Aa
a little skeptical
I have 3 children right now and I am expecting my 4th. I have had natural childbirth with all three. I am now entertaining the thought of having an epidural. But I see thay needle and i would rather go through the labor. And then i think "well i want to enjoy my labor like you see on t.v. where the women are talking and laughing and all of a sudden their 10cm dialated!" I couldnt talk when i was 5cm! My hubby thinks i should go all natural again but i keep going back and forth. is anyone else having this dilemma? or any advice on it?
PS Epidurals do have a failure rate (sometimes they don't work or only work on half your body). And the site they put it in feels super sore later, too.
There are many benefits but many risks to an epidural. I would highly recommend watching The Business of Being Born (find it at your local library or watch online for free; I watched it on letmewatchthis).
First, you can't get up. They have to put a catheter in your urethra (which can cause complications later, including infection and incontinence). Next you HAVE to have an IV of fluids. And finally if you don't progress like they want you to they will start Pitocin. Because you're bedridden with an epidural you risk slowing labor down which is why they introduce the Pitocin.
This cascade of events can cause "failure to progress" which they will c-section you for. I say wait to watch TV and laugh and enjoy the time after little one arrives. If you did it naturally three times I'd definitely go natural the fourth.
An epidural also blocks a release of complex hormones that cause you to be immediately enraptured, protective and fixated on your baby. Having two epidural births I can tell you that while I was excited about my babies being born I was kind of unattached at the same time. More like, "I'm tired and all this stuff they've put in my body has made me feel ill so I don't even want to hold them". Which reminds me - epidurals make you feel nauseous and can make you vomit (I vomited five times my second birth). I was also HORRIBLY swollen and I looked like someone had punched my lights out with the epidural.
I should post comparison pictures of my second birth (epidural) and third birth (natural). My first birth the pictures are not as easy to see. But anyway the epidural births I looked bruised and swollen. My natural birth I didn't even look as though I had given birth.
I have to tell you that my sister entertained the idea of getting an epidural with her fourth as well. She had two naturally and one induction (no epidural for the induction though) and she ended up having a natural water birth with her fourth.
I think it is natural to contemplate doing things differently from what you've done before and if you do end up deciding to get an epidural don't feel bad or guilty. Go with what you feels right!
First, you can't get up. They have to put a catheter in your urethra (which can cause complications later, including infection and incontinence). Next you HAVE to have an IV of fluids. And finally if you don't progress like they want you to they will start Pitocin. Because you're bedridden with an epidural you risk slowing labor down which is why they introduce the Pitocin.
This cascade of events can cause "failure to progress" which they will c-section you for. I say wait to watch TV and laugh and enjoy the time after little one arrives. If you did it naturally three times I'd definitely go natural the fourth.
An epidural also blocks a release of complex hormones that cause you to be immediately enraptured, protective and fixated on your baby. Having two epidural births I can tell you that while I was excited about my babies being born I was kind of unattached at the same time. More like, "I'm tired and all this stuff they've put in my body has made me feel ill so I don't even want to hold them". Which reminds me - epidurals make you feel nauseous and can make you vomit (I vomited five times my second birth). I was also HORRIBLY swollen and I looked like someone had punched my lights out with the epidural.
I should post comparison pictures of my second birth (epidural) and third birth (natural). My first birth the pictures are not as easy to see. But anyway the epidural births I looked bruised and swollen. My natural birth I didn't even look as though I had given birth.
I have to tell you that my sister entertained the idea of getting an epidural with her fourth as well. She had two naturally and one induction (no epidural for the induction though) and she ended up having a natural water birth with her fourth.
I think it is natural to contemplate doing things differently from what you've done before and if you do end up deciding to get an epidural don't feel bad or guilty. Go with what you feels right!
NATURAL THREE TIMES? Girl YOUR amazing!
I would love to be able to say "oh i pushed out a baby three times wo any meds."
I had the epidural with my DD, I got it very early bc I was induced, and at 2cm i couldnt even focus. Contrax were 2-3 min long and 1 min apart. WAS it wonderful? yes.
But the question is WOULD I DO IT AGAIN?
My answer would be no.
1. I couldnt walk around until 3 hrs after birth.
2. Isabella was born very sleepy.
3. I have awful back pain in the area the shot was given, esp when I slouch over a certian way- like when you change diapers....
I hate the feeling of the numbness and virtually No way to shower BEFORE relatives pile thru the doors to congradulate you.
If you have given birth THREE times chances are you labor will be shorter then the ones before. Either way Good Luck! =o) Its all up to you. But like Chantal said I wouldnt risk it.
I would love to be able to say "oh i pushed out a baby three times wo any meds."
I had the epidural with my DD, I got it very early bc I was induced, and at 2cm i couldnt even focus. Contrax were 2-3 min long and 1 min apart. WAS it wonderful? yes.
But the question is WOULD I DO IT AGAIN?
My answer would be no.
1. I couldnt walk around until 3 hrs after birth.
2. Isabella was born very sleepy.
3. I have awful back pain in the area the shot was given, esp when I slouch over a certian way- like when you change diapers....
I hate the feeling of the numbness and virtually No way to shower BEFORE relatives pile thru the doors to congradulate you.
If you have given birth THREE times chances are you labor will be shorter then the ones before. Either way Good Luck! =o) Its all up to you. But like Chantal said I wouldnt risk it.
I'd say if you have done it 3 times already all natural, why risk the epidural now? I would say, what you see on tv is not realistic most times and most of what you see are the good and happy parts or it's the other extreme where they show everything that could possibly go wrong. I have actually stopped watching the shows on tv, plus we no longer have cable, so I can't see them now anyway, but it always made me freak out to watch them! We all know labor is not easy and is different for everyone, but it can be managed through breathing and relaxation. For me, I've had 2 children so far all natural, but I usually don't feel intense pain until the midwife breaks my water. But I know within a couple of hours of having that done, I will be holding my baby, as long as all goes according to plan. ;)
You need to do what you feel comfortable with, but try to hold out and see how you do at first. You may be surprised and maybe this time around, you will go so quickly you won't even realize it. Have you considered using a doula? I am going to try using a doula this time around and see how it goes. I know what you are feeling, I would love to be able to just be relaxed and happy the entire time, but I know for me, it's not possible unless I deliver in a hospital and that will only happen in an emergency because I don't have insurance.
You need to do what you feel comfortable with, but try to hold out and see how you do at first. You may be surprised and maybe this time around, you will go so quickly you won't even realize it. Have you considered using a doula? I am going to try using a doula this time around and see how it goes. I know what you are feeling, I would love to be able to just be relaxed and happy the entire time, but I know for me, it's not possible unless I deliver in a hospital and that will only happen in an emergency because I don't have insurance.
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