Gave birth without epidural? Tell me your story.

Question

I would like to avoid being tied to the bed while giving birth, but going drug free also sounds intimidating. I would appreciate any of you mammas who would like to share your story. Did you use opiates? Or breathing techniques? Water birth? What helped you? What would you recommend?

Answer

I had an epidural with my first. With my second it did not work and I ended up going natural. I almost passed out from the pain and fully plan on getting one with this one now. The natural birth experience was not one that I cherished, or wish to endure ever again. but, that's just me.

Answer

I went without the epi but I was still not allowed to leave my bed due to my magnesium drip. The midwives still helped me move into different positions to help labor along and ease contractions though. I honestly feel like a lot of people were trying to scare me into getting the epi, including the anesthesiologist that my SO basically had to tell to eff off. If you can, I'd reeeeaally recommend having a CNM or doula during labor, idk what I would've done without her!

Answer

i went 24hrs active labor with my first without the epi and my dr made me get it because i was stuck at 4cm. I got it and thank god i did because the pain ny that had me stuck in bed barley able to move. but that birth and labor was extremely hard. my son was face up so i tried pushing for almost 2hrs and my dr finally realized he was face up and stuck in my palvic. finally he turned enough and was low enough that the dr had to manually pull him out with her hands inside of me. extremely hard labor had me terrified for my second baby. My son was 7lb 12.8oz and 21 & a 1/2 inc long. Most beautiful baby i had ever seen.       But Thank God my second labor wasnt nearly as hard. i went in at 6pm to get induced do to my placenta not working properly anymore.. anyway.. by 10pm they started the pitocin the drs gave me the balloon to open my cervics. a few hrs later i felt it come out by my nurse refused to check it. they keep the balloon in for typically 12hrs unless it falls out which mine did but they didnt check it for me. around 7 am i got in the shower to try to relax which i ended up falling asleep for an hr and a half or 2hrs. i got out close to 9am. the new nurse gave me the gas mask. which basically tricks you into focusing on your breathing. i did that for 20-30mins then asked for the epi. i got it at 930. it kicked in around 950. they took the balloon out then i was at 7 1/2 cm. Then.. at 10am a short 12hrs later(from when my contractions were 2mins apart 1min long) i needed to push.. they checked me i went from 7 and a half to 10cm in 10mins. i pushed for about 10mins and my son was born. he was 5lbs 4oz. 18in. long.  i had him at 37wks. I am currently 17wks 3d. with my daughter.... but remember every single labor is different

