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September 2011 Moms
who is doing an epi-free birth?
Last night me and DH were talking about labor and he said "you're not getting an epidural, right?". Im not sure if he was serious or not, he likes to joke around alot and I can never tell when he is serious.
We hadnt really talked much about this before but up until this point I had just thought I would definately get an epidural. Now im not sure. Since last night, I have been thinking about the possibility of going med-free. My nurse said the dr would be talking to me about this around week 34 or 36.
Who is planning to go med free? What kind of birthing classes have you done? I know this is something I cant just decide"ok im going to do this" and needs to have some thought, but I wanted to get some other peoples advice/experience with this decision
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Re: who is doing an epi-free birth?
bumping from my phone so forgive the lack of caps and punctuaction other than periods.
i am planning on trying for a med free birth. dh and i are taking bradley classes. at first i was pretty much gung ho epi but then did some research and decided that if i can work without it i would rather do that. if i do end up needing it i wont beat myself up about it though. in the end the goal is a healthy baby. though with all the prep dh and i are doing i have some confidence that i can get through it.
check out the natural birthing boards if you havent already for stories and other methods the ladies are using.
I'm in the same boat sista! ...I had always assumed I'd get one, and now the mister is like "just go without", yeah like it's soooo easy. I want to go natural, so I'm just mentally preparing, I'm not taking any special classes... and then at the same time if I absolutely can't handle it, there's ALWAYS the epidural.
I think sometimes people set themeselves up for failure by saying "I'm going ALL natural, NO meds, NO MATTER WHAT" and then they're in the delivery room dying, they get an epi, and hate themselves for it.
My motto right now is "if I go natural GREAT, if not... FINE"
I did not have an epi with DD, not by choice however as I really wanted one. (Long story short ...all-of-a-sudden it was too late to get one..) I was young and hadn't taken any type of birthing class (not saying I recommend this). I will tell you it was painful and tiring and seemed at the time like it was never going to end, yet it all worked out. At some point my body just took over and made it all happen. I will also say that looking back, I think that it may have been easier if I had taken classes, at least then I would have known what to expect. I still haven't fully decided what Im going to do this time around, but there's a big part of me that says if I can do it once, I can do it again!
Do you have any specific questions?
Two things you should know, probably - unless you have a really low pain tolerance, by the time you really think you can't take any more, you're in transition, so you're probably less than an hour away from pushing. This means by the time they get the epi in, you'll be in the pushing stage so it'll almost be over anyway!
If you end up having to be induced, the contractions are much, much more painful, and well, then, more power to the epi!
I'm a FTM, and I'm TRYING my best to stick to the mindset of "never say never". With that in mind, I am hoping to go med-free. I've been taking midwife lead classes at our hospital here (we live in Abu Dhabi, but the hospital is full of mostly British midwives/Indian doctors) and the midwife that leads the classes is very Ina May Gaskin like. I just finished reading "Ina May's Guide to Childbirth" and full heartedly recommend it to anyone hoping to go med-free.
I'm trying to keep an open mind in order to not somehow be disappointed in myself should I choose an epidural (or not be able to resist the nitrous oxide machine that is free flowing in each birthing room) and my husband better support my decision no matter what... or else!
Good luck to you mamas!
thanks ladies. My thought was if I decide I dont want an epidural and it gets to be too much, I can always get the epi.
two years ago I got a tattoo and you would have thought I was dying. that is what really makes me think i wouldnt beable to handle it
I have a very low pain tolerance, but I'm going to try for a med-free birth this time. I had horrible back labor with DS#1, and I pretty much just gave up on myself... I wasn't disappointed in myself or anything, I just know I didn't really try.
I ended up being in labor for around 10 hours, but I pushed for over 3. I think if I didn't have the epi I probably would not have pushed for so long. In the end, the had to turn the epi off, and during the actual delivery, I had no pain meds. It wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be, and by that point the pain is a second thought... you just want him out!
This time around, I'm going to try for a med-free, but I definitely want the option to have demerol or an epi available. If I do get an epi, I'll probably have them turn it off when I go into transition.
That's exactly what my mom told me! She told me that once you make it to the point of no return, you're still in pain but you are good to go for a natural birth and your body takes over.
