Epidural or not?

[Noura8989]

girls i can't decide whether to ask for epidural or not!! Its my first pregnancy and i am due Oct. 21,
Ihave spine problems since i am 15 and i don't want any more risk on my spine!!! So is there anyone who gave birth first time all natural??

[kmiranda89]

For both my pregnancies I didn't have an epidural it was all natural. It is painful but you have to have a strong mind that its just that pain for the moment once you see your baby everything goes away. Good luck to you!

[juicyjuicy667]

I got an epidural and It DIDNT NOT WORK :/ So there was no point in getting one for me. Labor really isn't that bad if u can tolerate pain. When the time comes you will know, always have your options open.

[jahsharn]

I wish i was strong enough with my previous 2 but i couldn't handle it. What cookiekj said is absolutely spot on. My 1st pregnancy i had the epidural and my son was delivered by forceps plus they had to cut me down there to help get him out and then with my 2nd had the epidural again and had to have emergency c section. Both my babies came out healthy but i've noticed my lower back isnt as strong as what it was before i had my kids and i know the epidural has played a part but all women are different but thats my experience anyway. Im 38 weeks with my 3rd and having an elective caesarean on the 20th Oct this coming Monday and will be getting another anaesthetic in my lower back. All the best, you will know what pain relief will be right for you on the day :)

[Mj92124]

I didn't have an epidural with my first, second, or fourth. My first... I was pretty young myself. I was hell bent on showing everyone that I was strong. And that just because I was young, didn't mean I couldn't do it. I moaned and groaned. At the end of it all... (Looking back at it.) I did AWESOME! Lol... However, they told me I HAD to have an epidural with my third, because her heart rate was dipping with every contraction. They wanted to do a c-section. I told them I wasn't going to do a c-section. They said that I should at LEAST agree to an epidural just in case the baby got TOO stressed and left me with no choice. So, I agreed to the epidural. And let me tell ya: It was the greatest decision I've ever made! They gave me that epidural at 7cm. On my fourth l & d, I asked for one. But they told me it was too late to get one.

So, if you're up in the air about getting one, keep in mind that once you're far enough into it... They might tell you that you're out of time and out of luck.

I wrote in my "birth plan" for this pregnancy that I want an epidural no sooner than 7cm. But that I definitely want one. Take it from a mama who's lived and learned. Keep an open mind to the whole situation.

At the end of l&d, what you want and what you get, may be two totally differnt things.

Good luck to you Hun. Either way, you've got this! =)

[3rdTimeOctoberMom]

I agree with moshmayden, wait until you're in labor to decide. No need to stress about it now!

[Noura8989]

Thanks ladies

[moshmayden]

You don't need to decide now. Wait and see how you feel in the moment

[cookiekj]

Having an epidural limits you during labour. You will have to be on a monitor, a drip, the epidural itself, you will also have to be intermittently catheterised as you wont know when you need to pass urine. It also increases your chance of needing an instrumental delivery and increases your risk of tearing. Also an epidural will numb you from waist down, depending on where your problems are in your spine it may not even numb that area! I have hip problems and had major surgery last year and felt the same as you but if you have an epidural it takes your control away and you wont be able to tell if there is a problem occuring during labour.