Natural Childbirth VS Epidural/Medication/Interventions

[isis]

I guess it depends on the type of labor pains/contractions you have. With my first, I had horrible horrible back pains, so bad I was crying and I was only 4 centimeters dialated. Contractions were horrible, I was watching on the monitor and if they were that stong at 4, I could only imagine what it was like at 10. To make matters worse, you have to be a certain amount dialated before getting the epidural, so I had to go through almost 2 hrs of intense hurting, on top of the 6 hrs of dealing with the pain at home. DH was in the middle of a test, so I was trying to hold off as long as I could for him. Also if you get an epidural, you have to get petocin b/c the epidural can slow down labor and the other one helps keep the labor to progress. Anyway, once I got that puppy, I was a very happy lady! I was afraid of the needle too, but I never felt anything with the amount of pain I was having, other than a slight chill in my back. Once I was at 10 and was about to start pushing, they stopped the epidural so I could feel the contractions and know when to push. The delivery itself wasn't that bad, about 1 hr of pushing, but I did have to get an episotomy, which that took a while to heal and years before I felt normal again.

With my 2nd (he was born 13 months after #1) I was in the hospital at 21 wks due to my water leaking. Long story short, he was a very quick and easy labor. I had him at 34 weeks and I guess b/c of the braxton-hicks I had all along, I never ever felt the amount of pain as with #1. I was constantly being monitored and once I was taken off the pills to keep me from going into labor, I could see the contractions spike and getting closer together. I told the nurse I had some brown blood when I used the restroom and when she checked my cervex, I was almost 6, so I went to delivery and had a choice of the epidural or another drug (i see carisol mentioned it Stadol). I went ahead with the epidural, but I didn't need to keep myself drugged up though. I felt some cramping, but it was way more managable than the pain I had with ds1.

[MrsPinecone]

I was all for anything that ended with a healthy baby and a happy mama. That includes pain medication, induction, and whatever else was needed. There is no need to be a martyr.

I had a failed induction at 41.1 weeks and c/s with DS, and a scheduled c/s at 38.6 weeks with DD.

[crystal12605]

My first two where with a an epidural and my last one natural. I personally did not want to go natural but my dr. said i should have to feel something and refused to give me one with my third child. He finally caved and ordered one when I was at 9 cm. they didn't get there in time. I thought it sucked. I don't see why I should be in pain when I don't have to. That doctor only helped me with that last child and never before and NEVER AGAIN. I would never had, had another baby if I had to do that the first time, but thats just me. I'm glad we already decided she was our last child before she was born. I can't handle pain.

[neverfullprice]

I agree with most, it is a very personal decision

Me, I went with Natural, kinda by accident. I was in a small hospital and the doctor was not in house. He slid off the road in a snowstorm. He was the one that had to actually order the Epidural.

He got there in just enough time to catch my son. That was almost 19 years ago now (my baby is all grown up)

I would have done it naturally again if the good Lord would have blessed us with another child. The pain was terrible but the moment I saw him the pain was a very distant memory. The doctor told me I did well because I am a redhead. Something about redheads having a higher tolerance for pain??
Whatever you decide, I wish you, and your baby, all the best!

[mum2hba]

DD #1 I had an epidural, it worked great, but for about 6 months after I had a pain in my back from were the needle had been. At the time, the only thing I didn't like about the epidural was that it took so long to get the feeling back in my legs after wards.

DD #2 Planned on an epidural, and asked for an epidural at the hospital. After waiting an hour for my labs to get back the nurse said she would check me, then the epidural guy would be up soon. She checked me, and walked out the door. In that time, I went from 6 cm to complete and pushing. I had no idea what it felt like to need to push because the first time I had the epidural. 10 minutes later I was holding my dd. One of the most amazing experiences of my life. I was up and around about an hour later, and I felt great. In fact, a couple hours later I told dh I wanted another baby.

DS Determined I didn't want an epidural, I figured I had done it once I could do it again. I was induced, because DS was ten days late. I refused to sign the paperwork for the epidural because I didn't even want the option. DS's birth was quick (2 1/2 hrs from start to finish)and a great experience. I only had about 5 contractions that really, really hurt.

One thing I learned was that the most painful position for me to be laboring in bed, on my back, then I was up and moving the contractions were bearable.
If there is one thing about any of my births I regret, it was the epidural for dd #1. I think, if I had been educated in techniques to help deal with the pain, I wouldn't have had the epidural.

If you want to have the epidural go for it, but be aware of the consequences (they can be pretty bad).

If you want to do it without, then get as much information as you can about coping with the pain. Yes, it does hurt, but there are techniques to help deal with the pain.

[deltacogirl]

I had an epidural, and it was great. My water broke, but I didn't go into labor, so they had to give me pitocin. I had stadol because of the pain, but that did nothing expect make me sleepy. I'd never have stadol again. The epidural was no problem for me, and my labor was pretty quick, considering it was my first and the pitocin. They gave it to me at about 6 am and I was holding my beautiful girl at 12:45pm. Most of that wasn't bad at all. I realize there can be a lot of complications, but I know I dont' have a high pain tolerance, so I really feel it was the right choice for me.

[Macaela25]

Although I can't advise you on natural vs whatever (I had a c-section and all my futures will be the same), please do NOT have any fears about epidurals and needles! I did some deep breathing/relaxation techniques during the insertion of the needle and felt absolutely nothing. It was perfectly painless.

[faeryedark]

Originally Posted by greenrays I had pitocin to help me dilate(didn't work well) and an epi---I was ALL bout the epi!!!!!! I didn't dilate enough, pushed for 2hrs and nothing happened. After 23 hrs labor we did a csection. I was in shock and crying b/c I was so "planned" in how it would go and a csection WAS NOT part of it. It was never even a thought. Just wanted to throw that in there b/c really you never ever know what will happen with your birth and just try to keep an open mind while you are in there. that being said, I was knocked out after they pulled him out b/c of breathing issues and they couldn't get me to stop throwing up. I woke up 6 hrs later and still had no issues breast feeding. I exclusively nursed him for 13 months so I'm not really sure how the 2 are correlated.... good luck in any decisions that you make!!!

Yeah, I had no problems BF my C-section baby either. Now the other one, was another story

[robyn812]

I say your opinion is the only one that matters although hubby should have some input. I do agree that he is not the one going through it and he will do almost anything to keep you from being in pain once he sees the actual process.
At this point you cannot imagine what you will need/want and when you will need/want it. There are no two deliveries/circumstances the same and have a plan but also realize that the plan may and will probably change. If you feel that you need an epidural as the pain is too bad then by all means ask for it and if you don't then great for you. Don't let anyone's opinion/experience influence what you think or feel is best for you and your baby.
By the way I have done it both ways and really neither one were very pleasant and I could not breast feed either one (no (none)milk supply).
Good luck and God Bless You!

[tmsmalley]

Here's my take. Lots of women get the idea in their head of some magical "birth experience" and try to orchestrate that. The reality is that you don't know how things are going to play out so I recommend you keep your options open. I told my OB/GYN both times my only goal was "healthy baby, healthy mommy". Whatever had to happen to make that occur was ok by me!

So, talk to your doctor about what you'd like and prefer, but let them know that you're willing to do what you need to get the right results. The birth plan is great, but none of the babies ever read the darned things!

Tess