I am contemplating a natural birth with no epidural can anyone tell me their story?

Question

I have had two children both with epidurals, first epidural great experience, second epidural i am not sure if my anesthesiologist was no good or what but i felt pain in the same area for months after birth and it hurt very bad when she gave it to me and i had great labors with both but would love to try no medication, can somebody give me their inspirational story, has anyone experienced both? thank you all

Answer 1

I have had 3 wonderful children - all without epidurals. I tried to do each delivery entirely without pain meds, but that did not happen. With each delivery I took one shot of pain medicine (nubane ?), and we make fairly large babies (#1 boy, 8lbs 13 oz, #2 girl, 8lbs 3 oz, #3 boy, 8lbs 13 oz).

Yes hard labor hurts, but once the baby is born the hurt is forgotten quickly. And with each delivery it was easier than the last. Your body learns and remembered what needs to be done. With #2 and #3 I was more relaxed because I knew what to expect. Not knowing was terrible for me. Also with each of mine, the delivery times were reduced. This usually is the case, but not always.

After each baby was born I was up and in the shower anywhere from 1/2 hour to 1 hour after delivery. To be mobile meant a lot to me.

PLEASE do not force yourself into anything. If you are hurting talk to the nurses about your options, they are a wealth of information. You may want to talk to your doctors before labor about your last epidural experience and how you do not want that repeated.

Congratulations - you'll do great!

Answer 2

I haven't had an epidural, but I had a spinal with my surgical birth. I had a headache for 3 days after and it was the worst pain I ever felt. My other 3 births I had no drugs whatsoever and it was just fine. Everyone makes such a big deal out of childbirth being so painful and excruciating when it doesn't have to be that way. Fear, being tense and interventions make contractions worse, therefore causing more pain. If you can learn to relax and be somewhere where you feel SAFE, your experience won't be so bad. Plus, it doesn't last forever. With each surge I would repeat in my head that it'll end soon. It'll be over in a few seconds. And that helped a lot. Also, epidurals and other drugs do pass to the baby (yeah, they say they don't, they lie). Babies born with drugs in their system are slower to start, harder to get latched on because they are sleepy and tend to run low grade fevers a couple of days after birth which causes panic in the hospital staff. It can also lead to other interventions for mom because she can't move around if she needs to get baby into a better position, is trapped in the bed making labor ineffective and it makes pushing ineffective because mom can't feel anything. Look into either Hypnobirthing or the Bradely Method of childbirth. I have heard great reviews about both.

Answer 3

I have two children my first was natural but not by choice everything happened so quickly that there was no time for it it was a nice experience but i was only in labor 2 hours from the time my water broke and the contractions started it is painful but once the baby is in the world you feel nothing but you do get over it with my second i was induced because of my rapid delivery with the first but with this baby i had an epidural because i was afraid to be in labor a long time but was only in labor 1 hour so if could do it over again i would not have had the epidural hope it helped a little for you

Answer 4

Yes I have...With my first child I got an epidural and I felt no pain but with my second child I did get an epidural and It did not work and I felt all the pain and it was the worst pain I ever felt. But I have spoken to several ladies that have had more than 3 children and have said that after their 2nd child the rest of the children were very easy births and they did not get an epidural. My mother being one of them, having all 6 of her children natural with no epidural. I guess it depends on the person. I would go for it with no epidural and experience a natural child birth. That's what we are made for!

Answer 5

I tried doing the all natural no drug method, I was fine for the first 7 hours of labor and then the hard labor started and it was more than I could bear so I got the epidural. That was the best decision I made and I would never wait that long before getting it again. That is the worst pain I have ever gone through. I guess it depends on how good the anesthesiolodist is because the one that did mine was great because I didn't have any effects from it.

Answer 6

I had 2 children all natural, and 2 with epidurals. The first epidural was great, the second one it took 4 tries before he got it in. The only side effect I had was lower back pain and swollen feet for like 3 weeks after birth. But believe me the pain and side effects was worth it, it beats no epidural at all hands down. I'm 30 weeks now and have every intention of getting another epidural. I don't know what I was thinking having natural childbirth. There is no comparison. Just get the EPIDURAL
Good luck

Answer 7

I had first 3 with no pain meds for various reasons...then discovered the wonderful world of epidurals. The labors went quicker (Iwas able to relax and not fight the contractions, the birth itself was more controlled as I as able to not push when told not to...All of the first 3 I experienced either episiotomies or tearing and with the epi's I had none of that). If you want to try without go for it but keep your options open and don't ever feel like a failure if you try it natural and need the epi. The end result ( a beautiful healthy baby) is ALL that matters.

I already have it on record for myself though that I WILL have an epi again for this one...

Answer 8

I had all three of my children with no drugs. The important thing to remember is that the pain is just your body telling you what to do. It wil not be comfortable and is the hardest work you will ever do (hence the name labor) but if it really hurts you should try a new position. Flat on the back is rarely ever good. Get a doula or use a midwife :) Or you could do what I did and just read all you can so there are no surprises. I had 3 wonderful births, it is very possible and is all in the mind set.

Answer 9

I had an epidural with my daughter. It hurt alot and messed up my back. I have had back spasms for ten years and I was only numb on one half of my body. I had two boys natural. It hurt but its an intermitten pain. It hurts but is worth it when you see the baby. I had less postpartum bleeding without the epidural, no catheter without the epidural, and I did not have to be wheeled about after giving birth. I would definately suggest trying it without the epidural.

Answer 10

my mother had me with an epidural, my sister without (she had complications) and she says "Get the epidural!" but i am a natural childbirth freak. i had a "fast labor" with my first daughter, so things were progressing so quickly i barely had time to re-think my initial decision to not use medication. from first contraction to her birth was about 3 hours. i only pushed 5 or 10 minutes. crazy! so for this baby, i definitely want to go natural again. yes it hurts awfully, and i SWORE i would never do it again, but as SOON as the baby is out, you feel NO PAIN! and you can walk around, no grogginess, no side effects, nothing. i am reading all i can to be prepared to relax through the pain...good luck! check out this great site: http://www.birthingnaturally.net/cnhome.html