As a FTM, I've found this thread really informative. I always just assumed I'd probably get an epidural just because I'm awful with pain. Close friends of mine have talked to me about their labours (before I was KU) & they were either fully for or fully against the epidural...but they never really explained their reasoning behind their decisions. It's great to hear solid explanations for why you don't want one.
I think I'm now in the mindset of: I'll do my absolute best to have a completely natural delivery, but if I can't, I'm not against asking for one. I just don't want to set myself up for personal disappointment if I say I'm 100% not getting one, & then can't handle the pain. It's going to be a game day decision.
Well thanks for the insight everyone! I had great experiences with epidurals - didn't hurt, no catheter required, easy deliveries and NO PAIN... Hence my question.
Pitocin is the devil! And then they gave me more AFTER delivery when we had visitors to make my uterus go back down. I would never want to be induced again unless medically necessary. HOWEVER. I have known several people to have pitocin and labor was easy.
I just wanted to leave a "not all epidurals are bad" comment. I've had one for both of my children and had 2 amazing births. With my first I labored for 12 hours and only pushed 20 mins. With my second I labored 10 hours and got her out in one push. I was up walking and showering the next day with both. I'm definitely planning on getting one again this time.
I wanted to add to mine, one reason I got an epidural the second time was because I had to keep going pee and the bathroom was outside my room and it was a pain in the butt.
Some people are able to relax and take a nap after the epidural kicks in but it gives me VIOLENT shivers and I cannot relax while shivering.
The pictocin worked well with me and I enjoyed a pain-free birth.
But at the cost of having a pain in my back for a week after, not being able to walk for HOURS after birth.
For others I wouldn't advise it because most people I know get an epidural get Pitocin then have to get a C-section.
I just wanted to leave a "not all epidurals are bad" comment. I've had one for both of my children and had 2 amazing births. With my first I labored for 12 hours and only pushed 20 mins. With my second I labored 10 hours and got her out in one push. I was up walking and showering the next day with both. I'm definitely planning on getting one again this time.
I agree. I loved my epidural. It took me awhile to push (2 hours, although I was told average was 1-3 hours) and had an episotomy, but I would have likely had one anyway/torn and would have hated to not have it. I also received pitocin and did fine with it. It's a personal choice, of course, but I will definitely be aiming for one 2nd time around.
I just wanted to leave a "not all epidurals are bad" comment. I've had one for both of my children and had 2 amazing births. With my first I labored for 12 hours and only pushed 20 mins. With my second I labored 10 hours and got her out in one push. I was up walking and showering the next day with both. I'm definitely planning on getting one again this time.
I agree. I loved my epidural. It took me awhile to push (2 hours, although I was told average was 1-3 hours) and had an episotomy, but I would have likely had one anyway/torn and would have hated to not have it. I also received pitocin and did fine with it. It's a personal choice, of course, but I will definitely be aiming for one 2nd time around. ***** I actually had a nightmare last night that my 3rd delivery was too quick for an epidural and I had to go naturally. Thanks to this thread for putting that thought in my head, haha!
The catheter was terrible and disgusting. I wasn't able to walk around. It only worked on one side. The one side that did work was numb for hours after labor. I couldn't feel the "urge to push" so I sat at 10cm for so long my son's HR and oxygen level dropped. These are all reasons I will not be getting an epidural this time around unless there's a medical emergency causing the need for one.
I'm still undecided about an epidural but I want to avoid Pitocin at all costs! With DD my water broke and 10 hours later no labor had begun. I was put on pitocin and then 12 hours after that I finally entered "active labor" and it was horribly painful. I ended up begging for an epidural because of the pain and how exhausted I was. DD was finally born 36 hours after my water had broke. Ideally, I would be able to labor naturally and possibly avoid the epi all together this time.
TTC since Jan. 2010 DX Unexplained infertility
3 IUI's w/Clomid & Ovidrel=all BFNs 3 IVF (2 Fresh, 1 frozen) =BFN Jan 2012 New RE & Fresh Cycle =BFP!
A lot of people have mentioned Pitocin. The downside is that it doesn't mimic natural labour well. In natural labour the contractions build up slowly and it gives your body time to adapt. Pitocin can give very strong, fast and painful contractions which then leads onto women requesting epidurals. I wonder how many women can use pit without epidurals and if they are able to use lower doses? Anyone had good experiences of Pitocin without epidural?
@Huskeypuppy14 I also had the walking epidural so by the time it came round to push I could feel the pressure and the contractions but not in a paining way.
I paid $300 for mine max and I took it at 3 cms. Baby born 3 hrs later. Again , I know it isn't really what you asked but adding my 2 cents.
A lot of people have mentioned Pitocin. The downside is that it doesn't mimic natural labour well. In natural labour the contractions build up slowly and it gives your body time to adapt. Pitocin can give very strong, fast and painful contractions which then leads onto women requesting epidurals. I wonder how many women can use pit without epidurals and if they are able to use lower doses? Anyone had good experiences of Pitocin without epidural?
