December 2013 Moms
KrisMST
member
Natural or Epi?
KrisMST
member
Lately I've been thinking about whether I would like to have a natural birth or not. I have been doing lots of research, but I would love to hear the advice/experiences of some of you seasoned moms as well as what new moms like me are thinking about doing.
Thanks in advance!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Natural or Epi?
"Your truth is different from my truth, and we're both right."
TTC since March 2013. BFP 4/13/13, blighted ovum discovered 6/6/13, m/c 6/8/13.
BFP 11/10/13, EDD 7/25/13 - stick little owlet!
I'm a FTM, but this is my plan. My MIL keeps telling me how I don't need drugs (she had four children all without any painkillers) and how the pitocin and epi just slow labor down. I don't know if that is true or not, but I do know that right now, I think I would like to try it without painkillers. If it becomes too much, then we'll try the epi (Assuming that is still an option at that point). And while I am not thrilled with the idea of a c-section, if that's what it takes to get a healthy baby, then that's what we'll do.
OP, I think the best option is to do your research, find out everything you can about all the options, and then go with the flow. If you get your heart set on doing it one way, you MIGHT be in for disappointment if things don't go as planned (not saying anything will go wrong, just saying, we can't control everything).
I'm going epi. My MIL is trying to talk me out of it, but I'm here through a c-section and almost every person I know has used the epi..none of them have regretted it. I had one friend sit me down and tell me - labor & delivery is not a race or a contest..you don't get an award at the end for going natural so do yourself a favor and just get the epi. Plus I've been told enough horror stories about friends/coworkers who wanted to go natural but by the time they changed their mind it was too late. I do NOT have a high tolerance for pain.
That being said, I'm completely supportive of people who want to do a natural birth. Heck, I wish I was that brave, but I'm not. Maybe once I go through it once and have kind of an idea of what to expect I'll think about going natural next time. But this time, it's definitely epi all the way.
BFP#3: 2/9/13 EDD 10/18/17. Team Green for Round 2!
I made it to 5cm with DS and I was begging for the epi. It didn't slow down the process for me at all. I went from 5cm to 10cm in just two hours.
Everyone has a different pain tolerance and a different L&D experience. You have to do what works for you and don't let anyone try and pressure into anything different.
"Happiness is like a butterfly; the more you chase it the more it will elude you but if u turn your attention to other things it will come & sit softly on your shoulder."
BFP! 04/26/11 - DS born 12/28/11 - BFP #2! 04/02/13 - DD born 12/11/13 -
My Ovulation Chart
Because I wanted to go drug-free and wasn't high risk in any way, I opted for a birth center with a midwife. The only way I could've had an Epi was to request a transfer to the nearby hospital, which helped me wait it out--I would've been demanding one if it was on-tap. I had a warm laboring tub for pain management, as well as a lot of walking/slow-dancing with DH to calm me down. I sound like such a hippie, I'm not, but it was a good experience.
This is a hot-button topic, so I almost hate to chime in, there's always a little drama. If you do go for a natural birth, you need to really inform yourself and put yourself in the mindset. Read everything you can on the subject, watch "The Business of Being Born," read "Ina May's Guide to Childbirth," consider a doula, research your options, write a birth plan, take classes. It is hard. I feel blessed to have been able to go this route, but I know it's not for everyone, either by personal choice or for medical reasons.
haha I think we have the same pain tolerance. I bump my elbow the wrong way and I'm in tears. I cannot imagine trying to push a human being through my hoo-hah without being under the influence of drugs.
BFP#3: 2/9/13 EDD 10/18/17. Team Green for Round 2!
I've used the term, and will probably continue to use just because it's kind of short-hand for med-free, intervention-free, etc. but I totally understand what you mean.
That's mewith my first two I was dying for the epi! This time I'm having a csection so there's no question about what I'm doing! It does make it harder to push. At least that's what I found with my first son.
IL just approved free standing birth centers, but the only one opening is near Chicago and not till December. Otherwise I'd love to do one, but at least I have a MW. I'm not particularily crunchy either, I just hate hospitals.
"Your truth is different from my truth, and we're both right."
TTC since March 2013. BFP 4/13/13, blighted ovum discovered 6/6/13, m/c 6/8/13.
BFP 11/10/13, EDD 7/25/13 - stick little owlet!
I tried to go without meds with my DD and thinking that I was a woman and my natural instincts would kick in and I'd know what to do....HA. I ended up with an Epi at 5 1/2 cm because I couldn't figure out how to breath and the pain was so intense I was starting to get dizzy and see spots. To avoid an emergency c-section I got over my pride and ordered the Epi... I refused the pitocen though. This time around I'm going to try med free again but I'm going to take some classes and if I need an Epi that's what I'll do.
I agree with PP do what you want but be open to changes and research each option to make the best decision. Also be sure your SO is on board for what ever you choose.
This is my first and I will for sure be getting the epidural. I have a pretty high pain tolerance but the thought of natural birth terrifies me.
I was talking about this with DH's step mom and sisters one day and MIL said "you don't get a medal for being tough" I keep telling myself that.
Exactly what my friend said! My prize is my baby at the end!
BFP#3: 2/9/13 EDD 10/18/17. Team Green for Round 2!
The first time I knew I wanted an epi. It didn't work right and we thought it was because I feel asleep on my side.
