All Natural

[sammybooily]

So im going to try not to get an epidural but im sure when all that pain come its going to be a different story lol im opened minded with it but would like to try without... Any advice or words of encouragement?

[Jdawn92]

My sister and mother had epidurals, and regret it, cause it was worse than what they were already experiencing. I've had 2 kids, and I've learned that when you relax and give in to the process, things don't hurt so bad. Research labor with out pain. Labor and birth should be a beautiful peaceful experience. I'm looking forward to another birth. Tell yourself that you are strong and you can go through anything for your little baby.

[Safria]

Just learning how to breathe really really helps and for me walking around in the ldelivery room helped a lot. The nurse also had me get on all fours and rock back and fourth . You can do it!;) once the baby is out the pain is gone, or at least for me it was. I was so happy I didn't have epidural either cause I got to get up and pretty much do everything on my own without waiting.

[lousie_1986]

Yeah warm water is great! When pain started to get unbearable (after around 15 hours of easy/medium contractions) I got into the water. It got so much easier in the water. And thinking of your contractions as something good and embracing/welcoming them is helpful, but probably if you view them as unbearable pain that you don't want there anymore you'll want an epidural. Depends on the length of labour too probably, after I got in the water I had my first after 3 hours (an hour of pushing,birthed 40 mins after water breaking) and 3 hours for my 2nd (half an hour of pushing, birthed 3 mins after water breaking). But if I had extreme contractions for 8 hours maybe I'd have wanted one (even though I was at home so couldn't get one :p).

[sammybooily]

Thanks everyone so much for all your stories and experiences...omg there are some longggghh a** labors oh gosh that makes me nervous feeling pain for such a long period of time lol...wish me luck and thanks again

[sammybooily]

Thanks everyone so much for all your stories and experiences...omg there are some longggghh a** labors oh gosh that makes me nervous feeling pain for such a long period of time lol...wish me luck and thanks again

[lguzmom]

My second baby was born at home with no drugs (8 hour labor) and I felt so much better after than I felt with my first baby who I had an epidural with. You can do it! :) but don't feel bad if you end up getting an epidural. :)  

[mom_to_be_of_3]

I had my son a week ago and I did it all natural. I labored at home, when my contractions started I didn't head straight to the hospital because I had just been there and I thought I was just cramping from the nurse checking me and I didn't want to go back for them to just send me back home again. Anyhow, while having the contractions,I bounced on a yoga ball, went for a walk and as crazy as it sounds even cleaned my house before going back to the hospital. I didn't try to resist the pain from the contractions, instead I would rock back and forth and just breath through them. I would even try to kind of squat down or just stay still and breath. When I finally got to the hospital, my water broke on it's own and 10 minutes later my son was born. I basically labored at home. I had my previous two kids with an epidural and I used to think that this time I wasn't going to be able to do it natural like I wanted, but I did and so can you. I used to imagined the contractions being worse but at least for me they were very manageable and I was impressed with myself. But of course if you feel like an epidural is the best option for you when the time comes then go for it. Good luck and God bless!

[sorenr]

I've never had one, but I was induced with my first and if I'd had to go through that again I would almost definitely have had one, it was very painful. I have since had 3 natural labours which luckily for me were very quick (4, 3 and 2hrs) so an epidural was probably not even an option if I had wanted one! I think it depends on how your labour is going, it is very doable without it, and you can be up on your feet and in the shower minutes after delivery (best shower EVER! Lol) however I think you have to be open minded about it as a long labour with slow progress would sap your energy and could make the pushing part more difficult for you. In that case it could be the right thing for you to do. It can be done though and if you manage without great, but if it's the right thing for you to do at the time then that's what you have to do. Having one is more likely to leave you needing and episiotomy or being torn, forceps or ventouse, even c section, all of which would make your recovery longer (I had a third degree tear with my first, it's not much fun) so I would say it is definitely worth having a bash without it, you can move around, be on all fours etc which not only speeds up your labour but puts your body in a much better position for delivery with gravity helping you, flat on your back is not the best. Do what's best for you when the time comes though, only you will know how you're coping, good luck :)

[JSMS_]

I have heard laboring at home for as long as you can really helps. I had to be induced so I didn't have that option. But the birthing ball helped me a ton and jus staying as active as you can which can be hard in the hospital. I hear water helps a ton so try a shower if you can I was unable to do that as well but this time around I am planning a water birth at home...oh the possibilities lol Wat helped the most was working wit my contractions instead of against them and knowing the birthing stages and wat my body wld most likely do so I wasn't fearful of the unknown. Oh yea and I also went in wit the mindset that I was absolutely not going to get the epidural no mature wat. I knw ppl say it's good to be open to it which I dnt disagree wit but for me if I let myself keep that on the back burner as an option I definitely wld have gave into it. I jus kept in mind the whole time why I didn't want the epidural and jus embraced wat my body was doing. Like I mentioned before I was induced and they say the contractions are harder and stronger on the body since it's not natural but all I knw is I labored for over 24 hrs and had awful back labor towards the end but it was all worth it! Looking back at it now it is such a beautiful thing, but in the moment it's challenging but not impossible lol so be encouraged everyone labors differently, but your body was created to do this:)

[shells4babies]

I was the same with my 3rd. I really didn't want an epidural. I labored at home and what helped me the most was a juccuzi bath tub. I was able to go without the pain meds and it was the best birth ever. My labor wasn't as long as above poster though. If I had to do go that long I probably would have given in. Contractions started to be extremely uncomfortable around 5pm but not unbearable until my water broke. Once my water broke he was here two pushes later. That was around 2 or 3am. Good luck! Everyone is so different just do what you feel is best for you!

[mrssmith719_]

That's exactly how I was I wanted to try my best without it but wasn't against getting it if I felt I needed it. I ended up getting the epidural after 7 hours of labor with horrible contractions and only dilating about a cm and a half in all that time. When I decided I really needed it it took the anesthesiologist over an hour to get to me and by that time I was crying for it. I was so happy once I finally got it but ended up being in labor for a total of 25 hours and pushed for 4. I definitely don't regret it, not sure if it made my labor last longer or not but I felt so much better and actually got some sleep. If you want to go without it try your best! If you can do it that's great if not atleast you tried and it's still great as long as your little one comes out safe and healthy! Good luck ♡