My mom has been telling me the wonders of an epidural since I was like 12, lol. She had her first 2 without, and her 3rd with, and has continually said throughout my life how glorious epidurals are. For me, personally, I see no reason to feel any pain I don't need to, I find pregnancy beautiful and motherhood beautiful, but not labor, that's just sh*t you gotta get through in between the two, haha. I love medicine, I plan on asking for an epi the second they let me, zero shame. I wish I could get an epi whenever I'm constipated, or have a cold, or stub my toe, I'm a big baby haha.
This is my third pregnancy and I have experience with both methods. With my first I had an epidural and it only gave me relief briefly and then for some reason I felt all the pain. Having an epidural has nasty side effects. My back hurts exactly where they put the injection and its already been 10years since then. With my 2nd I decided no epidural. I dealt with the pain by walking and staying active during labor. It was 100 times better labor. I felt so empowered and so free that I didn't have to lay on that bed because I wasn't druged. If all goes well I plan on having no epidural this time again.
I had epidurals with DD and DS and will do so again. I felt fine afterwards. It had worn off by the time I was taken to the maternity floor, and I was able to walk to the restroom just fine. I've never had any issues with back pain or anything which, as an aside, was a poorly done research study that has since been debunked.
I also bristle at the term "natural" birth, as if those who choose to take medication are somehow not doing things the "natural" or "right" way. I just don't see the point of being in pain. We don't drink bourbon and chew on leather straps during surgery these days, either. Take the drugs or don't take the drugs. Neither choice makes your delivery less amazing or you less of a woman.
SummerOH i was thinking the exact same thing when i read the title of this post. I wish it wasn't referred to as "medicated birth." Either way the outcome is the same no matter which route you choose. If you get a cavity filled and choose to forgo the novacaine, you didn't get a "natural filling" or a "medicated filling" you got a filling. Period.
I'm not against having pain meds but I don't want an epidural. There's a hospital in my area that has a nitrous oxide (laughing gas) option that I'm open to. I'm also looking into classes on the Bradley method.
I planned a "natural" birth, though ended up surprising myself by consenting to pitocin after my water broke and labor wasn't forthcoming. I managed without an epidural or other pain management options. From pitocin to baby, my labor was only 5 hours. I had back labor with very little pause between contractions, it literally felt like someone took a jackhammer to my sacrum. Very intense and excruciating, but it's also a productive pain... Which I think is important to acknowledge.
All that said, I am planning for a natural birth again, but will probably hop ship and opt for an epidural if pitocin becomes part of the equation.
I had epidurals with DD and DS and will do so again. I felt fine afterwards. It had worn off by the time I was taken to the maternity floor, and I was able to walk to the restroom just fine. I've never had any issues with back pain or anything which, as an aside, was a poorly done research study that has since been debunked.
I also bristle at the term "natural" birth, as if those who choose to take medication are somehow not doing things the "natural" or "right" way. I just don't see the point of being in pain. We don't drink bourbon and chew on leather straps during surgery these days, either. Take the drugs or don't take the drugs. Neither choice makes your delivery less amazing or you less of a woman.
Yes to all this!! I had awesome epi experiences. Ask 10 women who had medication and 10 women who did unmedicated and you will have positive and horror stories from both. Like most things in motherhood/parenting I don't really care what you decide to do, it doesn't affect me! But, I don't think if you chose to get pain relief you have less of a birth experience. I also wonder when people ask about natural birth, "what's the opposite of natural? Did I have an unnatural birth???"
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@supergem - Oh Momma, major kudos for doing pitocin unmedicated. I was induced with pitocin and at 7cm I decided I'd had enough. Your description of back labor is perfect - a jackhammer to the sacrum, with no relief between contractions. My friend had 2 inductions and went into labor on her own for her 3rd and she said pitocin contractions are so much worse than regular labor contractions.
For what it is worth, by saying "Natural vs. medicated" it was not to indicate that having medication is unnatural. It is only the terms that I grew-up using and use/hear most commonly; PC or not. I had an epidural w/ both DS and DD and feel no less about it.
My first 3 I didn't have the option of the epidural and holy hell was it painful. My fourth I got the epidural and what am absolutely amazing and relaxed experience it was. And because of it I didn't tear for the first time!
I have had 2 natural birthday with gas only and I would do it over and over again. Nothing against drugs I just prefer to do it that way. I had the best experiences with both of my labours. So when we have this next bubba I'll be asking for the gas. If you breath slowly and concentrate it work better good luck.
