Trying med-free birth after having epi

honeybeee3 · September 2014

I'm having baby #2 in January and I am planning a med-free birth at a free standing birth center. My first baby was born at the hospital and I made it really far without any pain meds. I ended up getting so tired from all the sleeping meds they gave me that I got an epidural so I could sleep for 2 hours before pushing.

Anywho, I'm wondering if there are any mamas who have had a med-free birth after having an epidural with previous births? What were your thoughts and experiences?

I'm slightly nervous about doing it med-free and looking for some words of encouragement

TIA!!!
Edit: typo

CLLDLL · September 2014

I delivered DS2 5 weeks early in a hospital with an epi. It wasn't by any means an awful experience. There were just things about it I wished were different. Like not being able to get up and move around, being cathed, and not really knowing on my own when to push or how hard. Also I think the epi slowed my labor way down.

DS2 was born in a smaller hospital, med free. Hands down it was a much calmer, family bonding type experience. My 2nd labor was just under 4 hours from first contraction to holding baby, compared to 23 hours for DS1.

Going med free was physically harder than having the epi, but it was way easier mentally. I could feel what was happening, knew when he dropped and turned, and could walk, move and bounce in a ball as needed. Pain with a purpose that I could work through by keeping my goal of healthy baby, happy mama in mind.

I attribute my success to a bit of luck that nothing medical impeded our natural birth, a ton of reasearch/ reading on my part, having several conversations with my OB about my wishes vs. when she'd step in, asking for a nurse that was in board with a NB at check in , and having my husband being supportive. If he hadn't been on board I would have hired a doula.

Also my recovery was way easier the 2nd time. I walked three blocks to pick DS1 up from school 36 hours after delivery.

ETA: If NB is something you really want to do, educate yourself. You can totally do it!!

Mama-Bear · September 2014

I had DS1 with an epidural, followed by 2 c/s. This next delivery I'm hoping to go as natural as possible.

OkieMama · September 2014

DS was an induction (almost 42 weeks) and I got the epi after laboring for 15 hours and dilating 2cm. This time around, with DD I was lucky enough to go into labor naturally and avoid the dreaded induction, so I labored at home as long as possible and arrived at the hospital at an 8- so epi wasn't even an option! We took bradley classes which helped a lot in knowing the signposts for stages and gave me the confidence to hold out at home until I knew I was nearing transition. Had I gone in when I was at 4-1-1 like my hospital suggests I would've been there a while and an epi might've been harder to resist. I loved laboring freely at my house.
You can do it!

catsinawindow · September 2014

I had an epidural with my DS. Now, he was a very complicated birth, induced with Pitocin due to PreE, on magnesium sulfate, pushed for >3 hours, forceps delivery, etc. It was a very bad experience.

I just had my DD medication-free at a freestanding birth center about 3 months ago. Night and day compared to my first birth. Was it hard work, yes, but I can honestly say that my son's birth (with the epidural) was worse. Much, much worse.

I really didn't think going med-free was all that bad. I got to the birth center at 8 cm and when the MW told me how far along I was I thought to myself "if this is transition, I can totally do this!" With both of my births, pushing was the hardest part (I don't get that relief that some describe when pushing, it just gets more intense for me) but with my med-free birth it was over much faster (12 mintues compared to >3 hours). If we decide to have another, I will definately plan to go med-free again.

painttheair14 · September 2014

My first birth was with an epidural. Second was a homebirth.

I loved my second experience WAY better. Going in with the mindset of not having meds really makes a huge difference.

mrsblueeyes · September 2014

My first was with an epidural at 35 weeks when water broke. It wasn't a bad experience especially since I was stressed out and surprised by the preterm rupture of membranes. Labor was 14 hours start to finish, I never had a problem with pushing and he was out within 2 pushes. I had a lot of vomiting after, and I disliked not being able to move around immediately after birth because my legs were still numb.

My natural births were better because of the freedom to move around, though they were really tough both mentally and physically at times. 2cd and 3rd birthds were about 6-7 hours start to finish, labored at home till the thought of being in the car was too much. Arrived at 5-6 cm and had a baby within 90 minutes both times. You can do it! educate yourself and read positive stories. You'll feel amazing after and is sure is nice to walk yourself to the bathroom.

amieeyoung · September 2014

I am hoping to go natural this time as well...last time I was induced with pictocin and had back labor (son was not turned right) eventually over 10 hrs in I caved and got an epi. I hated it! I felt like I had no control and after that labor slowed way down. I pushed for 2 hrs. and tried the vaccum and still ended up with a c/s- hoping for a different experience this time. I hope to labor at home awhile and not have to be induced-I think these will make the biggest differences. We will see though.

honeybeee3 · September 2014

Thanks for all the encouraging stories!! They really make me feel good about my choice to try a med-free birth.

