Anybody else worried about pain management??

girley75 · December 2011

So, Ideally I would like to have a natural unmedicated childbirth. That being said, I am a FTM and not exactly sure how I will be able to tolerate the pain. We had our 2nd childbirth class last Wednesday and they went over all of the different types of pain management. I really felt in my heart that I don't want that!! Too many risk factors involved and I don't want continuous interventions...

It just seems that one intervention, can lead to another, can lead to another, can lead to a c-section which is something that I really don't want. For example, if I decide to get an epidural and "don't progress" because it slows my labor, they they may want to give me pitocin, etc. etc. Now I am aware that how my baby comes into this world is not entirely up to me!! I know the plan can always change and the most important thing is to have a healthy baby.

But is anyone else struggling with this?? I don't want to make such a conclusive statement that I will not take anything because this is new to me, and honestly I have no idea how I will handle the pain. Anybody have a natural labor previously that could share their experience?

jewerner · December 2011

My big thing is that I dont want a Csection, and whiel I dont have my heart set on going natural, I also see the chain reaction you mentioned. SO is instructed to help me get through as much a of labor as I possibly can on my own and with his help before accepting an epidural.This way, Ive progressed far enough (hopefully!) that I wont necessarily need pitocin (which I will fight every step fo the way if they suggest), but still not be in so much pain that I cant enjoy the expirience. Crossing my fingers it all works out!!

aglenn · December 2011

Well, my perspective is a little different, but with DD I really wanted to go med-free as well for the same reasons. I ended up with pitocin and an epi after a looooong labor and being stuck at 7cm overnight (that sucked, btw). I was extremely upset at the time about getting the interventions and cried and cried about it in the hospital, but honestly it was the best thing for me (and DD). I was able to take a much-needed rest and they put the epi at a low level so I could still feel what I was doing to push. I was up on my feet (with support) within an hour after delivery, and really the only downside I can see is that they gave me a ton of IV fluids that I think contributed to DD supposedly having trouble regaining birth weight in the first couple of weeks. Otherwise, nothing that I feared about the epi/pitocin turned out to be a concern, and I really probably should have accepted it sooner.

I say all that to say this: Definitely going med-free is a good goal and I am not in any way trying to discourage you from having that as your mind set. However, it's not necessarily the case that epi = c-section, either. Don't be afraid to play it by ear and do what needs to be done at the time.

girley75 · December 2011

aglenn:
Well, my perspective is a little different, but with DD I really wanted to go med-free as well for the same reasons. I ended up with pitocin and an epi after a looooong labor and being stuck at 7cm overnight (that sucked, btw). I was extremely upset at the time about getting the interventions and cried and cried about it in the hospital, but honestly it was the best thing for me (and DD). I was able to take a much-needed rest and they put the epi at a low level so I could still feel what I was doing to push. I was up on my feet (with support) within an hour after delivery, and really the only downside I can see is that they gave me a ton of IV fluids that I think contributed to DD supposedly having trouble regaining birth weight in the first couple of weeks. Otherwise, nothing that I feared about the epi/pitocin turned out to be a concern, and I really probably should have accepted it sooner.
I say all that to say this: Definitely going med-free is a good goal and I am not in any way trying to discourage you from having that as your mind set. However, it's not necessarily the case that epi = c-section, either. Don't be afraid to play it by ear and do what needs to be done at the time.

Thank you for this! I don't know why this makes me so emotional!

cabee310 · December 2011

Yes, there are always risks involved with getting pain meds, but it doesn't always happen. I got to 5cm without anything and it was too much pain for me. I got the epi and couldn't feel a thing. I even napped (amazing!). 2.5 hours later I was 10cm and ready to push. No pitocin or anything. I pushed for 4 mins and he was out. No tearing no stitches. Just because you need pain meds doesn't mean something will necessarily go wrong.

girley75 · December 2011

cabee310:
Yes, there are always risks involved with getting pain meds, but it doesn't always happen. I got to 5cm without anything and it was too much pain for me. I got the epi and couldn't feel a thing. I even napped (amazing!). 2.5 hours later I was 10cm and ready to push. No pitocin or anything. I pushed for 4 mins and he was out. No tearing no stitches. Just because you need pain meds doesn't mean something will necessarily go wrong.

