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Natural Birth
MinnesotaMomma91
member
Curious
MinnesotaMomma91
member
I'm curious about giving birth without the use of an epidural. I was wondering if there were any sites that you were able to point me too to help me make the decision to either use an epidural or to go with out.
I'm not sure where to really look, and figured this would be the right board to get answers.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Curious
It's hard to find a website on either side of the opinion that isn't very biased. I just did a quick google and found this site/link https://www.americanpregnancy.org/labornbirth/epidural.html
It seems like a fairly balanced view of the pros and cons of epidurals, as a starting place.
If you are interested in other aspects of "natural" birth such as relaxation techniques, choices for immediately after the birth like: when to cut the cord, skin to skin with baby, when to bathe baby, initiating BF, what vaccinations/eye ointments etc to have then there are lots of books out there, and I'm sure some ladies here would be able to make recommendations.
FWIW I've had two births without epidurals or other interventions and I've had great experiences and wouldn't choose to do it differently unless medically necessary.
People often ask here for Mums who have had birth experiences both with and without the epidural, and that always throws up interesting insights as well.
Good luck with your decisions.
Elizabeth 5yrs old Jane 3yrs old
I don't know about sites, but I'll tell ya, at first I was all about getting an epidural, then I changed my mind because 1. I don't like medication. 2. I'm really curious to feel what childbirth is like! 3. I want to recover quickly!!! and 4. There will be less complications and I might avoid something rare yet horrible like a scratched spine!
Plus, it seems that people get epidurals because other people talk about how painful labor is. They often describe it as unbearable. But then again, women have been doing it for millenias! Weaker women than me have done it, so I can do it too.
**shrugs** Those are my reasons anyway.
I don't have any good websites to recommend re: epidurals, but a great book on the whole subject of childbirth is "Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn." I'd really recommend it--it's perhaps slightly slanted in favor of unmedicated birth, but it does a great job of explaining all the options that might be available and even provides charts of various interventions and their side effects. It's also a great book to read with whoever is going to be with you, because it (or the book by the same authors, "The Birth Partner") helps you to make a plan together and understand your wishes. (For instance, how opposed are you meds/an epidural on a scale--the numbers and breaking it down really helped me explain to my husband how I felt and when I felt an epidural would be appropriate.)
For me--I saw an epidural as an intervention, a tool to have in my back pocket if things weren't going the way they should and we needed to intervene medically. We did--I stalled for four hours in transition and was so exhausted I couldn't push (or do much of anything else). I feel (disclaimer--my opinion! flammable!) that there is a right and wrong way to use epidurals, and that using it in cases like mine is the right way. Walking in and saying "hook me up" without knowing the risks and benefits is the wrong way and can lead to the "cascade of interventions" which I was hoping to avoid.
thanks for letting me know! I'm curious myself about natural birth because i was a natural birth. and my mom tells me it was painful but not the worst thing she's ever done.
For me personally, I'm nervous about any complications. What did you moms who've gone through natural labor deal with the pain instead of meds?
DD1 I used gas (it's a nitrous/oxygen mix that I don't think is commonly available in the US) it doesn't really dull the pain, more takes your mind off it. I only used it during pushing. I spent most of labour in the shower and the tub.
DD2 I didn't use any gas, and spent my time in the shower.
For me the warm water is just the best thing. Also being on my feet and being able to squat down as the contraction builds was most comfortable for me. Obviously everyone is different with what they find comfortable, and I think being free to move and labour in the way you find most comfortable is really important.
Elizabeth 5yrs old Jane 3yrs old