labor advise please

pria2004

We attended the childbirth classes this week and we were the only couple who were not outright opting in for Epidural. Talking to my friends too everyone was like "you will need epidural,just ask for it right away". I But then after reading and hearing the pros and cons for it-I am hoping to try natural as much as possible and then pain killers and then epidural. I want to keep my options open but i feel like the odd man out wanting to try natural labor.

Anyone plan similarly but then totally did otherwise when that first contraction struck?

madhatter2003

I did for both kids. I labored 100 hours with DD before I got an painkillers and then an epidural. With DS I got an epidural that didn't work.  At least he came fast

I will say I had a HORRIBLE experience with the painkillers with DD. I had stadol and something else, one shot each hour. It made me feel very drunk and 'high'. Very out of it. I ended up with an epidural and honestly I won't ever take narcotics again. The epidural gave me a clear head and let me enjoy labor...with the narcotics I was OUT of it.

With DS when things got rough I went straight for the epi...unfortunately they forgot to hook up the pump so I only had one dose and then felt it all, but in the end I'm glad I did. Next time I'd try to go natural.

mechanicsgirl

I hoped to avoid the epi in labor, but I got it.  I got it long before I probably needed it.  HUGE mistake.  I hated it.  I hated not being able to move on my own and feeling completely trapped because of it.  I say play it by ear.  Try to go naturally, but if you need it, you need it. Good luck!

alison43

I did NOT want one.  At all.  Took hypnobirthing classes and everything.

Around 5cm they broke my water and the contrax got so much worse, and I had no support besides DH...I just couldn't do it.  Got the epi and when they checked me right after I was at a 7 so I'm thinking it probably was just labor trying to hurry up...I still wish I didn't need it but I don't regret having it.  It made me feel SO much better and it really ddin't slow down my labor much at all. 

Germanwife2b

I planned to go natural and I DID go natural!  But not without the support of a lot of good people!  My biggest advice if you'd really like to avoid the epidural is to surround yourself in labor with other people who believe your body is supposed to deliver a baby naturally.  Hire yourself a doula!  They are worth their weight in gold!  Read tons of natural birth stories (read Ina May Gaskins books for example).  Watch "The Business of Being Born" documentary with your husband.  Believe that your body is meant to birth naturally because so much of labor is occurring in your head so if you believe something enough, you can frequently make it happen!  It is the hardest most rewarding thing I have ever done!!  Good luck with your decision.

alex04

I honestly thought and expected that i would have a natural birth.  I was at the hospital in labor and was dealing ok until the back labor hit.  I was up all night and throwing up.  i couldn't eat or drink anything.  after about 12 hours, i decided to try the meds...nubain?  that helped for a while.  I could still feel the contactions but they were ok.  once that wore off, i got an epi.  i had been up 27 hours, in labor for 15 and i just couldn't do it anymore.  i was dehydrated and nauseous.  it was the best thing.  i was able to get some sleep and had some energy when it was time to push.  I ended up with an emergency c/s, so it was actually good that i already had the epi. 

 good luck with your decision.  i would say try it -- i know lots of people who did.  but don't feel bad if you get the meds or epi.  while lots of babies are born without those, they have them available now to help you.

MBandBud

We took Bradley classes, which are for natural childbirth, and I highly recommend them if you still have the chance.  My suggestion would be to set some intentions regarding your childbirth experience, but not to make them expectations.  We wanted to go natural but at 8cm and 16 hours of labor I went for the epi.  DD was not moving down and at that point I honestly could not take the pain and I worried about the experience of transition.  I thought the epi would help relax me and get DD to move down.  That didn't work and after 25 hours I ended up with a c-section due to other risks.  I did not like the epi and the affect it had on me -- not being able to feel my legs or get up.  I would have loved to have gone natural.  That being said I recommend being flexible in your intentions because the experience will be so new for you.  Best wishes in your experience and remember at the end of the day it is the safe arrival of your little one and you that matters!

SeaSoul

I was kind of like you - wanted a natural birth but didn't want to rule anything out, b/c I didn't want to end up feeling disappointed in myself.  This is contrary to most people who've had unmedicated labors, who say that they couldn't have done it if they weren't 100% determined going into it.  I think there are some personalities for whom it doesn't work that way (mine, for one).  But once I got going with labor, I think I just instinctively knew I was going to do whatever I could to avoid drugs.  I didn't even let the thought enter my brain, plus I needed all my mental capacity to weather the contractions, so mulling over the idea of drugs - or, worse, having a conversation about them, just wasn't going to happen.  I think you'll surprise yourself at what you are capable of!  And forget about being the odd man out.  Others will do what they see fit, and so will you.

wannalil1

I planned on the epi from the start.  I went into labor at night and went into the hospital asap.  I was only at 2cm and they sent me home.  Miraculously my contractions stopped for over 24 hours. 

The following night they started again and I was sooo terrified of getting sent back home that I labored at home all night.  I reached the hospital at 8am the following morning and when I got checked I was about 81/2- 9cm dialated.  My water still had not broken.  I was asked if I wanted an epi, becuase they needed to do it asap.  My blood pressure was also quite high so they urged the epi, just in case it didnt drop and I needed a c-section. 

I was tired and exhausted and wanted to rest a bit so they gave me the epi immediately and I was able to labor her down quite a bit.  i pushed her out in 40 minutes.

In retrospect, although the epi gave me relief and lowered my bp, I think I would have been fine doing it without one.  I had already made it past the transitional labor and it was painful, but I could have done it.  Good luck with your decision!!!

MonkeysGirl05

I planned to go natural, but wasn't opposed to pain meds. I was in labor a couple of hrs and was asking for pain relief. After the morphine wore off, I was practically begging for an epi.My contrax were on top of each other tho and I was getting very little relief between them.

Aliki

I, similar to you, did not opt for an epidural out right.

I went through 14 hours of labor med-free.

Then it got so bad, I could barely breathe. I got an epidural at the 15th hour when I was 6 cm dilated and 100% effaced.

It was another 10 hours of labor for me to birth my 9 lb 8 oz LO. I'm so glad I opted for the epidural, but I'm also grateful that I tried on my own first. If you do decide to go med-free, please dont leave feeling like you "failed" if you do opt for the epi-- there is no shame in it!

Edit to add: I had a good experience with the epi. It allowed me to stop shaking uncontrollably and it gave me a chance to breathe (at the 15th hour, I had my eyes closed, my body was shaking so bad, and I could vaguely hear the nurse repeatedly say "you need to breathe! Breathe!" but I just coudln't because of the pain). I had also been up for over 35+ hours (due to time labor started) and my body was exhausted, and getting the epi allowed me to nap. It was a very weak dose and apparently wore off by the time I started to push, because while I was pushing, I could readjust my legs in the stirrups and I could feel the OB stitching me up "down there". I could walk right away too.

Aliki

madhatter2003:

I did for both kids. I labored 100 hours with DD before I got an painkillers and then an epidural. With DS I got an epidural that didn't work.  At least he came fast

Did you say 100 hours??!! 

You must be Superwoman!!!!!!

Kristin&Frank

I agree on the support system.  If the nursing staff and your doctor aren't supportive too, you could end up battling them for what you want, which doesn't make anything easy.

If you want to do it, you can do it.  If you get in the moment and change your mind, that's great too!  Whatever happens, if the baby is out and healthy - that's a successful labor!!!!!