Are you going natural/unmedicated? Clicky.

whyhellopoppyseed · June 2011

Just getting a clear idea on who's deciding against or for pain medication during labor

[Poll]

TheDuckis · June 2011

No epidural for me, but that has more to do with my insane fear of needles than anything else. I hope to get through delivery needle free, because I know if there's an IV in my arm I'm not going to be able to think past it long enough to push.

jason&robin · June 2011

I made it to 7 cm with DD. We'll see what happens this time. I really would rather not feel the ring of fire so I will probably get another epi but I will wait as long as I can so I can walk and move around more. The walking and sitting up helped a lot.

rebelina1 · June 2011

I am having a scheduled c-section so no choice for me.

DEBBIE33CASEY · June 2011

I went as long as I could with DD before getting the epi but I was only 5-6 cm when i gave in. I was hoping I could've made it a little longer but it hurt

LOL

Asent08 · June 2011

I am hoping to go all natural. If it takes a super long time, though, I may do some IV meds, but no epidural. I want to be able to move around and walk. I'm scared of the epi having negative results on the baby too.

califorever81 · June 2011

I'm really nervous about giving in and getting and epi with this delivery because I will be in the hospital. I got epis with all 3 of my hospital births because I knew they were available and didn't think I could do it. With my last, I didn't have a choice, thus never wanted anything, he was a home birth. I just really hope, now armed with the knowledge that I CAN do it, I won't cave!

eilatan&nhoj88 · June 2011

I made it to 2 hours before delivery last time and they told me I was only halfway thru. They gave me staydol and I had a bad reaction with severe dizziness and being in and out of consciousness. If I had known I was so close I never would have got it. This time I am going med free unless I have back labor because that is the worst for me, but I'm not getting an epidural.

MrsLeanna · June 2011

I honestly had a 5 hour induction with epidural and zero negative effects. With my epi, I was still able to move my legs and feel pressure and know when to push. I had an extremely positive birth experience and have no problem being induced again (if necessary), but I'll definitely get an epidural.

mamacrunch · June 2011

because ive had an epi before i know they are wonderful a big thumps up to the women who go no meds but give me the needle

shortstuff15 · June 2011

I will try to go epi free, but I have no desire to go unmedicated. I had an epi last time and it was great, but I won't do it unless I have to. I'll go for laughing gas first because that helped hugely last time, but my husband could smell it too and it was doing weird things to him!

mamacrunch · June 2011

MrsLeanna:
I honestly had a 5 hour induction with epidural and zero negative effects. With my epi, I was still able to move my legs and feel pressure and know when to push. I had an extremely positive birth experience and have no problem being induced again (if necessary), but I'll definitely get an epidural.

i hope i have that luck this time my experience w my epi i couldnt move my legs and everytime i had to potty the nurse and dh had to lift me to get bedpan under me

A S-ski · June 2011

TheDuckis:
No epidural for me, but that has more to do with my insane fear of needles than anything else. I hope to get through delivery needle free, because I know if there's an IV in my arm I'm not going to be able to think past it long enough to push.

Will you be giving birth in a hospital? Most hospitals/Dr's won't let you do a thing without getting an IV started and giving you fluids, even if you plan on going med free.

shortstuff15 · June 2011

A S-ski:

TheDuckis:
No epidural for me, but that has more to do with my insane fear of needles than anything else. I hope to get through delivery needle free, because I know if there's an IV in my arm I'm not going to be able to think past it long enough to push.

Will you be giving birth in a hospital? Most hospitals/Dr's won't let you do a thing without getting an IV started and giving you fluids, even if you plan on going med free.

Not necessarily. I wouldn't have had an IV except for that I got an epi. But I am in Canada and things are done quite differently here!

DEBBIE33CASEY · June 2011

A S-ski:

TheDuckis:
No epidural for me, but that has more to do with my insane fear of needles than anything else. I hope to get through delivery needle free, because I know if there's an IV in my arm I'm not going to be able to think past it long enough to push.

Will you be giving birth in a hospital? Most hospitals/Dr's won't let you do a thing without getting an IV started and giving you fluids, even if you plan on going med free.

