From those who have experienced both natural birth and with an Epidural?

Question

How was it when you gave birth with no medication? What did it feel like, and how was the experience of it all? And with an Epidural, how was that, and what did that feel like?

Answer 1

I had an epidural with my first and natural with my third.
The epidural stopped all the pain instantly but they waited too long to give it to me. When it came time to push I had difficulty because I could not feel my muscles. There were no odd sensations, just difficulty controlling the pushing. It made my delivery take longer than it should have and I was frustrated. I had been in labor for over a day. I was finally able to relax once the pain was relieved and dilated quickly the rest of the way. If you choose an epidural make sure you get it early enough that it won't interfere with delivery or you could request a pudendal block. It won't numb the abdomen.
Also, the ineffective pushing caused swelling of my urinary tract. They thought I might have to have a catheter because I could not void for almost two days.
The natural birth was intense. I had lamaze though and the breathing, knowing what was happening, and understanding how to relax my body helped make it my best birth experience. I wish they all could have been like that. Once the baby was out, it was like the pain vanished. I was alert and awake and I recovered much quicker than either of the other two (C-section with middle child). I went home sooner and if I could afford another one I would love to experience it again.

Answer 2

never personally had an epidural but have cared for lots of women who have. Most of the things women say on here are true. The epidural can take the pain away, however it has many potential downsides. It affects the normal mechanisms of labour which may slow down labour which in turn can result in more interference and an increased risk of asssisted delivery and c section.; it also softens the tone of the pelvic floor, making it more difficult for your baby to rotate into the correct postition for birth and decreasing the urge to push. This means that although you will have a reletively pain free labour you will suffer more afterwards. You are not as able to move about which can also affect progress. You are unable to feel any sensation of needing to pee so many units now put a catheter into the bladder which carries a risk of urine infection and you will need an IV in. Having said all that at the end of the day it is a personal choice but do make sure that this choice is fully informed.

Answer 3

It depends on the pain level and the hours of labor. I intended on a natural birth with my first. After 20+ hours of labor, I received an epidural. The actual injection was painful but then it was blissful. It was very nearly painless from that point on, or until the expulsion of the afterbirth.

With my second, I planned on an epidural right away, but the labor was so fast that I ended up delivering without one. I don't remember horrible pain in the labor...it was more "intense". I was furious at the doctor who was laughing and telling me I wasn't trying hard enough. (He was kidding...but I was pissed.) The only real pain I remember was the stitches afterwards. I don't handle locals very well. I had a shower afterwards and was walking around. I went home within 6 hours and felt better than I did after 3 days the first time around.

Answer 4

My first was natural (except one dose of Stadol via IV because I had bad "back labor") and it hurt like hell. The second was an induction and I got the epidural because I was so stinking tired from laboring for 18 hours at that point, I knew I needed sleep. When it came to the main event (pushing the baby out), they were the same. It burned and hurt and felt like I was being ripped from the inside out. They purposely back off the epidural in the end so you have the sensation to push. This is really a personal decision. Good luck to you.

Answer 5

I was scared that I might not be able to deal with the pain, so I requested the epidural when I was 5 cm dialated. The only time that I felt pain was when the doctor injected the needle. After a couple minutes, you don't feel anything at all. I was glad that I got it. It made everything seem so easy. If you can handle pain, then don't take it. However, you'll most likely feel pain after the baby comes out. Your bottom will feel a "sting" feeling everytime you open it up to go to the bathroom.

Answer 6

Epidurals can help some women relax enough to do the work that labor requires...sometimes it can cause a stall in labor. Every woman is different.

I had an epi after about 26 hours of laboring without....I was able to sleep and get more energy. Unfortunately I ended up having a C section after 32 hours of laboring. The epi didnt stall my labor, but my son was transverse for a while, which caused his heart rate to skyrocket.

An epi was bad for me only in the respect that I couldnt get up and move around. If I was able to move, he might have gotten out of the transverse position and I could have finished laboring with him.

Some hospitals offer a walking epidural, which doesnt numb your legs, so yo can continue to move around..which always helps the labor process.

My labor pains were not bad at all until my doctor broke my water. If I were able to continue laboring with my water in tact, I could have finished without an epidural. Also the use of pitocin made the contractions unbearable at that point.

Most doctor interventions cause some sort of discomfort and can increase the need for emergency c sections due to stalling labor, no progression issues or heart decell/acell problems in the baby.

If you can avoid the doctors intervention...I say do it naturally if you can. Educate yourself on labor and its stages and dont be in such a hurry to have a doctor do something to make it quicker.

The epi definitely made my life easier in regards to pain. I could still feel the urge to push and the tightening, but not the intense pain of the contractions.

Answer 7

I began out obviously with an indued exertions which such a lot folks freak out approximately. I will have got to admit it used to be now not that unhealthy however they did tire me out and I had again exertions wherein the little one is dealing with up which factors his backbone to run throughout yours and hurts greater than traditional. At four the pitocin used to be began and round 10 or eleven I asked an epidural simply an hour earlier than I used to be totally dialated when you consider that the agony in my again harm an excessive amount of so I consider if he were the proper means I would have performed it obviously. Tell the nurses you desire it obviously however will go away it open for an epidural if the agony will get too unhealthy.

Answer 8

My first birth, I had an epidural which I believe led to my c-section. The pain relief was great but I obviously was immobile, and my baby couldn't get into a correct position for birth.

My second birth was a natural vbac and it was fantastic. The pain was there, it was intense, but it was wonderful to be REALLY present for the birth of my son. I was happy to be an active participant rather than a "patient."

I would take 10 labors without an epidural rather than increase my risk of a c-section again

Answer 9

I had an epidural, but not 'til after 24 hours of labor. The contractions felt like intestional crapme from my knees to my chest. It was kind of like a burning sensation all over.

It hurt SOOOO bad i would have let them stick the needle in my eye, as long as they made the pain go away.

After about an hour of pushing they turned it off so I could pushbetter (so they say). Now in my situation, I almost died. I reccomend getting it so if something sould happen there's no delay in treatment because of anestesia.

Answer 10

well, i have only had one child so far but iwll tell whta i have heard and experienced. i have an epidural but let it wear off at the end because it was slowing down my labor, i had no problems once it wore off. i will not have one next time. my mother had five children the first four were all natural and the las one she wanted to see what an epidural was like and she ended up having more compications from it. it ook longer and it was harder to push as you don't feel as much ( obviously). if you are ntoa good pain tolerator then i would seuggest it, but if youa re the type of person who waits as long as possible to go to the doc then you might be able to do without it