Epidural - yes or no?

kbukata

hey there! I'm Katie, 20 years old, due October 14 with my first baby. I've been thinking about the epidural and have decided I really reeeeaally would prefer to give birth without it, but I don't know the likelihood of being able to handle it. Anyone else considering this?

sbeltre

Everyone and every birth is different. Maybe take birthing classes to get you mentally and physically prepared for labor.

I couldn't handle the pain with my firstborn. So I had to get it, but I was also in labor for almost a day lol.

My mother had myself and my sister with no drugs at all.

It's about what you can handle! You won't know unless you try

tate62610

I want to try without an epidural this time but am open to needing it again. I've been told Doulas are a HUGE benefit during birth. My husband will be coaching me

danixbanani24

Hi I'm due on the 14th too . I plan on an epidural because I'm not one to mess around with pain lol. Everyone is different tho!

megewy

I got epidural with my first. I played it by ear and just couldn't take my intense back labor anymore. There are however other pain management option other than an epidural. Also I know there are several different things that can help prepare you for a natural birth. Doulas I've heard are amazing also. Do your research and talk to your dr about it as well

MrsN092714

My plan is to go in without a plan! That way if I decide an epidural is the way to go or I end up needing a c section or whatever else... I will be less stressed knowing that it isn't Messing up my birth plan. If you come out of labour with a healthy baby you win! There is no reason to be more proud that you did it unmedicated or ended up with a c section! Having a baby is something to be proud of no matter how that baby makes its entrance! Good luck with whatever you decide but maybe try to go in with an open mind, or at the least don't get upset if your plan changes!

Cupcakesandquilts

I hired a doula last time and will again. Mine had amazing counter pressure techniques that helped so much with that awful aching that comes with each contraction. She was a lifesaver! I had IV pain meds too but I think they mostly made me feel loopy. I felt lucky to get through with no epidural and will try it that way again. I totally agree with PP about not having a rigid plan. Lots can happen that you can't control during birth.

Boonhilde

They say "don't get an epidural until you can't stand the pain." But at 5cm I realized once I couldn't stand the pain it would be too late, and I got an epidural.

There are definite cons. The likelihood of needing a c-section goes WAY up. I was lucky; my body responded very well to Pitocin, which they give you if you're not making progress after an epidural, which happens a lot. The problem is many MANY bodies don't respond all that well, or all that fast, and end up needing to get that baby out of there a lot sooner than a vaginal birth would allow.

For ME, my epidural was blissful. I felt NOTHING until the doctor was sewing me up and the epidural had run out. (During labor they let you keep pushing a button to get more.) It wasn't bad going in either. The IV in the hand was worlds more painful.

But there are disaster stories out there. It's a personal choice. Best of luck!

arwestover3

I ended up getting an epidural with my first. It wasn't my favorite feeling but it was better than the contractions haha I ended up needing a c-section due to fetal distress so it was good that I had the epidural in already. When they gave me the super-strong shot of meds through the epidural for the c-section, it made me shake uncontrollably, which is miserable but also pretty normal.

But this time I'm going to try and go without it. I'm with a clinic of midwives who have a lot of ideas for other forms of pain control (walking, water, massage, etc.) but I'll still be in the hospital so I'll definitely ask for it if I decide I need it.

1stComesLove421

I didn't want one but kinda felt tricked into one. I transferred in from a homebirth because my labor had stalled and my water had been broken for almost 20 hours. They put me on pitocin because when I arrived I was still only 4cm. They said I needed one or I'd be too weak and they'd have to c-section. I apparently agreed out of fear of a c-section. They could only do a partial one in my back though because I had a fever. After an hour I was fully dilated and ready to push so I made them turn everything off. And they still let me use the bar and move around while I pushed. But I was weak in the legs so it made it more challenging.

I'm bummed that it was used, I wanted to continue walking around during labor, but they wanted me to sleep(?) If you want it that's your choice, but for me I didn't and I felt forced into one.

So if you truly don't want it, hire a doula to ensure the hospital follows your birth plan.

tate62610

Just read an article in a Mom & Baby magazine yesterday saying there is nothing to support the link between an epidural and longer labor or increased risk of a c-section. It is actually the use of pitocin that can cause longer labor and c-section.

