What was your experience?

Question

I am due any day now with my first. I optimally don't want any pain medication, esp. an epidural, however I know that may not be realistic and before I know I may end up screaming EPIDURAL! lol...

My question is, if you've had a baby vaginally what, if any, medication(s) did you use and what were the positives/negatives you experienced? I've read about narcotics causing the baby to be kind of out of it, making it harder to initiate breastfeeding when it is best, which I am hoping to do.

Also, if you have experience with being induced with pitocin vs. only breaking of water...

Any input, suggestions, and personal experiences are appreciated. Please try to refrain from anything horrific that might make me more nervous than I already am!

Thanks so much!

Answer 1

I had my first baby vaginally with nothing for pain. Believe me, it wasn't the easiest thing in the world to do, but I lived through it.

A few tips. When your contractions start, get up and walk. Sit up in the chair. Alternate between the two. Don't go to the hospital the minute your contractions start, especially since it's your first baby. The only thing you do when you do that is increase your chance of having a C-section. When your contractions are about 5 minutes apart, head for the hospital. Go sooner if your water breaks. When you get there, expect the nurses to start an IV. Ask them if it's ok to make the IV a heplock instead....that way you'll be able to get up and move around. They will have to put the fetal monitor on your baby for a while, just to make sure you're both ok. Once all that is done, you can continue to walk, sit in the rocking chair, get in the bath tub, whatever you need to do to progress your labor.

The more you are in an upright position, the faster labor will progress. The more you lay down flat on your back in the bed, the slower it will go. Remember to breathe through any pain and try to relax through it. When you get to the pushing phase, it helps to squat. Our hospital has birthing stools, some places have birthing chairs. It facilitates the process of getting baby out. When delivery is imminent, you can go back to the traditional on your back with feet in stirrups position.

Be prepared. KNOW that it will hurt, but that you can manage it. You're in a hospital with trained professionals who will know if something isn't right. Trust yourself, and trust your nurses and your Doctor.

Also know that when babies are born, they are ready to nurse and to get to know their Momma. Baby will have a period of time in which he's wide awake and ready to nurse....make sure you take advantage of that.

Good luck with your little one!

Answer 2

I was induced 8 weeks ago and I now have a perfect baby boy. I had an epidural. The good thing about it is I was able to enjoy the delivery because I could not feel any pain. The bad side of the epidural was my legs were completely numb for several hours and I felt like I was paralyzed. It was not a good feeling, but it was better than feeling the contractions. I had my water broken by the doctor before I got my epidural. He checked my cervix which was uncomfortable and then put a long plastic thing with a hook on the end that looked kinda like a knitting needle in me to break my water. It did not hurt. The only thing I felt was a little gush of fluid. After I got my epidural they started the pitocin. It did make my contractions more regular and intense, but I could not feel any of it. I was actually very surprised with how everything went during the delivery. I had heard all these horror stories so I was scared to death, but everything went very easy and smooth. So, don't be scared it's not as bad as everyone says and you'll do great.

Answer 3

I had an epidural. I was sent home and labored for about 12 hours in bed only to find out I was at 4 cm. I did not want an epidural, but when they said " just let us know if you want an epidural" , I shouted epidural, epidural now!! lol. It was fine. I didn't feel any pain after that and could still feel the pushing of the baby during the delivery. My son was absolutley fine after birth and immedietly began nursing! Good luck! enjoy motherhood, its a true blessing!

Answer 4

i was induced with pitocin on the first and it did create really intense contractions. i wanted to try to go without the epidural too but i got to about 4 cm and wasn't really dilating and in a lot of pain. so i got the epi. and low and behold i started to dilate really quick. they told me it was probably because with the epidural i was able to relax. my daughter was coming out so quickly the actually had to tell me to hold on and not push at all cause the doc wasn't there yet! all i can say is that after the epidural i thoroughly enjoyed labor. the only side effect for me was i could not feel my left leg for a while afterward. i didn't even know the extent of it until i went to stand and almost fell.
with my second i went for the epidural as soon as i was needing it. i started labor natural with him(water broke).
but at the end they decided to give pitocin just to speed up the labor and they didn't increase the epidural and i really started to feel things.
good luck to you !!!! everyone i know has a different delivery story, and it will be YOUR story to tell with pride! it is amazing!

Answer 5

My water broke and I never went into labor on my own with any of my kids. I had to be induced with pitocin. I took demerol (sp?) for pain. I hated it. I literally felt myself going out of it. I remember nothing from the demerol. And Iremember nothing, except it wearing off. And it burned so badly going up my arm.

I learned real quick to get the epidural. I was terrified of it!! But I knew I wouldn't make it through without it, so I sucked it up. The dr came in to give it me. I sat up, leaning into my husband. The dr cleaned the area, and I waited. I thought it would hurt and I would cry from it. Next thing I knew he was spraying my back with this cold glue-type stuff to hold the tube up over my shoulder. I didn't even feel him put it in!! But within 10 minutes I felt a huge difference in my pain. It was so effective that I fell asleep while I was 8 cm dialated in labor.

With my subsequent children, same thing. I felt the epidural go in with other 2, but having my blood drawn was worse for me. I had no problems with not being able to push, the baby being lethargic or anything. Get an epidural!