Epidural or natural birth??? what should i do?

I know you know this already, but the decision IS up to you.

Either way, I'll tell you my experience.

I was in early labor for several days, so I was getting previews of what contractions and real labor were going to be like. It didn't feel pleasant.

After my water broke, my contractions weren't even so they put me on pitocin to get things moving. OMG! It was horrible, the pain was too much for me because the contractions were coming in too fast and too intense.

I went in there with an open mind, I told myself that I would endure as much as I could without the epidural but I wouldn't rule it out. So I made my decision, an informed one at that, and I asked for the epidural. I was very scared and the anesthesiologist explained the risks and the benefits as well.

Let me tell you, I didn't feel a thing after they put local anesthesia on my back, the "big" needle and all that didn't seem to matter because I was so ready to have the pain from the contractions go away that a big needle didn't seem like such a bad thing, and I swear to you, I HATE shots!

After the epidural kicked in I was in heaven. I think I even proposed marriage to the poor man lol. I even got to take a nap, something that I hadn't done in too long.

My contractions came as they should but I didn't feel a thing.

The only downside for me was that I needed to have a catheter put in but other than that I think it was a very smart decision for me, because I knew what the epidural would to do me and I knew the risks involved.

I pushed for a little over an hour by the way and it didn't hurt a bit, I want to add the the effects of the epidural had worn out by then and pushing helped me ease they pain of the contractions. My baby was born as healthy as can be and I had no short or long term effects from the epidural. We're both fine.

So my advice is, read, ask questions, investigate as much as you can on this matter and just go in there with an open mind. If you can do it without it then awesome, if you can't then ask for your epidural, it's a life saver but only you decide what's best for your case.

Good luck on decision darling, and congratulations.

I like to ask people what do you do when you have a migraine?. You take a pill right?, well why would you suffer through the worst pain in your life for no reason when modern medicine has come so far?. you don't get a medal for suffering, and your baby will be no more healthier than mine. I already had 4 epidurals and loved them. When the bad labor pains hit, you loose fear of that needle. It is not that big anyways, and it doesn't hurt at all. You just listen to the nurse and relax. It puts a smile on your face when you feel no pain, and others have to tell you that you are having a contraction. You do however feel the pressure and a very strong urge to push, which is a good thing to help get baby out.

I would never recommend a woman have her first baby natural, it is way too painful and long the first time. I just talked to a woman the other day who regretted not getting an epidural. She said they had to use forceps on her, and it traumatized her, without any pain medication. Suffering is senseless in this day and age. Take what is out there for relief.

With my 1st, They made me wait and suffer for 7 hours! before I got my epidural. I pulled my husband in the shower with me at the hospital, with his jeans rolled up to his knees. I was so tired from suffering and so traumatized that I could not even enjoy my baby when he was born. I wanted to run down the hall, I tried to get on top of the bed, I was a mess!. It took me days to get over that.

Ooook. Well, I got an epidural. But i went until 7 cm with no pain medication, and let me tell you i was screaming at the top of my lungs. I couldn't take it. Once I got the epidural I was pushing my son out while making jokes about it being a good ab workout. I'm not sure if every labor is painful but I was in active labor with my son for 72 hours before having him, so i was exhausted and not caring what people thought. I ended up getting the epidural and by that time it didn't hurt one bit to get it. But they have to watch how high of a dosage you get because mine was at the max rank and I ended up getting really really really low blood pressure and them having to put an oxygen mask on me. If you start getting cold let them know so they can lower it a little bit. Other than that, the epidural was a wonderful thing and will be getting another one done with this birth.

Well Ive had 1 of each.

My first was nautural and my second was breech - epidural and c-section.

Id go natural anyday> Yes it hurt like*@$^#@%!! BUT once it was over it was virtuallly over. You had immense pain before but once the bubs in your arms it doesnt seem important.

With the epidural it can be difficult getting around afterwards while the insicion is healing. Plus there is the chance of suffering the dreaded epidural headache, which I did. Having said this though with my first, I had an epidural in the final stages because he wasnt coming out, being around the wrong way. I was told when to push and I had no epidural headache after with that one.

You really cant tell what will happen on the day. Just be well informed and make sure once you decide on a way you want to go, that somebody who is able to speak on your behalf is with you. Sometimes we know what we want but if the docs arent aware on the day, things might turn out different to what you had planned.

Good Luck.

You won't really be able to decide until you're in labor it depends on your pain tolerance and emotional state. My first I had an epidural set so high I couldn't feel much of anything other than pressure until his head was crowning, then there was that ring of fire. My second I got an epidural also but it was set so low it had no impact on my pain level. In my experience the pain was intense and burning with my second but I knew once she was out 90% of that pain would fade away and it did. My advice is go into this with the option in mind, once you are actually in labor you may decide you don't need it or you may be screaming for it in the car on the way to the hospital lol.

I have did both and if I were to have a 3rd baby I would definantly go all natural it was the best experience! I went through almost all labor at home I got to the hospital 10cm dilated all they did was pop my water and I pushed for like 30 seconds and my son came out. It didnt hurt when my son came out it kinda had a burning feeling but nothing horrible it was actually quite a relief.

I posted all of these questions when I was pregnant with my son. I was absolutely petrified of the birth and was going to try natural. I read up on all these natural pain relievers and was completely prepared on the day. Well my son went into distress and I needed a C Section at 1cm dilated. My best advice to mums out there, be prepared but don't get your heart set on a particular kind of birth experience because it can become very upsetting and even cause post natal depression if things don't turn out how you wanted them to.

Good luck...

Get the epidural, the pain is worse than anything you've ever experienced. Its something you will never forget if you don't have pain medicine. The epidural is the safest way to go to spare you the unnecessary suffering you would otherwise experience. My wife is two months now and we have done a lot of research on this.

well, this isn't first hand advice but... my mom had me naturally. she's kind of a hippie and against unnecessary drugs and all that jazz.

here's the story: she started getting contractions on a tuesday and went into the doctors office. they said she was ready to have the baby (me) but that her regular doctor was out of town until thursday. she picked this doctor because she had the lowest rate of c-section deliveries in the hospital and my mom was very against having a c-section if at all avoidable. these days doctors are often too quick to advocate c-sections when its not really necessary. so anyways, my mom is NOT going to go to a different doctor. so she waits it out, contractions and all, until thursday when her normal doctor is there. and then i'm born at 8:27pm on thurs!

(this reminds me a bit of knocked up... haha)

tuh dah! no drugs or surgery needed. she told me that the pain was bad, but not bad like it is on tv. like she wasn't screaming or anything. and she's definitely glad she had a natural birth. she also said that she forgot all the pain immediately afterwards as soon as she saw me and that she was totally ready to go through it all again. (i'm first born)

so yeah, thats my mom's experience. i have no idea what i'm going to do when i have babies. i'm terrified of giving birth. oww oww.. but i'm also terrified of surgery and needles. i also don't like the idea that my body would be numb and i wouldn't be able to feel whats happening. it seems like it would be out of my control. eek..

good luck girl, i know you'll make the right choice :)

im bound and determined to have a natural birth, but there is no way of knowing what will happen or how you will feel during labor. i hope i can have a natural birth, but im not ruling out an epidural cause i may end up breaking down! lol

so dont determine what is going to happen now, cause chances are it will change.