Rikki_5

I'm not getting one.  I don't like the idea of someone going into my spine.  

curfam4

I did not get one with #1.  I went in with the plan that I didn't want one, but would see how it went.  Turned out labor and delivery from start to finish was only 3 hours, so there was no time for one.  I'm going in with the same mindset with this one, although I really feel like I won't need one

jenspeake

I plan on going in not wanting to use meds.  If it gets unbearable before the "point of no return" I'll do the epidural then.

amberrmariee20

I had one with my son ! I had it start at 4.5 cms ! And then turned off at 9 cms ! I don't know if I'd want to do it without !

BlueWaffleSpeshul

Rikki_5 said:

I'm not getting one.  I don't like the idea of someone going into my spine.  

*lurking*

Anecdotal, but I felt the same way. However, once the pain got bad enough, I was begging for it, and I didn't even notice it going in. The important thing to keep in mind is that you can have your wishes in mind, but a birth plan is never static; things will always change! I feel like as long as women are open to the possibility that they may end up with something that wasn't in their plans, they will be fine.

Rikki_5

I feel that if you go into it wanting unmedicated but will “see what happens” you will more than likely get the epidural.  If your prepare your mind 100% for an unmedicated birth then you will be more likely to stick to it.  

komorebi

tate62610 said:

Just read an article in a Mom & Baby magazine yesterday saying there is nothing to support the link between an epidural and longer labor or increased risk of a c-section. It is actually the use of pitocin that can cause longer labor and c-section. </blockquote

The link is still there if it's used prior to 4 cms. And an increased risk of maternal fever which may lead to antibiotics. The research depends on the type of epidural or cocktail used. But induction is defintely a risk factor for csection. Most of the first time moms ice supported in labor have had Issues when they were induced and several had emergent csections due to fetal distress.

Childbirthconnection.org is a great resource to find current stats about all of your option. Please don't use baby mags for research. They say what sells. Find a reputable source.

bvan83

I can't wait for my epidural. With my first, I had to have it shut off for my four hours of pushing and it was seriously the worst pain I've ever felt. I never want to go through that again so with my second I got an epidural and I plan on with this one.

sunflower1986

I had planned on med free but my whole birth plan went out the window. I was in the hospital for days before, then induced using several methods. I got to transition but couldn't take the pain anymore. The pitocin ended up being too much for me. I don't regret it one bit. I could still feel my legs, feel the pressure of the contractions But less of the pain. By the time I pushed, I could feel pain and had full use and feeling in my body. It was a perfect compromise for me. If o don't end up with pre-eclampsia again, I plan on med free. I'm not comfortable with the iv drugs at this point.

feeohhnaax7

We're due the same day! Happy 17 weeks! I also plan on giving birth without the epidural. To me, there's too much of a risk with it, and I'm not willing to take it. I've read that without an epidural, you heal faster too, but of course that probably wouldn't happen for everyone. We gave birth for thousands of years without any drugs, so I feel like I can too.

abkenyon

to each their own.  that being said I have no delusion that I will deliver WITHOUT an epidural.  My personal theory is why mess with the pain when you don't have to, makes life easier.

deanna1313

I always wonder why everyone feels they need to have a plan or even decide ahead of time.
I'm sure everyone is thinking about it or are a little anxious, but there is no need to make a decision prior to delivery day. See how well you can handle the contractions. Tell your nurse to make sure you know when your last chance is for an epidural and no worries!
A lot of people come up with these elaborate birth plans and things don't go as planned and then they are devastated! The most important thing is to have baby delivered safely and Mom healthy, also.

Kbhunter

deanna1313 said:

I always wonder why everyone feels they need to have a plan or even decide ahead of time.
I'm sure everyone is thinking about it or are a little anxious, but there is no need to make a decision prior to delivery day. See how well you can handle the contractions. Tell your nurse to make sure you know when your last chance is for an epidural and no worries!
A lot of people come up with these elaborate birth plans and things don't go as planned and then they are devastated! The most important thing is to have baby delivered safely and Mom healthy, also.

Actually it's a good idea to have your labor and delivery wishes spelled out for the birth team.
Believe me you will be too much of a mess to make sure you are telling people how you would prefer things.
For example. Skin to skin for the first hour, delayed cord clamping, delayed bath, no manual manipulation of placenta for delivery.
Granted you can't always get your wish, for example if meconium is present you can't do most of those things or end up with emergency c section. It's always a good idea to have it laid out because you may just get all your wishes.
I had a great delivery with my first and all of my birth plan was able to happen. It doesn't always work that way but why not be prepared.

