Anyone NOT get the epidural?

[proud_mommy_25]

Did any of you mommies NOT get an epidural with any of your pregnancies? If so what techniques did you use to help get through your contractions?

[MamaofMaiMai]

I've had 4 all in hospital without an epidural and my first is the only one I accepted pain medication as I'd had people for months telling me I wouldn't be able to cope, my next three I labored mostly at home where I was comfortable and could stay in the shower etc and walk about until I felt I needed to be in hospital. This time I'd love to try a home birth but I've had complications with 2 of my past births so feel it safer to be in hospital just in case, but I'll show up with less than  an hour to deliver hopefully!

[Campbie]

I didn't have with my previous two & planning not to have with this one! I want to be in control & love the experience!!

[tjsl01]

I did not have any with my two babies and not planning it this time around.

[eminemD]

I disnt have one with 3 of 4 of my kids 1 didnt have a choice had c section, i just watched tv or listened to music

[proud_mommy_25]

Thanks ladies. Luckily I love the hospital I gave birth at with my first so I will be going back there with this baby. Plus I love my OBGYN. Both really care about baby and Mommy and do all they can to help. These techniques should help a lot this go around.

[greenwheellover]

Nope. Wanted to go home as soon as we could. Lucky my labor went fast.

[lousie_1986]

Have to say though, after watching me, both my sisters gave birth in hospital (as it was free) with a fantastic midwife and were very clear on what procedures they wanted (none), and they both had amazing waterbirths too, so it's still possible!

[lousie_1986]

Haha yes I do. Don't know where else you can labour in water, relax, have no one pressuring you, and not have your personal space invaded! Not to mention being away from all sorts of nasty infections and viruses. Wouldn't set foot to give birth in a hospital unless it was a dire emergency! Loved my home births, I've had 2 (thankful to my sister in law for educating me before I had to experience hospitals) and am due with number 3 in a month (excited just because I love birth so much!) :)

[lguzmom]

Louise_1986 sounds like you do home births. My first was born in hospital and it was a horrible experience. I ended up with an epidural. Hated every second I was there. Long recovery, ended up with an infection from them checking me too much. Second baby was born at home with a midwife. No drugs. Amazing compared to first birth and recovery was way shorter. Third baby due in January will be a home birth too.

[lousie_1986]

Haven't used one before for my 2 births, I used warm water in birth pool, deep slow breathing techniques, visualization, aromatherapy, movement and also found getting on all fours or kneeling and leaning over side of pool were best positions for me for reducing pain. Plus feeling loved, supported, respected and encouraged to keep going by my birth team (midwife, husband, 2 sisters).

Be aware, hospital procedures and doctor's policies can cause more pain and lead to needing an epidural (continuous fetal monitoring ties you down to the bed on your back, pitocin/artificial oxytocin boosts to speed up labour can make contractions more violent and painful without a break between, again, stuck on your back, even early breaking of your waters can speed up labour to an intensity you're not ready for dilation- wise), so find out exactly what they're going to do to you and which things are hospital policy and will be forced on you, and which things you can say no to.

A lot of hospitals really don't follow evidence based practice anymore and the reason for such high epidural use is not because mums are pansies and can't deal with pain these days, it's often because of the stupid procedures forced on labouring women that interrupt the normal process of labour and ways women naturally deal with pain (not to mention the poor treatment of women - words like 'you have to' or 'you're not allowed' or 'be quiet' and continual offering of drugs and interventions by staff - if they offered encouragement (so you feel like you're doing well) instead of intervention (so you feel like you're failing), we might see more women birth naturally)...

[lguzmom]

I didn't have one with my second baby. I won't have one this time either. I hated the epidural. Forced to lay on your back for hours and give birth that way. Much more freedom to move and birth in different positions when you don't get am epidural.

[Ayoso86]

I didn't get the epidural for my past 2 pregnancies and I don't intend on getting one this time either. I used breathing techniques, warm water from shower, and y hubby rubbed my back thru my Contractions. My friend used aromatherapy to help her.