It's early, but I am going there. Epidural or Natural

mahalo3 · June 2014

As soon as you find out your pregnant, everyone gives tell you their birth stories. EVERYONE! I am finding people with the best birth stories are the ones who did it without the drugs. I am tough cookie, but I don't know if I make it without them. I hear the recovery is better without them, but I hear the drugs make you not realize you ripped to a stage 4 tear (even knowing what that means is traumatizing!). So what's your plan?

wintersong139 · June 2014

Natural, with a midwife. I am a fan of homebirth, with the assistance of a medical professional, but I have also heard from a midwife that hospital transfer rates are higher with FTMs, so for this little one will be born at a birthing center attached to the hospital.

Of course, circumstances could change this. My birth plan will include contingencies...if i have to be induced...if I have to have a C-Section....etc. I think that when birth plans are too rigid they become unusable.

ETA: DH and I plan on taking Bradley method classes to help us prepare.

Jay_Cee · June 2014

My plan is to see how it's going again. I have a very high pain tolerance (so said my l&d nurses last time), and I'm sure I could have done it without drugs. However, I hadn't slept in 36 hours, was dealing with intense back labor, and my labor had stalled (I think because my body was just exhausted). Getting the epidural allowed me to nap for 2 hours, giving me the energy to push for 3 hours (yep), so I could still have a vaginal birth. It doesn't always go the way you hope, so I think it's good to go in with an open mind.

jaztastic · June 2014

My hospital has a birthing center... So Im going to try the Au Natural thing, and opt out and get the drungs if necessary. My feelings may change, but this has pretty much always been my plan.

jaytee16 · June 2014

My plan was to go with midwives and discuss a home birth, but midwives won't work with you if you're having twins, and a home birth is definitely out. So I'm reevaluating. I am also thinking if I have to push two out, I am much more likely to want some drugs to help! I thought I might be able to do it for one, but two? I think that's pushing it.

misskaydee · June 2014

I had an epidural with my first and it was the best thing ever, with my second I didn't have a chance to get it in time so I went natural not by choice. This time I will get the epidural if I have the chance but if this one is speedy then at least I know I am capable of going without.

MaddScientist · June 2014

Natural hopefully.

CatLadyTX · June 2014

I am not a VBAC candidate, so a spinal is waiting for me.

ambmama · June 2014

Well I may be biased, but I think I have an amazing birth story and I had an epidural. I had contractions all morning, my water broke at 12 Noon in the hospital, I got the epidural not long afterwards and contracted with just a small amount of pain for about 5 hours. The last hour I felt more, started pushing at 6 and my LO was here by 6:26PM with just a small tear. For the record, they did turn the epidural "off" when I pushed and I could pretty much feel everything to the point that I jumped when they had to give me stitches (sorry, TMI) and they gave me a local anesthesia to numb it. My birth experience was absolutely amazing and though I thought about trying to go naturally, that first crazy contraction after the water breaking told me that maybe I'm a bit of a baby.

My biggest advice is to be ok if your birth plan changes, because many do!

lcwed · June 2014

I went natural with DD. It was not for any ultruistic reason, simply the fact that I was waiting for the labor pains to override the fear of a needle being stuck in my back. When I started asking for IV drugs, it was time to push so it was too late. I only lasted about 4 1/2 hours without drugs. I had some tearing which I think resulted from me trying to push when I didn't have strong contraction. I remember just wanting to get it over with. This time I may get and epidural just for the fact that I can have someone tell me when to push and avoid tearing plusalso I remember I was asking for medicine when it was time to push so I must have been in pain. Honestly though, its hard to remember how bad it was. You totally forget the pain after awhile.

babeRN101 · June 2014

My plan is to deliver naturally with Hypnobabies method and probably a doula bc my DH gets anxious with blood/birth in general so he will need a support person too!
I could end up eating my words one day after I feel wut a contraction feels like

maryxc1 · June 2014

My goal is to go natural. That was my plan with DS as well, but after 22 hours my labor stopped progressing and I was beyond exhausted (also hadn't slept in over 30 hours). I ended up getting an epidural. I am going to try natural again and hope it goes a little faster, but my husband's genes produce big headed babies so we will see. :-)

Oem617 · June 2014

Drugs all the way please. I had to wait for my Epi last time and I was not happy about it. By the time it was time to push, they wouldn't give me more drugs. You have to be able to feel the baby to push it out. It was intense and the hardest thing I have ever done. The Epi allows you time to rest, cause when it's go time you need all the energy you have.