I got an epidural when I got to the hospital. I was already 9 cm. I was lucky they we're able to even give me one that far along. I was terrified of the actual delivery not so much the contractions, as apparently my pain threshold was more than I thought.
I will do an epidural this time too, if I get the hospital fast enough


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BlueWaffleSpeshul

Kbhunter said:

deanna1313 said:

I always wonder why everyone feels they need to have a plan or even decide ahead of time.
I'm sure everyone is thinking about it or are a little anxious, but there is no need to make a decision prior to delivery day. See how well you can handle the contractions. Tell your nurse to make sure you know when your last chance is for an epidural and no worries!
A lot of people come up with these elaborate birth plans and things don't go as planned and then they are devastated! The most important thing is to have baby delivered safely and Mom healthy, also.

Actually it's a good idea to have your labor and delivery wishes spelled out for the birth team.
Believe me you will be too much of a mess to make sure you are telling people how you would prefer things.
For example. Skin to skin for the first hour, delayed cord clamping, delayed bath, no manual manipulation of placenta for delivery.
Granted you can't always get your wish, for example if meconium is present you can't do most of those things or end up with emergency c section. It's always a good idea to have it laid out because you may just get all your wishes.
I had a great delivery with my first and all of my birth plan was able to happen. It doesn't always work that way but why not be prepared.

I got an epidural when I got to the hospital. I was already 9 cm. I was lucky they we're able to even give me one that far along. I was terrified of the actual delivery not so much the contractions, as apparently my pain threshold was more than I thought.
I will do an epidural this time too, if I get the hospital fast enough


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These are both good points. To the first, I agree that having things set in stone mentally is not a good idea, as I stated before, but to the second at least making sure your general wishes are outlined is important. I wanted a water birth but ending up being induced and had to be on constant monitoring. I wanted to try giving birth without an epidural but the pain from the contractions with the Pitocin was too much for me. Just keep an open mind!

amberrmariee20

I want a water birth but my city doesn't do them, it's unheard of here !

deanna1313

@kbhunter this is my second pregnancy and although I totally get what you're saying it's not always necessary.
My plan for my first was get the baby out safely. I was planning on an epidural and that was my only plan. My hospital does immediate skin-to-skin and breastfeeding after so I didn't have to worry about that. Other things aren't important to me. I had nothing else to worry about and would follow the nurse and drs suggestions.
With that said, I was mostly talking about planning the epidural. I don't feel it's important to have a serious birth plan and to take it so seriously because they fall apart really quickly in a lot of cases. If you have a lot of special requirements that aren't the norm than I guess you better fill someone in to get your wishes in.
I agree with @BlueWaffleSpeshul and her points, also. Pretty much the same idea.

komorebi

You should absolutely have a plan. It helps you to educate yourself and many things done to women are not necessary. Episiotomy, routine iv, routine constant monitoring, back pushing, separating mom and baby immediately are all outdated practices not supported by the best evidence. If any one mocks your birth planthat is a red flag. As an adult woman you should have a say over your birth. It's your body and you have to live with the outcome. I'm all for informed birth. No matter what happens you will feel better if you know it was necessaryand not have to second guess choices. i have friends who have had births that were so violent and they were abused and they live with ptsd freon the after effects. I'm sure their obs or nurses didnt lose an ounce of sleep over it. I really can't stress Childbirthconnection.org enough. Great site for getting yourself acquainted with your choices and the best evidence. You may still want an epi, or pain meds or whatever, but a true choice is an informed choice. Otherwise it's just the illusion of choice. *oops, let me step off my soap box.

katnor

I'd say go in with your ideal plan but be completely open to other things that can happen. With my son, I went in wanting to have an unmedicated birth. With meconium present when my water broke, I was under pressure to get baby out before I had to get a csection to avoid harm to the baby. I made it to 7cm and stalled for a few hours, then baby's heart rate dropped but came back up. I asked for the epidural at this point not because of the pain (though it took the pain away and was wonderful) but also because I knew I needed something to help my body relax so I could push baby out in time and not have to get a csection. The epidural did just that. After I got it, I relaxed, baby relaxed and I was ready to push in an hour or two. I felt every contraction, and the pressure of my son coming out but no pain. This time I think I'm going to try unmedicated again but am completely open to getting another epidural should I feel I need one.

emeraudecephiro

Hey if you wanna do it natural, more power to you. I got an epi the first time and I plan to again this time. It helped me relax because i get hyper tense when in pain.

