I have always thought and knew I was ok with an epidural... never thought other wise. But I was just watching a natural birth and thought... "I can do that". I am not trying to decide. I just don't want to say I will then flake out. I will feel like a failure. Any suggestions or advice?
Re: Torn...
if you want to have a natural birth, you really need to do your reading and decide that you can do it and find how you will deal with your pain (music, massage, etc)
I'm planning on going natural (also planning a home birth) but if I go to the hospital I know there are somethings I DO NOT WANT unless ABSOLUTELY necessary because they will make your pain worse thus necessitating (typically) an epidural. among other interventions.
Yeah they do. I just don't want to feel like a failure if I decide to go with natural and then need meds.
Me too. When I was visiting my SIL in the hospital, I heard a girl in the next room giving birth w/o drugs and this poor girl sounded like she was dying. That kinda scared me. I'm okay with getting an epi. I'm going to go with the flow and see how I feel.
I'm just starting to seriously think about it as well. I had a conversation with one of the guys at work today who described how his wife went through an all natural labor twice with his kids. He said his wife took the pain really well with the first (which took 25 hours), and the second was really difficult and painful (2 hours). But he said both of his kids came out very alert when they were born.
I have mixed feelings, and need to do some research and talk to my OB. But a big part of me wants the bragging rights to say that I did it and I didn't wimp out and mess with drugs. Then again, millions of women use drugs and have perfectly healthy babies - so why put yourself through that?
Big decision....the first of many on this roller coaster we are all on.