Natural or Epidural?

Question

ladies any advice on a natural and epidural labor ? and pros and cons of each ? What about taring ? any advice ? i want to go natural but i’m concerned of the pain during labor 🤔

Answer

I had 100% natural birth. I was prepped for the epidural and the anesthetist was on her way, but my LO didn’t want to wait. During labour I was begging for it. 
When I have my future children, I will go for natural again. I wouldn’t ever go for an epi, I felt amazing afterwards. I used the bathroom and took a shower 10 minutes after delivering the placenta. I went for a walk an hour after she was born, ate, etc. I would have gone crazy if I had to stay in bed. 
Looking back, L&D; wasn’t all that bad.

Answer

The reason why some women avoid the epidural is because all that medication is also going to the baby (and during pregnancy you aren't even allowed more than a Tylenol) it can cause baby to be drowsy so it sometimes can affect baby's ability to nurse at birth. It can also interfere with the mothers natural hormones that are produced when giving birth such as adrenaline and loads of oxytocin to bond you to your baby as well as kickstart your milk production.
Also epidural is a medical procedure with risks (those risks are low but there is chance of nerve damage, including long term pain for the mother). 
A more common risk is the baby reacting badly to the medication causing distress, low heart rate or high heart rate which in turn leads to statistically higher number of emergency ceasarean sections for mothers who take the epidural.
There is also the risk of tearing worse if your epidural is so high that you cannot feel at all while pushing which can result in you pushing out baby too fast instead of allowing time to stretch, resulting in severe tearing. (many hospitals now are getting much better at making sure that the epidural is at a lower level to avoid this)
I had a 20 hour labor from the time my water broke to delivery without the epidural and I can say that I was exhausted about halfway through and I understand why people get them (in some situations they can really help) though I am glad I didn't get one personally. It is possible if you want to go epidural free... I thought I can't do this anymore but the reality is that the pain isn't stopping and your body will push that baby out... epidurals haven't existed all that long and the world is pretty populated so you can do it if you want to! It's really just up to your personal choice :)

Answer

I’m debating this as well. With my last two deliveries I had epidurals. The first one was wonderful, I was comfortable and able to rest most of the 16 hours I was in labor. The downside that time was not being able to fully feel the real urge to push and I did tear a small bit. 
My second delivery the epidural did not go well. Because I was progressing so quickly (labor was four hours total) so the anesthesia person was rushing. I ended up with an accidental spinal, which wouldn’t have been so bad if it hadn’t gone high. Which means the medication also was numbing my chest area, including my diaphragm. They ended up having to give me epinephrine because I passed out and my and baby’s heart rate was going down. Scared the shit out of my husband.  Anyway, it wore off my delivery time and so I felt everything again. Including the overwhelming urge to push. Once you get to a certain point you can’t stop yourself from pushing. And no tearing that time. 
I won’t lie, at the very end it’s quite painful but over as soon as baby comes out. 
Also, epidurals are NOT systemic, the medicine stays within the spinal canal. It doesn’t affect baby. Systemic medications that go in the IV will affect baby, which is why they don’t like to use them for OB patients.

Answer

Gah so much misinformation about epidurals haha. No, the epidural medication will not be absorbed by the baby. Some IV painkillers will make baby drowsy, but not epidural meds as they stay within the epidural space of the spine. It should not affect bonding or breastfeeding. The main downside to an epidural, in my experience and personal opinion, is not being able to push quite as effectively since you’re not feeling as much. This can result in tearing, but so can unmedicated birth...either way you are pushing out a big baby head ha! I had a perfect epidural during my L&D; so I can’t speak to what it’s like when it doesn’t get administered perfectly. I also made much faster progress with the epidural than before getting it, as my body was able to relax and rest which was sooo wonderful. Just know that whichever route you choose, nothing will make your delivery “unnatural”. With or without meds, birth is an incredibly natural and beautiful thing we get to experience. 💕

Answer

I agree with Alex, I’ve had 3 natural births no pain management besides breathing, and very fast labors, wasn’t really painful for me at all, with my youngest daughter I was feeling crampy, and the only reason I went to the hospital is bc I started pouring blood, when I got there I was a 10 cm and her head was already coming out! She was born within 10 mins, I didn’t even get emitted yet it happened so fast!

Answer

I’ve had two natural births no epidural with pitocin. They were 6 and 8 hours start to finish. I will attempt to do a third natural birth next month. I distinctly remember the nurse being amazed at how well I was moving around a few min after birth. I think an epidural has it’s place if you’re in prolonged labor, but you can most definitely make it thru without one! The pain is usually forgotten once the baby arrives. Just go in with an open mind and follow your instincts :)

Answer

I went natural, had gas and air as a pain relief. They pain wasn’t as bad as I was expecting but my labour and birth lasted 4 hours. I’ve heard epidurals can slow down labour and cause birth complications

Answer

I think everyone is different. I was in labor for over 24 hours with no pain relief and got to 6 centimeters. Couldn’t take it anymore was just so exhausted and got the epidural. Had me baby about 7 hours later because i could finally relax and let dilation happen

Answer

I'm going to try natural this time. I didn't like what the epidural did to me

Answer

I tired to get the epidural because the pain was so bad, but it only worked on my right side for about 30 minutes. About an hour later, they took it out and we tried again. My contractions were so bad at that point to where none of the medicine could get pumped to me. Doctor said he has only seen that happen one other time. The pain is horrendous! I wish I could’ve had a working epidural.

Natural or Epidural?

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