I'm in kind of a unique situation. If all goes well and there are no complications, I will be giving birth at a free-standing birthing center (not affiliated with a hospital), and an epi will not be available. So if I decide I truly can't take it and I really need the epi, that means a transfer to the hospital. So chances are that even if I'm screaming obscenities at my midwife, I'm not going to have an epi.
We will start classes at the birthing center next month that are taught by my midwife's assistant. I'm also reading through "Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way," and DH and I are going to read "The Birth Partner," which will focus on his role in supporting me through labor and birth.
We are going to (hopefully, as long as everything goes as planned) be birthing at a certified birth center in our area. There is no epi option at the BC, so Ive been prepping for a med free birth since about 15 weeks.
I had my first one with no epi, however I had an IV and some drugs (that I have no idea what they were) in my IV. With my first, I learned to know exactly what you want, and have someone in the birth room to advocate on your behalf - my shift nurses were fighting me about epi, drugs, ect and while I was laboring I eventually consented to the drug part - even though it wasnt in my plan.
Ive been doing a LOT of research about natural birth. Knowing the stages of labor (i hope) will help - knowing that when you think you cannot take it any more, your body is getting ready for the grand finale). Ive researched different methods of laboring, and read a LOT of natural/home birth stories to find what worked for people in the moment. Going natural seems to be 85% mental.
Also, what works for me is reading the benefits of going natural. I would never, ever, ever judge anyone who chose another way (and, sometimes I think Im crazy for not getting the drugs!), but there are some benefits to choosing a med free birth.
I agree with PP?s - I have a birth plan that Im prepping for and hope to follow. However, I will NOT feel like a failure if I dont get to follow the plan. The main goal is safe and healthy baby, so if I have to transfer to the hospital, have a C-section, meds, whatever - as long as the munchkin is safe then I dont care how he gets here
Sorry if this was really long, its been something Ive thought about a lot! The natural birth boards are another great resource! Good luck!
Love is multiplied: DS #1: 1.5.99 ~ DS #2: 9.23.11 ~ DD 8.29.13
m/c 11/12/12 - sleep tight baby bean.
Bitty Baby #4, please stick around - we already love you so very much!
Ultrasound 11/4 - TWO HEARTBEATS!!!
I'm planning on going med-free/epi-free. I just keep reminding myself that of course I can do it, if women couldn't do it we wouldn't exist! In the vast majority of cases it's not about can or can't, it's just a personal comfort choice not a life or death matter. For me it's more of a control issue. With an epi you can't get up and move, which freaks me out and hinders the success of a vaginal birth. We're not designed to give birth lying on our backs, which is required after an epi.
I'm a FTM too, but we're doing a couple things to help us stay med free. I think that preparing your husband/partner to support you is really important, which is why we're doing Bradley classes. We're also getting a doula, which makes me feel really optimistic. Some things you might check out if you want to go without an epi.
My plan is to go med free.
We have started the child birthing classes that the hospital offers, and it's informative, but I've also bought some books off Amazon to read and I am watching some of the free videos offered by lamaze.org. I also practice relaxation techniques and work on the muscles that they recommend strengthening.
I will be doing my best to have a med-free birth.
I feel lucky because I'll be giving birth at a birth center within an excellent hospital, which means that I will be attended by midwives and a doula who will be doing everything they can do support a natural, med-free birth, but, if needed, i can always be moved to the labor and delivery unit if I end up needing meds or other interventions.
I have taken an eight hour childbirth prep class (offered by my birth center), am also reading Ina May Gaskin's Guide to Childbirth (mentioned above), and am planning to take a lamaze class that's about 18 hours long in order to practice pain management techniques more.
Having a doula present at yoru birth greatly increases your chances of succeeding at a med-free birth, so you may want to look into that. I also agree 100% with PP who said that your the more your husnband is involved and prepared, the better. Support from others is crucial, I think.
I am also doing my best to keep up with a prenatal routine that strengthens muscles that I will be using in childbirth. My midwives have said that this can greatly reduce the length of your labor, and that sounds good to me!
I also am trying for a med free child birth. I am going through hypnobabies self training program, and in addition to that DH and I are going to get a couple private sessions with an instructor in our home after I've completed the training. I think what is most important is to go into it with an open mind, don't be naive to the fact that this IS going to hurt, and like pp said usually when you think you can't handle it is when you are almost all done with it!
