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3rd Trimester
Clicky Poll: Epi or Natural?
I'm pretty sure I'm going with the epidural, but sometimes I feel like I'm a minority amongst all you natural laborers! I'm curious to see who is pro-epi and who is all-natural...
FWIW, our childbirth instructor said that 90% of laboring mothers at our hospital get an epidural. It sure doesn't feel like 90% of us on this board are pro-drugs!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Clicky Poll: Epi or Natural?
I've asked a bunch of friends of mine who are OBs (either residents or attendings) if they'd get an epidural when they have kids and they ALL said yes. They can't understand why anyone would try to deliver naturally.
I just thought it was interesting that they were ALL so adamantly in favor of epidurals. I guess if someone asked me if I'd ever get a tooth filled without novocaine I'd say no way... but dental anesthesia is definitely not as much of a debate as epidurals...
dental anesthesia doesn't have as many downsides as an epi. There are down sides to getting an epidural.
A kiss he will never forget- Disney World 2014
Tell that to my patient who bit through his tongue while numb.
But yeah, I totally get what you're saying.
I'd like to see how long I can labor naturally, because I do think that epis can start you down a path that, statistically, can lead to a c-section, which I really don't want. (no not everyone, but statistically, an epi can lead to stalling of labor, which can lead to pitocin, which can drop baby's heart rate, which means get the baby out asap = c-section.)
However, I'm not opposed to the epi if/when I need it -- I'll ask for it. You don't get any medals or prizes for going natural. I'd just like to delay the epi as long as I can.
Yep, my best friend is an OB and she is 100% about epidurals. They have a totally different viewpoint to midwives, I think. I'm not telling her my plan to go naturally because we're just approaching these things differently and I only want to focus on my goals and experiences, not her horror stories!
I'm all for the Epidural. Before I had my first baby, I said I would wait and see how it goes. Well, that all changed after I went into labor and my water broke - then the contractions were so painful, I couldn't take the pain. I begged for the Epidural. It was sweet relief.
I give credit to women who can do it au natural. I find it amazing. I admit to having a low pain threshold.
Things can change so fast that I think everyone should be prepared for all types of labor and delivery just in case.
I had an epidural with DS and I had an amazing labor and delivery. It was relaxed and beautiful and amazing all at once.
With DD I developed a blood clot in my leg at 30 weeks. I ended up having to be induced with Pitocin due to a liver issue at 38 weeks. I wasn't allowed to have an epidural because of the blood thinners I was on. DD's labor and delivery were tough, painful, traumatic, awful... I could go on and on. I do not remember it as a good experience at all. That could have been WAY different had I not been induced but I had no choice in the matter if I wanted to live and I wanted DD to live.
No epi for me. Didn't have one with DD either & so glad I didn't, I don't think it would have been worth it, it wasn't even that painful to me.
I think it makes a difference when you say you'll "try" then it's always that option in the back of your mind through your labor. It wasn't an option for me (it was at the hospital, but it wasn't for ME).
DD2: Lucia (Lucy) 07/13
Same. Not even an option at the birthing center, which is awesome because I don't want one, but would be afraid of my willpower if it WAS an option
Not trying to be a martyr, but I think au natural is the best birth experience according to all the mom's I've talked to/read about.
This.
::cue "but it's better for the baaaabbbby!!!11"::
this.
at our childbirth class for #1 a whole bunch of women said they were going to try to go med-free (myself included). Now that i've been through it, I think when people say they will "see how things go" they generally end up with the epi. you have to take time to purposely prepare your body and your mind to labor without pain meds, and most people who "see how it goes" don't do enough preparation because they don't really mind one way or the other. i did get an epi, and i was ok with it at the time.
this time i feel like i have a real incentive/reason behind wanting to go med-free and i've spent a lot more time to prepare myself for it.
Im going natural, with the help of a doula. A good friend of mine is an L&D nurse and she gave me some good advice about going med free: if you make the decision BEFORE labor, and prepare for birth with that mind set, you are much more likely to succeed in avoiding an epi. In her experience, women who were undecided or hadn't prepared were highly likely to get the meds, even if it wasn't what they thought they had wanted.
Obviously this isn't true for everyone, but I'm preparing like hell for it.
I asked me OB what she would do and she said that she would def get an epi. She has a lot of respect for women who try it without, but she said most of her patients who try for natural end up screaming for it.
I find the novacain comparison interesting. And to the person who responded, there are downfalls to novacain and gas....If I want novacain I have to take a beta blocker because it speeds up my heart. But its worth it....I wouldn't dream of getting a cavity filled without it.
No kidding! Lets not forget who benefits from a very high epidural rate...the hospital HAS to have a high epidural rate to keep anesthesiologists busy...and the hospitals are bringing in the $$$. The cost of your epidural jacks up the price of your labor significantly.
I personally hate the term "going natural". I think birth is natural no matter how it happens and I think that term leads some women to feel like they've failed when they don't go "natural".
That said, my goal is to go epi-free/med-free. We have a doula. I still have no idea how it will go but I have more confidence in myself with her assistance. Our epidural rate is 90% at our hospital also.