I have already committed myself to a natural birth. This is my first pregnancy and I don't doubt that it will be one of the hardest things I do but it is important for me. I want to be "present" during my labor. I will be working with a great midwife program. The chances of c-section and any type of intervention are much lower (almost nonexistent with natural deliveries). I do not want a c-section, to be induced (the midwife let this happen naturally), epi, or any type of forceps or suction. I don't think that is natural but to each his own. There is always a chance that intervention will occur due to complications. We most certainly can't predict these things and I feel comfortable with that. The midwife program is part of one of the best hospitals in my area so my delivery will be in a hospital which makes me feel safe in case intervention is needed. Ladies, look up a video on YouTube called "The Business of Being Born" if you're even a little bit interested in natural birth.
@Life is Expecting - unfortunately, there really isn't anything that will allow you to block the pain and sensory fibers, while keeping the motor fibers intact. They are all bundled together in a larger "cable" and are all affected. If you tried to get up and walk around, you'd probably fall immediately! But once the epidural is stopped, as mentioned previously, the medication stops, and will be metabolized by your body over the next few hours. Ideally, you can get up and walk a few hours after birth. Every patient is different in how they metabolize the medications, but generally that is the case. Good question!!
Natural birth. I'm going to a midwife (my mother is a certified nurse midwife and I'm going to one of her coworkers), and will have a doula. I don't even want anyone to offer me any pain meds. If I ask for them, fine. But offering them is unacceptable to me.
This ill be my first and I plan on having it at the hospital medicated. I don't see the need in putting my body through excessive pain if I don't need to. So hopefully all goes well however due to 1) my pelvic cavity being very nArrow 2) I have complete Previa (might move might not) but a csection will be most likely but obv It will be a pre planned c section and that's all fine too as Long as my baby is healthy I will be great!
I'm the same as most ladies on here. I went into my first with the attitude that if I need meds, I'm open to them. That being said, I had a VERY smooth labor. I finally called the nurse in when the pain was "unbearable"- turned out that was because I was 100% ready to push and baby was dying to come out! Her head popped out with push #2 and the rest of her followed with one more push. I literally pushed 3 times and I was done. I'm hoping to do the same this time, but again it depends on the labor, etc. I am in no way opposed to the meds if it gets bad, but yes my first choice is to try it natural.
I'm a FTM and definitely plan to go 100% natural. I plan on having all my prenatal appointments with a midwife and going to a birthing center to give birth so there won't be an epideral available even if I wanted it lol.
I know I've already posted, but I just wanted to add that anyone even CONSIDERING birth unmedicated should take a birthing class. Not a parenting class or pregnancy class, but a class specifically designated to cover just the time you are in labor. I never would have been able to make it through an unmedicated birth if I hadn't had such an amazing instructor. Not only did we cover techniques like counter-pressure and productive breathing, but knowing how far along you are in the process and what the pain is actually accomplishing made it so much less scary and painful. My class was taught by a nurse of 30 years and was a 5-day course. So not only was she knowledgable about birth procedure in a hospital setting (if you're going to a midwifery, obviously take a class with someone familiar with that setting) but she also knew all of the biology and anatomy of birth. This was NOT the case with another class I took, and I am SO glad I took this one too. Being informed, in my opinion, is the BEST way to have a great birth!
I will be going for vbac and would love to do it unmedicated, as I think that will help me succeed better, but my goal is to make it to at least 5cm before thinking about an epidural. First was 38 hour labor that ended in csection so I won't put myself through that much pain again if it seems to be taking that long!
With ds I didn't have time for an epi or any pain meds.....the whole labor process was 3 hours with him, we barely made it to the hospital in time (now we have a new hospital that's 5 mins away instead of 20, just ha e to make it to 37 weeks, ds was born at 36 1/2...he was in a hurry all the way around I guess lol). I am hoping to do an all natural birth again, but am open to pain meds if it goes too long. I only had to do it 3 hours last time but that was enough for me to know if it lasts too long I am fine with asking for relief lol. I give it to the women that have long labors with no meds!
I was induced last time and hated the Pitocin once the contractions kicked in. I tensed up so badly I didn't progress. Once I got the epidural, I jumped from a 3 to a 9 in a little over an hour. I had a glorious time watching HGTV while DH ran to check on the dogs...and then I could feel the contractions again. DH fortunately got back in time. RE: Epidural...I did not like not being able to feel my legs. They felt like lead weights and the nurse and DH had to help me move them. I also had terrible back pain after DD was born. I do wonder if there was a connection with the epidural, but I have back pain off and on pretty regularly anyway.
I would like to go into labor on my own (kind of a goal for me) and I want to train myself to zone out and go with the pain so I'll progress, but I'm not against getting an epidural.
