Anyone planning on not having an epidural?

Question

Have you done anything to prepare yourself?
How are you going to keep yourself in that mind frame at the height of labour?
What are you most worried about?
What coping techniques/alternative pain remedies do you plan on using instead?
.....
I haven't really done much to prepare myself, I'm going to a birth centre instead of hospital ward where they don't do epidurals, but will transfer me upstairs if I start begging for one. Really trying to avoid it.
I plan on using water but I don't know how much it'll do.
I'm most worried about having an overwhelming urge to push before I'm fully dilated and the baby getting stuck. Or I read some people say they're bodies pushed involuntarily and so they tore worse

Answer

🙋🏼‍♀️ I had a homebirth with my first (so obviously no interventions, no meds, no epidural) and the best thing you can do, is let your body do its thing, breath through the contractions, take each contraction as it comes, don’t focus on future surges. Get comfortable, if you feel the need to stand during one contraction, and sit during the next, do it. Don’t lay flat on your back (or stay in a position that’s feels awful for you) the whole time, some people like to sway back and forth, some like to lean on a birthing ball or simply sit on it. Sometimes simply sitting on the toilet can be most comfortable 🤷🏼‍♀️ But I can’t stress it enough, BREATH, don’t tense up, even if you have to moan and make noise, do it. Focus on your breathes, and how you’re breathing. Don’t do the quick shallow breathes, take deep slower breathes, maybe have your husband breathe with you. And once it’s time to push, your body will know, it does kinda push on its own, it’s better to breath the baby out, don’t hold your breathe or strain yourself. Let your body do its thing, help it by breathing which also provides oxygen to you and baby, oxygen is very important. Get in the bet position that feels best to you, don’t force pushes if your body relaxes and takes a break. I did all of the above^^ and had my baby girl in less than an hour (from when my body started pushing) and had no tearing, no hemorrhoids, also the pushing was the easier part of labor. Also something you can do before you go in the labor, is perineal massages, look it up, and do it everyday til you give birth. I did that, and I think that also helped me not tear, (I also didn’t really have the “ring of fire” due to no tearing, so that really made a difference and gave me a good experience 🙌🏼) I’m preparing my mind and body now for this next homebirth and labor, there are so many things you can and should do to mentally and physically get into the right mindset for labor, especially if you plan on a natural labor. I suggest looking up gentlebirth and hypnobirthing on YouTube.

Answer

Look up hypnobirthing videos. Also, I would strongly recommend taking a birthing class or getting a doula to help you. My husband and I have learned a ton of techniques to help with the pain through classes, but I’m still going to have a doula there to help me.

Answer

I had my first naturally and will do the same this time around too. I used water (the bath) and gas and air. This time I hope to use a birth pool. Tens machine are also a useful distraction, I found deep pressure on my lower back from hubby very relieving.
Women have been giving birth without intervention for thousands of years - your body is designed to do this with no help at all. 
Look up Hypno birthing. The key is to go with your body, not fight against it. If your body is pushing the baby out, then it is time. Try to get into your own zone, block out distraction, breathe through the surges and relax your muscles and jaw. If you tense, you are working against your body and more likely to feel pain. 
Tearing may happen but if you get into a good position while the baby is coming out then you can reduce this and use warm compresses around the perineum.
Good luck! You've got this!

Answer

I am not planning on getting one. I didn’t with my first but baby got stuck in my pelvis at 10cm and I had to have a csection. For me, water was the only thing that helped. I stood in the shower for HOURS. I also practiced breathing. The best thing to do is mentally prepare. Know that the contractions are helping bring you closer to baby (don’t tense up during them or fight them!).

Answer

I didn’t have any pain medication with my first, but I had a pretty fast labor and delivery. I just kept focusing on a song lyric or verse for the contraction and reminded myself that it would end. You get a break between the pain and that the pain isn’t permanent.

Answer

Not planning on using one. I am planning on using gas.
I intend to remember that epidurals often stalls labor, which leads to pitocin which is more painful and then often leads to increased risk of c section (which will permanently increase risk of several bad things for my baby, not to mention future pregnancy complications in me) . Even if you give birth vaginally, you’re more likely to tear from being on your back.
I’m pretty convinced that no amount of temporary pain is going to make me forget all the bad things that come with an epidural. I’ll be going au natural+nitrous oxide. Walking, showering, bouncing on a ball, using the labor tub, massages from my husband, etc.

Answer

Water birth is my goal. So warm water, movement and some researched breathing techniques etc for me. Having gas on standby if needed. Got stress ball, music, fit ball, visualisation. Don't want an epidural 🙅‍♀️

Answer

I'm not planning on getting epidural only cause I feel like if I go numb and can't feel I'll get paranoid. 😂 Didn't get epidural for my first either. This time I'm planning on having a playlist or at least some shows to watch

Answer

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Anyone planning on not having an epidural?

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