Thoughts on epidurals?

Question

Hey ladies! I'm a ftm about 23 weeks. Just waiting for the day my little baby girl will be here :) I was wondering what your guys thoughts were on epidurals vs all natural birth?

Answer

I have had them with my first two and plan to get it with this one. I don't think if you don't get one that makes you better or stronger than other moms even though some act that way. It's all preference. It works perfect on me, I can feel the baby moving down and know exactly when to push I just don't have the pain. I only pushed three times with my last delivery.

Answer

Went natural with first, epidural with second planning on natural with #3. I had terrible side effects, felt pain but couldn't move or feel to push. Recovery was more difficult & my son was not as alert as my daughter was. The short term relief want worth it to me.

Answer

I was induced three times and had an epidural each time. It wore off early with my first, had to redose with my second and I really had no pain, and with my third it was amazing until she was coming and it felt like I didn't have one. Good thing it was only three contractions before I was allowed to push and it only took one. Babies were always alert, I was up by the time I got to my room, and had no side effects. When it works, it's awesome.

Answer

Me personally I love it with my first and getting one with my 2nd. Contractions are NO JOKE. I had no complications with it. I commend the women that can do it naturally!

Answer

I'm all for it. I have nothing to prove and taking it doesnt make me less of a person.... It is there to help make it easier.... All the better. But i dint know if i'll have it nor if i'll have time to have it.... It depends how it goes in the moment. And my doc explained to me that now you can sometimes actually feel and move your legs enough to go pee by yourself... It has changed a lot :) very interesting

Answer

The epidural isn't just about a " natural labour " or proving a point , it's an often unnecessary intervention that can lead to problems in labour and increase chances of further interventions ( forceps / ventouse ) and increase chances for a c- section ...

Answer

Epidurals do increase risk of further complications and need for intervention. They also save lives. Women used to die from exhaustion and epidurals give you chance to refocus on the job of pushing.

Birthing From Within has a great description of pain and pain relief. She talks of the benefits and risks.

I loved being able to listen to my body in my b second labour. I knew what to do, when to push. An epidural would have taken away that communication. In my first labour, I was on the verge of needing one.

Answer

I am in baby #3 and have yet to have one. My thoughts are.....if I progress, no need for one. I prefer to be at 100 percent when baby is born...drugs of any sort make me sick or feel awful. However, if I ever have a labor that doesn't progress...who knows. I have been very blessed to not need one.

Answer

My epidural might've been great if it had had time to work! Turns out that by the time the anesthesiologist got there and finished my labor was progressing so quickly that it didn't really have time to do a whole lot, so it was basically like not having one, which it wasn't what I planned, but i ended up basically feeling everything anyway. But if you need one go for it because contractions are no joke, as far as I'm concerned they hurt more than actually pushing him out did.

Thoughts on epidurals?

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