Natural labor or Pain meds...what did you do/plan to do

[sweetangel7]

Just curious...

[JoyRenee]

I wanted to go natural but once I was in labor it was so intense I couldn't even breathe. No one was helpful and my husband was clueless.

So when I had my 2nd daughter I went in with the mindset of getting an epidural. I was a lot more comfortable sooner and the labor and delivery (while it did last longer) was so much more enjoyable and pleasant. Plus, before I got the epidural I knew more about how to breathe so even though I was in pain I was still joking around and laughing.

I had my qualms about the pain medication because it does pass to baby. In the end, though, it was what helped me have a lovely birth (with each girl). We have the technology, there's no need to be in pain if you don't have to be!

And Jules, you're not a wimp for wanting an epidural! You're practical and you know what you want. It doesn't make you less of a woman.

[motherofan18month]

i was almost 8cm dilated when i started getting pains so i chickened out and asked for the epidural!

[jenkaye21]

I think it depends a lot on how well prepared you are.  With your first, it can be very overwhelming if you do not have strategies (breathing, counting, blowing, etc.) to cope with the pain.  I think I was fighting against every contraction and had a very LONG labor.

With my third, I came much closer to my goal of a drug-free birth, although I gave in near the end.  I felt like had started to learn how to cope with the contractions and let them do their job.  My labor went much faster, and I handled it better.

I suggest learning as many coping methods and reading as much as possible, then you may be better prepared to handle labor better.  Still, everyone (and every labor) is different, so you can never know quite what to expect.

[NicMom]

Last time they screwed up and gave me the epi right at 10cm. I felt everything leading up to, but not the actual birth. This time I am going to try for natural, but whatever happens happens. I'm not going to get too bent out of shape if things don't go according to plan.

[ashiepooh]

Hahaha my first, natural.  I was 2 weeks from my birthing class when I went into labor!  Hahaha good thing from start to finish it was over in 36 minutes, but didn't really hurt

Second one, natural!  

And this one will be natural!  No time for meds.  =)  

If you want to go natural though, get your mind set now that it's what you want.  Ask everyone to talk you out of it, because if you don't want the drugs you can easily be talked out!  Also, As a runner, I just used the breathe in through you nose and out through your mouth during labor and focus on relaxing your body, so you can make it through!

[KellyA74]

I labored with nothing....I had asked for an epidural but they didn't get to me until I was 10cm dilated...they gave it to me anyway...so I labored with nothing and just had the epidural for pushing....which didn't work out that well being it slowed my contractions (which I could no longer feel) and they had to start Pitocin on me to increase the frequency of the contractions....So as far as laboring goes, it was totally bearable.....can't answer as far as pushing goes...I was numb!