1st Trimester
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Epidural, natural or C sections, please share!
I know it's pretty early but a friend of mine & I were talking about pregnancy and birth. She has had both a epidural and natural births, and she said she preferred natural. I am a new mommy so it got me curious. She said b/c with her first (the epidural) she had spinal headaches for a week and tore way too much, and it was really surreal to give birth while not being able to feel anything down there. With her second and third which was natural, she said she could feel herself more and was in more control of how much she could handle at a time. She said it was extremely painful but bearable. My mother in law immediately told me (as soon as I got preg) to "not be a hero" and take the meds. I could careless about being a hero. I wanna know what my body is feeling so I can better control my pushing, and I consider myself to have a decent pain threshold. So! with all that being said, tell me how your past experiences were.
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Re: Epidural, natural or C sections, please share!
Luckily, my experience was wonderful. I was numb enough to not be in excruciating pain, but not so much so that I couldn't feel when I needed to push. I still knew when each contraction was and was able to push comfortably. I'd say the whole process of pushing took less than ten minutes.
I realize that isn't always the case, so I felt really blessed.
With this pregnancy, I will still plan on getting an epidural and hope for the best!
Good luck to you!
I had all natural with a small internal tear. I really prepared myself mentally by taking hypnobirthing class and I truly believed it helped. To be honest not really the breathing, but the thought process that I could do it and my baby would be coming. I also had an amazing doula. I did not have back labor so I cannot speak to that. Labor was like bad cramps and you had a few seconds in between each one, it's definitely uncomfortable, but tolerable. Also, there is an end to the process, which is incredible.
I was told by several people I couldn't do it and laughed at when I said I wanted to do it all natural, but it's what I wanted and it worked out. It's not being a hero, it's delivering your baby without drugs and being in control of your body.
Good luck!
I did not want an epi with DD, but after 25 hours of relentless back labor contractions, I ended up requesting it. Turns out I still had 14 hours and 6cm to go, and I am glad I was able to get some relief. When it came to pushing, I could tell when contractions were coming, but I couldn't feel the pain, if that makes sense. So in my case, I wouldn't say that the epi caused me to be out of touch with my body. I pushed for an hour, which isn't bad, especially for a first timer with a babe who had a 98th percentile head!
This time, I hope to go without meds. I am going to be more diligent with exercises and chiropractic care, which will hopefully help prevent back labor by getting the baby into the correct position. I am not too proud to request the epi again if need be.
Married my very own GI Joe May 2002
I don't care what other women do. I had a wonderful vaginal birth with an epidural. My entire experience was relaxed and painless. I enjoyed it. DD was super healthy at birth, breastfed immediately like a champ and I was walking within a few hours. It was wonderful.
I have no interest in natural birth and hope I never have to experience a c-section. But ultimately as long as mama and baby are healthy, who cares how the baby leaves your body?
I'd planned to keep my options open during my birth with DD#1. My water ended up breaking at 35 weeks and they want you to deliver within 24 hours of rupture, so I ended up on Pitocin because I wasn't contracting. Pitocin was pretty awful. I made it about to about 4-5 and was begging for the epidural. The relief was awesome and pretty quick. Unfortunately, it started not working as well after a few hours and despite an extra dose of the meds they put through the epidural, I still felt everything and the end was pretty painful.
Because of that experience, with this baby I plan to try again to get as far as I can without the epidural.
Really the only issue I have with the epidural is the whole needle in my back thing. I didn't experience any after effects. It's not very common to have the spinal headaches and things like that.
Layne-May 6, 2013
Callie-February 14, 2011
The best advice I can give is to make sure you are reasonably knowledgeable about all 3. I have 2 IRL friends that tuned out the c-section part of their hospital class/tour and guess what? They ended up with emergency c-sections and were twice as freaked out because they didn't know what to expect. I have several other friends plan for medicated births but progressed too fast or the drugs wore off and they ended up natural.
