To Epidural or Not to Epidural?

Question

For all those moms who didn't have one, what was it like? 
For those who did, why did you choose to do so? 
Has anyone had an all natural birth without any medical intervention that could share how it went? 
Thanks!

Answer

For me personally, I needed the epidural. My baby was faced the wrong way and the back pain was truly awful. I remember crying thinking this pain was going to kill me... There are no words to describe it (and that was with the epidural!).

Do what's best for you ❤️

Answer

I got to 7 cm handling contractions just fine but I got the epidural at that point because I knew what was coming, lol. I'd do it 100 times again. The needle entry is like a 2/10 on the pain scale (and I'm a gigantic wuss). I didnt feel any pain during labor. I was able to relax and watch tv as I dilated to 10 cm. I was able to feel his presence down there, just not the pain of it. I could also just vaguely feel the presence of contractions so I still remained very much in control. I didn't have to wait too long to stand afterwards and I have no long-term effects. The most painful part of my entire birthing process was healing the second degree tear I suffered from laughing him out at one point. But that type of tear is typical.

Answer

I had my first without a epidural he was 3 months early and was born in my living room while waiting on the paramedics,it felt like bad cramps which I was use to due to having endo a few years before getting pregnant.I opted to go natural 5 years later with my second child since I already knew what it felt like and I'm not big on having a needle being put in my spine anyhow.

Answer

My sister had one and she had a student doctor and they put the need in the going up instead of down and she swelled up like a blow fish

Answer

I got to 9cm without an epidural and when baby was in distress and I stopped progressing because of the pain, I got one. BEST thing everrrrr!!!!! I have no idea why I fought so hard not to have one. It felt like the most terrible period cramps times a million and no break between contractions. Awful. Sorry. Some people do not think its that bad but I did have a 9lb baby.

Answer

Originally I wasn't going to have one. But I went 3 days past my due date and my baby's head was very low. Every contraction felt like a bowling ball was coming out of my pelvis while a dinosaur was kicking me in the back. And this went on for 3 days. I wasn't able to sleep so the epidural prevented me from being so exhausted I would have to have a c section. I could feel my contractions during pushing but it just felt like pressure. I would say come up with a birth plan but be open to the plan changing.

Answer

It's horrible i recommend u get one if u can not handle the pain! It was to late to get one with my son got there to late and I wish I didn't. My daughter was easy breezy epidural is my best friend lol 😂🤔😳

Answer

I had an epidural with my first labour after 26 hours and I'm glad I did because I had everything from suction cup, episiotomy, forcepts then had to have an emergency Caesarian. My labor ended up being 31 hours. With my second I did natural but they wouldn't give me an epidural because of the previous Caesarian and bubs was stillborn at 23 weeks so they wouldn't let me have another Caesarian if I had the option I would if had the epidural again

Answer

I had IV meds with my first 2 kids. I have really bad back labor and I was young so I wanted pain meds. I had seen my sister get an epidural and that terrifies me so I didn't even have that as a choice. My last child I had all natural. The contraction were intense but labor was was only 3 hours that I felt hard contractions I was actually happy I did it and I will try again with this little one due in April 👍🏼

Answer

Around 5% of epidurals don't work and mine was one of them ☹️ only one half of my body totally numb (from my toes to my face!) and it caused a lot of distress to my baby so it had to be turned off. 
 (Because one side of my body was useless I couldn't get into a position that allowed my daughters heart rate to be normal because she had the cord around her neck. The medicine itself didn't effect her, rather mine and the nurses inability to position myself properly, so it was shut off). 
Getting it was painless, like a pinch in your back....which isn't even noticeable with the searing pain of contractions at that point 😂

Hopefully I will have a second child and I'm not sure I'd try for it again only because I was disappointed it didnt work the first time and don't want to think there is an end to the pain when there isn't I'd rather just ride it out to the end.

To Epidural or Not to Epidural?

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