Natural or Epidural? 🧐

Question

Idk if I should go Natural or Epidural what do you all think or what’s you alls experience??

Answer

No matter what you choose don't feel ashamed. My first my water broke but my body wasn't laboring on its own so they had to induce me. I was scared and chose to get an epidural because I had heard horror stories about the pain from pitocin. Honestly, you can start out wanting to go natural and then decide to have an epidural if it becomes too much. It is all up to you mama, all that matters is getting you and baby through it safely❤

Answer

I prefer natural based on the recovery time I had versus epidural. Maybe start with natural then if you need the epi go for it. What works for some, doesn't work for others.

Answer

I had a dear friend of mine go all natural. She was induced because her baby had a genetic disorder that was 100% fatal outside of the womb and could either get a late term abortion, carry to term with risk of miscarrying, or be induced to spend a few moments with her baby before she inevitably passed away. I watched her do it all natural. Granted her baby was 2.5 pounds, it’s given me a SPARK that is something I so desperately want to try. I have a high pain tolerance and have been reading Ina Mays Guide To Childbirth and it is EMPOWERING as all get out!  I feel I have an appropriate mindset and mental and physical capacity to do so and I’m dying to know what labor & birth feels like - to the fullest! Praying I don’t need to be induced because that will certainly make contractions much more painful. 
At the same time, I know I have NOTHING to prove and if I end up changing my mind and getting an epidural I will not be disappointed in myself. And if I end up having to have a c section that will be ok too!
Natural or epidural, wouldn’t make me any less of a mom to my baby boy 💙 I’m excited to see what my birth story will bring!!

Answer

I have had one of each. Natural was not planned, my daughter just came too fast. With my son I was induced and said from the time I found out I was pregnant that I wanted an epidural. This time around I am on the fence. My labor and delivery with my daughter was obviously extremely painful and exhausting but the second she was out, there is nothing to explain it except pure euphoria. Plus it was wonderful being able to get up and walk around sooner. I feel like I healed better and was overall just happier with the aftermath. I have bad lower back pain and headaches from my epidural and my doctor did a phenomenal job with placement and it worked perfectly, just healing from it stunk. Best advice is to listen to your body and if it’s too much, don’t be too proud to just go ahead and get the epidural. But you CAN do it without it and you’ll feel like a superhero if you do❤️

Answer

Natural allows you to have much more movement and freedom in birth. Your body was made for it! I personally am having a natural birth but if you think that having an epidural is gonna be a mind easer- then do it! There are definitely pros and cons on both. It’s all up to what YOU want in your labor

Answer

I’ve had 2natural births. Natural gives you the ability to use gravity to guide your baby down. I was able to walk, stand, squat, etc..
But whatever you choose is up to you.

Answer

For me, I am going to go as far as I can without pain medicine, but I am also going in with an open mind, especially since I will be induced. I am giving birth at a birthing center attached to a hospital, so they try to encourage as little intervention as possible, but will support you with whatever you ask for. They encourage you to try the birthing tub, nitrous oxide or IV meds before going to an epidural.

Answer

FTM so cant speak from experience but going in with the mindset that I want to try to go natural but am totally okay with allowing myself to get epidural if I feel I need it.   Really my decision is based off the fact that I want to be able to move around as long as possible and the idea of having half my body numb actually gives me a lot of anxiety.  I’ve always had a high pain tolerance so would like to think that I can do it but I’ve also never tried to push a baby out.

Answer

I think there are pros and cons to both! I think your deciding factor should be your pain tolerance and/or your preparation for labor pain. I personally am so terrified of needles that I’ve been preparing and planning a home birth 😂 I’m a BIG baby when it comes to pain, I have 0 pain tolerance so I’ve worked really hard to mentally prepare for whats to come. With my first baby I was emergency induced and had an epidural and I was able to sleep before I had push out baby so I had lots of energy for that.. If I wasn’t so scared of needles I’d probably get an epidural for ALL my births 😂 but I rather do all natural then get a little poke from an IV or cave into a giant needle in my back 😂 whatever you choose I hope it goes smoothly and just know it’s going to be hard work either way!

Answer

Have a goal but be open to adjusting it as labor progresses.  I was hoping to avoid an epidural as well but when you labor for 40 and 36 hours - I just couldn’t take it after about 30 hours.   If I knew I’d be done relatively quickly I think I could make it but laboring that long and having some intense back labor - there’s no way.  There’s no prize for having the most difficult natural labor; nor is one method superior to another.  There are other pain management methods as well.  You can start with those and work your way up to an epidural if needed.

Natural or Epidural? 🧐

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