To each it's own. But I would say be flexible with your birth plan, cause shit happens.

boxerrrmama85 · June 2014

My plan is to have the baby come out! If that means c/s, if that means w/ or w/out an epidural, if that means natural--- I am going to go in as informed as I can be and as flexible as I can be too. Ultimately, a healthy baby at the end of it all will be worth it! What I do know for 100% is I really don't need a mirror down by my swollen and wrecked vagina and I do not need my husband sneaking a peak down there either! >-)

AF9211 · June 2014

CrazyCornball said:

Repeat CS for me. I thought about trying for a VBAC for a hot second, and then said fuck it. I already have a scar, so I'll spare my vagina.

This 100%! Except I never considered/was interested in VBAC.

Mom2DrG · June 2014

@lcwed‌ you are right. You forget the pain after a while.

I had DS after cervadil to get things rolling, water was broken at 7am Dr was called at 9. He was born at 9:25am. I'm hoping for another quick ( but not deliver in the car quick) delivery w/o pain meds.

After he was born was when I needed the pain meds. Those uterine contractions are no joke!

Kayla*Marie · June 2014

I went natural with our first. I tore. BAD! I had to sit in the stirrups for 45 minutes waiting for a specialist to come sew me up. And then another 45 minutes while she worked her magic. The first 45 minutes I didn't even realize that they delivered the placenta and was just overjoyed holding my new baby on my chest! The next 45 minutes my husband got to go skin to skin with our beautiful daughter as I was stitched up and I was so tired at that point, I think I almost fell asleep. Yes, there was pain. But it was the most fantastic day of our lives, and honestly, you forget about all the pain the second you hold your LO. As long as my scarring from last time doesn't hinder anything, I plan on going natural again.

krispy83 · June 2014

I'm hoping to go without meds, but we'll see. Last time, that was my goal as well but my water broke early and I wasn't having regular contractions so they put me on Pitocin so I would progress. I made it to 8cm without meds but the Pitocin contractions were just awful - so strong and no break between them, so I wound up getting an epidural at 8cm so I could have some rest and relief.

I think if I hadn't had the Pitocin, I could have made it without meds. But if I can't handle it, I have no qualms about getting an epi.

Chcaggie1 · June 2014

I always thought that I would want as much meds as they would give me... I don't want to feel a thing! But recently I have been considering natural even though it scares the heck outta me! I don't know I have a lot of research to do before I make a decision.

starrynight1658 · June 2014

I went natural last time, but not by choice. I'll wait and see how things go this time, but I'm definitely not opposed to an epidural if there's time.

mandamoochie · June 2014

My thought is go in as natural as possible. I really do think (for the most part) most doctors and nurses aren't there to try to do anything to harm you and/or your little one up in any way... As I just stated on the other thread... My DS had a bubble of fluid that made my labor/delivery process 38 hours from when my water broke. Im just lucky they didnt make me go for a c/s at that point.

ambmama · June 2014

@2013sarabelleATX You definitely do feel that relief with the epidural (or I did, at least!).

mandamoochie · June 2014

2013sarabelleATX said:

Also, the feeling of the baby sliding out is the best feeling of relief I have ever felt in my life. It's like a giant sigh wrapped in a hug.

Not sure if you feel that with an epi. Anyone?

Yeah.. I felt it with the epi.. Total relief to feel him finally come out... then the stitches. lol

WanderingA · June 2014

I went "natural" (med-free) with my first and will do so again this time. I gave birth to my daughter at an independent birth center that did not offer epidurals so I really had no choice when the time came! If I had been in a hospital when I hit transition I would have begged for an epi (I was at home during transition and almost had DH drive me to the hospital instead). I labored almost entirely at home and by the time I got to TBC I was 9.5 cm. and pushed my daughter out an hour later! It was the hardest, most rewarding experience of my life and I can't wait to do it again.

This time I am still deciding whether we will do a home birth with a midwife or if I will go back to the birth center. Either way, I will not be using pain medication again. It is not easy but you will be amazed at what your body is capable of!

Jay_Cee · June 2014

Yep, you feel the baby come out with an epi (though mine was turned off for a while by that point).

Birth stories and labor are my absolute favorite part of pregnancy. It sucks balls while you're going through it, but it is so empowering. And you finally get to hold your baby, which you've been waiting for 9 months to do. It's amazing, no matter which way you go.

michelle142 · June 2014

I went med-free (and almost hospital free) with my first - although my warp-speed labor didn't really give me the choice.

Water broke at 11:30, made it to the hospital by 12:30 and he was born barely an hour later. Yippeeee...

