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Im due in 9 weeks and Im still undecided if I should do an epidural or natural birth. My hospital doesnt actually have epidurals but they have an intrephecal which is the same thing but just a shot in the same spot that numbs you and only 4 hours until you have to push. I feel if I go natural it will be quicker cause of gravity and moving around and everything but is the pain gonna be crazy like the video I watched in birth class OMG?! Im a lil scared of the epidural risks! What is your experience with it?!
My plan is to go into it natural and see if I can take the pain but drugs sound soooo nice! haha.
I'm not pregnant yet but DH and I were talking about this the other night. I really want to do a natural birth but I am afraid I won't be able to handle the pain. My mother had both children natural and she says that if she could do it again she would get an epidural.
you should read dooce.com
she had an epidural for her first baby. the second she delivered naturally, and she wrote an amazing series of posts about that experience.
that being said, i don't want the pain!
and part 3
Hi! it is a tough decision but it is SO good for you to have a plan but be willing to alter it if necessary. I wanted to have a natural childbirth, and part of the reason was because I was pretty afraid of the epirdural. I'm not afraid of shots at all, but that particular one was kind of haunting me!
I went into labor in January with Kayla at 12:15 am after 15 minutes of sleep. Kayla was also "sunny side up" and I have really bad back labor. I tried to endure for about 4 hours until I finally gave in and asked for the epidural. I'm still a little upset that I couldn't do it this time, but it was what was best for her and me as I was able to get some rest and I think I would have put us both into distress and may have had to have a c-section if I didn't have a chance to relax between the excruciating contractions.
People say that epidurals can also slow down your labor...it may have slowed mine down just a little bit but I gave birth to Kayla at 10:15, so only 10 total hours and I had to wait for another lady to deliver when I was already laboring down. And I only pushed for 30 minutes.
I have a friend who had back labor and "normal" labor and she said the back labor was 1000x worse than the "normal" labor so I think if you want to go natural have that as a goal but be open to the unexpected! :) You'll be wonderful either way!
It really depends on you and what you want to do. No one can make that choice for you. I will share what happened when I delivered Moose.
We studied Bradley Classes, which is natural childbirth where the partner coaches the mother. The contractions weren't really that bad because they only last a minute and were only really bad for a few seconds. My husband counted me through all of them. Near the end, right before my body said "PUSH," I gave in and wanted medication, which is something every woman goes through. It's just a step in the birthing process. Due to my circumstances, my husband got a nurse to give me meds. They did NOTHING. I felt everything. When I finally was pushing, it wasn't that bad either. Honestly, I tell women that if they have REALLY bad cramps, they can survive childbirth naturally with no problems whatsoever..
Again, you have to make the right choice for yourself. Whatever you do, read up on childbirth before you go into it. Knowing what you're going through makes things easier. Otherwise, it can be scary.
It just seems like there are many risks involved with epidurals like low blood pressure, fever, ect. Thats what makes me scared!
@dchokiebride3: I felt guilty and kinda bad at first, too, for getting an epidural. But just keep reminding yourself that you made the choice that was best for you and for Kayla! It's taken some time for me to move past my guilt, but I feel a lot better about getting an epidural now than I did at the beginning. :)
@Blondiebee: I think, if you are not 100% comitted to a med-free birth, going in with an open mind is a great choice. You can shoot for a natural birth, but get pain meds if you need them. It's like the best of both worlds! Also, if you are researching medicated versus unmedicated birth, I really liked The Birth Partner by Penny Simkin. It is a great resource for explaining the pros and cons of each pain medication (epidurals aren't the only option, in most places) plus it has a ton of natural coping methods (e.g. positions, movements, counter-pressure, etc...). Good luck!
I'm really worried about them not being able to regulate my blood pressure. I have low blood pressure anyways that goes wonky from things like sugar (like dropped to 60/45 from 90/70 minutes after my glucose test). Drs say it's not something to worry about (I just feel like complete crap and naseous and dizzy when it happens) but of the few people I know who have given birth recently 2 have had issues with epidurals and their bps not being able to be controlled - one had to have a csection because of it and one went through labor quick enough that they didn't go for the csection, she just felt horrible. So I'm scared of the epidural but I'm still not ruling it out, just going to try to avoid it. My mom had 4 kids and said she never felt a need for one and would have gone bonkers if she wasn't able to walk around during labor, so I'm just crossing my fingers and toes that I take after her. But if I don't I'm still trying to mentally prepare for an epidural but Drs just saying it will be fine and saying people don't have issues with their bp, it's all perfectly taken care of my an IV, has been zero reassurance to me that it actually will be fine.
