There has to be things in between a natural birth and an epidural...right?

shayshayin · November 2015

Clearly I could've googled that, so this post is for resl life stories of natural births, epidurals and everything between?

NachosAndPeaches · November 2015

They can give you IV pain meds, but honestly, it's not worth it. It doesn't even take the edge off. If you want pain relief you want the epi.

brie_and_almonds · November 2015

I had been in the "wait and see" camp, and when it came down to it, docs encouraged an epidural because I had been in early labor for 18 hours without much actual progression. Once I had the epidural I started progressing much faster without pitocin. My epidural wasn't quite right, so I could still feel a lot (like every time they checked my cervix), and when I eventually had to have a c-section they had to redo it, which was annoying, but I have no regrets about getting it.

Everyone's experience is different.

Anecdote #1: I have a coworker who has had two kids, first all-natural, second with epidural and she said the epidural was pointless for her cause it still hurt just as much and she was expecting it not to.

Anecdote #2: My BFF also had two kids, first all-natural, second with epidural, and she loved her epidural and had a much easier second delivery (with a much bigger baby). After bahy #2 was born, she said "Natural childbirth, hah, who wants to do that?"

sprocketsngadgets · November 2015

I was in labor for 19 hours. I can't imagine that without an epidural. I feel like everyone freaks out about getting a needle in the back (I cried when the anesthesiologist came in I was so scared) but honestly I felt a tiny prick when they numbed the area and then pressure. Then glorious relief from contractions. IV meds really don't do much

duendef · November 2015

I went natural, and this was several years ago, but in my research there was an option to do a walking epidural, which I believe is a bit of a different cocktail than an epidural (I think some narcotic pain med is added), but may leave you with the option to move around, and only lasts for an hour or two or something. I know some women use it during a very long labor in order to rest for an hour or so and then continue to birth without additional intervention. Again, I don't have any experience with it though, but it may be an option.

momofmanyinthemitten · November 2015

All 3 of my labors were over 24 hrs. I got an epi with the first 2, and held out with the third. I ended up getting a shot of narcotics in my IV (mandatory IV for VBACers at my hospital) after my OB was trying to manually move my cervix to an anterior position for half an hour. Talk about pain! It didn't really take the pain away, but it let me get some rest between contractions. The only bad thing about it was that I was really groggy once I delivered DD2. I will be trying to go without the epi again this time because my postpartum recovery was basically nonexistent with my third. I woke up 3 hours later thinking that my l&d was a dream because I had no pain and very little bleeding (which was not the case with the other two). Ask your OB about your options.

pinottoparenthood · November 2015

I got morphine and maybe something else through the IV because I couldn't get the epidural until I hit 4 cm... and once my water broke, I was in immense pain, but I was only 1 cm. It literally made NO difference. It still hurt so so badly. The ONLY plus was that it made me incredibly sleepy, so I was able to drift in and out of sleep a bit. Once I got the epidural, it was like night and day. I always tell my friends who are thinking of going meds- free to just keep an open mind and don't feel bad if it doesn't go exactly like you planned... natural is great if that's what you want, but there's absolutely no shame in getting an epidural if you need it! All that matters is healthy mom/baby. Also, I wasn't planning on getting the morphine etc because I heard it could affect the baby (make him really drowsy, etc.) but honestly, I would have let them inject me with crack at that point if it could have even remotely decreased the pain haha. I wasn't really prepared for what it was going to be like.

I'm not saying this to scare you though... I have said it before and will say it again... I LOVED childbirth and it was the most amazing experience of my life! (Granted, WITH the epidural

). Yes it hurts like a bitch, but it's the most amazing/rewarding thing ever, regardless of what route you go with meds, etc!

pinottoparenthood · November 2015

sprocketsngadgets said:

I was in labor for 19 hours. I can't imagine that without an epidural. I feel like everyone freaks out about getting a needle in the back (I cried when the anesthesiologist came in I was so scared) but honestly I felt a tiny prick when they numbed the area and then pressure. Then glorious relief from contractions. IV meds really don't do much

Just to address this, I was not REMOTELY scared about the needle going in my back. I was pretty much BEGGING for it. I didn't even feel it because I was in the throes of horrible contractions. So honestly, the needle in the back may end up being the least of your worries at that point if that fear is one of yours.

yodiggity · November 2015

brenlo42 said:

I had been in the "wait and see" camp, and when it came down to it, docs encouraged an epidural because I had been in early labor for 18 hours without much actual progression. Once I had the epidural I started progressing much faster without pitocin. My epidural wasn't quite right, so I could still feel a lot (like every time they checked my cervix), and when I eventually had to have a c-section they had to redo it, which was annoying, but I have no regrets about getting it. Everyone's experience is different. Anecdote #1: I have a coworker who has had two kids, first all-natural, second with epidural and she said the epidural was pointless for her cause it still hurt just as much and she was expecting it not to. Anecdote #2: My BFF also had two kids, first all-natural, second with epidural, and she loved her epidural and had a much easier second delivery (with a much bigger baby). After bahy #2 was born, she said "Natural childbirth, hah, who wants to do that?"

