Pain management. What do you prefer? And why?

Question

I'm trying to gain perspective on the modern birthing process. I'm old enough to have a mother who didn't have the option for epidurals or nitrous, and have a sister who had an epidural once and a natural birth once. Both side with epidurals, but I'm personally afraid of them and against them. I would like to know what options you guys have thought of and how things worked out for you.

Answer

My water broke on undue date but my contractions were not dilating me fast enough... After about 12 hours of labor I was still only at 2cm so doc started pitocin and after about 8 hours of that, so 20 hours of labor now, the pain was unbearable! I got the epidural and it was immediate pain relief!  I could still move my legs and lift them and turn over etc but just could not walk. It wore off for me to oush so I felt everything but it wasn't bad-- it was actually my favorite part! I was able to get up and walk to go to the bathroom right after delivery!

I will go in with an open mind again this time around and if I can do it natural I will, but I am not against the epidural by any means if I need it.

Answer

I got an epidural with my first. Didn't feel a thing. Pushed for over 2 hours and ended up with a C section. My next two were all natural VBACs and I felt SO MUCH BETTER with no drugs! They they were 9.7 and 8.15, so big babies. It can be done. I plan to go all natural with my 4th this time as well!

Answer

I had an epidural with my first son. But after I got it it didn't work very well, I felt it in one hip but not the other. Either it was done wrong, I got it too late or The damage from falling years ago hurt my spine in a way that made it not work very well. It did help me relax but days later I realized my back hurt around the area that they put the epidural in and that pain lasted for a little while but it's gone now two years later so it wasn't like permanent damage. 
I'm pregnant with my second baby now and this time I am planning on going all-natural if it all possible. I'm hoping for a water birth. The reason why I want and all natural birth this time is because I have learned that a epidural can make the baby drowsy after birth and it can affect nursing some times. I had a hard time nursing my first son.

Answer

I got an epidural when I was 9cm. I didn't realize how far along I was. I asked for it at 3cm. When the pushing part comes the contractions don't feel as bad but before that I was definitely in pain. For my next I will definitely try to do it all natural. But the epidural definitely helped me relax a bit and I could still feel when I had to push.

Pain management. What do you prefer? And why?

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