Epidural or no???

Question

Okay I’m needing a little bit of encouragement or any advice from you all! I’ve decided not to have an epidural for many different reasons, however, I’m getting extremely annoyed with everyone making comments about not being able to do it and how I’ll regret it (including my MIL😒) I’m not oblivious to the fact that it will be painful, but any advice tips or even stories about going through labor without an epidural would be much appreciated!

Answer

Labor pain is different from the pain of a broken leg. I knew the labor pain was my body doing what it was supposed to do, and that there was a very definite end to all of it. Plus, you get breaks between contractions so you can catch your breath. 
Read Ina May’s guide to childbirth! I found a lot of the visualizations helped me a lot, and ultimately I loved the whole experience of having my son unmedicated. I’m planning the same for my next child. 
Our bodies were made to do this! Trust yourself

Answer

I have 4 children. 2 home births, 1 unmedicated hospital birth, 1 epidural hospital birth. 
In a million years I would not opt for an epidural again. I HATED it. It felt disgusting and disconnected. I far prefer unmedicated birth. It’s not even remotely close. 
I’ve had a hard fast labor at 2.5 hours of active labor all the way to 44 hours unmedicated. It’s so much better. Recovery is soooo much better. Being involved in the birth is better. 
Just tell them to kindly piss off. You don’t need that. You’ve made your choice and don’t need their negativity. Women give birth unmedicated every day. You can do it.

Answer

I wanted to go natural with my first, but due to him being transverse my labor lasted 29 hours. I did get an epidural at 24 hours because I was exhausted. I hated it, I admit that it was necessary I don't think I would have lasted much longer I fell asleep immediately after they gave it to me and slept for five hours woke up to the nurse telling me it was time to push but I couldn't stand how it made me feel. My second I had naturally. It was hard and at times I doubted myself but the feeling afterwards was beyond words. It is worth it. Medical intervention is necessary sometimes and I don't blame girls that choose to go that route, labor is hard, but if you can go without you will not regret it. Don't let anyone decide for you. You know what you're capable of.

Answer

I went natural with my first. I didn’t tell anyone but my hubby about my plan cause I’d rather not hear unwanted opinions. The nurse showed us a massage that my husband would do whenever I would get a contraction. I would stand up and bend over putting my hands on the bed and he would use his fists and massage my lower back. It really really helped!!

Answer

Urgh, people and their opinions. I’m pregnant with my first so no stories but I’m also planning a low-intervention birth. Haven’t had many  people comment on that, other than to warn me not to get my hopes up, but when I say I want to cloth nappy everyone just scoffs and says we’ll give up and shouldn’t bother. Winds me right up.

Answer

I am pregnant with my 3rd. My 1st was natural, 2nd was planned natural but ended up getting an epidural, this one I am planning natural again.  I can tell you with my 1st it was really hard but as soon as that baby comes out you forget all about the hours of pain you just went through, at least it was that way for me. 
My 2nd I ended up needed an epidural because at only 3 cm my contractions kind of overlapped so I had no break from the pain, it was constant. If I had the rest in between I needed or if I was almost ready to push maybe I could have gone without but that wasn’t the case. 
Natural is great! But don’t feel like because you decide natural that you can’t use something if things get bad. 
And don’t worry about other people. Now is all about you and that baby. You do whatever you feel you should do.

Answer

Don't let others sway you from what you want to do. If you want an epidural...get one. However, don't let the fact that others weren't strong willed enough to endure without it change your mind for you. Do what is right for you and your baby. No one is pushing a baby out but you. Good luck!

Answer

I planned I'm not getting an epidural, but ended up getting one. I had been in labor over 30 hours and was tired. To this day, I believe that if I have gotten the epidural, I would have ended up with a C-section. And for me personally, an epidural was way more preferrable than a C-section. 
I'm pregnant again and if labor progresses well, I am planning on not getting the epidural. I think I can handle the pain, I just couldn't run the marathon of birth! :)
My recommendation is this: be flexible. If you end up needing an epidural, it will be ok. Your birth will still be special and amazing.  It's great to plan on a drug free birth and I bet you can do it!! Just don't beat yourself up if your plan has to change

Answer

I’m doing an all natural water birth at home water birth helps with 75% of the pain I do not like needles nor hospitals and although it is pricey to do it at home I felt like it would be more comfortable and I didn’t want to do an epidural even if I went to the hospital you could ask for nitrous oxide also known as laughing gas they do like to push epidurals or C-sections when you’re at the hospital so for the health of you and your baby I would do all natural ! Back in the day women didn’t have the luxury of pain pills epidurals or even c-section so the pain you will experience is all beneficial I’ve learned that when giving vaginal birth naturally it helps the babies lung suppress to avoid Whooping cough and all the natural gunk like baby cheese that covers the baby is good for there skin to keep from infection . Call a birthing center and ask to speak to a midwife even if your not going to be going there and find out all the natural benefits also there are things u can do for pain just like your period u would get in a shower or bath to help with pain or a yoga ball helps with contractions as well !

Answer

I have been dealing with SO MUCH of this from my sister in laws. You are a powerful lady and your body was designed for this! Be confident. Trust yourself. And remember, if they give you an epidural a big fucking needle will be shoved into your back and they give you a catheter. You're also more likely to tear. So more pain later. That's how I'm psyching myself into not getting one 😂 But really I highly recommend doing an in person or online hypnobirth class or book. I feel so much more confident now. Also, I am going to be relaxing into each contraction. It not only helps the contractions be more effective, it psychologically gets you in the right place to handle your labor pain. I believe in you! Remember all of the negativity so that you can prove them wrong. Also don't let them give you PITOCIN unless it is a medical emergency, it will make your labor 100000x more painful

Epidural or no???

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