I was unaware that women get pitocin just for the sake of expediting labor, rather than a real medical concern? I mean, I thought women received it because they weren't going to have "a natural labor." I received it because I started bleeding when I dilated, and they were concerned about my placenta and DS. I received my epidural before the pitocin (and was already 5cm dilated). Do women get pitocin like candy?
A lot of people have mentioned Pitocin. The downside is that it doesn't mimic natural labour well. In natural labour the contractions build up slowly and it gives your body time to adapt. Pitocin can give very strong, fast and painful contractions which then leads onto women requesting epidurals. I wonder how many women can use pit without epidurals and if they are able to use lower doses? Anyone had good experiences of Pitocin without epidural?
No. I was doing okay in labor and handling it really well until they started a low dose of pitocin. Right after the pitocin, I was in a crazy amount of pain. Contractions were coming so fast and I couldn't recover. My son was born 6 hours later. No way I would have ever attempted to get through that. I was so relieved when they gave me an epidural.
A lot of people have mentioned Pitocin. The downside is that it doesn't mimic natural labour well. In natural labour the contractions build up slowly and it gives your body time to adapt. Pitocin can give very strong, fast and painful contractions which then leads onto women requesting epidurals. I wonder how many women can use pit without epidurals and if they are able to use lower doses? Anyone had good experiences of Pitocin without epidural?
I was unaware that women get pitocin just for the sake of expediting labor, rather than a real medical concern? I mean, I thought women received it because they weren't going to have "a natural labor." I received it because I started bleeding when I dilated, and they were concerned about my placenta and DS. I received my epidural before the pitocin (and was already 5cm dilated). Do women get pitocin like candy?
It is often given to induce labour. The medical necessity of that is usually debatable. Some doctors will induce labour as a matter of course if a woman goes a certain amount over her dates, regardless if there is any sign of trouble. It's pretty common if water breaks but labour doesn't start on its own after water breaking, too.
I got it in my labour because it was slow. I did not ask for it or want it, but they were quite insistent I needed it to get labour moving faster (this was about 12 hours into active labour). I got an epidural within an hour of them starting pitocin.
A lot of people have mentioned Pitocin. The downside is that it doesn't mimic natural labour well. In natural labour the contractions build up slowly and it gives your body time to adapt. Pitocin can give very strong, fast and painful contractions which then leads onto women requesting epidurals. I wonder how many women can use pit without epidurals and if they are able to use lower doses? Anyone had good experiences of Pitocin without epidural?
I was unaware that women get pitocin just for the sake of expediting labor, rather than a real medical concern? I mean, I thought women received it because they weren't going to have "a natural labor." I received it because I started bleeding when I dilated, and they were concerned about my placenta and DS. I received my epidural before the pitocin (and was already 5cm dilated). Do women get pitocin like candy?
Sorry, I think you misunderstood or my point wasn't clear. Pitocin is only given when labour isn't progressing naturally. So always for medical reasons. I was wondering if it was possible to have it without an epidural or if it was always too painful!
I was given pitocin after contractions didn't start on their own after my water broke. I didn't get an epidural. I used the bath, birthing ball, and did a lot of walking. This time around I'm hoping to go without an epidural again even though I'm pregnant with twins. Of course, that depends on many other factors such as the babies being correctly positioned for a vaginal delivery.
@Huskeypuppy14 I also had the walking epidural so by the time it came round to push I could feel the pressure and the contractions but not in a paining way.
I paid $300 for mine max and I took it at 3 cms. Baby born 3 hrs later. Again , I know it isn't really what you asked but adding my 2 cents.
Were you able/allowed to walk? Did you need to get a catheter?
Re: why are you NOT having an epidural?
SaveSave
HOWEVER. I have known several people to have pitocin and labor was easy.
Some people are able to relax and take a nap after the epidural kicks in but it gives me VIOLENT shivers and I cannot relax while shivering.
The pictocin worked well with me and I enjoyed a pain-free birth.
But at the cost of having a pain in my back for a week after, not being able to walk for HOURS after birth.
For others I wouldn't advise it because most people I know get an epidural get Pitocin then have to get a C-section.
*****
I actually had a nightmare last night that my 3rd delivery was too quick for an epidural and I had to go naturally. Thanks to this thread for putting that thought in my head, haha!
Edit to separate quotes.
3 IUI's w/Clomid & Ovidrel=all BFNs
3 IVF (2 Fresh, 1 frozen) =BFN
Jan 2012 New RE & Fresh Cycle =BFP!
Sorry, I think you misunderstood or my point wasn't clear. Pitocin is only given when labour isn't progressing naturally. So always for medical reasons. I was wondering if it was possible to have it without an epidural or if it was always too painful!