Childbirth - Epidural or No?

[HelenePA]

4 babies, 4 inductions. 2 with epi's 2 with out.. I liked it better with out the epidural. If (good lord help me) I ever have any more they will also be no epidurals. Personal preference. No need to be a hero.. if you need/want it go for it! The average length of my labors are 2 hours.. now if they were 20hrs oh yeah I'd get an epidural every time!

 

[ogreenlee]

if you have several kids, your need for having one lessens each time as they pop out a lot easier after having a few.. from what i hear.

i'm all about ease and comfort. i'd take a morphine drip if they allowed it. (as long as i was awake. i wouldn't want to miss the birth)

 

[MickeyMomTo2]

I have done it both ways. With my first, I had an epidural. It was wonderful.

With my second, my labor progressed so quickly that my daughter was born in the garage as we were trying to get in the car! Even with a quick labor, I still liked the pain-free way. For me, it wasn't the actual birth that hurt (that just felt like HUGE pressure), but the contractions were killer. Also, the portion after the baby is born is very uncomfortable, especially if you need stitches. That is NOT a fun experience if you haven't had an epidural (that part was done to me after I got to the hospital, not in my garage).

 

[Boo'sMom]

I voted "Other" becuase you didn't have a "HELL YEAH" option.

 

[agnes!]

I had one and was literally *begging* for it before the midwife and dr would give me one. Water broke at home that morning, hard contractions 3-5 minutes apart right away, 24+ hours back labor, she sure didn't come out looking like a cone-head, pretty as a picture right from the start... Oh, and I broke my tail-bone too.

agnes!

 

[monkeybug]

I've never had one (an epidural) but man did I WANT one!!! Both my kiiddos thus far came too fast for me to get any pain medication.
I've already told my OB that if I have a third they need to meet me in the parking lot a month before I'm due with an anesthesiologist in tow! I want to be the smiling lady playing uno in the delivery room, not the lady with the crazy look in her eyes scaring all the first time mommy's touring the maternity wing!!
Fast labors do NOT = Easy labors!!!!

 

[paintnolish]

Go for it...
With ds, I got it around 4 cm and didn't have any trouble progressing or anything. I didn't find the process very painful. It was uncomfortable to be hunched over when having a contraction, though. I still had quite a bit of pain and ppressure during labor and had chills afterwards. With dd, it was easy as pie! I did not feel a thing (got it around 7 cm) and she popped out shortly after! Neither were groggy or had problems nursing, especially dd. I am pretty sure I couldn't get her off of me for almost 18 months straight! GL!

 

[princess momma]

I went in with an open mind and didn't ask for an epidural for either of my deliveries. There was pain, but it was manageable.

Not from my own experience, but I've heard so many horror stories about labor not progressing after the epidural or being too numb to push and needing forceps for delivery.

 

[Wendy31]

Let's see...

Baby #1, 7 lbs, 10 oz - DH & I went to all the classes, did all the fake breathing exercises, etc. I thought I would do it w/o an epidural - even though, DH, who plainly knows me, preferred that I get one. Started labor during a Monday night on my due date (1/3), labored all day Tuesday, checked into the hospital Tuesday afternoon, still saying I was doing it w/o the epi. Kept having contractions which kept getting stronger... "OMG! This hurts!" At some point, I decided I wanted the epi. I think I was afraid of the pain becoming so bad that I wouldn't be able to handle it. I remember making the decision & then my mom trying to find the nurse to find the anthesiologist. Well, there was only 1 anthesiologist on duty that night, & he was busy with a c-section. So, by the time, he came to my room, I was 8 1/2 centimeters dilated - I might as well have gone w/o it. Since I got the epidural so late in my labor, it made it really hard for me when it came time to push. I ended up pushing for almost 3 hours & DD had to be assisted out w/ forceps. I remember the doctor saying they were going to give me 1 more try, then I'd be prepped for an emergency c-section. At some point, during the process, my back started really hurting, so they gave me additional medicine which bottomed out my BP - DH thought I was dying. Anyway, DD was born at 1:23 am on 1/5 after 23 hours of labor & 3 hours of pushing! However, w/ all that said, I'm petite, & DD, at almost 8 lbs, was kinda big for a first baby anyway... so, who knows, since it was a 1st pregnancy, I might have pushed that long even w/o an epidural?

Baby #2, 7 lbs, 9 oz - My due date was 7/16, but my doctor scheduled me for an induction for 7/12. However, I went into labor early morning on 7/11. I went to the hospital, thinking I would not get an epidural. However, there were no rooms immediately available in the birthing center, so I was put in a sort of triage/holding room - w/o windows. It felt very closed-in to me, & I did not want to give birth in there! A nurse told me that an epidural would perhaps slow down the contractions & that a room would soon be ready. So, I got the epidural at 6 cm. It was a great epidural! It started "wearing off" right about the time it was time for me to push. I was dreadfully worried that I was going to have the 3-hour pushing nightmare like I did w/ DD, but it wasn't anything like that at all - I remember laughing w/ my doctor & DH in between the pushing contractions. DS was born (in a real room!) at 2:56 pm.

