Epidural or Not! Share your experience!

Hi, this is my first pregnancy and really would like to try a pain medication free labor and delivery.  I just took my childbirth preperation classes and it focused a lot on relaxation and breathing techniques which just enhanced my willpower to do it natural!  However, I am still nervous b/c well, I've never experienced contractions before.  So I'd like input from both sides...those who had epidurals and those who didn't.  How was your experience?

[ma2isiah]

I personally got an epidural.  I feel like it helped me relax and enjoy the birth process.  But with my second I think I will try to go natural to have the experience.  I am a labor and delivery RN.  I would say about 10% of our patients go with out an epidural.  I think that you need to do a lot of research and practice relaxation techniques. Possibly hire a doula or have a very supportive partner.  Also be open to the possibility of the pain being more than you can handle or labor not progresing the way you plan. And remember above all else the most important thing is a healthy baby!! Good luck!

[luv_babies]

I'm glad you asked this question. I have the same feelings, there are some days I am like "I can do it" and other I am like "no way!" I think you can do it, you sound like you have your mind already made up! How far along are you? Good luck!

[jd1419]

I did not have a choice the hospital I delivered at with both boys does not do epiduarls.  The pain may be intense while going through the birthing process--but it is not to say that you can not deliver without one.  Both of my boys were big over 8 1/2 lbs each--and I am a smaller person only 5'2".  I was also induced with both kids on the Pitocin so the labor progresses sometimes much quicker than natural labor.  Second baby was delivered in 4 hours from time of induction.  Stay focused on a point in the room and try not to lose that spot during delivery.  It will keep you centered.

[MELISSAV2943]

I had dd #1 8 yrs ago and wanted to try and go natural and see what happened..... I couldn't take it after 8hrs and only 4cm I wanted something.....bad. So I gave in and got the epidural.

I am 32w w/ dd#2 and I have already told my doc to have the epidural ready when I get there... lol

[JJety]

Just go into it with the mindset that you'll use your relaxation techniques as long as you can.  Maybe that will be the entire process, maybe it won't.  Then when you get to the point that you can't handle anymore, you get your epi.  No big deal.

I did that and I was glad I did.  I got to experience some killer contractions, but then finished up with no pain.  :-)

[gml24]

I thought I would be able to go natural with my ds, but the pain ended up being something I had not expected to be so overwhelming, and I ended up getting an epidural about an hour before he was born.  With this one I'll just get it at the beginning and I can relax the whole time!

[brentlie]

With DD I decided to do it natural because the thought of sticking a needle in my back was worse than toughing it out to me, but my labor was 15 hours and after about 10 I gave up and told them to cut me or stick what ever they wanted to in my back, but it was to late they said.  So I did it natural all the way.  Looking back I am glad I did, the only down side was it took my body a while to get back to normal from all the pain.  My labor was in my back and I had DH pushing on my back as hard as he could and after a couple of days his hand prints showed up as black bruses on my back where he was pushing so hard, and I wasnt feeling a thing.  I am due again in May and I plan on descussing my options with my dr. and see if there is a another method I can use other than epidural.  Good luck to you.
Shea

[pixijal]

I have had 2 succesfull epidurals, and would do it again.  I was also induced both times, and the contractions don't ever break when your induced....therefore, it can get really painful.  I actually dialated much quicker after my epidurals.  I had the first on at 3 cm, and the second one at 2cm.  Because the epidural relieved the pain, I could RELAX, which allowed me to dilate and progress much smoother....good luck.

[petanka]

I am all for epidural. Lets be honest...pregnancy is not the easiest ride it selves, so why to suffer for another 10, 15 or 20 hours if you can get help? I had 19 hours labor and am glad that I ask for epidural. I am 33 weeks right now and will ask for epidural again. Just remember, you can only be given epidural at certain stage. If you ask for it too late, they will not give it to you!

[toyml99]

I HAD THE EPIDURAL.....I WORRIED AND WORRIED ABOUT THAT NEEDLE STICK.  I HAD STADOL BEFORE THE EPIDURAL AND SLEPT THRU IT ALL.  I REMEMBER BEGGING FOR THE CONTRACTIONS TO STOP BUT.....I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE FELT LIKE.  I FORGOT IT ALL.

[Morgan277]

I agree with the majority on here.  You really cant decide til you get there and you cant feel guilty or less of a woman if you get the pain meds.  I went to lamaze and had my cd and relaxation techniques all ready to go with my first.  Unfortunatley my blood pressure was scary high which then I was hooked up to an IV and couldnt walk around.  Then put on pitocin.  Well, there is NO break inbetween contactions withthe pitocin so as far as getting a break to relax yourself between, that just doenst happen.  Its just nonstop PAIN!!!!  So I opted for the epidural and delivery only went uphill for me then.  I was able to concentrate on pushing and not the pain.  I was able to actually enjoy the birthing experience.  Now prego wiht my second, I not be as scared to get the epidural.
good luck!

[blondie72]

Congrats on your pregnancy first off - Second - You can decide when you are in labor - It is very easy to say you want NO drugs until you are in full blown labor and that pain hits you.  With my first I sarted having what felt like stomach flu cramps at 1 in the morning so after about 5 hours of that I decided to go to the hospital since I was almost 2 weeks overdue - Dr started Pitosin and told me she would get the epi ready - I told her I did not want that and I NEVER had it and all was fine I thought - Never felt worse than a bad stomach flu cramp - I had some Demerol though - I am sure that helped.  Well with my second I was induced and when they tried to break my water I was in tears so I DID have the epi that time and it was wonderful.  I say decide when you get to the hospital - Hold out as long as you can if you want but DON'T feel bad if you take the meds.  Good Luck to you.

