epidural or natural?

spiralindustries · April 2015

30 weeks along and due on June 11th, I've been thinking a lot about the whole "giving birth" thing since time is going by so quickly. Reading information online and in books has been what I've been doing for the past week about epidural and giving birth naturally. One part of me wants to give naturally just because, we'll. Its natural! But I'm afraid I won't be able to handle the pain. How do you decide what to do? I'm stumped.

JessHeppell · April 2015

if you search up epidural vs. no epidural, on this site/app, you'll find a previous thread that most likely has everything youre looking for. check it out

lkr004 · April 2015

Here are a few threads that have some great information:

Note that these aren't just June 15 posts.

https://forums.thebump.com/discussion/comment/86717615#Comment_86717615

https://forums.thebump.com/discussion/12555880/are-you-getting-an-epidural/p1

https://forums.thebump.com/discussion/12551273/natural-birth-no-meds/p1

It's very easy to find past threads with fantastic information if you use the search function at the bottom of the page (very bottom on the app... Bottom right on webpage)

aj1327 · April 2015

One day I'm doing natural the next getting an epidural for sure. Lol. I'm just telling myself I'll take it as it comes, which probably means I'll end up with the drugs. I'm hoping to know more at my childbirth class at the end of the month.

KaLikeAWind · April 2015

Will not turn down drugs and have no qualms about asking for some. That said, I'm going to see how far I make it without.

btm013 · April 2015

I too am going through this - as I'm sure most FTM's do! I am going to try to go as long as I can without an epidural. Don't get me wrong, I WILL get one if it gets to be way too much but I would like to try to make it to 5-7cm. They say the risk of c-sections decreases quite a bit after the epidural if you hold out. I don't want to commit to either. I will see how it goes!

taboullio84 · April 2015

Try natural.. If all else fails use the epidural I had 2 natural and 2 with epidural.. Honestly.. The epidural ones were amazing. I was able to nap and was rested to push and was ready for the newborn. Without.. I was wore out and just blah. But I had two labors under my belt at my first epidural... So maybe I was just ready

CurlyMom78 · April 2015

I'm going to do epidural probably.

MamaBish · April 2015

My experience is a bit different than most however I know now that I cannot handle the pain of childbirth. I thought the contractions weren't too bad and they gave me a pain med via a clicker thing I could press, but then the real labor started. The intense pain waves.Wow. I begged for the epidural and wanted it in ASAP. If I ever choose to do it again, I will definitely get the epidural as soon as I am allowed.

ngaines27 · April 2015

The epidural is AMAZING!!

MissIntentional · April 2015

I went med free with #1 and plan to try it again.

laurendutch · April 2015

Give me all the drugs! Haha.

I'm a c-section Mom, so I don't really have an opinion

KiwiMumof3 · April 2015

I did fully natural with both of my boys,one of which was 10lb5oz and the other was an induction. I'm not so sure this time and think that because I have that doubt I will possibly go with drugs. Ideally I would avoid an epidural because they petrify me! I'm from New Zealand and I think we deliver quite differently to in the States. You have to do whats right for you!

karaelaine1991 · April 2015

I'm with @mellymar, I want to see how far I can get without one but the second I feel like I need one, I'm asking for it. I originally was saying "absolutely, epidural," but I'm friends with a bunch of really strong supporters of natural birth who made me reconsider... It was all very confusing and the more research I did, the more confused I got. Well, when I'm in doubt, I go to my mom, so I asked for her opinion. She told me that 4 of her 5 births were natural, but then for the twins, she had an emergency c section, so obviously she received drugs for that (and before they found out my sister was breech they were going to induce her so she'd had an epidural placed already, if I'm remembering correctly). Anyway, she said that after that she'd wished she'd used drugs during labor for all of us! So any and all guilt I'd had for considering the epidural went away after that conversation haha.

btm013 · April 2015

A part of me wants to walk in there and go "I haven't had anything stronger than a Tylenol for the last 9 months. Whatcha got?" haha

RobinMac32 · April 2015

This is my 3rd pregnancy and I still plan on natural after having a 9lb 6oz boy the first go round and a very intense labor from being induced the second time. It honestly didn't hurt me that bad. I was able to focus on my breathing with each contraction and pushed a handful of times with each kid and they were here. Heck, I've had menstrual cramps and gas pains that hurt worse than labor contractions did! Haha! But I understand that some women just can't handle the pain. Out of all my friends, I'm the only one that has ever given natural birth and they are all baffled as to why I wouldn't take drugs when offered. Honestly, I don't understand why they think they needed drugs. But, that's our difference in opinion. Last September my best friend went into labor and says she honestly didn't feel a single contraction all the way to the hospital an hour away. She had no clue they were happening except for the fact her water had broken and would gush each contraction which sent her into giggles. Yet, when she got to the hospital she immediately decided to get the epidural just in case she started feeling contractions and it got too late to get one. I'm thinking she could have made it the whole labor without one and made it just fine.

finchfeeder80 · April 2015

I plan on trying to go med free. By no means will I be a martyr about it, but I'm a pretty tough cookie, and this will likely be my only kid, so I'l like to give it an honest try. Giving birth is an unknown to me, so of course I'm nervous about it, but I'm really not scared of it and there's a large part of me that would like to experience it in all of its brutal glory.

alcrimmins · April 2015

I would like to go all natural, but I'm not opposed to pain relief! My hospital also uses Fentanyl as a pain relief. I think I would like to try that before goin straight for the epidural. Who knows though.