This is good to know!

Jess.O · December 2011

I completely understand what you're saying. I also totally agree with the idea that one intervention leads to another. Obviously, that's not the case every time but I think it often is. I read this book and I really recommend it. I'm not feeling as afraid as I was before. Now, I'm feeling pretty confident in my body's ability to give birth.

girley75 · December 2011

Jess.O:
I completely understand what you're saying. I also totally agree with the idea that one intervention leads to another. Obviously, that's not the case every time but I think it often is. I read this book and I really recommend it. I'm not feeling as afraid as I was before. Now, I'm feeling pretty confident in my body's ability to give birth.

Thx! I just got a free preview on my kindle.. I will start reading tonight!

elektra1835 · December 2011

I feel the same way being a FTM and also wanting to go natural. I try to keep an open mind though. As far as medication is concerned, I remember that going natural is something that I'm striving for, but although I really think it's best for me and baby, if I feel I'm not handling my pain well and that its keeping me from progressing, I will ask to be transferred to the hospital. I believe that however my little boy gets here is just how he was meant to come into the world. I will do everything I can to have a natural birth, but if I end up with interventions I'm not going to beat myself up over it regardless of how I feel about those interventions.

Lena122 · December 2011

OP I could have written this exact post. I keep telling myself that my body is made to give birth and that I can give birth without medication and millions of women have done before me. I also plan to make sure my mom and DH, who will both be at the delivery, know my wishes and help me stick to them.

I was speaking to my cousin the other day, who have birth 4 months ago, and she said she felt the same way I do. Everything went wrong for her though and she ended up being induced and then had a c section. She was really upset about it at the time but looking back she knows it was necessary and now she has her beautiful little girl who is safe and sound. I imagine that is how I'll feel no matter how my delivery goes so just keep your eye on the prize!

runrinserepeat · December 2011

I'm very concerned about getting an epi for the same reason you listed - I'm worried that I'll end up with a chain reaction leading to a section, and that terrifies me. Right now I'm taking Bradley classes to try to prepare myself as much as possible to go med-free, while still keeping an open mind. I know an epi doesn't always lead to a section, but I'm trying to give myself the best chance possible that I won't need either.

telatovich · December 2011

Lena122:

I keep telling myself that my body is made to give birth and that I can give birth without medication and millions of women have done before me. I also plan to make sure my mom and DH, who will both be at the delivery, know my wishes and help me stick to them.

Ditto that exactly... except the "mom" part at the delivery! I just hope and pray that I have the strength to get through this whole thing. I like be naive about this whole pain of giving birth thing... but I'm starting to get nervous, that's for sure.

noryang · December 2011

girley75:
So, Ideally I would like to have a natural unmedicated childbirth. That being said, I am a FTM and not exactly sure how I will be able to tolerate the pain. We had our 2nd childbirth class last Wednesday and they went over all of the different types of pain management. I really felt in my heart that I don't want that!! Too many risk factors involved and I don't want continuous interventions...
It just seems that one intervention, can lead to another, can lead to another, can lead to a c-section which is something that I really don't want. For example, if I decide to get an epidural and "don't progress" because it slows my labor, they they may want to give me pitocin, etc. etc. Now I am aware that how my baby comes into this world is not entirely up to me!! I know the plan can always change and the most important thing is to have a healthy baby.
But is anyone else struggling with this?? I don't want to make such a conclusive statement that I will not take anything because this is new to me, and honestly I have no idea how I will handle the pain. Anybody have a natural labor previously that could share their experience?

We are choosing a home birth because I don't trust the hospitals to respect our wishes for a natural birth. I have heard too many stories about how "pushy" the staff gets. For me it is a little bit like dieting. If I don't have access to ice cream and other treats in the house - I can't eat them when my resistance is low. So if I don't have access to an epi it is tht much easier to resist asking for one. I also know that having the comforts of home will help me tolerate labor and delivery better. I think I would feel exactly the same way if I was delivering in the hospital.

pinkshades05 · December 2011

Jess.O:
I completely understand what you're saying. I also totally agree with the idea that one intervention leads to another. Obviously, that's not the case every time but I think it often is. I read this book and I really recommend it. I'm not feeling as afraid as I was before. Now, I'm feeling pretty confident in my body's ability to give birth.

