Epidural or no??

Question

I am 33 weeks pregnant with my first child. I want as much as possible to have a natural labor but everyone I tell that to basically laughs in my face. I know some people do it, why does no one have faith that i can?? Did you opt in or out of epidural and why??

Answer

Don't let people dictate what you do... you will notice when you become a parent that everyone has an opinion on what you should and shouldn't do... but you need to listen to yourself, your needs and your instincts. It's definitely possible to have an unmedicated birth... women have been giving birth for thousands of years outside of hospitals and without drugs. Your body knows exactly what to do to birth your baby and if you listen to that instinct, the majority of the time you can have an uncomplicated birth. I had a 7 hour back labour and I did it unmedicated... yea it was hard but I never felt like it was unbearable or impossible... here's my advice: 
1. Stop listening to everyone else
2. Watch and read natural calm birth stories (Ina mays guide to childbirth has tons)
3. Look into hypnobirthing (it's using meditation and visualization to help you stay calm, the calmer you are the less pain you feel)
4. Compile a supportive team... find a doctor or midwife that supports unmedicated birth, hire a doula and have your partner (or whatever support person) read the birth partner
5. Look into ways to aid in a natural birth (ex. Labour at home as much as possible, move and change positions frequently, do not induce labour unless absolutely necessary, allow for your waters to break naturally, ensure baby is in optimal positioning- see spinning babies website, push at your own pace, without holding your breath or counting, find a provider who does not rush labour, do not stretch perineum- slow pushing and apply warm compresses)
6. Lastly remember that birth is a natural process and your body and your baby have amazing instincts in which they know exactly how to birth.. you just need to not hinder the process. 
Wish you all of the best!!

Answer

There's so many horrible things that can go wrong with epidurals. The bugs one is causing fetal distress and upping you to a 70-80% of a c section. Don't listen to to what everyone else says smh. I've had SIX KIDS and not once ever had an epidural. All my babies have been born naturally. I'm pregnant with baby seven and he's going to born naturally also.

Answer

Let me tell ya I'm 31 weeks pregnant and NO ONE except for MYSELF believes I can do it naturally. I have a mind set that I'm doing it naturally and no one is gonna stop me (unless for medical reasons) They just laugh and say good luck with that one. Well I'm just gonna prove them wrong and they will feel bad afterwards for not believing in Me. Having a natural birth is totally up to you and if YOU believe you can do it then you CAN do it. Don't let others tell you what you can and can't do. I've learned that. And I'm soooooo ready to have my baby boy so I can show people I'm a lot stronger than they think.

Answer

People did this same thing to me. It honestly just gave me even more drive to want to do it and prove them wrong. I remembered them when I had my all natural labor. You can do it. Women have been doing it for ages!

Answer

There's nothing wrong with wanting a natural labor. I fought for a super long 76 hours without medication at home with a midwife before I transferred to the hospital at 6cm. An epidural for me was the best thing I could have done. I had too many triggers going off and I had all of this random fear slowing things down for me. A lot of different things can effect the speed of labor. And my son was sunny side up. Even though the doctors at the hospital told me I had a failed home birth, it was still a success to me because I had a vaginal delivery and my baby was healthy! And when I transferred for my epidural I got like 5/6 hours of magical sleep that I wouldn't have gotten if I stayed home and fought longer to give birth at home. 
If you have a team of care providers that you trust to make the best decisions on your behalf when you are in the fog of laborland who will know if you really actually need an epidural or if there's an actual legitimate reason for a cesarean birth you'll be able to feel better about their decisions and more peace afterwards. Birth can be very traumatizing and difficult to process. 
All I'm saying is, that even though I had an epidural, I absolutely know I could give birth naturally. And I'm going to try again with my second baby. Sometimes you'll be the first person in your family to do something, but that doesn't mean it's impossible. 😊

Answer

Go in with an open mind, healthy baby is best plan. I planned for natural. Read the books and did my research, I was prepared. Then I had back labor and it was awful, I got the epidural and I'm glad I did. My plan was healthy baby, I was hoping for a vaginal delivery and my little one was in distress and I ended up with a csection, had I waited longer for a csection my LO wouldn't be here today. Just go in with open mind. U don't get a medal for not having an epidural or not. Do what's best for you. :)

Answer

I'm having a home birth partially for this reason. The doctor wouldn't even listen to my birth plan. My midwives on the other hand are extremely supportive and do mostly natural births. the only offer nitrous gas in the birth center so that's not even an option for me. It makes me feel more at ease that I won't have some asshole nurse trying to force an epidural on me because she doesn't wanna deal with my other methods of pain management like moving around and staying out  of bed and upright and never laying on my back.

Answer

if you can do it you're amazing! personally at 5 cm i couldn't do it anymore and got the epidural

Answer

People did the same for me, they said wait until you feel that pain then youll cave in and get it! I had the most amazing natural home birth. I felt so empowered afterwards, even to this day I wonder how I did it. I tell a lot of women make sure they are not giving you pitocin because it makes the contractions 100x worse and you'll more opt to get the epi because of that, coupled with the fact that the nurses come in every second to ask if you want it. That's why I chose a home birth, I knew I didn't have the access to everything so it made it much easier!

Answer

I opted for an epidural with my first 2 and I will again for this one (due 7/31) but that's because I'm a huge punk lol. I admire women who can go natural, my sister did it with both kids and I always call her a warrior. I don't knock women either way it's your choice. Do what you feel works for you and don't let others discourage you. Good luck!

Epidural or no??

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