Epidural or no epidural?

Question

Please share your stories/thoughts! 🙏🏼❤️

Answer

My first birth was with no epidural and for me personally it was horrible! My second and third I opted for the epidural early on and had wonderful experiences! It's completely a personal preference but the epidural didn't hurt anywhere near as much as the contractions and it allowed me to relax and really enjoy the process with a completely clear mind! Recovery was also 10x easier after epidural.. I pushed for around 5 minutes with all 3 births but only needed stitches with my first birth (no epidural)!

Answer

This is definitely a choice that needs to feel right to you. I would definitely recommend watching The Business of Being born, I found that pretty insightful and empowering. I had an unmedicated water birth for my daughter and it was honestly a pretty awesome experience. I wanted to feel in control of my birth. But honestly everyone's pain tolerance is different so there is honestly no way of knowing what it will be like for you until you get into it. Good luck mama, whatever you choose will be the right choice 💕

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be sure to fully research the listed potential side effects of you do decide to! @justtheinserts on instagram has a great post about it! i’ve don’t unmedicated birth and genuinely loved feeling fully in control and aware throughout labor!

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I wasn’t planning on it for my first, but I didn’t have a choice [my waters had broken but not really and the ob didn’t notice, so dilation didn’t progress bc baby couldn’t get down 😭]. By the time they figured out what was going on I’d been in labor with 3-5 minute contractions for over 24 hours.  They gave me fentanyl, and then an epidural and pitocin. The epidural wasn’t perfect so I ended up with excruciating nerve like pain in one of my hips with every contraction. Baby was born ~7 hours after the epidural was administered. Not trying to do that again, so going midwife + home birth for my second, and obvs no epidural.

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I dont plan on it. I panicked with my spinal for my c-section due to prior trauma so im hoping I can manage without it personally

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My best advice is you’ll know what’s best for you when the time comes!

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The epidural was a lifesaver for me

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I had an epidural with my first. I was induced and the contractions were terrible due to the pitocin. The epidural allowed me to sleep until I was ready to push which was great and it did not slow down my progression.

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Two labors no medication. 
First quick 9 hour labor that I would do over and over again 
Second 20+ hour labor with Pitocin. I regret not getting the epidural. It made labor so traumatic because I was in so much pain for so long and so out of control. 
My rule of thumb is if I ask for it more then 5 times you really want it. But have a good conversation with your doctor. I ended up not getting one because they side effects scare me.

Answer

None! 
My first I was in early labor overnight after my water had broken. They started pitocin and by the time I wanted pain relief it was time to push. 
My third I was in labor for 15 hours and not progressing. They started pitocin. After 23.5 hours he was born. Honestly the hunger was worse than the pain. I was hangry and it made me miserable. 
My aunt needed a blood patch. My friend has some serious back issues. My mom had an allergic reaction. For me it was too many risks. The pain is temporary. Your body is made to give birth. I went in with the mindset of if I needed pain relief the option was there, but I didn’t need it.

Epidural or no epidural?

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