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Babies: 0 - 3 Months
baby_mama88
member
2nd timers...epi vs natural anyone done both?
baby_mama88
member
Just wondering if anyone had done it both ways, and if so, what did you like/dislike about it? Which one did you like better, ect...anything interesting to consider? TIA
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Re: 2nd timers...epi vs natural anyone done both?
I had an epi with DS#1. I was in labor for 31 hours, developed an infection and was exhausted from the horrible back labor by hour 26. After getting an IV of antibiotics I got the epi. It didn't work well, so they had to re-do it. That really sucked, let me tell you! But - I'm glad I got the epi. I was just too exhausted to go without, as I had wanted to.
Baby #2 was born with no medication at all, pain or otherwise, and minimal intervention. I felt so amazingly good! It went quickly. I'd had contractions off and on all evening. At 1am I started timing contractions, at 1:30 I woke up DH, at 2am we were at the hospital and at 4:40am he was born. It hurt and it was really hard work, but I felt so great after delivering that I was amazed.
DH and I think we'll have a third baby and I don't intend to use pain medication unless I really need it. I am always open to using it, but I'd rather not. I felt better and recovered faster when I "went natural". It was like night and day.
I will say that every birth is different, so do whatever is right for you. And best of luck!
I went natural with DD. I read lots of books & was very well prepared. I was in labor at home for 12 hrs before heading to the hospital. The contractions were intense but far apart & managable. Got to the hospital at 9cm! Pushing SUCKED but it was pretty fast.
DS was a totally different story. Contractions started at 2pm, left for the hospital at 6pm. Got there at a whopping 3cm. Got the epidural at 4cm @ 8:30pm & had him in less than 1 push at 11:40pm. Thought I was going to die. The contractions were 1 min apart & the worst thing I've felt in the world. None of the relaxation, breathing, changing positions, etc. worked. I was losing my mind. The epi was the best thing in the world at that point. I was scared of it but felt like I didn't have a choice if I was going to live through it all!
I'm not a 2nd timer, but I'll give my two cents anyway.
I went without pain medication and I would do it again in a heart beat. I was up walking around 30 minutes after delivery and I felt great. I never had more than a tylenol my entire stay at the hospital. The natural endorphins really do kick in and pushing was the greatest thing ever for me. I think actually being able to feel where/how to push really helped. The Dr. said she thought I would be pushing for 2+ hours (before she realized I didn't have an epidural) but I ended up only having to push for 30 minutes. The contractions were hard and fast but bearable. I used the birthing ball and walked up until they broke my water (at 5 cm). Good luck in whatever you decide!
I had an epidural the first time...twice actually because it didn't take the first time. I really didn't like the overly medical experience I had (pitocin, epidural, needing pain meds after birth, etc.). Recovery felt long and hard and I had a pretty negative outlook on the experience afterward.
The second time I decided I wanted a different experience and so I educated myself a lot on natural childbirth. I ended up choosing the Hypnobabies self-study course to prepare myself and really loved the experience. Labor/delivery was SO much more enjoyable, recovery was way, way easier, and I have a very positive outlook on the experience.
We're done having children, but if we were having any more I would absolutely choose to go natural again.
I have three experiences to share!
#1: No epidural... labour progressed gradually and was easily manageable until transition, but I got through it without meds. I pushed for 2.5 hours, had vacuum extraction and episiotomy (it was unavoidable, she just would not come out - I personally think her head was too big for me (she was my biggest) - dr. says I was really tight.... they tried everything first - massage, etc.... it just wasn't happening). Very hard recovery, but that's probably because of the episiotomy.
#2: Epidural. Water broke several hours before labour. When contractions started they were crazy intense right off the bat. A few hours into it, I felt the urge to push - went to the hospital and was told I was only 3cm. Made it to 6cm without an epidural, but I was quickly become beyond exhausted from resisting the urge to push, so I opted for the epidural. It worked pretty good, occasionally it would stop working on one side and I'd get a glimpse of what the contractions were really like. I could still feel a lot with the epidural, but everything was manageable and I could breathe through contractions. I pushed for 30min. and tore 1cm. I felt great after, but exhausted. Recovery was super easy.
