Natural birth vs epidural?

Re: Natural birth vs epidural?

• childrenareablessing member

  March 14

  I think you should just do the research, try for a natural birth, and be aware of what your pros and cons are so you can decide if it's worth it. 
  Personally,I have a lot of birth workers in my family (doulas/midwives) and I've heard so many stories of an epidural causing permanent back/nerve issues, as well as women saying it felt like their emotions were turned off when they got the epidural, they felt numb and dissociated, and they couldn't bond with their baby right. For me, I would rather just deal with the pain in the moment than risk other issues. An epidural is a comfort measure, not a medical necessity, so I just don't think the short term benefit is worth it. 
  Also want to add, I know women who have had epidurals in hospital, and then done a water birth later. The amount of them who say water helps almost as much as an epidural and is better overall is crazy! Maybe look into natural pain killers. 

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• Shieldmaiden95 member

  March 14

  Research, research, research. I had an epidural with my 1st. I ended up having a spinal headache that they let me walk out the door with. It took ER visits. And finally back L+D 11 days later for a blood patch, I had to beg for. I'm pregnant with my 2nd doing a birth center, all natural. Are spinal headache rare? Yes. But I wish I would have looked more into the side effects of everything first. I thought I did enough research with my first. But I didn't. I have now spent years into everything and feel more equipped this time around. Just do your research and do what feels right for you. I'm not here to say, don't do it. I'm just saying educate yourself. 😁😁

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• lizzzy217 member

  March 14

  Yeah this is one where you need to do tons of research into your options and what you'll experience. I wanted to do a natural birth, but since I also had no idea how painful the experience would be I left myself open to the possibility of an epidural.

  And I did TONS of research into natural birth, advice, tips on managing the pain, etc. And when the time came, let me tell you the labor pain was excruciating. I remember lying on the bed squeezing my husband's hand so hard that my fingernails left huge indents and actually drew blood. I couldn't talk or think and I literally started to cry. I asked the nurse to check me and I was only at 5cm. Yeah, no, I wasn't gonna put up with that for another few hours. I asked for the epidural and for me it was pure bliss. I felt so much better, I pulled myself together, I was able to chat with my husband and even laugh with the nurses. I had none of the negative side effects, except an incredibly itchy back lol.
  

  All that being said, if I were pregnant again I would totally want to try to do a natural birth. But I wouldn't feel bad if I gave up and asked for the epidural again

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• medp87 member

  March 16

  Thanks for the input everyone! I will definitely continue to do more research. With my first pregnancy I had to have a c-section and just felt so disconnected from the delivery and it really bothered me. I don’t want to feel like that this time around and want more control over the delivery. 

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