epidural?

depoyba

Has anyone decided on the epidural or natural? Just wondering I can't seem to make my mind up.

honey740

Epidural for me, for sure!

krista613

epidural all the way. and whatever other drugs they can give me.

trudyanndac

Epidural!!!!

starsmaycollide

I'm not going med free. I don't personally see a reason to for my birth experience. I will accept pain relief through the IV or eventually through an epidural, whatever I need when I get to that point.

broccolitree

I'm going natural.  Yes, I'm probably crazy.

starsmaycollide

broccolitree:

I'm going natural.  Yes, I'm probably crazy.

Nah, not crazy. A lot of people do that and do not regret it.  More power to you I have a friend planning her 2nd med free birth.

carrie52280

Epidural with my 1st and prob epidural with this one too.  I didn't really decide a definate yes or no until I was in labor.

jaejaevee

starsmaycollide:

broccolitree:

I'm going natural.  Yes, I'm probably crazy.

Nah, not crazy. A lot of people do that and do not regret it.  More power to you I have a friend planning her 2nd med free birth.

I agree.  You have to do what works for you.  FWIW, I had an epi but it wore off before it was even time to push (I metabolize drugs superfast) - so I got to experience a little of both.

SBear12

Planning my 2nd med-free birth.

broccolitree

starsmaycollide:

broccolitree:

I'm going natural.  Yes, I'm probably crazy.

Nah, not crazy. A lot of people do that and do not regret it.  More power to you I have a friend planning her 2nd med free birth.

It's another of those 'mom' issues where my choice makes a lot of women I know feel insecure about their choice.  I get a lot of "you don't get a medal!" so I'm attempting to deflect that judgment with humor, heh.

For me, there are a few epidural side effect studies which make me nervous, plus I have spina bifida so I'm not even sure I'd be able to have one effectively.  H & I are mostly traditional and kind of crunchy.  We're CDing and not finding out the sex, so it's kind of another step on the same path.

Lilsmom08

Had epidural with the 1st, trying to go med. free this time around though.

NJBrit

I'll be the first to admit that I'm a complete spaz and will not be emotionally able to go med-free. I'm already freaking out about the catheter, and that's clearly the least of my worries. I know myself too well... I absolutely need medication, and possibly a sound proof room

honey740

broccolitree:

starsmaycollide:

broccolitree:

I'm going natural.  Yes, I'm probably crazy.

Nah, not crazy. A lot of people do that and do not regret it.  More power to you I have a friend planning her 2nd med free birth.

It's another of those 'mom' issues where my choice makes a lot of women I know feel insecure about their choice.  I get a lot of "you don't get a medal!" so I'm attempting to deflect that judgment with humor, heh.

For me, there are a few epidural side effect studies which make me nervous, plus I have spina bifida so I'm not even sure I'd be able to have one effectively.  H & I are mostly traditional and kind of crunchy.  We're CDing and not finding out the sex, so it's kind of another step on the same path.

To each their own really, I don't need that to complete my birthing experience but other people do. I don't think it's "crazy" at all.

sometimesalwayschaotic

I am going med free.  We have actually started taking Bradley classes this week which is making me feel much more confident.  If you want to go med free I highly recommend taking these classes.  One thing they told us in class last night that an epidural usually causes your blood pressure to drop low so they also have to give you medicine to increase your blood pressure so it doesn't get too low.  Epidurals also slow down the birthing processes (something to do with contractions)  so often times you also need some sort of medicine to help make contractions stronger.  I just figure our bodies are made for this and people have been doing it for thousands of years and survive.  I would do lots of research and decide what's best for you.  I've always been avoid unnecessary medicine type and not everyone is like that.  Good luck with your decision!

midnight*sun

We're going natural. We start our Bradley classes Wednesday!

UrbanHippieMama

I'm planning to go natural (and have a homebirth).  We'll be doing 'hypnobabies' to prepare, and we're meeting with a doula next week!

alisonjoy80

I will get an epidural, but won't tell my MIL.

cera.rn

I am hoping to go natural

futuremrscohick

I'm not too proud to beg!   Epidural, please!

 

Bountifulbride

I had an epidural with my first and went completely med-free with my second.  Both births were amazing experiences, *duh*, but the medfree one was so much more empowering and my recovery was night and day better on the med free birth.  So, barring any medical reasons, I will defintiely choose a med free birth for this third baby.

