Painless Childbirth? Really?

[Mouse House Mama]

Do you really think there is such a thing? I don't. I am feeling a bit nervous with my upcoming birth -it's totally worth it- but you would think that by now they would figure out a way for it not to hurt. Epidurals imo don't really work that well. When it is time to push they might as well put a hot poker in your eye because the pain is still bad! I have had 3 epidurals and 1 without (no time) and I can't say that any of them were painless.

What is your take on it? Did you have a painless birth? If so what did you do to make it that way? Drink a bottle of Scotch? Close your head in the drawer really hard? Put ambesol all over your lower half? Stick pins in your head to deflect the pain? Tell me your secret!
TIA!

 

[Christine]

Well, I wouldn't call it painless but with my epidurals, it wasn't awful.

Yes, the actual birth was the most painful part, but I had other things done to me that are far more painful.

So, all in all, I thought it wasn't that bad with the epidural.

 

[GingerJay]

Congratulations! And try not to worry- I have three kids, and with each one I still panicked when it was time to deliver

But-with my last child, I decided to have natural labor to "see what it was like" LOL- I do NOT recommend this at all

Wish you the best!!

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

The easiest births I have ever seen are women who did not give birth on their backs - I swear gravity comes into play.

I was at the birth of two babies who moms used hypnosis - it was unreal - calm, no drugs very easy.

 

[mjkacmom]

All of my epidurals worked really well, and I had no pain or problems pushing. I did have one painfree birth. I was aready 4 cm dilated when they started my inducement, so I got my epidural right after they started pitocin and broke my water. It took effect minutes before the contractions started, and I pushed ds out 4 hours labor, with no discomfort at all (made them top me off before I pushed).

I felt great - giddy - after he was born. Now, I endured hours of painful pitocin-induced contractions with 2 of my girls, to the point of screaming, before getting epidurals.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

I have a very high tolerance for pain. (dental work without novocaine!) So I thought I could handle childbirth. NOT SO! Actually I was induced the first time, so maybe that is worse. But I was begging for an epidural for both deliveries, and I felt absolutely NO pain after I received each one.

 

[Toad_Passenger]

DW will tell anyone considering an epidural to do it as soon as they offer it. We've had 2 kids, both with epidurals, and she says there was no pain at all.

 

[mking624]

I was induced with my first, who was born February 2009. Until I got my epidural, the pain was excruiciating (I had to wait because the anesthesiologist was in a c-section). Once I had my epidural, it was SO much better. No pain, just some pressure during contractions. They had to give me another one because the first started wearing off which brought back all the pain. I must say, I LOVED the epidurals.

My second is due in about three weeks...you can bet I'm doing the epidural again!

 

[tigercat]

I don't know but I had 4 kids. My labours were not long (4-6 hrs start to finish) except my last one. He ended up a C-section because he was too big. His birth was the worst. It took me forever to recover from his. I actually loved my labour and delivery. I don't tell a lot of people especially pregnant women because it seems that I am in the minority. I loved the whole process except the being sick for 9 months. I was upset when my dh decided that 4 pregnancies was enough. I have been fortunate to have watched 3 of my 4 grandkids and will be there with my 5th in June. I love the whole process although my dd has long labours. I don't think she loves it as much as I do though LOL. I know I am really weird.
tigercat

 

[amandaluvsgoofy]

I just had my first back in January and was totally convinced I would take an epideral (um, hello? we're not in the pioneer days, we got the drugs so use 'em!). Unfortunately, bad back pain turned out to be back labor and by the time I got to the hospital I was at 9cm! WHAT? No drugs! The labor itself wasn't really that bad (to be totally honest, I told my friends that have yet to give birth and are freaked out that it felt like taking a really big pooh. TMI, I know). I have honestly felt worse pain in my life, so this wasn't that bad for me!

 

[JVL1018]

The epidural made the birth experience 100% pain free for me. Now with my daughter it ran out and and I ended up actually giving birth with no epidural, so that was bad.
With my son, I couldn't get the epidural right away, and I was induced with Pitocin, so that hour until I got it was horribly painful, but once I got the epidural, it was totally pain free-even during the actual birthing and he was a big baby(9lb 5 oz). I felt not even a twinge, it was fantastic.
So..I think epidurals work really really well.

 

[happygirl]

I had C-sections. I hardly had any pain at all.

 

[KimR]

I had epidurals and all 3 of mine were pain-free. With my first, though, it did get to a point where it was a little uncomfortable (felt like I had to pee REALLY bad), and I just asked them to bump up the meds, which they did. After that I was . Maybe you just need to ask for them to up your dose if the epidural isn't doing its job.

 

[tigercat]

I forgot to add that I had the 4 kids in 4 1/2 yrs. I only had an epidural for the first and the last. The first by the time I had the epidural it was to late. It took effect after the birth. The last I had the c-section with an epidural. The other two didn't even think about it. Didn't want the problems that came with the epidural, recovery was fast. I don't however get upset/mad/or anything else if someone else has one. Not my body, not my problem, I am not in their shoes.
tigercat

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Not without drugs.

I'm all for drug free, but it takes intense concentration to not feel the pain. Can't say that I came close to that.

I have heard of hypnosis being successful though. I saw a story where people not having babies, were using hypnosis as their "anestesia" for surgery.

They have something called Hypnobabies--but I've not known anyone to use it or have seen it on tv.

With my son--the pain was so bad, I was ready to ask for a sledgehammer. I had a moment where I really truly believed that if they took a sledgehammer to my sacrum (in the lower back) and shattered that bone, that I would feel so much better.

But b/c I didn't want them to think I had gone whack-a-doodle, I kept that too myself. I didn't want them to submit me for a psychiatric eval.

ETA: Despite all that, I plan drug free with this one--the epidural works way too well for me and I worse than pain, I cannot stand numbness.

 

[swald91]

Had both natural & C-section...prefer the C-section!!!!! I don't remember any pain with that!!

 

[Piecey]

Hah, painless my bum.

I loved my epidural when it was working. It wore off 3 times, though, and then I was miserable. By the time I was ready to push the anestheseologist had given me something so strong that I couldn't feel a thing. So that didn't hurt a bit.

However, I ended up in a c-section.. so yeah, I'd say it was painful.

 

[Piglet843]

I was reading this thread - uh - for - future reference....

I'm scared of an epidural - I actually know someone in my hometown who is paralyzed from her waist down for the rest of her life from one.
I realize this is a very rare thing to happen - but ya know - when it hits close to home - you think about it.

So - that said - I was hoping to read more posts about people who chose to forgo the drugs - and the pain associated with that.
I know its bad - but its all worth it in the end of course....

 

[TeaToo!]

3 births.
1st: natural (stupid!)
#2: Epidural worked wonderful, really pain free. Totally.
#3: Epidural. Didnt work. Hurt like heck. Almost but not quite as bad as #1.


You know what they say, you forget the pain.
Liars.

 

[klynn]

I never had any drugs with my two deliveries. My first labor lasted 2.5 hours total and my second one only 1 hour. I guess I was lucky. The pain wasn't bad at all.