Labor and no drugs?

Question

Ok... I am fiiine with needles, and pretty good with pain, but I have severe panic attacks and I am scared of not breathing or dying (not really sure, cant pin-point it) but I know that anything that will make me go numb in anypart of my body will start to freak me out and send me into a panic attack for sure. And I think it will be gratifying to go "o' natural' sooo...... HOW BAD IS IT??? I am ok with pain, usually, but is it going to be unbarable with a normal (no complications) birth? Is there anything comparable to it?

Answer 1

You can do it!! If it was unbearable women then before drugs women would have only had one child. :)
Mine was like really, really -really- bad menstrual cramps. But luckily, you get to rest a bit in between contractions and when doing it naturally you have no numbness or grogginess and can feel yourself pushing so it actually moves along quicker. The pain killers have been proven to slow down labor. I am certainly not knocking anyone who takes them, but if you want to go natural trust me, you can do it. We live in a society that is so quick to medicate. Trust your body, childbirth is something that women have been doing forever and it is completely manageable. Besides you know the pain will be over soon and that your reward will be a healthy baby!
Just practice relaxation techniques (I talked to my deceased grandparents) and PUSH THROUGH THE PAIN when it is time to push, don't wimp out because the more you push the sooner it is over!

ps -After I had my son (drug-free) they gave me pitocin to help with the placenta and it made me shaky and feel sick. I am so glad I chose to feel the contractions instead. Some women would rather have the drugs and that is fine, but I totally understand your view and fear of unnatural chemicals in your body. You know yourself best, you will make the right choice and either way will be fine. Good luck!

Answer 2

wow... you sound excited about this!!! And you should be!lol

Every woman and each birth is different. You could have 12 babies and the last one will hurt the most... go figure!? Anyways all anyone on here is going to be able to tell you is from there own experiences and we will all be different. Yours is no exception.

I have had 2 children, first one with no pain meds and my second one I had to have an epidural. If you want to try to have a natural birth my honest opinion is that it has everything to do with your coach and your plan.(for me) The coach should be a woman because a man will never know or be able to understand what you are going through. They may have the best intentions but in the middle of everything it was the only thing I kept telling him.
I have coached a few births and none of the ladies had any sort of pain meds.
Go to Lamaze or some other type of child birth class with your coach and baby's father. Learning what is happining to you or the baby will make the experience less scary for you! And this may help keep you calm.
The pain is like your insides are being ripped out and you have no control. But your body also makes hormones to help you forget about the pain. Right after you have your baby it will be hard for you to recall exactly what it felt like. And this is a good thing!!!
Good luck with everything hon!!!

Answer 3

I have panic attacks to, and never even thought I'd have one during labour. I decided to not use drugs just because I think its better not to. I was forced (by my Mum) to use the gas ( it helped calm me sooooooo much) during contractions because I am a major drama queeen and was screaming the birthing centre down. Screaming was the only thing I could do to relieve the pain.
Yes it does hurt and you cant compare it to anything, I was actually alright, I had baths, showers and went in the pool. Those things helped alot.
After 9 hours of labour I decided I wanted an epidural, I was taken to the hospital and being prepared for it. Then I totally freaked out as they told me to sit still, and warned me I could become paralysed. I yelled at the dude not to come near me. There was no way I would've been able to sit still and once I saw how big the needle was I just lost it espeacially as it goes into your spine!!! I hate needles so it was all too much for me.
But that is when my little girl decided to arrive, so I think it scared her so much she thought I better come out now before Mum goes crazy!!! lol
I think the only reason I decided on the epi was because I was just tired and crabby and wanted it all over and done with. It felt like I was in labour forever, but apparently 9 hours isnt very long. And the thing that hurt the most for me was when the midwife broke my waters, it was the only time I swore during the whole thing. And I spent hours apologising for it.
With my second I was more prepared for how things would go and took the gas once the pain was really bad, it helped me breathe through the contractions . Using the gas to breathe was great for me and although it doesnt take the pain away it calms you down and you can relax a little bit.
My second daughter actually came out while I was falling asleep!!!

So they are my little stories. I'm sure you will be fine and just remember that if you need the drugs once you are in labour, it's alright. I really dont think you can manage to have a panic attack whilst in labour, you will be to busy dealing with the pain for your mind to trick you into having an attack.

Just make sure you tell the nurses and Dr's about your fears before labour, so they are prepared to help you with your fears.
Good Luck and all the best with labour. I wish you a quick and painless labour and a healthy little baby.