Baby #3, 6 lbs, 1 oz - My due date was 7/25. However, in the last weeks of my pregnancy, I developed pregnancy-induced hypertension. Thankfully, it did not go into preeclampsia. At my doctor's appt on 7/17, my doctor said that my BP was just too high, & he admitted me for an induction. I didn't get to go to the nice women's center w/ the nice rooms like I had for my previous 2 pregnancies - I had to go to the actual hospital. Anyway, at the hospital, I was put on magnesium to lower my BP & then another medicine when the mg didn't lower it enough & pitocin to start the contractions. I also had a major BP headache. Pitocin-induced contractions feel different than naturally-induced contractions - I thought they hurt worse. Plus, the mg makes you feel awful. I wasn't coping at all well w/ the worry over the BP, the BP headache, the contractions, & the heavy, drug-induced feel from the MG, so I opted for the epidural as soon as I could. The epidural bottomed out my BP, so I was given another medicine to raise it back up. At some point, DS's heart rate started dropping, so I was put on oxygen & the nurse kept rotating me from my left side to my right side. When it was time to push, I was worried that I wasn't going to be able to - not because of the epidural, but because of the mg. However, maybe since DS was my smallest & my third, it was easy-peasy! In fact, the easiest thing about DS' birth was the pushing. DS was born at 4:42 am on 7/18.

My vote is to go in w/ all your options open. Every birth experience is different. The outcome you want is a healthy baby & healthy you, so do whatever you need to do to make that happen. My nurse during my last labor was absolutely wonderful! I was upset about getting the epidural so early & feeling like a wimp (I just was not coping very well at all!), & she reminded me that there are no prizes given out for who "lasted the longest" or for who went drug-free. I didn't have any complications from my epidurals (besides the BP thing during the 1st & 3rd time) & was up walking around very soon after giving birth. You don't see the needle, &, to me, it didn't hurt very much at all. W/ the exception of my 1st, I wasn't too numb to push & didn't need forceps, & I think first babies are just harder. Like I said, even w/o an epidural, I still may have pushed as long & needed forceps for my DD's birth. Plus, epidurals = immediate relief!

Edited to add - All 3 of my babies nursed w/o problems & none of them had coneheads. DD was very alert right after birth & nursed right after birth & every hour & 1/2 for the next, oh I don't know, 5 months! DS #1 had a pneumo-thorax & was sent directly to the NICU, so I didn't get to nurse him right away. However, the next night, he had no problems - even though, prior to that, the nurses had been feeding him w/ bottles of my pumped breastmilk. DS #2 nursed right after birth as well. However, due to the all the different medicines I was given, he did sleep quite a bit that first day. When we would get him to wake up, he nursed well.

I, apparently, have very easy pregnancies (no morning sickness or swollen ankles) & "bloom" during pregnancies. However, I have traumatic birth experiences. All 3 babies were meconium babies, & all 3 had the cord wrapped around them. W/ DD, my BP dropped. W/ DS #1, the cord was wrapped tightly enough to send him to the NICU, plus he aspirated some of the meconium which caused the pneumothorax & required him to be sedated in the 1st hours. W/ DS #2, I had hypertension w/ all the resulting problems.

 

[Shmily1]

I chose go natural. I had DS19 without it. The hospital only offered it during the day and this started in the middle of the night. I was scared to death of needles anyway. I had DD18 without it too. It was offered, but the fear of the needles was much greater than any pain. Four months ago from this coming Sunday, DD18 had a DS. She said she was not having one, but then changed her mind and wanted me to get the nurse. I did, but by the time it had started to hurt, she was dilated to 9 and could not have it. He was born 35 minutes later by emergency c-section, which was only about 5 of the 35 minutes, after pushing for about 10 times due to cord being around his neck. She had been induced at 9AM and he was born at 12:32 PM. She's 5'1" and weighed 103 lbs when she got pregnant and 130 when he was born weighing 8'2".

If you've not had a baby before, it's a different kind of pain than you can imagine, but not something that you can't do. I told DD if she was determined not to have the epidural to think of positive things about having the baby, not focus on the pain. I will say that the childbirth classes she attended begrudgingly (now who signed her up for that and made her go? ) were a big help to her.

