How do you feel about natural births without any pain relief?

Question

Many of my friends have given birth without pain relief and say it is the way to go. I had an epidural the first time but am thinking about trying all natural this time. What are your exeriences with natural birth ?

Answer 1

I had an epideral when I was dialated at 7. It depends on the person's pain tolerance. There is alot of burning and alot of pain I won't lie. I would suggest that you find out if your doctor allows it when youre fully dialated (mine does it others dont). Go in attempting natural but know that if you need it it's always an option. #1 thing to remember is to try to relax and don't fight it. I would not reccomend the IV it caused me more pain than relief. Enjoy it because it is alot of pain but it is the best moment of your life!
P.S. If you get the epiderral (maybe natural too I dont know) you will be very cold and shaky afterwards, don't worry it's natural. No one told me so I just thought I'd give you that info because it scared me but I didnt want to say anything because they were tending to the baby.

Answer 2

I had a natural birth with no pain relief with my first son. I wanted something for pain, but the doctor didn't get to the hospital until the baby's head was coming out. They said they couldn't give me anything until he got there. So, I didn't have a choice. It was extremely painful and I wasn't sure I wanted another baby because it was pretty bad. 6 years later I had another baby and I had stadol(not sure of spelling of that) and an epidural. It was a much better experience. I was able to fully concentrate on pushing instead of dealing with mind-numbing pain. It really is a personal decision. Some women seem to think that they haven't experienced childbirth unless it's natural. Personally, I don't think women should feel as if they have to prove something by going natural. I wish I had something with my first child. Good luck to you and don't beat yourself up if you choose pain relief.

Answer 3

For me it is essential to be able to feel everything that is going on when I am in labour, I have had 4 natural births with no pain relief, 1 labour with pethedine. 4 of my labours were relatively quick, so although the pain is intense it is over and done with quite quickly.
My first labour I had pethedine and it didn't really help the pain but made me terribly drowsy and unable to really participate fully. It was an all round terrible experience which is maybe why I prefer to be unmedicated.
I have extreme faith in my ability to birth a baby, which I think takes away a lot of the pain as pain is intensified by fear. If you have a good competent midwife, the support of your birthing partner, the freedom to move into whichever position you feel comfortable in, and the ability to tell the midwife what you do and don't want, then go for it.

Answer 4

i think that you do whatever feels like the right thing for you :) i've had three, all different...

the first was a really difficult labour that wasn't progressing properly. even though i had sworn i wouldn't, i ended up having an epidural, cos i was exhausted. i didn't like AT ALL :( i felt as though i had given over control of my body to the medics - i couldn't feel when to push or anything, and was reliant on them to tell me. i felt completely disconnected and it was all somehow surreal. but i think i would still be there now if i hadn't lol
the second i used a TENS machine for most of the labour, and then had some gas and air at the ready for the *really* painful bits.
the last i had at home with no pain relief. i had done a lot of work on relaxation and meditation techniques that helped a lot, allowing me to sink into the pain rather than fight it. what no-one had told me, though, was that expelling the placenta is really painful, kind of worse than the baby, because there's not that drive/incentive of seeing him/her. altogether, it was THE most incredible experience of my life, and i am so glad that i was able to do it. (not sure that i could do it again though lol)

you never know how your labour is going to go and how you are going to deal with it... no-one can really prepare you for what it is like, and every labour is different. you can make plans and decisions about it with the best of intentions, but until it is actually happening they are all just theory.
i'd say 'go for it', but don't let yourself think that you will have *failed* if you take some pain relief.

btw,
i *hate* the term "natural birth" for birth without pain-relief... as though there is something unnatural about wanting to be without pain... i bet you that our ancestors chewed whatever leaves/bark they could lay their hands on... ;)

Answer 5

well epidural is better why to suffer the pain when you can do something about it . I used to say like them but after I tried the epidural ...it was great , I had my best friend with me , at the beginning there was no epidural and when the pain started to accelerate I couldn't take it, I told the doctor whether you give me epidural or there are no delivery today, I will quit, so I had it , in the middle of every thing I forgot that I am having the baby, even the doctor enjoyed our jokes..

any way if you want to try the natural feeling go ahead but tell your doctor you might need it , so he can arrange every thing for you . you will know as soon as you get your contractions if you can handle it or not. good luck.

Answer 6

Every person and every pregnancy is different. I have had 3. First 2 in hospital with pethidine and gas & air the 3rd at home. The last labour was all natural as she was born in under 40 mins and the midwife arrived 10 mins later. I was more worried about holding on to her than the fact I didnt have any pain relief.

Answer 7

hi there, i had no pain relief with my son, i didnt have no time to coz it was a quick and easy birth, i think it the best way to give birth is without no pain relief. what did they did do in the olden days? they had no pain relief, i would give it a try yes it will hurt but you wont care you will just want to get it over and done with, and if its to much to can always have some pain relief. at the end of the day at least you tried go on give it ago, hope this has helped x

Answer 8

with my first i had a c section but i was determined to have a natural with my second, i also wanted not to have any pain relief as having a c section i had an epidural so didnt want it the second time. I think for me (im a wus) that i did very well with just gas and air throughout my whole labour i wanted to do without but really couldnt but i was still proud of myself after, good luck

Answer 9

I had my first 3 w/o pain meds for various reasons...and then with the fourth I wouldn't progress at all even with strong contractions so i requested an epidural and I fell in love...so I had one with the next one and will have one with this one too...I would never tell anyone not to try it naturally, but to go into it with an open mind, and that way you can change your mind and not feel disappointed if you choose the epi anyway. Even if you progress too far before you ask for the epi, it's so close to being over at that point that you will be ok. I do like the epi myself, the first two natural births I had to have an spisiotomy, the third I tore, but the next two I had neither cutting or tearing...the epi made for a more controlled birth as I was able to push/not push when told to and since I was in no pain was able to take my time...With the natural births I was in a hurry to get it over with and get the pain gone LOL. Try it and change your mind for an epi if you need or would like to...

Answer 10

Well that is what I am hoping for this time.
Last time I had a pethedine shot and it was horrible. I had an epidural as well after the birth so they could stitch me up and I did not enjoy that at all, especially not being able to move for hours afterwards and having a catheter