epidural or not?

Question

I had an epidural with my first two babies and everything went fine. I have always wanted to go "natural" at least once.But I don't take pain very well. Could someone please tell me some of the ups and downs of not having one. Thanks

Answer 1

I had an epidural with my first two kids, and went natural the third time. It really depends on your pain threshold and the length of labor. With my first two kids, they were both transverse lies, and therefore I had extremely long labors, and there was no way I could've lasted that long without some pain relief. My third, I was only in hard labor an hour, and while the pain was excrutiating, it happened so fast I could tolerate it (well, I did scream alot but got through it, lol!)

Soooo - in my opinion from my experience, the only "pro" of having an epidural is no pain during labor (a pretty big pro!). But I will say, not having the epidural, my labor was much shorter (epidurals always slowed my labors as well) - and I felt FANTASTIC after giving birth naturally. I had no numbness, so I could get up and walk around, go to the bathroom, etc.

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

I gave birth natural and I had the epidural. I'm a chicken when it comes to pain and don't take it well either. At first I was really scared but when they gave me the epidural I didn't hurt as much. To be honest with you I didn't feel a lot of pain just a few contractions here and there. I thought it was going to be so hard to push and to be honest it was easier than I imagined. So many people told me that I would die from the pain and it wasn't even half as bad. Anyway it's not as bad as most women make it seem every person is different and takes pain differently. Mine was very easy and I was only in labor for 6 hours. But good luck to you and you make the best decision for you. Congrats on the baby too. Hope I helped.

Answer 3

Well, I went natural with both of my boys but regretingly had an epidural with my last baby....my daughter. I had severe back pain for almost 7 months at the site of the epidural which was a side effect nobody ever discussed with me. I too cant handle pain but I found that once I was in labor with both of my boys the pain became more tolerable as it went on due to breathing techniques, focusing etc. It really did help me through it. If I could do it all over again I would have had my daughter naturally too. The joy of seeing your healthy babies beautiful face is reward enough to go natural but not everyone is the same. Good luck & Conrgats!!!

Answer 4

If you don't deal well with pain and you have had 2 epidurals before without problems....why go through it without it?? Where I work, even women with a STRONG pain tolerance end up getting epidurals all of the time. If your labor is very fast, then maybe you can tolerate it. But if you can't, don't beat yourself up about it because you ask for another epidural. You can still breastfeed immediately after if you choose, and your up and walking within a few hours after delivery. Since this is your third baby, it will probably go faster than your other labors, so if you can muster up some will power and can manage your pain with other pain medications, then go for it. Just remember that the other pain med, like in your IV, WILL NOT take the pain away like an epidural. They just make most people sleepy. Obviously, I'm an advocate for an epidural, i don't like to hurt, and I don't like to see other people hurt. But, you are the one making the decision, don't let someone else make it for you.

Answer 5

I'll give you a quick overview, but then check out the website below for a confirmation of what I have said.

Basically, for most women, the only advantage of an epidural is pain relief for the mother. In some cases, the epidural will help labor along for someone whose exhuastion is stalling their labor, or who is fighting against labor because of anxiety or stress, but this isn't typical. Actually, epidurals frequently stall or interfere with labor because they force you to be confined in one spot (since you are numb from the waist down) and this is not beneficial to bringing the baby down into the pelvis and helping your pelvis to expand and let the baby through. It's best to be able to walk around and get in any position that you want. Also because they impair your ability to move around, epidurals also are very likely to lead to interventions such as forcepts/vacuum delivery, episiotomies, and c-sections. Your body does not want to be laying down in a bed when you push your baby out - this is pretty much the worst position for birth. So, a lot of babies get stuck and need help in one of the various ways just mentioned. Also, epidurals are made from narcotics and chemicals. These things DO pass on to your baby, despite what the medical world wants you to believe. Babies born to women who have had epidurals are less alert at birth and may have trouble breastfeeding for several weeks. Epidurals also come with the risk of spinal fluid leakage, which causes very, very severe headaches.

Most women opt for epidurals not knowing anything about the risks and disadvantages, because doctors unfortunately do not volunteer this info (I don't know what happened to informed consent...). I commend you for thinking about this decision and encourage you to really ask yourself if the benefit of reducing your pain outweighs all of the risks and downsides. Remember, women have been having babies with no drugs since time began - I'm sure many of them had a pain tolerance even lower than yours.

Good luck.

http://www.americanpregnancy.org/labornbirth/epidural.html

Answer 6

I did not have an epidural with my son and I would do it again in a heartbeat! I took lamaze classes and my husband at the time, did all the breathing exercises with me during labor. I was able to walk around and breast feed right after delivery. You should try it. If you find you absolutely cannot tolerate the pain, then get pain meds. But there are alternate pain meds other than an epidural. You just have to ask for them. Good luck!

Answer 7

I've had 2 natural births. I was too afraid of the epidural. I've heard when you go natural its quicker. Something that helps is if your hospital has bathtubs, ask if you can get into a hot tub. It really relaxes you and the contractions don't hurt as much. I stayed in as long as possible with both my kids. I plan to go natural with this baby as well. I guess when you leave well enough alone the body does exactly whats its supposed to.

Answer 8

If you cant take pain, you better take the epidural. I know that once you get so far into the labor, there no turning back to get the epidural because it can harm the baby. So, make sure its what you really want. It doesnt make you any less of a woman if you have one. ** Just tell everyone you did it all natural :).

Answer 9

The best thing to do, which you have probabily heard from your doctor, is to have a well planned out birth plan ahead of time.
Discuss this with your doctor and your birth partner. Make sure they understand your wishes. Then they need to be as supportive as possible when it comes time.

You could hire a doula, someone who is with you every step of the way in the hospital. They are experianced in helping a women cope with the labors of birth, something your partner may not be able to understand or fully help you with.

You could also try a birthing center. They are excellent in providing non medicated births, and have a wide range of equipment ment to help delivering mothers.

If all else fails, get the epideral. Just make sure that towards the end of dilating, to cut it off. That way you will be better able to feel the birth of your child and still have rested during much of the dilation phase of childbirth.

Hope this helps.

Good luck and God bless!

Answer 10

Um with mine they made my fiance (now husband) depart the room. And I needed to hug a nurse that I did not understand for alleviation. I wasn't too pleased approximately it. But oh good. Anyways through that factor I used to be in SOO a lot to particularly consider them placing the epidural in.But after supply which used to be at 12:24 they stated they might be in in a while to take away the catheter from my again. Well they did not come till approximately 6 within the morning. It used to be particularly uncomfortable. And after they took it out it harm worse, or I spotted the agony extra considering that I wasnt in hard work anymore =D I suppose the enormous tape that's in your again is what harm whilst getting it eliminated. Overall it used to be exceptional regardless that. I obtained my epidural at 6 cm's I think, and forty five mins after that (which that entire time I used to be competent to nap) I used to be nine one million/two and nearly in a position to supply. I don't forget my hubby calling my mothers and fathers, who had simply left for McDonalds, to hurry again in any other case they have been going to overlook supply! It gave the impression adore it helped pace alongside my hard work, however it should have simply been accident!