Answer

Do it or try to do it it's the best experience ever😍 
I started having pains early hours Friday morning every 6-7 mins only little ones but I thought they were so bad to start (they get stronger so much stronger if only i knew then) I wanted to stick it out at home to start off with as I knew there was more chance of me getting an epi if I went into hospital early, the ball was my life saver I spent 24 hours constant on the ball, I still didn't feel as if they contractions were close enough to go into hospital I stuck it through yet another pain enduring night at home, I was in complete agony by 8 am Sunday morning I thought that was time every 4 minutes apart lasting a minute I thought I was due to drop her out of my v any time (how wrong was I) we loaded the car with my hospital bags put her blanket in her Moses basket ready for when we were to come home with our daughter, I got to the hospital at 9.15 they examined me and I was only dilated to 2 cm😓 I broke my little heart they sent us home, I had survived 2 whole nights and 2 whole days now with no sleep no food as I was sick an awful lot and couldn't keep anything down. Plenty of hot baths every 2-4 hours bouncing on the ball and laps up and down my stairs by 6.30am Monday morning I knew it was time now the contractions were still lasting 1 minute  and every 4 minutes on the dot I was absolutely exhausted between each contraction I would have a sip of water and rest my eyes for a short short while, we yet again loaded the car and got everything ready for our princess to come home and headed to the hospital I got there and I was in complete agony I needed some form of pain relief I had my mind set on getting an epidural from the car journey to the hospital I needed some time to chill and maybe rest my eyes I didn't realise labour would be this long and exhausting. They examined me at 9.30 and I was 5cm finally all this pain had paid off, they took me over to the birthing suit and gave me a bottle of gas and air I don't know what it was but  from that moment onwards I had a sudden boost of energy, I was in control of my body I was in a hospital safe with a fully trained midwife my mother and of course my very supportive partner and I was about to do the most amazing thing in the whole entire world I was about to birth an actual human being. I breathed through each and every contraction rocking back and forth on my feet the whole time I couldn't sit down now bare in mind I hadn't ate  in 3 whole days I hadn't had sleep in 3 whole days but I still had the willpower and energy to plow through at 2.30 pm they examined me again I was progressing I was 7cm with bulging waters my whole heart skipped a beat, I knew there was only 3 cm to go and this will all be over with and I will finally get to push and birth my special little princess. I continued to suck on the gas and breath through those contractions, in through the nose out through the mouth focus on the breathing. At 16.45 I felt the need to go number 2 I went to the toilet and obviously nothing came out I was actually fully dilated and ready to birth my daughter, from that moment onwards I hit the wall and started demanding an epidural, a c-section I really needed this pain to go away and wanted this baby out j had a complete meltdown through fear and pain  the midwife and my mother lead me to the bed and as I was about to get onto the bed my waters went gush like from a movie it hit the floor and splashes everywhere (gross I know) I was laid on the bed and I felt the urge to push ( started screaming at my other half telling him it's his fault and he's having the snip) made the midwife laugh anyway😂 after 4 massive pushes and a lot of pain I'm not goin to lie sucking on that gas and my daughter was born she was absolutely perfect that pain went away instantly and I had a instant rush of love at 17.02 on the 6/11/17 my little princess entered the world at 5lb 15oz a tiny little bundle of joy. After 3 days in pain no sleep no food and no time to even have a breather through all the pain I was finally a mammy to such a special little girl who everyone loves so much and I done it all natural with abit of gas an air I only had 2 little grazes aswell. At 21.30 we were discharged from hospital and we spent the night in our home as a family of 3 with no further problems I was able to do everything for my daughter💗 obviously every Brith is different but if medically able I urge you not to go for that epidural even know it will enter your head so many times, you will thank yourself after I hope you have such an magical birth because it surely is a once in a lifetime experience that you will treasure forever 💗💗💗

Answer

I had my daughter without any drugs at all... not even an iv. I labored at home until I was 10cm (I didn’t realize I was so far along). I did a lot of deep breathing and counting through the contractions. the counting helped me to refocus on the fact that the pain won’t last forever and once it begins, it has to end! Toward the end of labor, I took a warm bath and that helped tremendously! I also did a lot of walking around the house and had the tv on for background noise for distraction.

Answer

we had to get a little help with pitocyn, but that was all I used... he was engaged wrong and did not decend. I refused to give up, and if I had gotten an epidural, I know I would not have had the ability to work with my body to push, and would have been sectioned. was able to walk around and use the bathroom within about an hour of delivery. second child they convinced me I needed a section. terrible idea could not even wiggle my toes for 10 hours. healing time is better, and all the hormones flood you after that even if it was crazy.... you can laugh and say like" oh yeah I threw up while pushing" like remembering a crazy dream. hoping for an unmedicated vbac this time!

Answer

I did not have an epidural but did have 2 doses of nuban (sp?) it did take the edge off for a short time but the max doses you can have is 2 and I also couldn’t keep my eyes open on it.  I was thankful I didn’t have an epidural as I am pretty positive it would’ve ended with a CSection if I would’ve had it.

Answer

Following

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I had my daughter without any drugs at all. I was able to find positions that made the contractions more bearable. just went I hit my breaking point, I was about to ask for an epidural, my midwife told me I was 10cm. You can learn techniques ahead of time that help immensely!

Answer

I did not have an epidural.  I found sitting on a birthing ball leaning forward helped. also my husband would push on my lower back during contractions. basically pushing against them.

Gave birth without epidural? Tell me your story.

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