[cugirl]

I was planning on having an epidural but I ended up having to have a c-section because of the size of the baby and the cord was around his neck 3 times so they gave me a spinal.  An epidural probably wouldnt have freaked me out as much as the spinal did.  It wasnt bad but its weird not feeling your toes.  But you cant feel a thing with it.  I was afraid the needle would hurt and I would jump or something but I didnt feel a thing.

[2songbirds]

When you have that 1st child without an epidural, then you have another with the epidural, you wonder to yourself what the hell were you thinking?? That's what I did. For my 3rd baby, there's no doubt. I WILL get one, even if they do have to stick me 2 or 3 times (which they did)

[happymom3]

Positively the epidural is a winner for me. I had my daughter natural and my son with an epidural amd like the last poster said...what was I thinking.

Just a bit of humor here...to totally benefit from the breathing and the relaxation techniques during natural childbirth you should try to do them while someone is stabbing a fork in your butt. Then if you can do that I would say go for it:)

Good luck however you choose!! Happy turkey day.

[ni-ki]

I had an epidural with my son at first it felt great didn't feel anything no contractions.. then when it was time to push i started to hurt down there. By the time i was ready to push i didn't want to b/c it hurt soooo bad and i felt all 8lbs 2oz of his body coming out. It tramatized me so much i told everyone i didn't want anymore kids LOL but now that i think about it i am sure it wasn't that bad... i guess i had a bad experience. But i would definatley go with the epidural

[Me2mommy2b]

I waited until I was 7 cm dialated to get an epi.  Like someone said before, do not feel bad if you decide to get it.  I felt so guilty for some reason b/c I was planning on going natural but when the pain got intense and the nurse told me "oh, that's just the baby kicking!" I was like "heck, where is that anesthesiologist?" LOL...I'm glad I got it...I still felt burning when her head was coming out but I'm sure it wasn't half as bad as it would've been without an epi.  If you want to go natural, more power to you.  Have a good holiday.

[sheddybear]

I agree with you all.  I plan on going into it with an open mind. It all depends on the situation.  I mean if I have a labor like my sisters and go start to finish in 3 hrs then I'll probably not get anything.  However, if I'm in labor 15, 20 hours plus I can see how exhaustion would play a role.  

At the hospital where I'm delivering they won't give you an epidural unless you are in active labor (so at least 4 cm).  They do it b/c they've found it has a less cesearan rate.  They will give you IV meds in early labor but I think I'm totally against those.  I have no desire to be spacey and drugged feeling.  I'm personally someone who doesn't like taking tylenol unless I absolutley have too!  I was in the delivery room with my sis-in-law back in July when I was only 8 weeks along.  She did it natural and it was tough.  She did awesome though!  No crying, yelling. When she got to transition though she did keep saying she couldn't do it anymore but she stuck with it with the help of her coaches.  So I guess you could say I got my inspiration from her. It's more of a self determination thing than anything else.  I know epidurals don't hurt the baby.

[ember2282]

I had my twins last week, so the memory of labor and delivery is still pretty darn fresh in my mind. Due to the risk of delivering twins and the higher probability of a c-section (which I didn't end up needing, yay) I had to have an epidural. But in the end, I most DEFINITELY would have chosen for it to be that way. My labor progressed FAST...my water broke around 5 a.m. and by the time we got to the hospital around 6, I was in transition. I went to about 7.5-8 cm before I was given an epidural, and that was NOT by choice...I just went so fast, that's where I was by the time the anesthesiologist (I cannot spell that word!) got to me! And believe me, by the time the epidural arrived, I would have gotten it even if they had to stick a needle in my eye. I tried breathing, I tried focusing on a point in the room, but none of those techniques worked for me. I am a bit squeamish about needles, and was pretty freaked out about the whole idea of getting a giant needle stuck into my spine, but the anesthesiologist was extremely kind and calming and talked me through the whole thing...and they do NOT show you the needle :o) Believe me, by the time the epidural kicked in, I was ready to marry the man.

The only downside I experienced is this: I would have liked to have had the epi turned down a bit at the end so I could have felt what I was doing when I was pushing. But again, because of the twins and possibility of the c-section, I had to be pretty numbed. No pain, but it's really hard to push when you can't hardly feel what you are doing! I did not find that the epi made me drowsy...what really made me drowsy and lightheaded was all the pushing (and panting) til I felt my eyeballs would pop out of my head.

Good luck to you, whatever decision you decide to make.

[sheddybear]

Anyone have a combined spinal epidural?  Did it numb you up so bad that you couldn't move.  I know they ususally don't let you get out of bed, but if I get one I'd still like to be able to push upright instead of flat on my back.

[Liza55]

Combined? The difference between the two is that a spinal is a one shot deal that numbs for a limited amount of time- several hours. An epidural is in a different space and leaves a tiny catheter coming out of your back so the MD's can deliver more doses of medication. The epidural gives them more control over how much to give you. I had my baby via c-section w/ a spinal at 3:20pm and was moving my feet about 25mins. after reaching the recovery room. By 5:30 I was in my room able to move both legs fine.