I've taken the time to do my reading and have even read up on the Bradley method and then on HypnoBirthing as well. My main plan is to just try and do most of my laboring at home where I think I will be most comfortable and I won't be feeling pressure to move things along. I want the freedom to move and bend and bounce and be in a shower if I want to and an epi or IV really don't allow for as much freedom.
My biggest fear is having to be induced and I am trying to mentally prepare for the fact that it could happen. I also plan on talking to my OB at my next appt and making sure how far she would let me go as long as LO and I are healthy of course. I also will be trying every trick in the book once my due date comes and goes...accupuntcture, massage, spicy eggplant goo, whatever will bring it on!
Good luck to you in your journey of making this decision. I really feel like you just know if this is something meant for you to do. If you have any questions don't hesitate to PM me or go to the Natural Birth board. They are full of SO much wisdom and support over there!
DS was a med-free birth. I went in with the we'll see what we can do ... but I would like to stay med-free if possible approach. I did have a Doula - and I can't say enough good things about her. Without her, I am sure I would not have the same positive experience that I did have. She was amazing ... and I would highly recommend using a Doula if you want a med-free delivery.
I didn't use it, but I have also heard great things about Hypnobabies and similar techniques.
Going into this birth with the same we'll wait and see approach.
My goal is definitely to go natural. We switched from an OB to a midwife at 24 weeks because I wasn't comfortable that I would be fully supported for natural birth with an OB, at least not with the one I had. The midwifery practice still does deliveries at the hospital, but they are well-established and respected there and the nurses and staff know what their patients are looking for. They also offer water birth at the hospital, which I'm really excited about. We've hired a doula who will do one-on-one sessions with us preparing us for labor, going through pain management techniques and what not. I'm also pretty good at compartmentalizing and pushing through pain as a marathoner.
I'm also doing reading. Ina May Gaskin's Guide To Childbirth was FANTASTIC. I also read Pushed, and now I'm reading Henci Goer's The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth.
I'm trying to strike a balance between being prepared but not obsessively so, if that makes any sense at all. I want to go into it with my goals and desires set, but also open-minded enough that if things don't go according to plan I won't be disappointed. We'll see how that works out.
I'm in the same situation. I'm preparing for a natural birth with very little possiblity of meds. We decided that this was the best thing for me after consulting doctors about my scoliosis (which doesn't always pose a threat to getting an epi but does for me) and I'm in a Bradley method birthing class so I'm learning about other ways to cope with the pain via that. Plus my birthing center has the option of water birth which can help with pain management so I'm really looking forward to that.
I, too, hope to do an epi-free birth. I've heard they don't always work, and I've also heard some horror stories (friend who needed spinal surgery afterwards).
If things are really bad, or if there is some danger to me or the baby, then I'm open to medication. Otherwise, I'd prefer to try to deal with the pain.
When I was younger, I had a pretty serious medical condition that caused excruciating abdominal pain, so hopefully I know how to power through things.
With DD I did not get an epi, but did get pain meds toward the end. I can't remember the names right now, but the first pain med they gave me didn't really do much, but the second one allowed me to rest for a second in between the really bad contractions. It never took the pain completely away, but allowed me to be able to tolerate them. I never really gave the epi a thought until it was too late to get it.
This time around I am planning on doing the same thing. I have problems with herniated discs & am nervous that administering the epi would cause additional problems. So, hopefully I can tolerate it again this time, with only getting the pain meds.
Even if you don't get an epi, there are other options for controlling pain.
I had an epi with my first two but my third came too fast for any medication so I had him all natural. I am planning on going natural with this one.
My experience with #1 was, I just wanted the epi and had it. With #2, she was induced and it hurt like heck so I couldn't wait to get it. #3 freaked me because he was coming so fast and I had never experienced this so I was scared but overall, for me, it wasn't that bad or painfull so I am okay to do it again. Mind you it was painful but only for a short time (literally delivered less than an hour of getting to hospital).
I think you should go in with a "plan" but be fully willing to deviate whichever way. DH doesn't get to dictate medication or not, he's not the one feeling and pushing it.