Did you opt for an epidural even though you had hoped for a natural labor?

mechanicwife · May 2015

No criticism intended here, just curious as a ftm.

TBsquared · May 2015

Yes but I had no real labour support. This time I have a doula and an hoping I can do natural

bean8213 · May 2015

With my first, yes. DD started not tolerating labor and I needed to lay in bed for continuous monitoring. Laying down was the worst position possible for my contractions, so I went with the epi so that I could relax enough to dilate to 10.

californiagraham · May 2015

Yes. They were inducing me and because my body responded so well to cervadil I was dilating pretty fast which made things unbearably painful. Once I got the epidural I was able to sleep and get good rest before delivering my twin girls.

MrsS728 · May 2015

I wanted the epidural, but she came too fast (within 90 minutes of labor starting/the doctor breaking my water) and I couldn't get the epidural, so I had my baby naturally, 100% drug free. Even though it was the most painful experience I've ever felt, I think I would do it again, 100% drug free.

chavez2685 · May 2015

Yes we did this time due to being induced, being sick and deciding to go ahead with an epi ment I didn't have to be put to sleep to have my tubes tied after.

mhilpisch10 · May 2015

No. Was lucky enough to be able to deliver both my sons naturally. Even with DS1 being sunny side up. I think a lot of it has to do with your mentality going in. I didn't even think of an epi as an option and my midwives were awesome about not asking/pushing. But of course some women wanted nothing more to have a natural birth but had to get an epi.

LadyBlood · May 2015

Yes. 90% of my contractions were in my back and I'd been induced. I'd been in labor from the pitocin for about 11 hours and finally made it to 6-7 centimeters and had been awake for over 24 hours. I was exhausted and didn't want that to prevent me from being able to push

SassFrass · May 2015

Yes. I went as long as I couls though. Ibwaant dilating very fast and my membranes had been ruptured for quite some time, so they started a pit drip and then the contractions became so hard and close together I jus couldnt take it anymore.
I have a high pain tolerance, but augmenting labor is intense as it isn't nature taking course, it's forcing your body into cooperation.

beaseg · May 2015

No, though not for lack of effort on my part. I was screaming, begging, swearing, threatening. But dh and the nurses stayed strong and refused to get me the drugs. As soon as I'd pushed him out, I was so appreciative. The nurse immediately said "Don't be mad, I hope you're happy!" haha. and dh responded "Please don't punch me in the face!". hahaha. But I was lucky- my labor was only 3.5 hours.

My advice to anyone trying is to just breathe deep breaths in through the nose and focus only on the contraction you're experiencing. When the wave is over, picture a pristine lake and don't talk or do anything. Just go limp and relax, and when the next one starts- start your breaths again. That's how I survived, until my body started pushing on it's own about 5 mins after being checked and told I was a 6-7. I freaked out then and that's when the screaming began. It came too fast and I wasn't mentally prepared for it. But in hind sight, how lucky to have the time it takes from 7 to 10 go fast!

hmcconn · May 2015

Yup, and I have zero regrets it was amazing. I was in labor for a little over 30 hours, and after 24 hours of painful contractions, water had broken, and at 6 cm I was just exhausted and worried about having the energy to push when the time came. My husband and nurses werent pushy, were totally supportive of whatever I wanted, and I decided to go for it so I could get some sleep. As soon as I took the drugs I felt connected to my baby again instead of just the pain, took a quick nap, and after I woke up got fairly quickly to complete, used all my energy to push (could still feel her move through and feel my husbands hands on my legs, it was really incredible) and had a great birth experience with a healthy baby. I was skeptical going in of drugs, but in my case I think the epidural saved me from having to get a C section rather than making it more likely. There are a million great ways to have a great birth, and it sounds like people on the boards are experiencing all of them!

kimmeenoelle · May 2015

Yes, but I was having couplet contractions with the pitocin and baby's heart rate would drop every time. They basically said epidural, or csection

and even with the epidural I still needed to be on oxygen. If I have another child I hope I won't need an induction! I thought my labor was totally bearable and I was at a 7 before epidural. If babys heart was fine I totally believe I could've stuck it out.

rae430 · May 2015

I went with a natural labor, though had a small induction with Cervadil (just topically). Labor was four hours long, and I dilated from 4 to 10 cm in the last hour, which was excruciating. There was nothing peaceful or glorious about the labor itself, but I'm 24 hours out now and feel almost back to my normal self. If my labor had been long, I would have probably gotten an epi, but he was so fast and furious that the option wasn't even on the table.

sunnymommyo2 · May 2015

First time my son was two weeks late (but I still think my date was wrong)... I was induced and worried I would get too tired not knowing how long labor would take. 18 hours of contractions- got the "juice " after 9- napped while I dilated 8 inches, and only pushed for 20 min. Not what I intended but looking back it worked out ok

MegsB1112 · May 2015

Yup. I had fully intended to go natural but the pitocin made my contractions constant and I never got a break. At 7cm I got the epidural. If I got any break at all in between contractions it was usually for less than a minute. Got the epidural and was able to finally take a deep breath and relax for a little bit. I'm kind of sad I didn't go natural all the way, but am overall happy with how everything went.

Edited to add that even though I couldn't feel my legs, I could still feel the contractions as pressure on my tailbone and felt everything while pushing which was really great! Overall a positive epidural experience. Hoping that next time around I won't need pitocin (little girl was 8 days overdue) and will be able to do it naturally.

Knottie54288128 · May 2015

I started out wanting a natural birth but ended up needing the epidural or a c-section. I will be taking the epidural straight away. My opinion is why be in pain if you don't have to be?

careyphotoo · May 2015

I think even if I wanted a epidural I wouldn't have had the time. Toward the end I was yelling that I wanted it but it was to late and I'm actually glad and wouldn't have had it any other way. My first I had the epidural and it def made it easy but I always wondered if I could have gone natural.

SmrBrd2012 · May 2015

I'm a FTM so I don't technically have an answer yet but I was planning on going as long as possible without one to see what my pain tolerance was. However I've had painful back contractions for coming up on 4 days and most of them are agony and I'm not even in true labor yet. Epidural it is.

saloved · May 2015

I was able to stick it out! But it definately the most painful and exhausting things I've ever gone through. After delivering my first Baby(had twins) it was like instant relief for like 5 mins but as soon as it started again I started crying bc I didn't think I could get the other one out bc I was so exhausted.... She ended up being breech so it was extremely painful... I laugh when I am uncomfortable and my sister was just making me laugh through my whole labor... Right before my other baby was born was the only time I was "upset" throughout my entire labor and regretted not getting an epidural. I was in labor for about 20 hours. But looking back I am very happy that I stuck it out. And now a week later I don't even remember the pain especially as I look at my beautiful girls!!!

Mommabroad · May 2015

MrsS728 said:
I wanted the epidural, but she came too fast (within 90 minutes of labor starting/the doctor breaking my water) and I couldn't get the epidural, so I had my baby naturally, 100% drug free. Even though it was the most painful experience I've ever felt, I think I would do it again, 100% drug free.

Same here! Originally wanted natural, changed my mind and asked for the epidural when I got to the hospital but I was already fully dilated and it was too late... haha so all natural after all! And like PP said, painful but worth it and a good experience.

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