I have already committed myself to a natural birth. This is my first pregnancy and I don't doubt that it will be one of the hardest things I do but it is important for me. I want to be "present" during my labor. I will be working with a great midwife program. The chances of c-section and any type of intervention are much lower (almost nonexistent with natural deliveries). I do not want a c-section, to be induced (the midwife let this happen naturally), epi, or any type of forceps or suction. I don't think that is natural but to each his own. There is always a chance that intervention will occur due to complications. We most certainly can't predict these things and I feel comfortable with that. The midwife program is part of one of the best hospitals in my area so my delivery will be in a hospital which makes me feel safe in case intervention is needed. Ladies, look up a video on YouTube called "The Business of Being Born" if you're even a little bit interested in natural birth.
I've been told to watch The Business of Being Born too. Looking to purchase a download. I to want it to be natural. I am planning with all goes well, a water birth. This is what I hope to be my first and only. To experince it as nature intended is what my plans are i'm crossing my fingers for a normal pregnancy .
Natural here. I had a horrible experience with the epi in my first birth. My second one i went natural and it was super fast and recovery was so much easier and faster. I left the hospital after 24 hours unlike the first time which was 4 days! Also, my natural birth was to my 10 lbs 2 oz. little guy, so I have no worries about size I think he was actually easier to push out than the 8 pounder. Labor with epi was 29 hours, labor natural was 5.
I had to be induced with dd. I went into the hospital at 9pm and was started on pitocin. Let me tell you, those contractions are no joke. My nurses offered to get me the epidural right away but after hearing so many stories about the epidural slowing down labor, I declined. I made it until noon the next day before I broke down and begged for the epidural. At 6:30 pm I was still in a lot of pain so I was actually given more drugs to help. I started pushing at 7pm and dd wasn't born until 9:11pm. There is no way I would have lasted over 24 hours without the drugs. Dd was also 9lb13oz and I am a petit person so I don't regret getting the epidural at all. I was nervous about the needle ahead of time like some of you say, but honestly, I don't even remember it. The contraction pain was far worse. Dd was also wide awake and alert when born. Actually when the doctor lifted her and put her on my stomach, she lifted her head up and looked at me. She also latched right away within a half hour of being born. I wouldn't change a single thing!
I'm not sure if I will need an epidural for labor, I plan on doing the bradley classes so I would prefer to avoid it but if it's necessary then it's necessary, I'm open to it. I would like to tell ladies who fear it, I have had a spinal tap (LP) which leaked and then needed a blood patch epidural to fix it, the epidural is NOTHING. The spinal tap for me was some serious shocking pain and the epidural was just "stay still", the worst part was the local which burned a little. Do not fear the epidural! Most of the docs who are doing them do them ALL DAY and are very good at it. I had to wait two days to get my blood patch because the poor guy was always busy doing them for women in labor!
the worst part was the local which burned a little. Do not fear the epidural!
This is me too! My worst part was the numbing medication. My contractions were right on top of each other with DD and I couldn't catch a break to breathe. I'm going in open minded and if I need the epi, I will get one.
I'm a first- timer, no experience or outside research on this topic literally other than this thread .... For me personally, being able to say I did it without medicine means nothing - however if it takes longer because of the epi and has longer recovery time (not sure exactly what that means, because it sounds like epi folks could walk right after - are there longer term recovery issues?). Then those are reasons I might at least try to start with natural until I couldn't handle the pain (at some point I think id decide 20 hours of mild pain is better than 5 hours of excruciating).
with my first at 38 wks my water broke at 1am on a Sunday, I ended up waiting half my labor for the only anesthesiologist in the hospital to make it to me!! got the epidural, napped and hung out until 10 cm, pushed for 45 minutes and he was in our arms by 1:30 pm!! hoping for another medicated vaginal delivery for this one
Re: Who has thought about it?? Natural or medicated birth?
I had epidurals with DD and DS and will do so again. I felt fine afterwards. It had worn off by the time I was taken to the maternity floor, and I was able to walk to the restroom just fine. I've never had any issues with back pain or anything which, as an aside, was a poorly done research study that has since been debunked.
I also bristle at the term "natural" birth, as if those who choose to take medication are somehow not doing things the "natural" or "right" way. I just don't see the point of being in pain. We don't drink bourbon and chew on leather straps during surgery these days, either. Take the drugs or don't take the drugs. Neither choice makes your delivery less amazing or you less of a woman.
DD 12/20/99, DS 12/14/12, M/C 9/2014, M/C 1/2015
All that said, I am planning for a natural birth again, but will probably hop ship and opt for an epidural if pitocin becomes part of the equation.
Like most things in motherhood/parenting I don't really care what you decide to do, it doesn't affect me! But, I don't think if you chose to get pain relief you have less of a birth experience.
I also wonder when people ask about natural birth, "what's the opposite of natural? Did I have an unnatural birth???"
BFP #2 - EDD 1/25/16
Natural MC 10/01/14