 

[diznygirl]

I've never had one (an epidural) but man did I WANT one!!! Both my kiiddos thus far came too fast for me to get any pain medication.
I've already told my OB that if I have a third they need to meet me in the parking lot a month before I'm due with an anesthesiologist in tow! I want to be the smiling lady playing uno in the delivery room, not the lady with the crazy look in her eyes scaring all the first time mommy's touring the maternity wing!!
Fast labors do NOT = Easy labors!!!!

Sorry to laugh at your pain but,

I totally understand - with my first I did get the epidural but not before 30 minutes of the most bone-crushingly intense contractions ever recorded in modern history (at least this is MY recollection of the event ) With the second I got the epidural before I felt any contractions -

MY bragging rights? Two of the cutest little babies EVER!

 

[ohiomom28]

Oh heck yes

 

[Skywalker]

For the love of all that's holy, get the epidural.

 

[tzolkin]

I've never had one, so I don't know what it actually feels like. I was always a bit worried about the length of pushing time being drawn out with an epidural. I've never pushed more than a few minutes. Both my sister and SIL pushed for over 3 hours. Having a baby without meds I can do, pushing for hours I can't imagine.

My first was a 47 hr labor, but it honestly wasn't that bad. It was only really painful for maybe an hour or so.

My second labor was under 7 hours in a horrible snow storm, so I barely made it to the hospital. It was more painful than the first, but I never felt an epi was necessary.

My third I was induced and it was maybe 2.5 hours once labor started. The nurse checked me and said I was only dilated to 4, so I said I needed something at that point (the pain was more intense than my other labors and I assumed I had hours to go). The dr was in the hall, so he came in to check me himself before calling anesthesia. He looked down and most of baby's head was already out.


I certainly don't feel that I'm better than anyone who had drugs. My experiences were such that the only time I felt that I needed pain relief was the last hour or less of my labors. I would never go in assuming that I would need an epidural, but I wouldn't completely rule it out either that way you won't be disappointed if you wind up needing one.

 

[Ember]

As you can see just from this thread, some folks seem to feel that those who don't get the epidural are martyrs who feel that their experience makes them better mothers in some way. And some who skipped the epidural like to make those that got one feel as though they cheated somehow and didn't get the full experience.

To be fair, I've never given birth, but I've sat in on these conversations and this explanation is dead on! I've listened to new mothers wax on poetically about how their birth experience was perfect and the only way to do it which is usually followed by someone at the table rapidly stepping in with why they are obviously wrong... I usually go to the bathroom once this starts in the hopes it will be over when I get back.

Personally, I think you get the baby either way so do what feels right for you. For me, I would get an epidural, I think. I feel no need for the "magic" of natural child birth. (I heard all about the "magic" of losing your virginity and boy was that a lie! )

 

[Katy Belle]

I voted "go in with an open mind" but I really think if you want to NOT have one you need to have that as your plan. You will want it but if you've made up your mind to tough it out, then you can.

First baby I went in thinking I would probably get one. I did. Ended up PUSHING for 3 1/2 hours, so it was good I had one. It ended in an emergency c-section. Baby's head was 16 1/2 inches.

2nd and 3rd babies I delivered va*inally (can I say that on the Disboards?) They recommended epidurals because I'd had a previouse c-section and there was danger of rupturing. I was 9 cm dilated for both before the epidural, because it went fast. I know I could have done it without, but was more comfortable with it. AND the risk of the VBAC, it made sense to have it. By the way...2nd and 3rd babies were ealier and had resonably sized heads, 14 1/2 inches!

 

[Bren's Mom]

I had a 100% natural birth...I pushed my baby out of my hoo-ha. That's totally natural.

And to make me more comfortable doing it I had an epidural.

 

[cybrkitn]

Well, that would depend on how you feel about them. Do you feel that you might be able to put up with the contractions and pain while giving birth? If so, then go natural. If not then go for the epidural.

For me personally, I chose natural birth b/c I don't like needles to begin with (especially ones that would go about 2 inches deep like the epidurals ). Heck, I can't even watch DH give himself insulin shots in his stomach without feeling faint.

I would rather take on the pain of giving birth than have my doctor or nurse come near me with an epidural needle. Funny thing is, I can take the IV needle in the back of my hand or by my wrist without a problem . Go figure.

 

[C.Ann]

DD had it - for her one and only child - but it didn't take..

Go in with an open mind.. No need to decide right now..

And congratulations!!

 

[Darsa]

It kinda makes me think of one of my co-workers. She prefers, when she gets a headache, to "wait it out" rather than take the ibuprophen or acetaminophen we have always available. I have asked her in the past if there's a medical reason why she can't take it, nope, just wants to see if it "goes away on it's own". Meanwhile we gets to put up with a cranky co-worker.

I must admit I was pretty proud to have not had an epidural, but that's just because I'm a HUUUGE wimp, and noone in my family ever thought I could possibly do without