Don't tell me I can't! (small vent)

EWilday

I would like to have pain meds when I am in labor but not an epidural.  I am soooo sick of people telling me that I won't be able to do it or laugh when I say this. I'm not crazy!  I've thought about it.  Thousands of women give birth without ANYTHING and somehow they are able to do it...I'm NOT a huge wimp!  Stop telling me I can't!!

Phew....I feel better....thanks!

LittleApple

Sooo am I a huge wimp because I got an epi for both deliveries?

EWilday

NO NO NO!  Not at all...I'm sorry- I did not mean that at all....I'm just mad.

EWilday

~LittleApple~  NO NO NO!  Not at all...I'm sorry- I did not mean that at all....I'm just mad.

megan2545

I think this all the time!  Just let me do what I wanna do!!!!

Tash13

I had a med-free birth the first time around and, if all goes according to plan, will have the same thing this time around.  It can be done so don't let people discourage you from trying your hardest for the birth experience you want!

Andreabks

i'm sorry someone is trying to tell you that "you're crazy".  I agree that women had births for thousands of years before the invention of pain meds or the Epi.

Personally, i'm planning on getting the epi, but i'd be mad too if someone tried to tell me i couldn't (unless it was my dr and for a medical reason)

Mrs. Rohde

I am so over this too. I HATE being told what I "can't" do. So infuriating. Obviously just do what you want OP-it's your body and your baby. Only YOU know what/how much you can tolerate. Go for it!

heatherjesse

EWilday:

I would like to have pain meds when I am in labor but not an epidural.  I am soooo sick of people telling me that I won't be able to do it or laugh when I say this. I'm not crazy!  I've thought about it.  Thousands of women give birth without ANYTHING and somehow they are able to do it...I'm NOT a huge wimp!  Stop telling me I can't!!

Phew....I feel better....thanks!

Feel free to flame, but I am going against the grain here.  Unless I'm reading your post wrong, you said you want pain meds but not an epidural.  That may the sticking point for some folks.  PPs are talking about going completely pain med free.  Pain medications that are not epidurals can be significantly worse for you and especially baby.  If you want pain meds, go for the epidural.  IV (or inhaled or oral narcotics) pain medication will affect baby whereas epidurals are not likely to affect baby (while it can, it is far less likely).  IV pain medications will affect your cognition as well whereas epidurals are not likely to do this (can but the risk is super low).  The whole point of an epidural is to deliver low dose narcotic directly to the nerves that you want to affect where as IV pain medications go where your blood flows ie everywhere. 

 I am all for a med free birth and will be aiming for that myself, but if I decide that I need help from medication, an epidural is much safer than other pain control options in labor. 

kfarris7812

Tash13:

I had a med-free birth the first time around and, if all goes according to plan, will have the same thing this time around.  It can be done so don't let people discourage you from trying your hardest for the birth experience you want!

This. It's totally possible to go with out meds and with good support, you'll do great! 

ken&jennifer

" I am all for a med free birth and will be aiming for that myself, but if I decide that I need help from medication, an epidural is much safer than other pain control options in labor. "

this was a really helpful response - I hadn't considered the difference between the two for myself...  Thanks! (sorry - I messed up the quote thing somehow) 

EWilday

heatherjesse:

EWilday:

I would like to have pain meds when I am in labor but not an epidural.  I am soooo sick of people telling me that I won't be able to do it or laugh when I say this. I'm not crazy!  I've thought about it.  Thousands of women give birth without ANYTHING and somehow they are able to do it...I'm NOT a huge wimp!  Stop telling me I can't!!

Phew....I feel better....thanks!

Feel free to flame, but I am going against the grain here.  Unless I'm reading your post wrong, you said you want pain meds but not an epidural.  That may the sticking point for some folks.  PPs are talking about going completely pain med free.  Pain medications that are not epidurals can be significantly worse for you and especially baby.  If you want pain meds, go for the epidural.  IV (or inhaled or oral narcotics) pain medication will affect baby whereas epidurals are not likely to affect baby (while it can, it is far less likely).  IV pain medications will affect your cognition as well whereas epidurals are not likely to do this (can but the risk is super low).  The whole point of an epidural is to deliver low dose narcotic directly to the nerves that you want to affect where as IV pain medications go where your blood flows ie everywhere. 

 I am all for a med free birth and will be aiming for that myself, but if I decide that I need help from medication, an epidural is much safer than other pain control options in labor. 

 

Thanks for your response....gave me a lot to think about!

lindseyraye1589

"Feel free to flame, but I am going against the grain here.  Unless I'm reading your post wrong, you said you want pain meds but not an epidural.  That may the sticking point for some folks.  PPs are talking about going completely pain med free.  Pain medications that are not epidurals can be significantly worse for you and especially baby.  If you want pain meds, go for the epidural.  IV (or inhaled or oral narcotics) pain medication will affect baby whereas epidurals are not likely to affect baby (while it can, it is far less likely).  IV pain medications will affect your cognition as well whereas epidurals are not likely to do this (can but the risk is super low).  The whole point of an epidural is to deliver low dose narcotic directly to the nerves that you want to affect where as IV pain medications go where your blood flows ie everywhere. 

 I am all for a med free birth and will be aiming for that myself, but if I decide that I need help from medication, an epidural is much safer than other pain control options in labor." 

I completely agree, it's wayyy safer to do an epidural rather than pain meds. Yes doctors will be there, and they know what they're doing, and have done it with tons of babies, but in reality, its not the "best choice" for your baby or you. I am going natural for as long as I can, and will "labor" in water when I'm contracting. When its time to push, if I absolutely can't take it, I'm going with the epidural. I've done research and asked other moms and my OB, it only affects YOUR nervasystem (sp?). I understand you want to do what you want to do, but this is definately a valid point