Anyways, I figure I did it once with no meds, so I'm going to try that route this time around as well.

crash916 · June 2014

I had a c section with DD so I had a spinal. I am waiting to meet with my doc to see if I can do a VBAC. I am a big wuss with pain so if I can have a VBAC I will probably opt for an epi. Flexibility is key. My daughter turned breech at 37 weeks.

StephanieLBerg · June 2014

According to my doctor, I have a very small canal, smaller than my moms who had to be split from end to end just to get me out and I was three weeks preemie! So my doctor feels that a CS is the safest and smartest option for me. I'd say I have to agree.

FlowerPower16 · June 2014

I hope to go unmedicated with a midwife again, but I am 100% of the understanding that things could go totally different this time around. I was 4cm dilated for at least 2 weeks with our son, and was 7cm when I got to the hospital. I will go in to it with a similar birth plan, but we'll see what happens.

FWIW, I had an epidural for our daughter's birth. She was delivered with forceps and I tore and I didn't feel a thing. I didn't know she was out until they raised her up to show us.

on_the_move · June 2014

I'm torn, for our first kid I felt like I needed the epi right away and got something they called a mini-epidural, that was a great experience. Then with DD we had to wait to get the epidural and I really wish I had been checked right before I had it because I may have made it all the way with out it. I delivered very shortly after it was administered. Oh and the anesthesiologist was terrible, he honestly tried 4 different times to place the catheter and it was pretty painful all while having contractions

MissEm15 · June 2014

I know I have no toleration for pain.. I'm def. getting an epidural! However, I have no birth plan right now and haven't talked to an OB yet. Since I'm having twins, I'm not sure what to do. My two cousins who have had twins tried vaginaly, got one out and had to have a cs for number 2. So I'm nervous.

Edit to reword

munchkin8590 · June 2014

My doctor practically forced me to get an epidural last time because I wasn't dilating on my own since I was so tense. This time I'm just gonna go with the flow and see what happens. If I need it, fine. If not, awesome.

mishka29 · June 2014

My first was med free not by choice. I'll probably shoot for the same thing again.

bookworm982 · June 2014

Med free. I've done it twice before, and I wouldn't want it any other way.

thegoodpotato · June 2014

Probably drug-free again. But I tend to labour extremely quickly.

With my first, I was pushing after only three hours of labour, much to the surprise of all the staff involved (they were expecting 8 to 12 hours of labour, which is the norm for first time babies). Thank God it took an hour and a half to actually get her out, because they had to call the "on call" delivery doctor (I lived rurally) and she was 45 minutes away. I still remember the nurse telling me "Try not to push. We can deliver babies without a doctor, but we don't like to."

With my second, I actually had an induction (so technically not drug-free, but painkiller free, har har). I was in hard labour for one hour and Amanda made her appearance in six pushes.

I'm pretty confident I can do it drug-free again, but it doesn't mean that labour doesn't still scare the complete shit out of me.

ConstanceGoodspeed · June 2014

I went med-free and will do it again. I took a Bradley class and loved it.

It is not something you can "see how it goes," or "guess you'll try it;" it needs to be a conscious decision you make beforehand and a goal because labor SUCKS.

EDWHIP · June 2014

Going to try for natural, but won't hate myself for getting an epidural. I had an epidural with DD and it was the best thing I could have done at the time.

thegoodpotato · June 2014

ConstanceGoodspeed said:

I went med-free and will do it again. I took a Bradley class and loved it.

It is not something you can "see how it goes," or "guess you'll try it;" it needs to be a conscious decision you make beforehand and a goal because labor SUCKS.

I don't think this is absolutely true. Some people will "see how it goes" and can handle labour, and others can't and get some kind of pain management despite all good intentions.

I was always in the "I'll see how it goes" boat, and I ended up going med-free with both my kids. There's nothing wrong with deciding to just roll-oll-oll with the punches and take labour as it comes and do what's right for you. It's actually the healthiest plan I can think of instead of being rigid. The more rigid you are, the bigger chance you'll be disappointed with how things go.

jaztastic · June 2014

@Mahalo3... See what you went and did. It is way too early to have this discussion. What on earth are we going to talk about during our 2nd tri??!! I just put you in the time out chair. [-(

stellasoo · June 2014

I'm hoping for med free. The plan is for a home birth with a midwife but a lot can happen in 7 months so we'll see.

lizzybean · June 2014

I loved my natural birth with DD. It was liberating and just amazing. I will definitely try for it again without being obsessively married to it. I know things happen but I can only hope my delivery is the same as I had the first time.