ElRuby · April 2015

I don't know if an epidural is a possibility for me and that makes me anxious. With my first I planned to go med free but then asked for epidural. My body reacted poorly and I couldn't feel my legs at all so pushing was not an option. I chose to have the epidural removed to avoid a c section since I was unable to push... So when all the medication was out I pushed and it freaking hurt like hell! My doctor said it probably does not make sense to try an epidural again since I may have the same experience but I can't imagine that pain again without at least that small window of relief I had for the short time the epidural was in!

mamameghan · April 2015

From the moment my labor started (naturally) I had contractions 60 seconds apart lasting 60-90 seconds. By the time we got to the hospital and I was only 2 cms...I was exhausted. The epidural was amazing! I rested, was able to eat and drink, and could feel every contraction by the end when it was time to push. I think it was wearing off but probably still took the edge off.

I say, bring me all the drugs! Lol

KaLikeAWind · April 2015

I'm beginning to think the length of labor is going to play a factor for me, as well. I was chatting with my sister last night, and I found out that she had a relatively quick labor overall. Not like those stories where baby comes in an hour or less, but apparently she had been having contractions all day and didn't know it - her water broke in the parking lot of target, she went to the hospital and a few hours later she was pushing and the twins were born. Then I compare that story to a woman in my pregnant over 35 board, who had been feeling pre-labor contractions for 2-3 days beforehand, hadn't slept well as a result of the discomfort and had been fairly uncomfortable overall, finally started to have regular normal contractions but they still weren't close enough to go into the hospital and labored some more at home. Went in to the hospital when they were closer together, labored some more there, *finally* got to pushing - it was a marathon. I think that after that much time spent in pain / discomfort, I would totally take an epidural just to get some relief for a while and to rest before the big finale. In a situation like that I would probably ask for one as soon as I got there. For real - let me get some rest and relief just for a little while. So I can take a nap before we start to push. I don't want to be so exhausted from all the stuff leading up to pushing that I can barely summon the energy (even tho I have to!) to push well when the time comes, ya know?

lovethatcolosun · April 2015

The length of labor definitely played a role in getting an epidural the first time. I was in labor 33 hours before I chose to get one. I hadn't slept for days so I knew I needed rest before I pushed. I still didn't sleep well because LO's heart rate was dipping and I had to be on an O2 mask. I also chose to go light on the pain relief so it could still feel my contractions and when to push. Then came the back labor. It ultimately wasn't the most ideal experience so I'm hoping my labor is a bit more streamlined so I can try to do natural this time. If the pain is too much, I have no qualms about asking for the meds. I just want to be rested enough this time to be engaged and successfully breast feeding. I had never been so tired in my entire life and I truly think it affected bonding and breast feeding.

KarasTwin · April 2015

I'm going to make every effort to have a natural birth. I'm honestly getting so tired of people telling me that I can't, it's making me that much more determined. I think whatever you choose is fine for you. We did go to a birthing class and learned some pain management techniques and I think I saw some recommendations for natural child birth books on a thread the other day so I'm going to try to do some reading up on the subject.

megmama · April 2015

I went epidural with my 1st (9.2 lb baby) and plan to do it again. With my daughter being so big, and big babies running in my family (I was 10.4) I just can't think about natural. I think the moms that do go natural are extremely brave though!

TEAM DRUGS!

)

Katerina&Baby · April 2015

I'm going to try it without the epidural just because I am morbidly curious to see if I could do it but I will not hesitate to send DH running for the anesthesiologist if I decide that enough is enough.

annette474 · April 2015

I've done both and the aspect I liked most about natural was being able to move around. I hated being confined to my bed and being constantly hooked up to everything with my epidural. So I'm going to try natural again.

mccall35 · April 2015

The beauty thing is you don't have to decide in advance... I say, do your research but ultimately you will have to wait until you're in labour to make the final call. No one will knock your decision either way!

devyns2nd · April 2015

First of all saying some women can't "handle the pain" is ridiculous! Everyone is different. Some women never feel a BH contraction. It also depends on if you are induced and how hard your body has to work to get your baby out. The size of your baby and the "elasticity" of your vagina matters too (total guess but hey I'm sure it does). For me it depends on if I'm induced and how long I'm in labor. With DD it hurt like freaking crazy but I made it all natural. Doesn't mean have to do it again and it in no way means I can't handle it. You have the choice and it doesn't make you less than. I'm a weanie and I can't promise I will make it again.

bride92310 · April 2015

Last time my water broke but I wasn't dialating quickly enough, so my doctor put me on Pitocin with an increase every thirty minutes. I went five hours laboring naturally (with contractions in my left butt cheek) and finally got to the point where I literally couldn't sit because my butt hurt so bad.

