Painless Childbirth? Really?

[phragmipedium]

I'm about two months away from giving birth to my first, and I'm pretty terrified of the whole idea. My mother had three without pain meds and my aunt (her sister) did too, so I've been told I come from pioneer stock and will be good at it. As long as everything goes normally, I plan to go in with an open mind, try to be as relaxed and focused as possible, but if I end up needing pain meds I have no problems asking for them. I'm not anti-drug at all, but there are pros and cons to having an epidural so I'm not planning on it just for the sake of having it.

 

[Sleepy]

It has been 18 years, but there are specific things about that experience that I will never forget. I had an epidural. I felt absolutely NO pain. That did not mean I could not feel anything. When I touched my legs, it was very strange, like touching a rubber doll's leg. I could feel the sensation of touch, but not the way I did normally. I remember feeling the pressure of the episiotomy as the cut was made. It did not hurt, but I could definitely feel the sensation of the cut.

Funny story about after my son was born. The nurse was getting me ready to be moved to my recovery room. As she went to take my legs off the stirrups, I thought I would be nice and help her. I never realized how an epidural messed with strength. I tried with all my might to move my leg. The nurse was right next to me and I kicked her in the face. I was so embarrassed.

I have known some women who are in labor a couple hours, have no pain killers, push 5 or so times and they have a fairly painless experience. Lucky them. All I know is there is no way I could have survived the birth of my son without pain killers.

 

[Disneyland1084]

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

I went natural with both of my DD's. The second time around, just in January, was HELL!!! BUT I managed not to yell until the very end. After DD came out I said "NEVER again!" Maybe I'll adopt.

 

[formill]

Epidurals are the BEST......had twins.....had an epidural- second twin was breech and even though they had to reach up in and get hold of her feet.....I felt nothing......felt urge to push.....felt contractions but ZERO pain- it was wonderful. First two kids........lots of pain no epidural..... did not like the needle going in part though -that was painful for me.

 

[Piecey]

I know of another girl on the dis who used hypnobabies and swears by it. I've never been pregnant, but I do find it interesting that there have been quite a few people that have had success with it. I personally am afraid of needles and will even pass out when blood is drawn so I don't see an epidoral in my future.

I never saw the needle when they put in my epidural. They had me sitting on the side of the bed, looking out the window when the anesthesiologist came in. He set up his stuff, walked around to the side of the bed and introduced himself. Said I'd feel something like a bee sting and that it was important that I sat really still.

The nurse was on one side, DH on the other. They held me and the nurse talked to me about her kids (apparently one was using WAY too many text messages ) and it was over before I knew it, I didn't even feel the bee sting.

I may request that guy to come back and do my spinal for this RCS, he was AWESOME

 

[rszdtrvl]

I had a natural birth, complete with midwife in a 2-story house. My birth was pain-free.

A few grunts, and DS was born.

My labor was not long at all. I think I went into labor at around 11pm (I was still unsure if it was labor, but my back hurt and I started vomiting).

A few calls back and fourth to the midwife and my parents and my MIL and we finally drove the half hour to the midwifes office at around 430am.

My son was born at 630am.

It was total textbook. MIL was amazed by how calm, peaceful, and EASY it was for me. And years later, she loves to tell my birth story to people. She was so unsure about the whole midwife thing, but when my son was born, she said that it was truly amazing, and I totally made the right choice for me.