Second time I really wanted to go natural, but my water broke and after trying to get my labor to progress naturally for 8 hrs I had to get pit. I held out even with the pit for 13 hrs. The tried just a low dose of pit, but they had to keep turning it up because my body wasn't responding and my water had been broke for so long. Pit kicked in and ds(who was 9lbs1oz) was stuck in my pelvis. It felt like someone was ripping my legs off from the hip. I got an epi and ds was born less than 30 minutes later. Though they had to turn it off right away because it numb one whole side of my body, apparently I have a weird channel in my epi space. I really wish I would have done both an epi and pit sooner. Ds was born with an infection and spent a week in the NICU because of my stubborn want of a "natural" birth. It makes me feel terrible.
This time I will try again for a natural birth, but I will be more open to changing my plans. I am not sure if I will even be able to get an epi this time because of what happen the last time. My entire left side went numb from my toes to head.
This was my plan with my first too & will be with this one. I remember the nurse saying that is the most common choice.
My 2 December boys
I've never had a desire for a natural birth. Doctors don't offer pain meds for nothing, labor pain is serious business. My delivery last time started out last time with my water breaking, though it was a VERY slow trickle and I thought I was being overly cautious when I went it to get it checked out. I wasn't even sure when it broke, but my contractions didn't really start up on their own (at least not hard), so I was given pitocin.
So, I was hooked up to IVs from the start to make sure we got the baby out in a safe amount of time. The contraction pain was very manageable for the first few hours (maybe 5 or 6? time is funny) but then got very hard to take, very quickly. I went ahead and got the epi, and had only a positive experience. I was able to rest and relax, and I dilated really really quickly after that.
It's hard to plan how things will go- I'd recommend not to get too attached to one birth plan, as baby tends to call the shots, and I know a lot of moms feel disappointment or like they failed if things don't go according to plan, but a healthy baby is what's important.
I would be hesitant to do any pain meds besides the epi, as I think things like stadol tend to affect the baby more than an epi does. But again, I'll try to go with the flow and trust my docs.
This irks me. Just because you go med free does not make you a superior mother or woman. I just means you endured more pain, which in the end means absolutely squat!
I wonder if you'd feel you earned a personal metal if you get a cavity drilled without Novocain. I don't see taking advantage of medical advancements as being week or having a inferior birthing experience.
"Happiness is like a butterfly; the more you chase it the more it will elude you but if u turn your attention to other things it will come & sit softly on your shoulder."
BFP! 04/26/11 - DS born 12/28/11 - BFP #2! 04/02/13 - DD born 12/11/13 -
My Ovulation Chart
My plan with DD was for a med-free, vaginal birth and I did Hypnobabies, which really helped with the pain. But you never know how things will work out. My water broke to start the whole thing (despite what you see in movies this only happens about 10-15% of the time apparently) and then I was sort of "on the clock" to deliver. Since I wasn't contracting well on my own I had pitocin and I did my best with the pitocin contractions, but after 15 hours without pain meds I was really tired and so I got the epi so I would still have energy to push. I got fully dilated, pushed for hours, but she got stuck (even the vacuum couldn't get her out). So, after 30 hours, C-section at the end of it. But my midwives and doctors were awesome. That's just how the cookie crumbled for me. No regrets. I'm going to try for a VBAC this time. If I can not do an epi that would be great, but if I need it, I'm open to it.
Something to keep in mind with epis, they seem affect people differently. For me, it was like it took the edge off a little bit. I could still move my legs and move around (which shocked the anesthesiologist when he was prepping me for the C-section). They tried for a LONG time to up the epi for the C-section but I could still feel everything, so eventually they had to give me a spinal. I guess that's just how my body chemistry works. Ugh.
My advice is to read up on all the options so that you can have a good birth plan, but then also be able to roll with the punches if the plan changes. Also, make sure your DH or partner is ready to roll with the punches. My DH missed the birth class where they talked about C-Sections (of course!!) so he was pretty clueless about the process, which caused him to worry more during the surgery.
Exactly this! [mobile smiley]
TFMC 08.02.13 at 19+ weeks. Everyday I grieve for my little Olive.
I went in with an open mind. I did some research and reading beforehand on unmedicated child birth. I was very sure that I didn't want pitocin, but was on the fence about the epi. Mostly because I was scared of the big needle! I got to 7cm and thought I was going to die. The pain was unbearable. I ended up getting the epi and loved it. I'm glad I waited until 7cm... I think if I had gotten it any earlier, I would have always wondered if I could have done it on my own with out it. Seriously, I thought my insides were going to blast out of my vagina and I was going to just die. It hurt so bad.
I'll go in with an open mind again this time. I'm still pretty scared of the giant needle... and I think it'd be neat to see if I can do it.. but I'm not making any promises
DS born Dec 10, 2013
Agreed.
My mom tried to convince me to have a med-free delivery, even though she knows I have an extremely low pain tolerance. I was open to it and I tried for the first few hours, but as soon as I had a contraction that almost made me vomit....I got the Epi.
I got it around 10:45, the OB broke my water around 1:00, started pushing at 4, DD was born at 4:30.
Last time, my OB said: shoot for 7 cm dialated. Then get the epi if you want. At that point, labor is less likely to stall.
For me: I went 24 hours before asking for the epi. 8 of those on pitocin. The epi then failed. The next 16 hours sucked.
If you need pitocin, it will be harder to go without pain relief.
This time around, I don't know what I'm going to do yet. I'm going to talk to my doctor about what my options are.