baby less groggy. My personal favorite was the demoral (sp?). They don't so much make the pain go away, as they make you just not care that you are in pain. It's kind of hard to describe. Also, with my last labor I sort of stumbled onto a new "pain management strategy." Thanks in part to an agonizing toothache I had during that pregnancy. I noticed that the more I tried to fight the pain and the more I jerked my head and such the worse the pain would get. BUT if I was calm and just let the pain run its course the pain went away faster and didn't hurt as much. I used this new found "knowledge" during my last labor and it went excedingly well. Instead of crying out in pain, or accusing my poor husband of being all things evil (as I had durin previous labors) I simply told him I loved him and squeezed his hand during my contractions. Something I was doing must have been right, it only took me 3 pushes and about 5 minutes when it came time to push, I also had less pain medication that time. I hope this helps :)

Answer 3

I'm not totally sure exercise will increase your pain tolerance. But I just wanted to say - Don't feel like you HAVE to have an epidural. I never got one, and I got through labor just fine. This modern world wants you to believe you need an epidural because that's more money for the doctors. But no pain meds at all are necessary. You need to work on your breathing. The hardest part is remembering to breath. It sounds silly, but it's true.

Answer 4

It won't increase your pain tolerance but it will increase your stamina to handle labor. You should also talk to you dr before beginning any excersize when you are pregnant.

Labor is going to hurt, but it can be done without an epidural if you want. THe biggest and most important thing is to not think of yourself as a failure if you do end up asking for pain medication.

Congrats and good luck!

Answer 5

Even if you do have an epidural, they are not gaurenteed to work. My friend just had a baby 3 months ago and she ended up getting it, and it didn't even work. It effectively paralised her but she could still fully feel the pain.
With any birth it is all up to you what you want to have for the pain, but I'm with you, I am not going to have an epidural. There are alot of complecations associated with the epidural, for example - it might not work properly, it could slow your labour to the point that you have to be given more drugs to get it going again, you could end up with continuous back pain. But there are also good things - it can allow you to get some rest, and hopefully make labour pain free.
Good Luck...

Answer 6

I will have yours then just in case mine doesnt work - i am not good with pain..........just kidding.

I am 36 weeks and still walking about 4-5km at least 4 or 5 times a week - am hoping that it helps with something. The good thing about keeping up exercise is that you dont put on weight that isnt baby and for me (even though it is summer here in Australia) may be the reason i have yet to have swelling of feet etc

Good luck

Answer 7

no, exercise is not going to increase your pain tolerance. i'm really good with pain, dilated to 8 by myself, and i still got an epidural. it's always a good plan to go into the birth not wanting one, but knowing that you can have one if you want it.

Answer 8

Exercising wont increase your tolerance to pain. If you are naturally tolerant to pain then you can try it without an epidural. But remember the pain of labor can be excruciatingly pain full and unlike any other pain you might have experienced yet.
If you ask me, i would go for the epidura.

Answer 9

Excersice is always a good idea, but try having a lot of sex as well during the last mo. or so, the sperm has something in it that helps thin out the uterus, and helps loosen you up a bit as well for an easy delivery, all in all i still think it depends on how well you can tolerate pain!

Answer 10

You should really try practicing some breathing exercises or join a lamaze class. My mom had 3 children natural without any drugs and said that you can learn to redirict the pain just through breathing.