OMG I never thought about that part being painful.

blonde151188 · November 2015

My first two labors I had an epi, the third I was begging for one but he came way too fast. This one will be the same, if I have a fast labor, sure I'll go med free, but if labor is going to drag, I will get an epi.

RoseShadow873 · November 2015

pinottoparenthood said:

sprocketsngadgets said:

I was in labor for 19 hours. I can't imagine that without an epidural. I feel like everyone freaks out about getting a needle in the back (I cried when the anesthesiologist came in I was so scared) but honestly I felt a tiny prick when they numbed the area and then pressure. Then glorious relief from contractions. IV meds really don't do much

Just to address this, I was not REMOTELY scared about the needle going in my back. I was pretty much BEGGING for it. I didn't even feel it because I was in the throes of horrible contractions. So honestly, the needle in the back may end up being the least of your worries at that point if that fear is one of yours.

I'm more scared of the catheter and potential vomiting

UnbreakableKimmySchmidt · November 2015

Has anyone used nitrous oxide (laughing gas) during labor? It is an option at the hospital we are considering. From what I've read it's just starting to re-appear in the US.

MrsZko · November 2015

@UnbreakableKimmySchmidt I did take the gas with DS and I didn't like it cause I just didn't like something in my face I guess. But I took one breath in and after the fact, my husband said it made me calmer. I don't really know...baby came within the next 10 minutes...that's the only other option they offered after I didn't take the epidural. I'm in Ottawa, Canada so it may differ from one hospital to another, one city to another!

samkmommy · November 2015

@UnbreakableKimmySchmidt , my sister took the gas and loved it!!!!! I had an epidural and was in a lot of pain still, but ended up with an emergency c section anyways... My kiddo was too big and was stuck! I would definitely consider the gas if I didn't have to have a csection this time. My sister said she felt the pain, but the gas made her much calmer and helped her deal with it easier.

lawright · November 2015

I had classic "sunny side up" back labor. My contractions were farther apart and I didn't even figure out they were contractions and not regular 3rd tri back spasms until they were about 4-5 minutes apart - 14 hours after they started. I walked into the hospital at 6 cm and that's when it got really bad. The pain got much, much, much worse but there was no progression to my cervix. (Basically, the baby has to face your spine to fit through the canal. Mine faced my belly so her skull was pressing against my back with each contraction. Around 4-6 cm or so is when the baby is starting to be forced to turn, which can take a lot of time and can appear to look like "stalled labor.") After about three hours, I was done and asked for my epi, which I got mid-contraction. It was amazing. About three hours after that they woke me up from my nap and told me it was time to push. I pushed for four hours and then got a ton of stitches after that. I'm so freaking glad I took the epidural.

DougalMcG · November 2015

Nitrous oxide is given pretty regularly in the UK and after talking to my friends it sounds like the experience varies. Some thought it helped a lot, others didn't think it helped at all. I delivered the the US so I got all the drugs and it was glorious.

linaboop · November 2015

I've done both versions and I prefer the epidural.

With my first child, I was in labor for 8 hours, then pushed for 2 hours. I had an epidural. I had to push for 2 hours because my sneaky little daughter decided to bring her elbow up next to her head for her entry into the world. Recovery was quick and painless, I didn't have to worry about feeling them stitch me up or poke and prod things around during clean up.

For my second child I was in labor about 2 hours, pushed for 2 minutes. The home part of labor was fine- quick and painful. I did my breathing exercises, changed positions and all that jazz. I barely made it to the hospital, so I did not get any type of pain management. They had to put a shock blanket on me once my daughter was born. The immediate recovery took longer for me too, and was more painful. I was very thankful I didn't need stitches with that one! The other part that was annoying was the clean up after the baby came. Everything was so painful. I was still having contractions and cramping. Luckily, my second childbirth story is not a common one!

Somersky · November 2015

One of the perks of the hospital where we'll be delivering (under the care of midwives) is that they offer laughing gas. I'll be a FTM, so I'm not sure if I'll use if or if I'd like it, but it's a form of pain relief that is self-administered (you get a mask you can put on and off as you please), and if you don't like it, you just take the mask off and it wears off within a few minutes (vs narcotic pain relief in an IV, which is not possible to reverse quickly if you decide you don't like it, like if it nauseates you, etc.).

It's very commonly used in Europe, but is not offered everywhere in the US (though it is becoming much more common).