I had one with my son, but ended up with a c-section. Long story short: the pain wasn't from the baby, but from a joint being out of place.
With my daughter, I had no pain, so I didn't need one. I did get my c-section, as requested. Whenever I manage to conceive again, I'll go with one, just in case I need it. If I don't have any pain, like with my daughter, I'll pass since I'll be getting a c-section, anyway.
Talk to your dr's, the hospital, and the anesthesiologist (if possible).
good luck!!!
It is good to have a goal but definitely don't close yourself off to possible options when it truly comes down to it. As you saw in my birth story I was all set to go natural but changed my mind because I expected the pain to go on for many hours based on the traditional labor and delivery experiences. If I'd known I would go that fast I know I wouldn't have asked for one. Because labor is so unknown for each individual person, have a goal but be willing to change plans if necessary.
We're going natural for so many different reasons, but all I can tell you is how important it is to go in focused on a plan and remaining to have an open mind because you never know what's going to happen.
I wish you the best and am looking forward to hearing your birth story! :)
Epidural! Just kidding, it really is a personal decision. However, when I had my daughter, my contractions were so irregular and horrible that I could not even do my Lamaze breathing without passing out. I normally have very low blood pressure and I did not experience any problems with the epidural nor did my daughter as a result.
Good luck!
Can anyone describe some of the other options out there? Are there different kind of epidurals?
I am hoping to go natural because I really want to avoid the IV for as long as possible.
My best friend had her first baby on Monday, and she was planning on going natural, but ended up getting an epidural. She said that after her contractions started getting more intense, there was no freakin way she couldn't get the epidural, LOL!
I would try and do it without an epidural (or whatever your hospital does) and then if you need to have pain relief then go with the injection. there are many other ways of relieving pain without using drugs, you just have to find what works with you. I personally dont think labour is that bad, for me I saw it as a good pain as it was actually acheiving something. Its just all about knowing your body :) good luck
Do you have a doula? What type of pain management techniques do you plan to use if you go natural?
I went natural and also had a moment of "I can't do this anymore". Then, they checked me and said it was too late. You know what, people tell you that as a horror story, but I was actually RELIEVED! Soon afterwards, my body started pushing on its own. I had horrible back pain from a previous sports injury, and back labor. (Though, he did come out "right side up".) It was very hard, but I am glad I did it. However, if I hadn't been so passionate with my doula about NOT wanting drugs, it probably wouldn't been another story. She really helped me breathe through the contractions and applied counterpressure.
@SecretName: You'll want to check with your doctor, and your hospital because each one is different, but many hospitals offer several different narcotics (systemic drugs), spinal blocks (probably what the OP was describing), "walking epidurals," pudendal blocks, traditional epidurals, or other types of medication. Each one has it's benefits and drawbacks, so it's important to have a good overview of what you might be able to request at your hospital. Also, some hospitals require patients to get an IV no matter what, although I've also heard of people requesting a heplock instead of an IV sometimes.
Also, I don't know if this will help anyone else, but this is a chart that's in The Birth Partner book I mentioned about. It's a detailed chart to help you figure out how committed you are to medicated or non-medicated birth, and how your birthing coach can help support your goals. It really helped me prepare for birth and try to figure out my birthing preferences.
I went through a full day of back labor torture before I decided I didn't want to suffer anymore. The baby was becoming distressed, my blood pressure was skyrocketing. Epidural was the best decision I ever made. I took a nap and started pushing a few hours later.
hmm its a really personal decision... im not even pregnant yet but i have decided that i want a natural birth with the help of a doula... but itll most likely be in a hospital. i just feel like if my mom did it natural... so can i, and i want to experience everything... not be numb and groggy. that and i feel like if i let my body do what its supposed to, itll all work out. the only way i want an epidural is if the baby is in danger (ie elevated heart rate, etc)
I know this may sound crazy... but I want to do it naturally because "I think I can take it." Yeah, we'll see how that goes. DH thinks I'm nuts.
I was first pressured to do it naturally because both my mother and older sis had births that were natural... now I realize that I'm not doing it because of that reason, I'm doing for myself. I understand that the affects on the baby is pretty much a wash, so I'm really doing it because I think I can. (That may change if my younger sister gets pregnant before I do and ends up having a difficult birth.)
@Mrs. Spring: Thanks for the great tips. I would say I'm probably about a +3 on that chart meaning desire to use pain medications but only when I feel they are necessary. I have my 21 week appointment next week I will start to talk to the OB about it all then. I am thinking I would like to go for some type of
Honestly, but biggest fear is an IV. They stress me out to the point that I go a little crazy. I'm not sure how to avoid this. I have had a port before and was ok using that because I used lots of numbing cream and spray and they taped it down good so it didn't move around. Is a heplock similar thing?
