Epidural or no?

[WestIndianMama2b]

Im wondering what u ladies are planning on doing. This is my first baby but there is no way I will use epidural or spinal block. Ive researched the topic alot and the risks are so great. And I saw the study said only 67 out of a thousand women have adverse reactions/problems but im not interested in being number 66! Im interested in getting a midwife and trying for a natural birth but will do systemic drugs if I feel unable to deal. I wonder do any of u feel that epidurals are accepted by women without being fully aware of the risks? Or that hospitals shouldnt b so quick to give them out? Or do you think there is no prob?

[expectingbaby4]

All three of my girls were delivered naturally.  It hurt but as soon as that baby is out the spin dosent matter. It will be pure baby bliss. I'm planing on natural delivery with our 4th lil girl in may!!.

[chantelleAlyce]

My whole pregnancy I didn't want an epidural, however I was 2 weeks overdue, I was induced and also had back labour, my labour went for 2 days, in the end I needed the epidural as my pains were just constant. Looking back it was the best thing for me, because as it was I was pushing for two hours and I was so tired, if I had never had the epodural I would never have gotten any relief from the pain, and would have made me more tired and harder to push. It is a personal choice, i had no complications with it, I was up and walking around when he was born. I say keep an open mind about anything, with this one I'm going in and if I can do it natural I will but if needed to I will get another epidural. You don't really no what you'll need or how bad your labour will be untill your in it.

[PetiteWonder]

i went in with my birth with an open mind. i was not set on having an epidural but i also was not set on a natural birth.. i wanted to see how things go.. you have no idea how child birth will be until you are in and everyone experience is different.... some people find the pain unbearable from the start others have no issues until later...  

I did the majority of my labor drug free..  My contractions were not that bad.. did they hurt, yes but i could get through them.. I didnt have back labor thank god....  I unfortunately got to labor overnight after being up since 3am the day before.. they dont let you eat when your in labor so i was straving and sick....  i made the mistake of deciding to tub it at 4am and it made my contractions come really close together, almost non stop and made me want to throw up.. i was so exhausted, i decided i wanted to rest.. i was 8cm around this point.. i got the epidural, it was amazing and i went to sleep for an hour.. then i ended up pushing for 2.5 hrs and ended up with a vacuum becuase it turns out my dds umbical cord was short and she was getting pulled back in ...

i didnt have any issues, not even back pain from the epidural..

[la_reina87]

I had epidurals with my first 2 boys and everything went great. I was still able to use the bathroom myself and not have to be cathed. My 3rd son on the other hand was a whole other situation. I was already dialated to a 9 when I was checking in. And he was born litteraly 15minutes after we got there. So I didn't have time for an epidural or even an iv. It was insane. So, I think with my 4th (due 7-16-12) I am gonna try to go epidural free!

[Kendraerika]

I had a bad experience. I will never do it again. First it took 20 minutes of putting it in and taking it out to get it in the right place, but it left me with a spinal migraine for a week after giving birth, and it DIDN'T EVEN WORK. Not one bit. This baby is going time be all natural.I did it once, I can do it again.

[keostrand]

This is my first baby and I am planning on giving birth naturally but if the pain gets too bad I will probably get the epi. I want to do it naturally but my family gives birth to very large babies (9 and 10 pounders) and everyone in my family has bad back labor so I'm going to try it natural but if it gets to be too much I will probably get an epi