I wanted an epidural but in my mind I knew that I wanted to wait as long as I could before getting it. DS came 5 weeks early...too late to give drugs to stop contractions, but too early to want to progress labor. So I got the epi at 11pm on a monday night and prayed it would help me relax enough to keep him in another week. They turned off the epi the next day and I only made it 3 hrs before the pain made the contractions pick up again. All in all I was in labor over 40 hrs and had the epi placed 3 times (twice before delivery and once after delivery for emergency surgery). I had no trouble pushing and could move both my legs on my own. Only thing I'll know to do next time is not let them remove the epidural until they are sure they've got the bleeding stopped.
2 years, 2 surgeries, 2 clomid fails, 2 IUIs, 1 loss, IVF #1 - 10/25/10 = BFP!, DS is now 3.5yrs!
TTC #2 - 6/12 surgery #3, FET #1 & 1.2 = BFN, 12/2012 FET #2 = BFP! DD is 1.5 yrs!
Surprise! 12/16/14 BFP, loss #2 12/31/14
I can't wait for the "im getting a divorce" post in 5 years or so because your husbands were fed up with your disgusting chair asses from playing on the knot all day and getting fired 4-5 times for not doing any work. you guys are all winners!! ~ Laur929
With DS, I really wanted to go unmediated. I think every women's labor is different. I am very tolerant of pain and I couldn't see/breathe from the pain. I gave in and got the epidural. Plus I was given pitocin be I wasn't progressing which didn't help.
Ill try again to go unmediated, but really as long as I get the baby out safety...I'm good with that!
I had a wonderful med-free birth. I thought I had a low pain threshold but apparently I have no feeling in my uterus, lol.
It really is a very personal choice. Do your research and make the decision you feel comfortable with.
My BFP Chart
I have 4 children and all of them were birthed without medication. The method I used was "natural childbirth"
I would recommend researching the risks associated with epidurals.
There is no such thing as a local anesthesia. As long as you realize that your baby is getting the drugs that you are getting and does not have the same liver as you do. (He/she has to remove the drugs from it's body and this can take twice as long as it does for you).
Studies have shown that epidurals interfere with the birth process. Just google a youtube video of an epidural birth and a natural birth and compare.
Good luck in your decision
Susan
It is important to do your research on all of your options during labor so that you are comfortable with your decisions when the time comes. For example, an epidural isn't the only option for pain management. Know what else is available.
It isn't fair for anyone to judge another woman's birth experience. Everyone experiences labor differently, and what works for one may not work for another. Also, there are a zillion extenuating circumstances where the benefits of certain necessary medical interventions far outweigh the risks. It drives me crazy when people don their high and mighty "natural method" caps. My own sister told me that I couldn't possibly know the pain she felt during childbirth because I had an epi. My SIL also told me that delivering my 7lb 14oz baby with drugs was "nothing" compared to her drugfree delivery with her 9.5lb baby. Um, excuse me? Seriously, don't judge and don't keep score.
For the record, my daughter was not damaged by my epi. She was perfectly alert, not at all druggy, and nursed like a champ right away.
Sorry, end of hormonal rant!
Here's a quote I came across some time ago that sums it up beautifully:
"Whatever way birth happens, it is your rite of passage into motherhood, and that passage is to be celebrated...Every mother's birth experience is valid, and an act of courage." Ananda Lowe, "The Doula Guide to Birth"
I reeeeeally tried to go natural, because I like to think I'm tough... but that back labor wore me down. When I was faced with a possible c-section after 43 hours, I immediately got the epidural and do not regret it at all. I ended up going from 1 to 10cm in less than an hour!
I did tear my cervix. And I had WEIRD headaches (this is coming from a 20-year migraine sufferer) and pain at the injection site for 8 weeks. My current doc says the headaches weren't from the epidural, but I have to disagree.
I know I said I don't regret getting the epi with DD, but I will probably avoid it this time.
I went into my labor with DS thinking that I would play it by ear and if the pain got to me, I would ask for an epi, but if I was tolerating it well, then I wouldn't. Well I went from no contrax to contrax every 2 minutes in less than an hour. I never got time to adjust to the contrax, and as soon as I got the chance I asked for the epi. For me, the epi was great. I was able to sleep, and was very relaxed. I didn't like that my legs were so numb I couldn't even lift them, but it was better than the contrax pain. If I had insisted, I am sure they would have turned the epi down for me.
I ended up with an emergency csection due to shoulder dystocia. I had also had an episiotomy because his shoulders didn't get stuck until after his head was out.
