Don't want epidural - husband thinks I'll pass out

Re: Don't want epidural - husband thinks I'll pass out

• JaZavitz

  June 2013

  I would think that passing out during labour would be very rare because of the adrenaline. I had a natural labour and did not pass out but it was a very quick labour

  

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• aylafsu88 member

  June 2013

  I never heard that passing out was common.  I agree with you that the hormones and adrenaline will keep you pretty amped up.  As per the Bradley class, vomiting, nausea, and noises are extremely common during labor.  Labor pain is a pain you can cope with and women have been giving birth for thousands of years.  There are lots of positions and ways to deal with the pain so that it is bearable.  You can do it!  GL!
  

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• dmhrn13 member

  June 2013

  I'm a midwife- so first- just stop talking about it with people that aren't supportive. You don't need to hear the non-sense.

  Men are often not prepared for the intensity of seeing their partners in this much discomfort. I don't think there is any good way to prepare them. I've had lots of husbands in tears when it gets really hard. Thats OK.  Talk to your midwife about it- if they are calm & supportive it your husband will follow them.

  If you get an epidural- it won't stop him from passing out anyway! So don't worry about that. Good luck- you can do it.

  TTC since 1/2008
  BFP 7/2009 m/c
  BFP 9/2009 m/c
  Clomid IUI 12/2010, 1/2011, 2/2011 All BFN
  IVF #1 6/2011 BFN, no frosties
  IVF #2 2/2012 BFP
  DD born 10/2012

  FET 9/3/2013 BFN, no more frosties
  IVF # 3 11/3/13 Canceled after retrieval d/t severe OHSS, 3 frosties

  FET #3 2/2014 BFP Twins!

  B/G Twins born 9/2014 at 36w4d
  
  
  
  

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• cecilyandgautam member

  June 2013

  1) Labor is not like other pain, except for maybe menstrual cramps. So if your husband is assuming this will be like when you stub your toe, break an arm, get malaria or what have you - it's not like that at all. At all. So your pain tolerance levels in other aspects of life aren't exactly relevant here. 

  2) Not common to pass out from the pain. It is common to get dehydrated and to need to take a nap during labor - if he wants something to worry about, put him in charge of keeping your hydrated and encouraging you to rest whenever you can. If you can sleep for just a minute at a time between contractions, do and he should guard you from outside disturbances that would keep you from fully resting - even a well meaning midwife or doula might try to push you to walk a ton of laps/climb a bunch of stairs while in labor, and while that's sometimes a good idea, it's not a good idea to do that until you pass out, which I did. 

  

  
  

  
  

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• michelleonthecoast member

  June 2013

  You can definitely do a natural labor without meds!  I'm scared of an epidural too.

  This is my 4th baby.  I never had an epidural with my other 3 labors and I made it through just fine.  Lamaaze breathing and other relaxation techniques helped me.  I did get Stadal with my labors so I didn't go 100% natural.  The Stadal helped relax me although I still felt the contractions.

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• LaurendaMB member

  June 2013

  Thanks for all the tips and encouragement! It's so great having people believe in you and backing you up! Hopefully in 7 weeks I'll have a beautiful natural birth story to share
  

  My Pregnancy Blog

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• mlhopson

  June 2013

  cecilyandgautam:

  So if your husband is assuming this will be like when you stub your toe, break an arm, get malaria or what have you - it's not like that at all. At all.

  Lol, I like your style.

   Anyhow, I'm lurking on the board because my husband is iffy about the natural labor as well. He doesn't think I'll pass out, but he thinks I'll be screaming for meds. He is being as supportive as he can, he's just a worrywart.

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