@amieeyoung‌ our labors sound very similar minus the c-section part. I had terrible back labor as well and eventually caved after about 16 hours. I also hated the epi! It made me shiver uncontrollably. Immediately after my son was born, I so badly wanted to stand up and move which if course is nearly impossible and I kept getting scolded by the nurses for trying. So yeah, it wasn't ideal. I'm hoping for a better experience this time around.

@mrsblueeyes‌ wow you're lucky your labors are so quick! And 2 pushes?!? That's incredible! Pushing is exhausting so FX I get that lucky with this LO!

amieeyoung · September 2014

honeybeee3 said:

Thanks for all the encouraging stories!! They really make me feel good about my choice to try a med-free birth. @amieeyoung‌ our labors sound very similar minus the c-section part. I had terrible back labor as well and eventually caved after about 16 hours. I also hated the epi! It made me shiver uncontrollably. Immediately after my son was born, I so badly wanted to stand up and move which if course is nearly impossible and I kept getting scolded by the nurses for trying. So yeah, it wasn't ideal. I'm hoping for a better experience this time around.

Yes, if I do accept any meds it will not be epi unless an emergency c-section comes about- seriously hated it. I shook really bad as well- so much they strapped my arms down during c/s which made that even worse! In the end I had a great baby boy and it was worth it, just hope to avoid it all and have a natural birth that I can move around after and heal from quicker than a c-section. I only have 8 wks to take off and don't want most of that taken up trying to heal. Lots of luck to you!!!

honeybeee3 · September 2014

amieeyoung said:

honeybeee3 said:

Thanks for all the encouraging stories!! They really make me feel good about my choice to try a med-free birth.

@amieeyoung‌ our labors sound very similar minus the c-section part. I had terrible back labor as well and eventually caved after about 16 hours. I also hated the epi! It made me shiver uncontrollably. Immediately after my son was born, I so badly wanted to stand up and move which if course is nearly impossible and I kept getting scolded by the nurses for trying. So yeah, it wasn't ideal. I'm hoping for a better experience this time around.

Yes, if I do accept any meds it will not be epi unless an emergency c-section comes about- seriously hated it. I shook really bad as well- so much they strapped my arms down during c/s which made that even worse! In the end I had a great baby boy and it was worth it, just hope to avoid it all and have a natural birth that I can move around after and heal from quicker than a c-section. I only have 8 wks to take off and don't want most of that taken up trying to heal. Lots of luck to you!!!

Thank you! I wish you the best and hope you get your natural birth!

xc1148 · September 2014

I have zero experience, but it sounds like you are already in great shape. You already made it really far last time, so you know what to expect and what you can handle. As long as you have a supportive person with you, it sounds like you're going to do just fine!

jinnymb · October 2014

I had a an epi/Pitocin with my first and nothing with my second and third. I made it around 10 hours with my first before I caved because yeah I was extremely tired and had no birth support other than my nervous exhausted DH, lol.

I regretted it immediately because my contractions stopped and had I to be put on pit, due to my water breaking, blah blah. The epi only worked on one side so I pretty much just had to lay there and take it. It felt like one leg was being ripped off and I couldn't move or manage the pain. I was lucky DS1 came shortly after but pretty much felt most of everything and couldn't walk for about 1/2 hour afterwards.

With my second we got the OB I really liked and she was very encouraging. We also got lucky with nurses and I stayed vertical and had DS2 from start to finish in 4.5 hours. So try to keep in mind that if you are working with the contractions and it being your second, labor "should" go much faster. Plus you know what to expect now so you have much more confidence on your side.

With DS3 I didn't leave it up to luck and switched practices to a very supportive natural birth hospital. I enlisted 2 good birth junkie friends as our "doulas" and used lots of imagery, music, and oils to stay calm. Again I stayed vertical and birthed DS3 in 4 hours flat. It was a really awesome and beautiful birth. No monitoring, ivs, calm environment, lots of support. Delayed the cord clamping, encapsulated placenta, the whole shebang...

We hope number DS4 has a similar experience as we lined up all the same sort of help, and I did go into labor at midnight with all three. The extra support helped DH and I ward off exhaustion.

My advice is to use your now expertise. You know what you want and you know you can do it, get the right support and immerse yourself in natural birth videos and stories. I found Ina Mays book incredibly helpful. Attitude can help a lot and if you go in with like a sports minded positive attitude versus fear and doubt I think you will see a major difference in your experience. Good luck to you!!

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