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3rd Trimester
kcl22
member
What's your birth plan (pain med-wise)
kcl22
member
I had my childbirth class over the weekend. I'd always planned on getting an epidural when the time comes. Knowing myself I think I'll be overwhelmed by everything going on and I'd like to be mentally present during the process rather than focusing on the pain. This is my first baby so I can't say for sure either way how I'll actually react.
So at the class they showed a video with the positive and negative experiences of epidural (just for information, the instructor had no bias). One woman really enjoyed having the epidural and thought it was great. The other woman said she hated it because she felt very out of control of her body. And she complained about being stuck in bed for two hours after the baby was born waiting for it to wear off. For whatever reason that aspect hadn't even occured to me. I'm weighing each side now, do I want to be in pain or not be able to move to some extent?
At this point I'm keeping an open mind either way; if I go into labor and find the pain managable I'll try to tough it out, or get a systemic pain med administered. If not I won't be disappointed in myself if I get an epidural. I don't want to get my heart set on any one thing because I know it's totally unpredictable. Just curious what others are planning and why?
I have to admit if I made it med free I'd feel like a bad @ss! The instructor at this class said if she had to estimate she'd say only about 15% end up going totally natural (not including induction meds) in this particular hospital
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Re: What's your birth plan (pain med-wise)
Epidural please! I had one with DD, and I wasn't even in pain yet. My water broke while I was at the hospital, and I about had a panic attack anticipating pain. My nurse sensed my anxiety and asked if I wanted an epidural. I'm a huge baby with low pain tolerance, but I don't regret my decision at all. More power to the ladies that do it naturally, but I never had any desire whatsoever to do it.
Brady Phoenix, 8.29.09
Claire Zoe, 10.26.10
When I took a childbirth class with a doula with my first, she said that if I was going to have any medical pain management, I should get an epidural as opposed to the narcotics they put in your IV (like stadol or demerol). She said that babies whose moms get narcotics are much more sluggish because the narcotic goes straight into your bloodstream, whereas with an epidural a lot less of the drug gets to the baby.
I wanted to go natural with my first. I was induced and survived 5 of 7 hours without the epidural, but it was a MIRACLE drug! It was annoying to have weak legs for a couple of hours, but let's face it - it's not like you really want to be up jumping around an hour after your baby is born.
I'm going to try and go natural again, but if I decide I want the epidural, I'll get it!
What Are Your Thoughts on Tap Dancing Penguins?
It sounds like you have a good attitude already, and I also think there's something to be said about waiting as long as possible to get an epidural - it's less likely to slow down labor if you get it later on. Have you looked into other ways to deal with labor? It's worthwhile to plan on ways to cope if you do want to wait and see on the epidural. hth!
DS2 - Oct 2010 (my VBAC baby!)
Keep up with me @ Koala Fuzz
Actually now that you say that I'm remembering a few things the instructor said. She tried to cater to everyone as far as options but she seemed more enthusiastic about the natural approach. She did mention waiting as long as possible for the epidural for that very reason. I think going through a few hours of labor might serve as the rite of passage I'm looking for as far as childbirth!
SO wants me to go natural (HA!) he's not pushing it or anything but I know he thinks it'd be awesome if I could. I'm going to do some reading on breathing techniques and I plan to utilize music. I have severe anxiety about plane travel and I need to listen to pink floyd dark side of the moon (random) to get through it. It's become my routine for flying. I might do that in early labor!
Epidural!
I had one with DD1, it was heaven. I'm planning on one this time as well unless I go crazy fast and don't have time for one.
We are hoping for med-free and working hard toward that goal by doing the 12 weeks of Bradley classes to "train" my body and mind to know how to deal with the pain. I am psyched to have my body (hopefully) do what it is (optimally) designed to do.
If you think med-free might be a goal for you, know that people who prepare and learn pain-management techniques are vastly more successful at sticking to med-free that those who just wait and see how much pain they can handle.
More Green For Less Green
2 beautiful children
proud mommy!
This is exactly my plan too.
I had an epidural with my first, and it was a very good experience. I could move around fine, I totally felt the contractions and the sensation of the baby emerging and I walked to the bathroom after getting my stitches without a problem.
I went med free with my second, which was also an excellent experience. I felt absolutely awesome immediately after the delivery - very energized and happy (it was 3:30am).
They were both good experiences. My only regret with having the epi is that I got it at 10cm (didn't know I was 10cm but when I moved to sit on the edge of the bed to have the needle put in, I had the urge to push - I didn't tell anyone because I thought they wouldn't give me the epi!) and then pushed for 2 hours - the first 90 minutes of which was very, very unproductive. While the pain relief was incredible, I was frustrated with the pushing. Had I known it would be 10 more contractions or 20 more contractions or whatever, I think I could have gritted my teeth through it. The 'unknown' is what scared me.
You will be very proud of yourself if you go med free. I'll do it again.
You can read about my birth experience above -- I had an epidural and love love LOVED it. I cannot speak highly enough about it. I didn't have a "permanent" catehter -- they just came by and did a catheter urine drain every time they thought my bladder was filling. You aren't immobile forever -- I was up and at 'em a few hours later, with just a slight numbness in one leg -- I assure you I would have been immobile far longer if I'd had to go through any more hours of the kind of labor pains I was having pre-epi. And how mobile do you need to be -- what are you going to do, run a marathon? All you do is sit around and hold your baby.
I had NO side effects at all, and my baby was great. My labor was great, and I was able to relax and enjoy the experience because I didn't have to deal with the pain. It actually made me push more effectively, I think, because I could just concentrate on the pushing.
I went into this with a "for each their own" attitude, and now I'm baffled why anyone would choose otherwise. (Please don't flame -- I know the reasons people choose natural -- I took a Lamaze class and they tried to beat my desire for an epi out of me -- but it just seems like no comparison now that I've seen both sides.)
FWIW, I feel no less sense of accomplishment because I got pain meds. I don't feel weak or like I don't deserve something or don't have some badge of pain. I had an AWESOME birth experience, in large part because I had the epi and could enjoy myself.