I'm almost done with that book (love it!) and I've also read Birthing From Within. You have legitimate reasons to be worried, so don't feel too bad. However, if you are aiming for a natural, med-free birth it's best to 1) get informed as much as you can, 2) find a doctor/midwife and hospital/birthing center that you agree with their policies, and 3) take a birthing class that emphasizes natural childbirth.

You really can't be too prepared and yes, sometimes emergencies happen--like someone posted before, there are reasons they have epidurals and c-sections. But most women don't need them and if you prepare yourself not to need one and your husband or birthing coach supports you and follows your wishes, you should be ok.

And a doula helps, too

pinksweetpea2 · December 2011

I had a natural birth and am planning another. I did a lot of research and spent a lot of time preparing myself, making sure that I was giving birth in a NB friendly environment and surrounding myself with support. For me, the risks associated with the epidural were not worth it and considering that women gave birth for thousands of years without one, I decided it would not be an option that I would consider except in a medically necessary situation (i.e. c-section).

I know some people are able to go in with an "open mind" and still have a natural birth, but I think most people usually end up getting the epidural because they are either not prepared for the pain or they are not giving birth in a supportive environment or with a supportive care provider. If you are ok with that outcome, great. NB is not for everyone. However, if you REALLY want a NB I think you should be doing everything possible to make it happen. That way if it does not work out, you will not have any regrets...at least that is how I approached it.

GL

pinksweetpea2 · December 2011

noryang:
girley75:
So, Ideally I would like to have a natural unmedicated childbirth. That being said, I am a FTM and not exactly sure how I will be able to tolerate the pain. We had our 2nd childbirth class last Wednesday and they went over all of the different types of pain management. I really felt in my heart that I don't want that!! Too many risk factors involved and I don't want continuous interventions...
It just seems that one intervention, can lead to another, can lead to another, can lead to a c-section which is something that I really don't want. For example, if I decide to get an epidural and "don't progress" because it slows my labor, they they may want to give me pitocin, etc. etc. Now I am aware that how my baby comes into this world is not entirely up to me!! I know the plan can always change and the most important thing is to have a healthy baby.
But is anyone else struggling with this?? I don't want to make such a conclusive statement that I will not take anything because this is new to me, and honestly I have no idea how I will handle the pain. Anybody have a natural labor previously that could share their experience?

We are choosing a home birth because I don't trust the hospitals to respect our wishes for a natural birth. I have heard too many stories about how "pushy" the staff gets. For me it is a little bit like dieting. If I don't have access to ice cream and other treats in the house - I can't eat them when my resistance is low. So if I don't have access to an epi it is tht much easier to resist asking for one. I also know that having the comforts of home will help me tolerate labor and delivery better. I think I would feel exactly the same way if I was delivering in the hospital.

This was very true for me at my first homebirth. My labor was long and less than ideal, but the alternative (getting in the car and going to the hospital for pain relief) sounded even worse.

Krystalp22 · December 2011

This is hard to answer. Everyone is so different. I had no plan going in. I thought I was pretty good at handling pain but I guess not. For me the second my water broke that was it! Good thing I was already at the hospital. My contractions hit so hard I was puking everywhere. They couldn't even check to see how far along I was cause it hurt do bad. All I could think of at that point was an epi!! Oh what a relief. I was about to relax for a little and within two hours I was ready to push. With that being said, I deff have a plan this time! Give me the epi ASAP!! All you ladies that go natural are amazing!

pinksweetpea2 · December 2011

You know, there was actually a very similar post on the natural birth board today that you might find helpful:

https://community.thebump.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/61188479.aspx

GL

Ximy82 · December 2011

I just had my childbirth class this past weekend and this is what I am worried about to. I do not want to be pushed into getting an epi and the risks scare me. I want to be able to move around and try different positions and know this won't be possible if I can't feel my lower half. I am hopeful that I can tolerate the pain of a NB. I am doing yoga and practicing my squatting hahaha. I also plan on staying home as much as I can so that I do not get to the hospital soo early that they (hospital staff) feel the need to rush me. I will get very nasty if I feel that way. I really hate going into the unknown.

