Natural or epidural?

Question

I’m going to be having my first baby in about a month and I’m curious as to what everyone chose and why. My mom is 100% for epidurals and my mother in law is 100% against them for differing reasons. I’m not sure how hard to convince myself that I do or don’t need an epidural. (Assuming I don’t need a c-section)

Answer

Do some research on your own. Tell them it’s your body, your birth, YOUR choice, and they need to keep their opinions to themselves.
I can tell you this about epidurals:
If your pain is unbearable and you’re only dilated around 1-3 CM, getting the epidural may help you relax enough to continue dilating. These early contractions should be uncomfortable, but not unbearable, so if they’re hurting more than they should, you may tense up and fight it, which can stall labor. The epidural can help you relax. Normally, an epidural slows or stalls labor, but in this case it may help speed it up. 
You may get stalled around 4-6 CM, even without the epidural. That’s normal. It can last anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours. If it lasts longer than 2-3 hours, you can either keep pushing through if the contractions aren’t bad, or get epidural in order to relax and get a nap in so you can restore your energy, depending on how you’re feeling at that point. At this point, it’s likely the epidural may stall labor, adding 1-4 hours. 
At 6-7 CM, you’re in transition. The contractions are going to get faster and stronger here. This is the point most women ask for the epidural. At this point, most of the time you only have 2-4 hours before baby is here! If you think you can keep going without the epidural, then try to push through and remember that it’s almost over. If you’d prefer to get a few hours of rest before you push, then the epidural could give you that time. 
And at 8-10 CM most hospitals don’t give the epidural anymore. You’re close to pushing, and baby is almost here! 
Each birth is different, so this is just a guideline. But this is the “average” uneventful birth and how it progresses. You may go in there and find out that for you, contractions are unbearable right from the start. Or you might not even really feel them until transition. I’ve seen both 🤷🏻‍♀️ heck, I’ve seen a mama laughing and talking and then say “oh I feel the need to push” and an hour later there was baby, hardly no pain at all, and it was an all natural 9 lb baby! 
I also recommend looking into alternative pain management; the epidural is not the only pain relief for you. Teach your partner to do hip squeezes. Look into having a birth ball. Hot showers. Back massager for back labor. There’s options!

Answer

I did some research on natural vs epidural. I decided to try for natural but was open to an epidural if I absolutely needed it. I ended up being induced and did 17 hours and pitocin before caving and getting an epidural. I got to the point of having contractions 45 seconds apart for 4 hours before I got it. I was able to nap for the last 3 hours of labor, woke up, pushed 2x and my daughter was out.

Answer

Why don’t you just see how you? That way you don’t have any expectations or plan but just see how you deal with the pain, if it becomes too much you can try air/gas first and if you react badly to it, you can still have an epidural (unless you progress quickly)

Answer

My advice would be not to be 100% set on what you would like to happen. 
Definitely have your birth intentions clear for your care providers, but be flexible.

Answer

I agree with all the other poster that you don’t have to decide right now but I would like to add if you are leaning more towards a natural birth it is absolutely necessary to learn some coping mechanisms and to kinda prepare your mind. My first I went in like you not knowing what I wanted to do and I was laboring fine but I know if I would have learned how to relax more my labor probably would have been more productive. My 2nd I took hypnobirthing and was able to have her natural with what I had learned. My 3rd and 4th I made it to 8cm and had an epidural which is a great relief in the moment but I wish the hospital would have said no you’re are too close. In 30-45 min both babies were born and I was stuck with a catheter (I hate them!!!) and unable to move much. Epidurals work extremely well for me making me 100% numb (evening when I asked for the smallest amount possible). I can’t even feel to push. I hate the feeling of not being able to move from the waist down. So with all that said I’m trying to go natural again with this baby #5. Good luck to you!!

Answer

Why don’t you just go with the flow, if you can tolerate it when the time comes stick to natural.. if you need the epidural use it. 😊

Answer

I have had 3 babies and expecting our 4th in abt 12 weeks. I have had a voluntary induction each time with an epidural. for me this is the best way. each labor gets shorter and way less stressful. but to each their own.

Answer

i went to natural all my friends and my family and my aunt who is a nurse they qll told me to go with natural because tqking the epidural sometimes they do it wrong and during the winter time your back is in so much pain i really took their advice and i really went to natural had my baby healthy and i was proud of myself taking all tht pain for giving birth to my son and it was the beautiful thing to feel what going to labor is

Answer

I had 2 natural births and I would do it that way this time if it wasn't for the hip pain. I have insane sciatic hip pain and I'm going to try to epidural this time(due in 5 days! ) to see if it helps. seriously,  if it wasn't for the hip pain,  I'd go natural again. it's amazing to feel the baby flop out of you! you'll forget the pain afterward.  But honestly, it's up to you, you know your pain tolerance. don't let others influence you!

Answer

I essentially had a home birth (my midwife rents a home for births) so there was no access to an epidural. My plan was to go unmedicated anyways and I think if I had been in a hospital I would’ve taken one but I’m glad I wasn’t because I was able to push through the pain and finish giving birth with no meds. I had a posterior baby who came forehead first and serious back labor but I did it! I think a lot of it is mindset and I know that not every labor is easy going and some people do need some sort of pain relief to relax but I think for most women it is totally doable to have an unmedicated birth!

Natural or epidural?

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