As for recovery, I wish I had been able to deliver vaginally. I would take an episiotomy or a terrible tear any day over a c-section if I could. That being said I will be having a repeat c-section this time, because I cannot risk repeating the scenario that happened with my DS. It took me a long time to come to terms with that, but now I am looking forward to the predictability of the csection, even though I will have to recover again, at least this time I won't have an episiotomy, too. It isn't the ideal situation, but I did it once before, and I know I can do it again.
BFP 12/19/08- DS born 8/25/09 9lbs2oz via Zavanelli Maneuver
BFP 8/26/11- Missed miscarriage discovered 10/19/11 at 11w2d, measured at 9 weeks gestation w/ no HB. D&C 10/21/11
BFP 3/17/12 at 12dpo CP 3/21/12
BFP 4/23/12 at 10dpo Stick my little one! Beta #1: 83.3 @ 13dpo Beta #2: 197.7 @ 15dpo
Our little man is getting bigger every day!
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With my first I had an epidural. It was wonderful, I didn't have any of the negative SE's that some experience (spinal headache, back pain).
With my twins I had a scheduled c/s due to breech presentation. It wasn't bad. I was TERRIFIED, but it wasn't really any worse than my vaginal birth.
This pg I'd like to possibly go natural. I'm considering taking Bradley classes. I still don't think I'd do the whole L&D with no pain meds or epidural, but maybe I could make it further. If I experience back labor, baby is sunny side up, or they give me pitocin again to regulate my contractions like the first time, I will immediatley opt for the epidural.
No matter what birthing method you choose, you need to be flexible, no matter what you plan, things in one way or another probably won't go according to plan. In the end, the most important thing is that you and your baby are healthy. As long as there are no major complications, drugs/no drugs, vaginal/c-section, you come out with the same prize in the end. Good luck with your decision.
GSx1 - 05/13/2013
GSx2 for T&B - EDD 6/21/2015 - They're having a GIRL!
Is there a special class that all older women go to that teaches them to all say the same crap to us? (dont be a hero
)
Being induced bothered me. I think it messed with my body alot. I didnt feel that high or that instant bond. I had a horrible go at BFing though, so that might have hurt it to.
The epidural was fabulous. I am a slow laborer and went 3 days of heavy contractions that did nothing so when I was induced and they broke my water- I was done. That epi saved my sanity
It made me sick, but I didnt feel a dang thing. Id take again in a heartbeat. I dont feel like any less than a hero. I carried my baby to 41wks, had a huge, healthy boy vaginally, and I felt great.
Make a pregnancy ticker
With DD, my water broke first and contractions started almost immediately afterwards. 27 hours later, no sufficient progress. Upon MW recommendation I was put on Oxytocin to get things moving and got the Epi so I could get a few hours of sleep and have the energy to push when the time came. None of these things were on my birth plan, but at the end of the 40-hour labor I had a happy & healthy baby. That's all that really matters to me.
This time I plan on going natural. With that being said, I now understand that interventions are sometimes necessary and in my baby's best interest. I'll prepare myself the best I can though!
I had an unmediated natural birth with my son and plan to do the same this time. I wouldn't call it easy or pleasent but it was right for me. I have an issue with needles and with being out of control, I was terrified of having an epidural and would much rather feel what my body/baby are experiencing than to feel trapped or unaware.
I suggest you think about the possibility of all the options. Think about what comes with each one and then put those experiences in order of what you would most prefer. i.e. I prefer to have control of my body more than I want to be without discomfort. Then see how your preferences line up with the various birth options.
It really isn't about being a hero, it's about being honest and true to who you are.
I had a med-free birth and an epidural. I enjoyed both the same, in different ways. The epidural allowed me a lot more rest and to be more awake after giving birth so it was easier for me to nurse right away. The epidural was turned almost off during the pushing. The med-free birth allowed me to be more in touch with my body during the labour. I don't think it's necessary but some women might like it.
I am going in this time open. I'll look into hypnobabies and see what happens. If I decide I want the epidural I'll use it. I know my body is made for birth and I know I can do it but it's a choice and I'll make that choice as I see fit.
I am a firm believer in women making the choice that's right for them whatever that is.