I got the epidural and if possible will most definitely be getting it again!

EPIDURALS ARE AMAZING!!!!!

Emilywooddesign · April 2015

I've decided that I'm having a C section ( I was given the option) bc I'm having twins. Last night I was having some bad cramping and ended up going into labor and delivery, they gave me a pap type test to swab my cervix to check for enzymes that would indicate if I was going to go into labor ( I'm not) honestly, that shit was so painful I could never ever imagine giving birth naturally, props to all the moms who do it naturally but if I was having a vaginal birth there would be no chance in hell that I would do it naturally.

karaelaine1991 · April 2015

devyns2nd said:
First of all saying some women can't "handle the pain" is ridiculous! Everyone is different. Some women never feel a BH contraction. It also depends on if you are induced and how hard your body has to work to get your baby out. The size of your baby and the "elasticity" of your vagina matters too (total guess but hey I'm sure it does). For me it depends on if I'm induced and how long I'm in labor. With DD it hurt like freaking crazy but I made it all natural. Doesn't mean have to do it again and it in no way means I can't handle it. You have the choice and it doesn't make you less than. I'm a weanie and I can't promise I will make it again.

My thoughts exactly! Thank you for putting my feelings about the "some women can't handle the pain" comment into words so perfectly. That comment really rubbed me the wrong way but I was having a hard time expressing my thoughts clearly so I just moved on. But yes, every woman - every labor! - is different and to dismiss those who choose an epidural as "not able to handle it" is, in my opinion, condescending and judgemental.

Well. Looks like I did have more to say after all. Anyway, @devyns2nd, thanks for picking that up and addressing it so well!

laurendutch · April 2015

My Mom had both my sister and I all natural, if she had the choice she would've taken the epidural! She didn't have the option with me and my sister came too fast (like in the foyer in the hospital).

anissa13588 · April 2015

My brother and I were both fast they say we came out like fish so part of me hopes it will be that quick but DH was a 10 lb baby so it has me worried if I need the epidural I'm gonna take it but going to try to keep my pain down with the hot water (as long as no one is in there)

klkonwi · April 2015

Just an FYI at our hospital about 1 yr ago we started to be able to give fentanyl 100 much every hour for pain if you wanted to hold off on the epidural til you absolutely needed it. Depends on your hospital.... Could be an option. Doesn't completely take away the pain but it relaxes the patient.

klkonwi · April 2015

100 mcg *

jessieR358 · April 2015

@klkonwi Wow that's a lot of fentanyl (used to work pacu where we would give 25mcg at a time). How did the babies come out?
My plan is all natural. I'm terrified of epidurals.

AlyLynn07 · April 2015

Hoping to deliver DS2 naturally, as DS1 was. I am, however, fully aware that every labor experience is different and the primary goal is to get baby out safely! It's nice to have a plan, but things don't always go the way you might hope or expect.

mghershkowitz · April 2015

I delivered my son naturally in about 7 hours, so I'm praying that I can deliver my daughter naturally again and in less time.

but of course it's not up to me. :-<

klkonwi · April 2015

@jesshrou you just can't give it within 1 hr of delivering. It's a standard order for our labors.

Avidadoce · April 2015

I had the epidural with my first. I had a relatively very easy final stage and only pushed 4 times. Epidural was the way to go! 9 years later I did things completely differently. Did the birthing classes, breast feeding classes, hospital tours, the works. And when I watched the actual video of the epidural I looked at my husband and said "Why did I ever let them do that to me!?".... I went on to have an amazing 10 hour non medicated birth with my daughter. I pushed twice with her. And neither kids did I have any tearing. I felt AMAZING afterwards.. I drove myself home from the hospital the next day!

I think if you educate yourself and allow yourself to deal with the pain.. youll be fine. I didnt lay in that bed not once while in labor. I took showers, sat on the birthing ball, squatted, walked around.. the pressure is all consuming. And the fear is what creeps into your mind if what its going to feel like "next"... but then bam you are ready to deliver. Afterwards I felt like I had a cape on..

Im doing a home birth this time, and its my last pregnancy. Im actually looking FORWARD to giving birth. Embrace it. Its a beautiful thing!!!

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