Yes or No to Epidural?

[OwlLover5515]

Im getting closer to my due date and havent decided if I want to have an epidural or not. What are you ladies choosing and why?

[ChefBlu]

I delivered my baby on March 29th med free! (:

[mummy_times_2]

I had an epidural with my first worked wonders u just had an epidural yesterday for my 2nd but it failed, I only had gas and air the whole time and it was way too much for me to handle I didn't cope all that well at all... Of course ended in another emergency c-section I believe due to syntocin!

[pc010305]

Also I had no prior back pain or issues.

[xiomyreyes]

Why med if u can do it all  natural there is no better experience then Goin all natural no matter what they said I did natural with first and going  to do the same for this one good luck to u

[pc010305]

The epidural cause me a lot of problems. First I felt all my contractions in one hip, shook so violently that it looked like I was having a seizure, ended up in a csection tried to do the spinal and it traveled up so I had to be knocked out. Longterm back problems which have made my 2nd and 3rd pregnancies much harder sooner. I'm against for myself due to the afore me mentioned problems. I didn't even want the epidural but agreed to it to see if it would help my body relax enough to dilate.

[schenner2]

I hope to go med free this time.  First time i used the gas but more to calm me as i am a planner and i like to know what is going on at each stage.  I asked a zillion questions and was wasting my energy between contractions by talking so much.  It was really hard and painful  but i felt so strong and proud afterwards.  I always go in with an open mind though because you never know what could happen!  In reality your only job is to get your baby out safely!  Good luck which ever way you choose!

[Rachel__grace_]

This is baby #3 for me and I'm choosing natural again. I always thought I'd be an epidural person, and I had planned on getting one with my first, but by the time I got to the hospital I was already 4cm and the anesthesiologist didnt get to my room until I was 8cm (I was only at the hospital for 2 hours before it was time to push) so I was too far along to get the epi. I started bawling because I was terrified of feeling everything. Luckily, there's this amazing thing called lidocaine (which is the fancy name for a local anesthetic) which they can inject you with (via syringe) around the areas you are tearing.

I had a different doc for my second child, and she definitely wasn't as generous with the lidocaine so I felt more of the tearing, but I should have told her beforehand to make sure and give me plenty, so thats my fault.

However if you have a really long labor I'm sure you may want an epidural. Both of mine were quick, I only pushed for 10 minutes with both kids so its easy for me to say 'yeah no meds is great!' ... If you can tough it out, there is nothing like the feeling to be able to say you did it all natural. Bragging rights are totally worth a few hours of discomfort.

(Sorry this is turning into a saga) and one last thing: the best advice I ever received before having my first, which is what I think got me through the labor, is that your contractions only last for one minute, then you get a break. So in your mind, just remind yourself that the pain will only last 60 seconds and then it will stop (until the next one starts of course). I think just knowing that there is relief in the near future is comfort enough for me to do a natural delivery again without hesitation.

Hope that helped. Good luck!

[shaymich2015]

I chose one. I went as long as I could without one. I even denied it three times. Once I got it I felt like I was on top of the world!

[BonitaMichelle]

I will be getting one.

[sabbylopez]

My first I was in labor for 26 hours due to my water breaking when I was 2cm. I had a med free birth no antibiotics either. I had one stitch but to me I didn't think it was necessary. With my second I was in labor all day walking talking laughing cooking and my midwife checked my and I was 10cm and ready to push. Had my baby after 4 pushes. I'm not afraid of labor and I'm pretty confident in my body and my husband is so supportive.

[mrsbrown222]

I think if you have a high tolerance for pain then go natural. For my first three I went meds  free my first two I was in labor for 3hrs my 3rd one in labor for 9hrs no meds wasn't bad.. Now with my last I'm hoping the same. I'm to scared to get the epidural ..I think if you really can't handle it go for it..I wish you the bestest luck

[anything2345]

I took Hypnobirthing classes and delivered in a tub with my first child. I felt very little pain. I chose a birthing center because they do not have epidurals there. It was great and I am going to do it again for this baby.

[Snowhite23]

I think its best with no meds!! Iv had all three of my babies with no meds...nd now im on my forth baby nd still decide no meds.. besides they say epidurals slow down the process of labor nd i know a few people who got the epidural nd have back problems, plus one who cant even feel her foot after 3 months of giving birth cause of the epidural!!! But wat ever u choose GOOD LUCK!!

[Kos2Kos]

And i was up and walking around within 15 minutes of having my daughter. Used only a quarter of the bag and had the epidural for about 8 hours. i could move my legs. Just didnt feel the labor pains but still felt my stomach contracting.

[Kos2Kos]

Im getting the drugs since i dont like pain, i dont want to feel my vagina tear and with my first pregnancy my water broke at 1 cm and thats a pain i never want to feel again. But everyone has their own preference. But if you do get an epidural dont feel like your not as strong someone that did it drug free.

[yarieliz]

I delievered all 3 of my kids with no meds and yes its painful but hey I don't trust all these meds they putting in you. And plus I felt like with meds I wouldnt have as much control.

[GeekMom1213]

No meds for me. I delivered my first completely med-free and had an amazing experience. It was hard but it was the most incredibly empowering thing I've ever done. I know for sure that my body was built for this and though for sure it is painful, the memories that I've kept from that day are among the best I've got. I'm so confident that we are fully planning for our 4-year-old to be in the room with us witnessing and holding my hand as his baby brother or sister joins us for the first time. He knows that it will be hard work and that it might be a little scary sometimes but he knows that Mama is going to do it!!

[koyama83]

I'm getting one. I had my first with nothing, my second with a botched epidural (but it still helped a little) so with #3 I'm getting one again.

[emily_mommyof2]

17 weeks along with baby number 2 and definitely getting an epidural! And I completely recommend it as well. I had my daughter almost 4 years ago and I got an epidural which I was totally satisfied with. I was a few hours into labor an in horrible pain and got my epidural, and once it kicked in, it took so much pain away I felt perfect. Besides the contractions every couple minutes. But that was just slight stomach pain with my epidural. I couldn't imagine having all the pain that I had before the epidural, for my 18 hours of labor.

[raeofsunshyne7]

I'm for epidurals. Especially if you have to get induced! Also, keep in mind it takes about 20 minutes to get it in. Those 20 minutes can feel like a lifetime! So if you try without one, don't wait until the very blast minute you can.

I say this and I am gonna try not to get one with this one (my second), but only if I go into natural labor! If I get induced, I will probably just tell them to gete one when they break my water. Lol.

[mommylocz]

This is my second baby, with my first I went all natural and loved it! I got experience everything and even take a nice shower right after I walked around and everything but I was also only in labor for a couple hours. With this pregnancy I'm going to try to go natural as well especially since I can't handle any drugs I hate the feeling of them

[lurooney]

This is my 4th baby and i did get the epidural on my other 3,will be on this one too..i tried with the others to go as long as i could without it but im not good with pain and man labor pains hurt like hell and epidural is brilliant lol so im all for it

[hippiemama1]

I meant with and without an epidural* Oops! >.<

[hippiemama1]

I'm choosing to get one because of preference. My doctor and I discussed her experience as a mom in labor with and and without labor and she personally recommends epidurals. She said that without she was so miserable and the pain was so bad that she missed out on so much. She said overall her experience was better with an epidural. I've done research and all the crazy things you read are highly unlikely. Epidurals have come a long way and are a lot safer. My doctor said it's rare that anything goes wrong aside from maybe a headache. This being my first baby, I want it to be a good memory of such a beautiful proces,  instead of a memory of excruciating pain. Hope this helps!