Not sure why everyone thinks the epidural makes you groggy, drugged out, or drugs up the baby. It goes directly into your spinal cord, not your blood stream to manage waist-down pain only. You're not sitting there like a zombie. I was completely alert, my daughter was born crying, alert, eyes open getting a good look at everyone.
@TheFutureMcBride:This actually raised a question for me when I read about when you decided you wanted pain meds....
Isn't there a certain point to which you can't receive an epidural? I thought there was a point like 8 cm dilated but not sure if I am correct? I just think if there is a point where you can't receive medication it would be good to know to future moms trying to make a plan.
@stephanie63087:KatyElle is correct...I think the groggyness and drug effect is more associated with a C-Section, not an epidural.
Wow thank you for all the great comments. I am going to go into it natural and hopefully I wont need meds so we will see! Im not against them just nervous about the whole process, but who wouldnt be their first time!
Thank you also for that chart. It is very helpful.
@troubled: I also have low blood pressure. I specifically asked my doctor about it cause a problem with epidural - he just said to make sure to mention it to my anesthesiologist, that way they don't try to overcorrect it if it's lower than what's expected.
@MissGreen: There is no point at which you can't receive pain meds (short of the baby actually being born) - the only reason they'll say they can't do it is if you are unable to sit still enough for them to give you an epidural or a spinal.
Personally I'm getting an epidural - we had a class with the anestesiologist specifically on them so I feel comfortable with the risks. Your body is contracting even if you have an epidural - you just don't feel it as much. Plus pushing too quickly can cause tearing because your body isn't given time to stretch. For me, if I'm not in pain I can give myself more time rather than just wanting to "get it over with".
Perhaps I'd feel differently if I knew what to expect but I don't want to be overwhelmed by the experience.
@Blondiebee: I had forgotten we're due around the same time! You'll have to let me know how it goes!
I was given an epidural sooner than I should have been, and it actually protracted the delivery process.
Also, the nurses didn't read my chart and failed to see that I am allergic to opiates/barbiturates (like morphine and synthetic drugs that mimic morphine etc). So yeah, feeling like my veins were on fire/itchy during delivery was not cool.
If I could go back and change one thing about my delivery the epidural would be it.
If I have another baby I am definitely going to go natural.
Thanks for starting this thread -- I am 4 days from my due date and I am STILL not sure what I'm going to do. I think I'm just going to try to be flexible.
It's good to have ideas, but I think you need to be flexible b/c you have NO idea what will end up happening. I swore I was going all natural and then 24 hours later I was begging for the epidural - literally. As long as you are ok with not really being in control, it's always good to have a basic plan and to know what you're comfortable with.
yah, I also had a heplock...it kinda sucked, though, because they had to put it in my right hand...so when I squeezed DH's hand it was uncomfortable
@SecretName: I'm not sure what a port is? A heplock is basically the needle part of the IV, but it's not connected to anything. So they put the needle in, tape it down, etc... but never connect it to any tubing or bags of saline or anything.
@Mrs. Spring: Here is the wikipedia definition of a port. I had one placed when I went through chemo.
I gave birth 8 days ago with no pain meds- it is HARD but definitely doable! I used the hypnobabies course which helped so much. I just wanted to point out that while you definitely need to be flexible, it would have been next to impossible (for me anyways) to have refused the epidural had I not been very committed to it from the start. I wanted to give up during transition (for me it was the one hour from 8-10 cm), but my husband and I had planned that he would remind me of the reasons I didn't want an epidural were I to ask for one, and try to talk me back into my original (no drugs) plan. There is nothing wrong with getting the epidural, but if you think you'd really like to avoid it, I think you have to prepare a bit more...for me, "wait and see" would have DEFINITELY turned into " bring me the drugs!!"
Not sure how your hospital works, but when I went in to sign the paperwork and do the 'tour' they told me that if I came in and got any kind of IV pain meds, I couldn't then sign for the epidural because I would be "under" the influence.
So just in case, sign the consent form for the intrathecal before hand so if you change your mind at all they can't say "you didn't sign the papers in time". That would suck big time to want one and not be able to get it.
@tiramisu: Woo-hoo! I checked your blog, and wow, what a handsome boy! Plus, I love his name! When are we going to read about your hypnobabies birth? Oh, and congrats!!!
tiramisu said it so well...I felt pretty much the same way but didn't know how to express it so well :)
transition really is hard, but that means it is almost time to meet your LO!
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