epidural or natural?

Question

So I don't know if i want to do an epidural or not. Everyone keeps scaring me and saying so much could go wrong and its really risky. I don't want anything to happen while I'm in labor and I'm pretty anxious. Does anyone have more than one kid and has done both natural and epidural? Any thoughts?

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I honestly don't think Drs would do them so often or give women such free decision making on them if they were so risky. It would be something they saved for necessary times when medical professionals could weigh the risks and benefits of using it if it were so risky.

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I went in with an open mind and said if I felt like I needed one I would get one. Well I was stuck at 4 cm and hadn’t slept so at 3 am I decided it wasn’t going fast enough and I would just do it. My husband told me the needle was huge but I didn’t see it and the instant relief was awesome. The reason I had an open mind was because my mom had super quick labors (6 hours, 30 mins, and 4 hours). Mine was around 24 hours so I was good with doing it since things moved so slowly. I give women who have done it without an epidural credit, it was too painful for me.

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I loved my unmedicated birth. It was intense and amazing and the endorphin high when the baby is born was awesome

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Ive had 4 kids. Im gonna tell you everything i experienced with all 4 labours, get a coffee and get comfortable it will take a while. My first baby i was just 16, terrified of labour had no idea what was gonna happen. My labour lasted 17 hours and the last 5 were the worst. I got pethidine shot, gas and requested a epidural. Pethidine made me spaced out, gas was a good distraction and epidural didnt work. It didn't hurt, but it didnt work either. I soon began pushing and everyone said it was too late anyway and i ended up going relatively natural.

Next baby, I got to hospital 7cm dilated and had a hot shower. The gas made me nauseous and i did request an epidural but the guy who does them was in surgery. By the time he was ready i had already given birth, naturally. Wasnt bad at all. Pushed for 5 minutes. No tears.

Next baby, I was induced with pitocin and had my waters broken. She was very overdue. The labour was HORRIFIC. I begged for everything.  I had a pethidine shot, again, made me like i was sooo drugged out of my brain i can barely remember a thing. I had the gas, was awesome and i requested an epidural. The guy came, hit a nerve, i jumped off the bed with a needle in my back and ended up with temporary tingling and pain down left side of my body. I told him to fuck off mid contraction, because he had no idea where to put the needle in and i wasnt in the mood for it. I gave birth, baby had a shoulder dystocia and it was traumatic as hell. Had pains in my left leg for about 8 weeks. Vowed i would never get an epidural again

My last baby, i was induced with Cervidil. Was good, it just put me into regular labour. My cervix wasnt opening so nobody believed it was true labour until i went from 0cm to 10cm in 55 minutes and her head popped out.  I had 1 5mg endone and delivered her naturally, her father missed the birth.  Personally,  Id go natural ANYDAY over an epidural. I had experiences unlike a lot of women. Natural childbirth DOES SUCK i wont lie. You will want that epidural, you will want to be knocked out, you will want to get that baby and pull him out yourself. However, the pain is temporary, there are other forms of pain relief, and if you feel the need to get an epi dont let my horror story deter you. It is really the most amazing thing in the world (childbirth) and it doesnt matter what you need to get the baby out, whether thats natural, epi, c section, the goal at the end of the day is a healthy mum and baby. Good luck xoxox

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There are so many alternatives to an epidural that don't increase the risks as significantly and don't involve a CATHETER IN YOUR SPINE...ask your hospital about pain management options

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Both births natural, epidural has never been something I’ve wanted. First one I had gas and air, second I had nothing at all.
It’s each to their own, go in with an open mind and see how you get on

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I had an epidural with my first but not with my second. With the epidural, it didn’t really work because I was having a lot of pelvic pressure that was still unbearable and it also caused my right leg to go numb so my husband had to hold it up while I was pushing 🙈 Because of that, I had to have a catheter briefly after she was born and use a bedpan for several hours which I wasn’t happy with. 
I know this is not a typical experience but it felt pointless. With my unmedicated birth I was lucky to have a quick labor and only pushed 3-4 times. The crowning was like no pain I had ever experienced and I definitely screamed him out 😂 but afterwards I felt AMAZING and my recovery was so smooth. 
TBH I haven’t decided yet what I’ll do with my third - I think it really depends on the Mama and the moment- my philosophy with labor is always just to stay calm and if that means trying an epidural I would of course consider it again. Trust your instincts and be flexible with your expectations. There’s no trophy at the end either way 😉 (except a beautiful baby of course!)

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I’ve done both.... and would definitely plan a pain med free birth again... however I will say do your research and get informed on breathing labor positions different pain meds offered etc...

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I'm a firm believer in following your own instincts and doing what is right for your body and your mental health when it comes to this topic.
That being said, I have had 3 children and gotten the epidural each time. I will be opting for the epidural for this birth to. This is what works for my body and my peace of mind.
My first birth was 21 hours of labor. I went into labor naturally, waited as long as I could stand to get the epidural. The relief let me relax and rest before pushing. However, when I started pushing I suddenly had all of the pain back and I got very tense again, so pushing ended up taking longer. I had a very minor tearing, which I felt and felt the 2 stitches I needed. After baby was cleaned up, we discovered that the epidural had actually come out of my spine and all of the meds had been dumped on the bed. I had terrible spinal headaches and do not remember the following day or the visitors that came. We found out months later that the reason this happened is because of an anomaly with my spine that had cause the anesthesiologist to place it too high. It's extremely rare to have this happen for any reason. So, armed with that new knowledge and after lengthy discussion I was confident in my decision to opt for the epidural for my second and third births.
With both of my following births I was induced due to high blood pressure and opted for the epidural very early. I was able to sleep for most of my labors, but they were very short and peaceful labors. The second was 4.5 hours and the third was 4 hours from first contraction to holding baby. I didn't have any ill effects from the epidural for either of those births.
That's my story and what works for me. You are the only one that knows what will be best for you. Go with what your body is telling you!

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It hurts like a bitch when I get needles put in my arm at the doctors and birth is gonna hurt so much worse so better believe I'm getting an epidural

epidural or natural?

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