karleegirl · December 2011

I had my first child when I was 16. I took a 6 wk Lamaze class w my mom ad my partner. I labored in the hospital for about 13 hours. In hindsight it was a little lamaze a little meditation. I had no pain meds. Second child I got pushed into pitocin. Which led me to the epidural. Which I hated. I didn't like being confined to the bed and it only worked on one side. This time I'm going back with Lamaze type theory.

girley75 · December 2011

pinksweetpea2:
You know, there was actually a very similar post on the natural birth board today that you might find helpful:
https://community.thebump.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/61188479.aspx
GL

Thank you! Yes, i read it!

kgrl21 · December 2011

With DD i planned on going med free. I read some books, blogs, podcasts and just learned about various ways to deal with the pain. I didn't take any real class like hypnobirthing or anything because that's just not my sort of thing. But I was pretty adamant about not wanting an epi.

My water had broken before I arrived at the hospital and the Dr. on call refused to check how dilated I was unless I agreed to some sort of pain meds. I opted for the Demerol because I was told it would only last for about 1 hr, which it did. But after that I was med free for the other 16hrs. For me labor was the most painful thing I have ever experienced but no matter what I wasn't going to have an epidural. By the end I was actually begging for one but at that point I was in transition and it would have been pointless. But I was able to move around and go to the bathroom, which I had to do a few times(#2).

I also think mine was especially bad because I have a injured/broken tailbone from 11 years ago that never quite healed correctly. And that was very painful for me during labor and pushing. But this is exactly what I'm planning on doing again. I'm planning a waterbirth in a hospital birthing center, so I'm hoping this will be much better for pain management. I just have to keep in mind that every contraction is progress and that I will be meeting my little boy soon. No one stays in labor forever. It does have an end point!

jldubb0626 · December 2011

I feel the same exact way. I want to try my best and go as long as possible without any meds but at the same time, I've never done this before and don't know my limits so I don't want to kid myself into thinking I can.

KTCaliL · December 2011

You have a lot of great answers but I'll chime in with my experience. I wanted to go natural with DS, but went into the hospital totally open minded (I would go as far as I could with no meds). I also thought I handled pain well, but wowzers was I wrong. I also labored with contractions for over 48 hours so I was exhausted. After my water broke at the hospital the contractions were so painful for me I was in agony. I was at 4 cm. They told me I could get the epi whenever I wanted it. I decided to wait because I didn't want it to slow my labor down, but the very next contraction I had I was crying for it.

About 6 hours after my epi i was fully dilated and could feel the strong urge to push and pushed for less than an hour. I got the shakes from the epi so I couldn't sleep, which was unfortunate, but that baby was like heaven when I got it. NO pain. This time, I'm going in with the same open mind, going to try to go natural for as long as I can, but if I feel like I need the epi, I'll probably get it.

noryang · December 2011

jldubb0626:
I feel the same exact way. I want to try my best and go as long as possible without any meds but at the same time, I've never done this before and don't know my limits so I don't want to kid myself into thinking I can.

Of course you can! We all can. Our bodies were made for this - baring any medical emergency, of course.

AndieM · December 2011

noryang:
jldubb0626:
I feel the same exact way. I want to try my best and go as long as possible without any meds but at the same time, I've never done this before and don't know my limits so I don't want to kid myself into thinking I can.
Of course you can! We all can. Our bodies were made for this - baring any medical emergency, of course.

This is totally how I feel! I have no illusions that I have some sort of super-human pain tolerance, I think I'm pretty average in my ability to handle pain, but barring any sort of medical necessity, I just know that I can do it. I think having a level of confidence, and KNOWING that you can do it, will do a lot to carry you through. I know I won't die from the pain. For me it's like running a race, I know that the end is in sight, I know I'll get there, I may have to push myself, it will be painful, but for me at least, knowing that I can do it can carry me through.

I think the Business of Being Born (skewed as it might be) helped give me a lot of my confidence about labour. If you haven't seen it, I'd recommend it.

FTM here, so, take my opinion with a grain of salt! Wink

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