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349463 tn?1333571576

I know it's early, but are you going natural or with an epi?

It's been an ongoing debate in our house even before we got pregnant. Should I go natural or just get the epidural? With my first pregnancy I worried about the pain of delivery every day from the moment I took the test. This time I know what to expect and so I don't worry about it, but I'm mulling over my options.

In this day and age why not get the epi? I know there are risks with the procedure, slowing labor, more likley to tear, etc. Or should one try and go natural? I went from 0cm to 10 all natural and they gave me the epi because they thought I was at 3. Pushing was hard because I had too much of the meds on board. In an ideal world it should have been the other way around. Pain relief for 3-10 and then wearing off in time to push. If I already know what it's like to go from 0-10 then maybe I can do it again and go natural then I don't have any risks to deal with. I also remember how much it hurt and when I think of that I want to get an epi around the 8th month before I ever risk feeling an single contraction.

Decisions decisions... what are you guys planning on doing??
31 Responses
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439903 tn?1380137882
yea, ive always wondered about trying that, but i figure with everything can possibly go wrong, id rather be in the hospital...just in case...
Helpful - 0
287246 tn?1318570063
NicMom

Is it too late when you are at a 10 for an epi??  Well, if the anesthesiologist is right there, they can give you the local I was talking about.  BUT, that's the problem.  From the time you decide you need the epi, they have to locate the anesthesiologist and they may not be on the floor or may be with another patient, so by the time they get to you, it could be too late.  That has happened to me before so I always ask for the epi before I actually need it.  There is just nothing worse than being in pain and then being told that it's too late and there being nothing that can be done about it.  Now some doctors will let you get the epi as soon as you get there, but my doc normally has me wait until I get to a 4.  I don't need it yet, but because of not wanting to miss my window, I go ahead w/ it.  From my understanding, there is a window.  They won't let you get it past a certain point and that point probably  varies from hospital to hospital and doctor to doctor.

Asking4aMiracle,

From what I understand about the water birth (I have never done that), you don't use any other form of pain meds or anything.  That is the purpose for the water is for pain management and relaxation, but from my experience, when you are in full blown labor, it will still hurt!!!  Like I said, I have never done it, but I have seen them on TV and those women look to be hurtin!!!
Helpful - 0
439903 tn?1380137882
epi** and i meant not a form or relief but a more relaxing way to give birth which is suppose to make is not as painful...at least thats what i am understanding, since its not an option for me, ive never really looked into it.
Helpful - 0
439903 tn?1380137882
Michele, i never thought about that!! i dont know for sure what caused it of course, i had just heard that happening before but apparently it isnt as often as i had assumed! so how many of you that have other children had the longest first delivery ever? thats my biggest scare. i dont want to be in hard labor for days like you hear sometimes....my mom was in labor with me for 19 hours and i was 3 weeks early....they always say the first is the longest and hardest but yet you do hear the stories of first timers having a 5 hour labor and the baby came just like that....that would be nice!! is anyone considering water birth?(if you do water birth, you dont get the api right? isnt it suppose to be a form of pain relief?) or going to a birthing center instead of a hospital?
Helpful - 0
349463 tn?1333571576
slzerbst, that's exactly what I'm talking about! What if the pain of pushing is too much and I freak out?! Isn't it too late to get anything at that point?

I remember the pain from the contractions was so bad that towards the end I was just rocking back and forth sitting up in the bed doing crazy breathing. I was consumed with pain does it still hurt that bad when you are pushing?? Because if it does I don't know how you would concentrate on what you have to do.
Helpful - 0
761653 tn?1266271699
Back to the root canal thing, when I was yonger ie. like 12 I wouldn't ask for anything to numb me while they did what ever they were going to do on my teeth, however, I am a big baby now, and I refuse to go to the dentist unless it's necessary!

That brings me to another point is if you think you can handle it, try it, the most that you can do is ask for it later or some other type of pain realife when the time comes.  

I'm thinking about two different ways to go about it.  
First would be got get the epi as soon as I get there, however, have the doctor keep the meds truned down until I really need it, that way I could get up and walk around to ease the pain and to see if I could take the pain.  
The second would be to get the epi as soon as I needed it...  The only thought in my mind about that would be what if I'm already at 10cm and I needed it now and couldn't continue pushing because I was soooo tired/in so much pain.  And what if the local didn't work?!  
Helpful - 0
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