This is what I was thinking as well. In our birthing class that was held by our hospital told us in class that they put IV's in EVERYBODY, regardless of their birth plan/medication preference. They said they need the easy access incase they need to put you completely under for an emergency.
I saw an episode of Pregnant In Heels where they tried to help a lady get over her fear of needles b/c she was so freaked about the IV as well. Maybe you can try to do something to make you more comfortable with the idea (assuming you're giving birth in a place where they have the same practice).

TheDuckis · June 2011

A S-ski:
TheDuckis:
No epidural for me, but that has more to do with my insane fear of needles than anything else. I hope to get through delivery needle free, because I know if there's an IV in my arm I'm not going to be able to think past it long enough to push.
Will you be giving birth in a hospital? Most hospitals/Dr's won't let you do a thing without getting an IV started and giving you fluids, even if you plan on going med free.

At the moment I'm planning on delivering at the hospital. I do plan to have a long talk with my doctor about this at my next appointment, and if she's going to insist on an IV, I'll find a midwife/birth center. The way I figure it they can't get an IV into my arm if I don't let them, and if they try I will stand up and tell them I'd rather go deliver in my car.

Seriously, just thinking about this gives me panic attacks. I've only in the last few years gotten to the point where I can have blood drawn without passing out, but I can. not. handle IVs. It will have to be life or death for me to consent.

ETA: To give you an idea of how crazy I am: Last January I had a kidney stone that didn't pass for a full month. I lived in constant pain, and was in the dr's office twice a week. They could have removed it surgically in about a 5 minute procedure, but I wouldn't do it because I didn't want the anesthesia. My Dr. let me go (probably because she got to bill me for every visit) as long as I didn't develop an infection. Then one Friday she told me the thing was coming out the next Monday, like it or not. I passed it that night, thank God.

CalMum_Momma · June 2011

I will be getting an epidural, because it's what my OB recommends highly for any VBAC delivery. Absolutely NO WAY are they giving me narcotics again though! They really messed me up. My BP plummetted, and I suspect that DS's shallow respirations at birth were also due to the narcotics, so epidural yes, but "drugs" no.

Mistym05 · June 2011

I am giving birth at a birthing center so I'll have no option. I'm hoping the birthing tub helps with pain.

n&bcarlson · June 2011

I had an epidural with DD at it was wonderful. I will gladly do it again. The only thing is, you can't walk around after it's administered, so you don't want it too soon. I had a 50 hour delivery (induced at 38 weeks- it took a while) and had the epidural for the last 12 hours. It actually allowed me to sleep for a good six hours, which was fantastic. I was scared of the needle idea, too, but it was really quick and just no big deal as it turned out.

whyhellopoppyseed · June 2011

About the IV being a requirement, some hospitals allow you to just have a heplock, which I'll have! I plan on moving around alot and hopefully not strapped to the bed like last time. I plan on laboring at home as LONG as possible so I hopefully will be too late to even be tempted. And I'm instructing my doula to keep those nurses with needles far away! Haha.

VABride2008 · June 2011

I went pain-medication free with my first, but I did have a round of pitocin and they broke my water. Some would technically say that's not "all natural" but good enough for me.

I hope to avoid the pitocin this time around.

utilaprincess01 · June 2011

I chose "I might take some meds but no epidural." That's my goal and I really hope that I can do it, but I don't have anything agaist epidurals....If I really can't take the pain, I'll get one

ChenoaF · June 2011

Mistym05:
I am giving birth at a birthing center so I'll have no option. I'm hoping the birthing tub helps with pain.

I'm also in the midst of getting changed over to a birthing center so there will be no choice on the epi and most likely no IV unless I can't keep any fluids down for some reason.

whyhellopoppyseed · June 2011

AndieD6709:
IDK why I can't vote on the clicky polls lately. Very irritating. But I probablly won't have a choice. With multiples, even if I am able to give birth to one naturally, something could happen with the other and they'd have to do an emergency c section. So, I know that they'll make me get an epidural.

Well at least you know that way ahead of time and can prepare!!

caramel hottie · June 2011

Homebirth for me. Smile

FYI, if you don't want an IV, you can always get a heplock instead.....

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