princesslockness

My OB and MidWife have both asked 'would you Cross the county in a wagon? No? Then why be in pain if you don't have to?'
While that isn't for everyone, it makes sense to me, and in my area there are very few interventions, as in less than 10% of births are even offered an intervention besides pain meds.

houstongirl77

I am a second time mom and I recommend you get the epidural because the pain of contractions are very very intense. Don't want to sugar coat it at all for you. An acquaintance of mines declined epidural the first time she gave birth and regretted it. Get the meds!

cnorth82

tate62610 said:

Just read an article in a Mom & Baby magazine yesterday saying there is nothing to support the link between an epidural and longer labor or increased risk of a c-section. It is actually the use of pitocin that can cause longer labor and c-section.

I saw what pitocin did to my sister in law.

I will be having NONE of it, unless they freaking FORCE me.

deanna1313

@cnorth82 I've heard the same thing about pitocin. Crazy intense contractions that come in nonstop!

I had a scheduled induction with my first and then got an epidural. It hurt like hell, but I can't compare it to anything since that was my only labor and delivery. I did have 4 contractions while they were giving me the epidural! That's a lot from what I hear! Lol

I will say that from my first contraction to delivery was only 8hours so I'm pretty sure my epidural didn't slow anything and my pitocin didn't cause longer labor or c-section.

1stComesLove421

Kate08Young said:

My OB and MidWife have both asked 'would you Cross the county in a wagon? No? Then why be in pain if you don't have to?'
While that isn't for everyone, it makes sense to me, and in my area there are very few interventions, as in less than 10% of births are even offered an intervention besides pain meds.

My first thought to that question was "Sure! Sounds like a slow scenic adventure!" lol But hey everyone is different!

tate62610

I was given pitocin without consent. As she was injecting it into my iv I asked "what is that" "oh just some pitocin to help you progress" Are you f***ing kidding me?! I had literally been in labor for an hour. Birth went all down hill from there.

Rikki_5

@tate62610  this is what I'm afraid of.   When I asked my doc about IV she said you normally will get one to keep you hydrated and something about the baby's heart rate dropping?  I don't really want an IV.  Can I refuse it?  I just want to give birth in my bedroom at this point.

krissybear13

I'm in my second pregnancy now and will get the epidural again. I had back labor with my first. I was 4 cm dilated, they broke my water and started me on pitocin at 7:30 am. After an hour on the pitocin I needed the epidural, I couldn't breath because my muscles kept tightening up. I got the epidural at 9 am. By 11 am I was dilated 10 cm and after 3 pushes my son was born. By 11:30 we were done.

the epidural wore off quickly and didn't leave lasting affects, two hours later I was standing in the window of the nursery watching them bathe my son. I have a high tolerance for pain, but I found that being able to relax and concentrate really helped me. Hoping this labor and delivery are just as easy as my last.

princesslockness

1stComesLove421 said:

Kate08Young said:

My OB and MidWife have both asked 'would you Cross the county in a wagon? No? Then why be in pain if you don't have to?'
While that isn't for everyone, it makes sense to me, and in my area there are very few interventions, as in less than 10% of births are even offered an intervention besides pain meds.

My first thought to that question was "Sure! Sounds like a slow scenic adventure!" lol But hey everyone is different!

I wouldn't mind crossing the country on a horse, but not all cramped up in a wagon. No padding, on just cattle trails? No way in hell woul I do that.

ellasnow

I loved my first birth...I felt in control of my own birth not having the epi or other interventions. I had a low risk birth and I learned as much as I could about birth methods and because I was in control of my own body I loved it...I could move around and breathe through my contractions, felt as if I was making progress and when I felt the urge to push I was standing up and it felt like the most productive moment in my life. I stayed at home as long as I could, put the birthing ball in the shower and had the hot water roll over me during my contractions, then went to meet my nurse midwife at the hospital where I played "lunatico" pandora station, dimmed the lights, rolled around on the ball for the next six hours. On the ball my water broke felt his head move down and within 15min he was out I am so glad I was able to go through the process. I truly believe the more control you have and the more you can move if your low risk the happier you will be but...that's just me. Knowledge is key to your answer! Do your research the more you know the better you are making up your own personal birth plan.

MirandaC1984

Give me the drugs. To each their own but there isn't someone waiting with a prize to give you for suffering through birth without pain relief. I'll take all the help I can get.