AGK2015 · November 2015

Somersky said:

One of the perks of the hospital where we'll be delivering (under the care of midwives) is that they offer laughing gas. I'll be a FTM, so I'm not sure if I'll use if or if I'd like it, but it's a form of pain relief that is self-administered (you get a mask you can put on and off as you please), and if you don't like it, you just take the mask off and it wears off within a few minutes (vs narcotic pain relief in an IV, which is not possible to reverse quickly if you decide you don't like it, like if it nauseates you, etc.).

It's very commonly used in Europe, but is not offered everywhere in the US (though it is becoming much more common).

Oh, man. If anybody knows of a hospital in Chicago where they offer nitrous during labor, clue me in, please. I like my doctor, but that would be enough by itself to get me to switch OBs and hospitals. My biggest fear about labor isn't the pain so much as the anxiety surrounding the medical procedures (I'll be the one in the corner crying about the IV); if it's half as helpful in getting me to relax during childbirth as it has been when they've had to needle me up in the dentist's office, I'd be a happy camper!

UnbreakableKimmySchmidt · November 2015

@AGK2015 I am sure there are some hospitals in Chicago that offer nitrous oxide (laughing gas). I'm in the Twin Cities and they just started offering it at a few hospitals around here and sounds like it will roll out to more soon. We were on some hospital tours and asked about it.

brie_and_almonds · November 2015

yodiggity said:

like every time they checked my cervix

OMG I never thought about that part being painful.

It really wasn't that bad, but they didn't expect me to be able to feel it since I had the epidural, so they were NOT gentle.

Cynthia1207 · November 2015

My water broke in my sleep. Contractions started about an hour later and I was only 1cm dilated. I had to wait until I was 3cm to get the epi. My contractions were peaking on the chart and coming every two minutes accompanied with puking at every single one. The epi was the best thing.

Unfortunately I have a high tolerance to anesthetics and it stopped working after 4 hours. Another 4 hours of pain before I was sent to get a c-section

With labor I think it's best to keep an open mind while fully knowing what the consequences of certain procedures are. Your partner should be aware because you probably won't be in a state to clearly judge.

mojomama6 · November 2015

I've done all five of mine drug-free- two in hospital, and three at home. all of my labors have been really different, with a fairly textbook 24 hour labor for my first, two contractions 6.5 hours apart for my second, 48 hours of back labor for my third, 62 crazy intense minutes with my fourth, and ten hours of strong-then-weak weirdness with my fifth. I was (and still am)terrified of the epidural, but was open to it if I needed it with my first. I didnt' even consider it until I was 9 cm, and then I was pushing within ten minutes, and I loved pushing, so I didn't want it anymore. After that, I never really considered it an option except in an emergency. Nitrous oxide is the absolute best for dental work, and I would be thrilled if they started offering it for home births here in the United states. It would have been amazing during my third labor, with all the back pain...

rebelone · November 2015

My first I was in labor for 14 hours with no pain meds. I haven't really dialated at all the whole time, but I was contracting so hard the pain was unbearable. They finally realized the baby was too big to go down the birth canal so I finally was able to get an epidural and a C Section. The epidural was just about as painful getting it as the contractions. They delivered a 10.5 pound baby. This was back before patient rights were really a thing so I didn't really have many choices made available to me. They only gave out ultrasounds if there was a concern. They tried IV meds but that was a waste. They held off on the epidural until the end because they said I might not dilate at all if they gave it to me too early.

My second one was an RCS so we skipped all the excitement and went right into the OR. The epidural went in easy and everything was a breeze.

pinottoparenthood · November 2015

RoseShadow873 said:

pinottoparenthood said:

sprocketsngadgets said:

I was in labor for 19 hours. I can't imagine that without an epidural. I feel like everyone freaks out about getting a needle in the back (I cried when the anesthesiologist came in I was so scared) but honestly I felt a tiny prick when they numbed the area and then pressure. Then glorious relief from contractions. IV meds really don't do much

Just to address this, I was not REMOTELY scared about the needle going in my back. I was pretty much BEGGING for it. I didn't even feel it because I was in the throes of horrible contractions. So honestly, the needle in the back may end up being the least of your worries at that point if that fear is one of yours.

I'm more scared of the catheter and potential vomiting

@roseshadow873 I don't even remember them placing the catheter... I think they do the epidural first so you don't feel it? I didn't even really know it was down there aside from the fact that I wasn't getting up to pee.

Also, I started having nausea towards the end (after I'd had the epidural for a few hours), and they put Zofran in my IV... soo amazing!

AK118 · November 2015

I can't speak much to the catheter as related to pregnancy, but I had a catheter during back surgery. From what I hear (I was unconscious when they placed it) - it's not too big a deal to put in for women (versus for men), but I will tell you that when they took it out the next morning, it was like taking out a tampon. So if that helps allay any fears...

