Epidural?

tmccaulla · July 2013

Thought? I'm considering if my labor isn't crazy long going natural. Any STM's here that went natural? If so, how long was your labor? What did you do to alleviate pain? Would you do it again?

inthelost · July 2013

I'm a FTM but I fully plan on having an epidural and I don't feel bad about my decision either! lol but to each their own! I admire women who can do it naturally, but I know what my pain tolerance is like...

llybeck · July 2013

I'm a FTM planning to go med free as well. I think you really, really need to do your own research on this, there are soooooo many methods to help you get through the pain and focus, it was overwhelming at first! The thing is, every woman and every pregnancy is different and after talking to every med free birth mom I know, no two of them had the same experience. And most of them said when it came down to it, all that prep work went right out the window, but it helped them feel prepared.

Again, FTM, but I think this is such a personal decision that you are going to have to find what works for you. Other women can give you advice but it may not relate to you. A good place to start is looking into the Bradley method, at least for me, that was a good jumping off point to research other things like hypnobirthing. There are tons of books and classes too, the more info the better! Good luck!

tmccaulla · July 2013

I am taking classes now and learning techniques, just curious if a lot of med free moms had long labors or not. I have a feeling if I go over 20 hours it might be more challenging.

revlaurawittman · July 2013

I had pitocin for an induction, so not technically med free, but I didn't have any pain medication. My labor was about 2 1/2 hours long, so it was super quick. I pushed for ten minutes and he was out. If you really want to go without any pain relievers you need to do some reading or maybe take a class. I never intended to go without an epidural, I just didn't have the time. If you do some research it can help you with coping techniques as well as ways to focus.

I want to go natural this time, but I'm not totally opposed to an epidural if things get to be too much.

FlwrChild · July 2013

FTM... I'm going completely natural. No epidural not pain meds. I believe if women back in the day could do it so can I. Mind over matter is my motto. I deal well with pain I know how to tolerate it and focus my mind. I hope my labor goes quick. The only way I will take meds is if I absolutely have to if the doctor recommends it for the health of the baby. But no epidural no no no lol

I've been reading a lot on hypnobirthing. Along with ways to control your mind and body while it prepares for birth. Plus we all know that this a natural thing our bodies will kick into full gear our endorphins will zoom through. Our bodies will take over.

Jason&Erin82507 · July 2013

I went completely natural with dd and plan on doing the same this time around if possible (so long baby's not breech, etc)... Labor pain was strong enough to wake me up at 2:30 am and she was born at 4:42 pm. Keep reminding yourself that this is only one day of your life and that tmrw you'll feel better...it helps! My recovery was super fast..up and walking within 20 mins of giving birth, released within a day and a half. I wouldn't b daring enough to do it again if it was that bad! Def check out the natural board too! Good luck!

bookworm982 · July 2013

My labor started at 2 am on Saturday and DD was born at almost 7 am Sunday. The contractions got painful around noon on Saturday (while I was at a friend's baby shower). By the time I got home from the shower, I was done with normal activities and trying to distract myself. I started using coping techniques around 7 pm. Thus, I'd say the "bad" part of labor was about 12 hours long.

Three things helped a ton: 1) Warm baths. 2) My heating pad and microwaved rice pack. 3) Chanting to myself "I can do this," "It's only one minute," and other similar phrases during contractions.

I managed to have an unmedicated birth. I had one period of self doubt that DH talked me through, and after that I was fine. I'm planning on having another unmedicated birth with this baby. I wouldn't trade that experience for anything.

JamieWM · July 2013

I am going to see how it goes....it is 100 percent a personal decision you need to make.

2sweetlilgirls · July 2013

I had a med free delivery last time but not by choice. My epi only worked for an hour. I feel like I could do it again but I don't want to. I don't see any reason to go thru hours of angonizing pain when I don't have to.

OliveMom3 · July 2013

bookworm982:
My labor started at 2 am on Saturday and DD was born at almost 7 am Sunday. The contractions got painful around noon on Saturday while I was at a friend's baby shower. By the time I got home from the shower, I was done with normal activities and trying to distract myself. I started using coping techniques around 7 pm. Thus, I'd say the "bad" part of labor was about 12 hours long.Three things helped a ton: 1 Warm baths. 2 My heating pad and microwaved rice pack. 3 Chanting to myself "I can do this," "It's only one minute," and other similar phrases during contractions.I managed to have an unmedicated birth. I had one period of self doubt that DH talked me through, and after that I was fine. I'm planning on having another unmedicated birth with this baby. I wouldn't trade that experience for anything. :nbsp;

Excellent response! Research is obviously necessary but I think the pp wanted personal anecdotes. Your response is great!