Answer 4

I had pethidine with my first but it was hopeless all it did was make me sick. I then went with out any relief not even gas on the second birth and it was the easiest one of all. I had one puff on the gas for my third birth and It was horrible so I opted for nothing again it was a long and tiring experience. I go in with an open mind that I will wait and see how I am coping and see what I want when the pain hits. As you have been told before every birth is different and I found the first the scariest because you really don't know what it all feels like. I won't have a epidural Because of all the stories you hear and a lady who gave birth the same time as i had my first was in so much pain after the birth ( her back hurt so bad) I thought wow all my pain is over with and she was still suffering for days after. So good luck ! It will hurt but it is sooooo worth it in the end.....

Answer 5

I felt the same way about an epidural. I was much more terrified of having a giant needle in my spine than whatever pain labor brought.
And you know what? Labor wasn't bad at all. I was very well prepared, had a couple helpful people with me the entire time and just enjoyed it. I was cracking jokes with the doctor when the baby was crowning. The only time I screamed, or really made much noise at all, except to talk or breathe, was during my last push -- and it was a shriek of pure joy!
It's pretty uncomfortable, obviously, but the pain is manageable if you know what to expect.
Good luck!

Answer 6

YOU WILL SURVIVE!!! Sounds like you're having a panic attack right now just thinking about it! :o)

You do not necessarily NEED an epidural. They will still administer paid medication.....no need to be superwoman either. I was unable to have an epidural due to a low platelet count and here I am several years later answering your question. I lived! In fact, I can't really recall at this point how painful it all really was......which is God's wonderful gift to us mothers. I'm not going to tell you that it was a day at the beach because I do remember that it wasn't all peachy. I got sick on the pain med they gave me and vomited several times during labor and after delivery. But I can tell you this for certain, the moment they put baby in your arms you instantly feel love like NO other and your pain seems to vanish at once.

Good luck with baby and pregnancy. A happy, epidural free, delivery to you!! You can do it!!!!

Answer 7

For 20 years i have suffered from panic attacks. So severe I even was on SSI.

Even though mine is not your attacks i can understand what fear is. And uncontrolable fear.

With mine i must be in controll of my surroundings or i can have a panic attack. I will tell you also i had a epi with my 3rd. i felt completely in control. My legs did not feel dead. And i felt i could leave because there was a wheel chair in the room. Lol funny I know but i sure looked at it before they did it....just in case. Anyway like i said i had no fear after I got my epi. In fact being my third i was more in control because i felt loopy with pain meds I had with the others.

Just remember you can talk to them about not having a full dose. they can decrease and increase your meds.

If you do not want any meds that is wonderful. Just practice your breathing.

The contractions sometimes is not what causes the worst pain. It is the fear of not having controll of what is around you. And not understanding the things that they do to you while in labor. So the stress and the contractions feel worse. Many women tell me it was very stressing not knowing they were going to have them hooked up for so long to the fetal monitor or being restricted to bed. So just be prepared and read as much as you can about what will be in the room with you and find out what your doctor plans to hook you up to and for how long.

Answer 8

Don't be a fool!! Get the epidural!!!! I also have very bad panic attacks and suffer from severe anxiety and depression, but screw that natural child birth crap!! My baby is due in early May and I will have an epidural! Don't get me wrong I can take pain, I've always been a pretty tough girl, I like getting tattoos and piercings, that pain is nothing. However, I get menstrual cramps so bad I can't handle it and if I don't have something for it, its a b#tch! So I'm the type of person that can't deal with the uncomfortable/awkward pain..so please at least consider the epidural, be smart!

Answer 9

I cant really compare it to anything..sorry. But I had both of my kids naturally. The first one was a very very very long labor and 4 hours of pushing to follow all of that. I remember they gave me a shot of stadol (that does NOTHING) and it only lasted a few minutes. It was pretty hard, but the pushing hurt the worst. With my second child, my contractions were much worse but my entire labor and pushing was only 4 hrs total and the pushing wasn't bad. Everyone is different and you know yourself better than anyone. If you have strong mind power, you can definitely do it! Women are born with stronger pain threshold for a reason! If you have someone there with you for support, you can do it! Congrats to you and good luck. (oh and i have bad panic attacks too, but I'm goin for the epidural this time lol)

Answer 10

I was scared to get an epidural due to a bad experience with a botched spinal tap. And I am glad to say that it was FINE!! Both times.. no drugs.. your body will produce endorphins which will help you cope and be sort of goofy when the pain is at its peak.
There is nothing like it. But if you are female and claim to be able to handle pain... you will be fine. I also have anxiety problems and would recommend you NOT worry about the pain or an epidural. You need to do whatever it takes to help you relax into your own "world" when you are in labor.
Remember women did it for millions of years without drugs... you can too.