#3: No epidural. Pain was intense only for about 2 hours....most of which was spent in a vehicle on the way to the hospital (we live an hour away). When I got to the hospital, I was fully dilated. Pushed 10 minutes, small tear. Again, recovery was easy and comparable to my second.
For all three, I prepared for med-free. If we were to have another (we're not), I'd prepare for med-free, but after my second baby - there is no way I'd ever rule out epidural.......
THIS exactly! If the labor was longer for #2 (was only 4 hrs from start of cramping to DD2 arrival) I definitely would have gotten an epi again.
I had both too. #1 was fast so I did it naturally. Went from 6 cm to 9 just walking across the hall. Pushed and done in 20 minutes.
#2 I tried to do it naturally. I wish I had now that the pain is gone. But DD didn't come as fast and DS. I was eight cm and HAD to get an epi. It was taking too long and I wanted to push.
I was highly considering not having more kids after this one just cause it was so painful this pregnancy. But with and epi, labor wasn't so bad, so I'm reconsidering. lol.
After I got the epi, it was time to push. I wish I had tried to hold out.
I sort of had both, let me explain. WIth DD #1 I got the epi at 5 cm and was ready to push an hour later. My epi was so wonderful the only thing I regretted after it was over was that I didn't get it sooner. The doctor and nurses told me I dilated that quickly because the epi helped me relax. So the second time around I was planning on getting to the hospital early to get the epi before I was in a lot of pain so it would be easier to sit still. We got to the hospital at 5:30 am I was 3-4 cm. I told them I would be wanting an epidural. I think it was around 8 am that I finally got the epidural which didn't work because I went from 5 cm to 10 cm in the 20 minutes that I was sitting up having it put it. I only pushed for 10 minutes.
I liked being able to feel the baby come out which I could with the second not so much with the first. I was never scared. I moaned a lot but I never freaked out either. When they told me to push I said I couldn't cause it hurt too bad, but once I started pushing I wasn't in as much pain. The contractions were the absolute worst pain I've ever felt in my life, but it was erased immediately as soon as they handed me the baby. It didn't last that long so I can't say it was that bad (now that it's over). Next time I'll probably skip the epi because I did get numb after delivery, so the epi was kind of a waste for me. I couldn't get out of bed a couple hours because I couldn't feel my legs.
If you're in labor for a long time, I would defintely recommend an epi, if you end up having a fast labor going without the epi is manageable. Good luck!
I have to say, your post gave me hope that I can go natural for my next one. I thought I was just being a wuss, but maybe my first labor was more like your second labor, and hopefully my next one will be more like your first! I wanted to go natural so bad, but after 5 hours of horrible contractions back to back and almost no progression (only a 4 after 5 hours of hard labor), I couldn't take it anymore. I also tried all the methods I'd learned with no relief. Thanks for sharing, and I'm sorry your second labor was so much worse than the first!
I also kind of had both. I prepared to go natural/med-free. I started labor on a Friday evening and by early Monday morning I was still "not even two" centimeters. I was in real labor but DDs head had dropped too far in front of my cervix to dilate it. I transferred to a hospital where I received an epidural and eventually pitocin.
By the time DD was born I was so exhausted and so out of it that I didn't even know what was happening. I wish now that I would have asked to be transferred earlier. However, I was handling the contractions well with the techniques I had learned, so I thought it would eventually...happen. But it didn't.
Next time, I will still prepare to go med-free and if labor runs long again, ask for an epidural. Preparing to go med-free is smart, anyway, because you never know what will happen even if you want an epidural.
DD2 (b. 9/04/2013)
BFP 2/25/12, m/c @ 6w 3d || BFP 8/1/12, m.m/c @ 9w5d