*MrsMuffin*

I want to be drugged with all they've got.  I don't handle pain well, at all.

izzourclue

Barring any complications rearing their ugly heads in the next few months, I will try it first without the epidural.  Not because I have this grand idea of going med free or "natural," but more because of potential side affects or complications from the epidural.  I don't have any spine issues or reasons to think there will be complications, but things can go wrong or an individual can have a bad reaction with any medical procedure.  So I don't want anything unnecessary.  I will decide at the time what is necessary for myself once I am in labor.  No one knows how they will handle contractions or what kind of contractions (back labor) they will have until they are in it so going in with an open and educated mind.

nurseJK

EPIDURAL!!!! No way I would even attempt med-free. I have past experience with anesthesia and it has always gone well. I cannot even fathom not having pain meds. I always say... God made epidurals for a reason... but that is just me!

steffwd124

hheyderh:

I am going med free.  We have actually started taking Bradley classes this week which is making me feel much more confident.  If you want to go med free I highly recommend taking these classes.  One thing they told us in class last night that an epidural usually causes your blood pressure to drop low so they also have to give you medicine to increase your blood pressure so it doesn't get too low.  Epidurals also slow down the birthing processes (something to do with contractions)  so often times you also need some sort of medicine to help make contractions stronger.  I just figure our bodies are made for this and people have been doing it for thousands of years and survive.  I would do lots of research and decide what's best for you.  I've always been avoid unnecessary medicine type and not everyone is like that.  Good luck with your decision!

I'm planning on taking Bradley classes too. I've known too many people with epidural horror stories that it scares me more than birth. And no other meds for me either because I do not do well with pain meds of any kind. Same goes for anesthesia. So natural it is! And I'm actually not too nervous about it, surprisingly enough.

houndbaby

I got it with #1, it was awesome, I plan to get it with #2

Kevin & Dominique

It will be an epidural for me

babybabs

Drugs for me please....

KeriMac

I am planning my 2nd med-free birth.

mbh10220

Fully intending on going natural!

discovolante

Going to attempt natural, but I'm keeping an open mind since this is my first and I cannot predict how bad labor will be.

a-beautiful-mess

I'm going to try med-free.

lnoll

Epidural.  But I'm going to attempt to hold out as long as I can.  But I'm definitely not in the mindset and preparing for a med-free birth.

KeyRyn320

NJBrit:

I'll be the first to admit that I'm a complete spaz and will not be emotionally able to go med-free. I'm already freaking out about the catheter, and that's clearly the least of my worries. I know myself too well... I absolutely need medication, and possibly a sound proof room

I'm a little late to the party, but when I was in the ER, they surprised me with a catheter. It was shockingly comfortable (at least for me) and it was over before I even knew she had started.

I plan on asking for an epidural just in case and I'll use it if I just can't stand it. Many have warned me that it's better to ask for it and not use it than to not ask for it and want it when you're in pain. 

DaniGirl0517

I'm going med and intervention free, all natural baby!  I hope we can do Bradley classes but because of our schedule and the fact that the teacher hasn't gotten back to me yet may hinder that plan.  I have had anesthesia before and although I recovered fine I hated the waking up part (was totally freaking out both times) and I don't like pain meds, I've had to take morphine and vicodin (separate occasions) and was always chastised by the nurses for pushing it to the limit before asking for a new dose.  I don't mind dealing with pain as long as I am allowed to moan, groan, ***, cry through it.

For that reason, DH may need some anesthesia LOL.

carmanb

Au naturale for me!

AppleMomma

Nope, no choice this time, I'm doing home birth.

mchupie

I *hope* to do without.  That said, if I can't stand the pain, I don't have a problem with getting the epidural.

kdjones1982

If God didn't want me to have an epidural then he wouldn't have let one be created....Yippie for pain medication!

UrbanHippieMama

DaniGirl0517:

I'm going med and intervention free, all natural baby!  I hope we can do Bradley classes but because of our schedule and the fact that the teacher hasn't gotten back to me yet may hinder that plan.  I have had anesthesia before and although I recovered fine I hated the waking up part (was totally freaking out both times) and I don't like pain meds, I've had to take morphine and vicodin (separate occasions) and was always chastised by the nurses for pushing it to the limit before asking for a new dose.  I don't mind dealing with pain as long as I am allowed to moan, groan, ***, cry through it.

For that reason, DH may need some anesthesia LOL.

If you end up not being able to do the Bradley classes, I have heard amazing things about hypnobabies.  The doula I had with DD, who is training to be a midwife, said she couldn't believe the difference in births with women who did hypnobabies.  They all acted like they weren't even in pain the whole time.

There is a home study you can order and do it on your own time.  It's what we plan to do since we have DD and won't be able to make it to any classes.  Just a thought for you!

alliecarrie41

DRUGS for sure