Eta: ftm here so I don't think I can provide much help. But for what it's worth my plan is to ask if the option of an epidural will still be available in 30 minutes whenever I'm asked if want one. That way I can see how I'm coping and if I think I can go on without pain meds then I will. It also makes me feel like the end if pain could be nearby if i choose that option, easing the notion that i may be in pain for a long time. It would be great if I could have a medfree birth but I'm not closing the door on the pain assisted birth either.

aschnee · July 2013

I'm a STM and went natural the first time. I used the Mongan Method of Hypnobirthing and would recommend reading a Hypnobirthing or similar book at the least and potentially taking classes.

I woke up at 6:30am and realized that I was having contractions. I called MH at 9:30am to have him come home from work. We went out to eat and shopping, and I believe that all of the walking while shopping helped to progress labor. We got to the hospital at 5:15pm, my water broke at 5:45pm and DD was born at 7:40pm. I credit Hypnobirthing with allowing me to have a nearly perfect delivery!

missmuffin87 · July 2013

I went med-free with my DD. Labor was about 36 hours total, but only about 9 hours from when I got the birth center till she was born. I wouldn't exactly say there's anything you can do without meds to "alleviate" the pain, just ways to cope with the pain, and that will be different for everyone. You can't really know what's going to work for you until you're in the moment. I found the tub really helpful and also yelling, crying etc. It's not a good time, but just try to remember that it's only one day of your life and you will get through it.

4Angel5 · July 2013

This will be my fifth baby. First one was medicated. I had a long period of the first stage of labor, where I probably could have been doing other things to keep me distracted, but honestly, the first time around, without having someone there who could instruct me otherwise, I felt like I needed to be at the hospital. My water broke at 8:30pm. Back labor struck at 2am, ouch!. They gave me statol to help me rest. slept for 2min max. i wasn't dilating quickly enough for them. As soon as they said pitocin, I said epidural! Epidural wore off before transition, so they gave me more. I felt so out of it by the time baby was born, at 10:15am, I swore I would try to go natural for the next one.

For DD2, I read the old Bradley method book, very outdated photos, but the content was enough to get me through labor easily. I didn't use all of their techniques, just the ones i associated with. Still unsure of how quickly things would happen, I did some mild labor at home and then went in as c's became closer together. Water broke at hospital around 10:30am, DD was born at 1:25pm.

Warm baths, back rubs, sudoku puzzles, and a deeper understanding the stages of labor were my key essentials for my last 3 natural births, one of which even called for petocin. The petocin one was rough, don't get me wrong, but it was still doable, and my recovery was quick. I know I came close to asking for an epidural again during the petocin birth, but when the pain got that intense, I also knew it was almost time to push. Good luck!

4Angel5 · July 2013

laurelannie:
... I did a lot of reading I recommend Ina May to educate myself on the process of birth, so that I would know more what is going on with my body. ... I found that the less unknown there was, the more I could rationalize through the pain of labor, I could recognize the stage of labor I was in, acknowledge that it was only a temporary pain and focus on working my baby down and out. ... nbsp;

THIS!!! Exactly! Bradley Method teaches similar line of thought, but is probably more outdated than Ina May?!

Pockety · July 2013

STM. I had an epidural last time and plan to have another. Honestly, labor F'ing hurts! So if you want to go med free, which I do think is a legit option, make sure you do your research and practice pain management techniques, and have DH or whomever will be with you on board and knowledgeable too!

I sort of want to try med free this time, but DH travels full time and we have a 2 year old at home, so I know we're not going to take the time to prepare enough ourselves to get through it. And I liked my epi last time. So I'm just planning to do the same again!

happybride 276 · July 2013

I am a FTM and I plan on getting an epidural. I know I don't have the worst tolerance for pain, but I don't believe I can handle an unmediated birth. Truthfully it may not matter because I have scoliosis and the epidural may not work on me.

abell77 · July 2013

Yes, I have had med free births with both of my kids and plan to do the same again this time around. Even if you have a long labor you can do it! If you are at all interested, I would highly encourage you to learn more about it. Some kind of dedicated preparation will be a huge help. My husband and I took Bradley method classes, but I know there are other methods out there that women have had success with. Being in the shower and tub was a big help for pain management, but at least half the battle (if not more) is mental. Learning about all of the health benefits for both you and baby should help to keep you encouraged and motivated. I have never regretted my decision for a moment. The natural birth board will be a good resource to you as well. Good Luck!

zoieglow · July 2013

STM. I had an epidural last time. I had pitocin which made my contractions extremely strong but I wasn't dilating and pushed for 5 hours. So I did ask for the epi and it helped me progress. He was stuck and wouldn't come out and then they found merconium so I ended up with a csection but the epi certainly allowed me to try longer than I would have been able to without. The pain itself was completely manageable, it was more the marathon of pain and exhaustion without progressing that triggered me to need help. I was nearing the 24 hour mark of when my water broke and wanted to give it all I had before I had to have a csection. It helped me get over the hump and keep trying.

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