Mama's who have done both, which did you prefer?

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My first, I got the epidural. Absolutely horrible experience. I couldn’t feel my contractions, wasn’t pushing right which resulted in an hour + of pushing, one leg being numb for two days after and not being able to get up to do anything. 
My second, I declined the epidural. It was a lot of pain for about 20 mins after they broke my water but it was gone as soon as she came out. It only took 2 mins of pushing, and I was sitting up in bed an hour later eating my chicken caesar salad and felt amazing. 😂 I felt a lot more in control without the epidural. 
I’m currently pregnant with my third and hoping to do a water birth or no epidural, with no induction this time.

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Epidural for the first. Recovery was awful and I pushed for 1.5 hours. No epidural for the second. I felt so much more in control and only pushed twice. Recovery was so much better.

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I guess technically I had an epidural both times but the 2nd birth it didn't have time to take...she came too fast lol. With my 3rd I will not be getting an epidural. 
My first he stalled out a few times and had distress and all sorts of issues. Almost ended up with a c-section 3 times. Couldn't move around without extensive help etc.  It was nice being able to move some with my daughters birth and actually pushing her out didn't seem as bad as the contractions leading up to it.

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My first was an emergency cesarean, second was a vbac.
I had the epidural as a just in case measure.
I loved it!!! I also laboured very quickly though and went from 5-10 cm in two hours. 
The epidural gave me time to relax (and eat my full hospital meal) while baby moved down the birth canal before I pushed.
You can even ask for it to be turned down then so you can feel more.
I have zero regrets 😂😂
I was up and walking as soon as the catheter was removed. My only complaint is that the nurse who looked after me post partem didn’t want to remove it until 12 hours post birth. I got that reduced to 9. 😉
We left hospital 24 hours after birth

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First was epidural. It was pain free but recovery was hell. Second was a home birth I felt everything and I was in control of what I could do (walk around, birthing position, etc). I’d do no epidural again for this one. Also I gave birth standing up. Which I want to do again. Can’t do that with an epidural. Recovery was about a week with no epidural.

Mama's who have done both, which did you prefer?

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