Also, I am a giant baby when it comes to needles, but needed an IV for steroid injections and it was NOT the big deal I made it out in my head to be. I just didn't look at it!

As far as epidurals and open-mindedness go, I may not physically be ABLE to get an epidural because of the site of my back surgery and scar from 9 years ago. I am supposed to meet with the anesthesiology team at some point to check things out and see what my options may be. Talk about making or not being able to make a choice!

cmjenkies · November 2015

I had to go to the ER last week and had to get a clean catch urine sample. The MD on call only wants them from straight caths. I was completely unmediated and the cath was not bad at all. Not something I want to do every day by any means but it was just whatever.

spicedice · November 2015

I had a really long labor with DS (33 hours). I had no epi, but I tried other ways to help with pain. If your hospital has a bath and will let you use it, it's great to help make contractions less painful. DS hated the bath, so I always had to get out after about 10 minutes because his heart rate would freak out. Bouncing on a yoga ball helped. My only advice? If you are having issues dilating, SAY NO TO THE BALLOON. It was more painful than the contractions or pushing. I can't remember how long it took for the balloon to finally fall out, but it seemed like an eternity of pain.

I plan on no epi again. I only pushed for 30 minutes and had only one tiny labial tear. Feeling everything was definitely a better motivator for me.

ivyvines6 · November 2015

@fbanke42 What balloon?

mojomama6 · November 2015

@Knottie9983816, one method of induction is to use a Foley catheter inserted into the cervix (rather than the bladder), and then inflate the balloon to manually stretch the cervix to about 3 cm. Sounds great, right? (insert sarcasm) It stays in for up to several hours, until the cervix dilates enough beyond that size that it falls out. many women choose it because there are no chemicals involved, which is a valid concern.

AmadorRose · November 2015

mojomama6 said:
@Knottie9983816, one method of induction is to use a Foley catheter inserted into the cervix (rather than the bladder), and then inflate the balloon to manually stretch the cervix to about 3 cm. Sounds great, right? (insert sarcasm) It stays in for up to several hours, until the cervix dilates enough beyond that size that it falls out. many women choose it because there are no chemicals involved, which is a valid concern.

ivyvines6 · November 2015

@mojomama6 I can understand that being a valid concern but... That sounds terrible.

spicedice · November 2015

AmadorRose said:

mojomama6 said:
@Knottie9983816, one method of induction is to use a Foley catheter inserted into the cervix (rather than the bladder), and then inflate the balloon to manually stretch the cervix to about 3 cm. Sounds great, right? (insert sarcasm) It stays in for up to several hours, until the cervix dilates enough beyond that size that it falls out. many women choose it because there are no chemicals involved, which is a valid concern.

Mine decided to stay in until I was at a 4. No idea why. They told me it would fall out at 3. I was at 2.5 and having continual contractions on top of possible pre-eclampsia when they decided to induce me. Even with induction meds in my IV, I was still having problems dilating... So they recommended the balloon. I immidiately regretted saying yes. 4 to 6 was the least painful but took quite a while. 6 to 10 took maybe 30 minutes and still felt like a cake walk compared to that darn balloon.

tripledaggerWed95976 · November 2015

mojomama6 said:

@Knottie9983816, one method of induction is to use a Foley catheter inserted into the cervix (rather than the bladder), and then inflate the balloon to manually stretch the cervix to about 3 cm. Sounds great, right? (insert sarcasm) It stays in for up to several hours, until the cervix dilates enough beyond that size that it falls out. many women choose it because there are no chemicals involved, which is a valid concern.

Omg That sounds like the worst thing ever!!

loveymay · November 2015

@AmadorRose that gif totally made me bust out laughing!!

frostk16 · November 2015

This is my third pregnancy and I plan on continuing natural births. My first pregnancy I asked for a epidural and ended up being stabbed in the back 7 times! It was horrible and ended up not getting epidural. Pain hurt like hell but bearable. Second baby I asked for iv meds was told it would take off the edge-I didn't notice a difference in my pain. She was born at 9lbs 7 hour labor and 15 minutes of pushing. What helped me was the baths and soaking in the water, humming and thinking it will all be over soon. I believe your body knows what to do and you can do it!! Good luck to you all.

ivyvines6 · November 2015

tripledaggerWed95976 said:

mojomama6 said:

@Knottie9983816, one method of induction is to use a Foley catheter inserted into the cervix (rather than the bladder), and then inflate the balloon to manually stretch the cervix to about 3 cm. Sounds great, right? (insert sarcasm) It stays in for up to several hours, until the cervix dilates enough beyond that size that it falls out. many women choose it because there are no chemicals involved, which is a valid concern.

Omg That sounds like the worst thing ever!!

Completely agree... And I can add that to the list of do not want during labor lol

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There has to be things in between a natural birth and an epidural...right?

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