Considering no epidural..?

Question

I’m due next month with my first and I’m considering going without an epidural. I’m a little scared of it and always thought in the past (even during this pregnancy up until recently) that I’d hands down want an epidural. But lately I’ve been thinking that maybe I don’t because maybe I do want to feel everything and have that experience with my baby. I guess maybe I should just go at this with an open mind and keep the option open in my head if labor is getting too painful. I’d say I have an average to maybe high pain tolerance. I know piercings and tattoos will have nothing on birth but I’ve done great with those in the past. I just have a strong feeling that I’m going to tear, how bad is the pain with that, and is it instant pain or does it drag on?
What were your reasons why you chose to or not to have an epidural? Have you had experience with birth making the opposite choice and what would you do next time?

Answer

I didn’t have an epidural for my first and I don’t think I’m going to have one for my second either. The pain was like very extreme..I’ve never felt anything like it before but it was worth it. “You don’t get a trophy for going unmedicated” - true but it’s not about trophies and whose birth was “better” - it’s what you want to experience that day. It’s all up to you!

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I started out this way but the pain was just to unbearable, and ended up getting a epidural then I felt fantastic other than having the shakes. If you can go without kudos to you you’re strong lol.

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*Picture is my explanation of how contractions are, explained in the ending paragraph!* 
I want to preface by saying that I have a medium/high pain tolerance and that it was more mentally hard than physically painful - but I won’t lie, it hurts!
I did end up getting the epidural! But I was the same in wanting an epidural from the beginning, to wanting to try and go natural. You don’t need to make the choice! Go in with an open mind and no expectations of yourself. To me, labour and birth is the most beautiful but also hardest thing you will ever go through. Expectations shouldn’t be made for such an exciting day. 
My birth experience with an epidural was so calm, I was able to enjoy the last few hours of just my husband and I and got to sleep, read books, watch movies. As soon as the epidural kicked in, it was like a flip switched from pain to absolutely nothing! The only thing I didn’t like was that I was unable to walk and move around because your legs are essentially numb. It was so surreal to me because when people would say it was painless, I thought they were sugar coating. I literally felt NOTHING!! I don’t regret getting the epidural whatsoever. The epidural seems scary but it’s honestly painless. They do put a tiny needle to numb the area before putting in the actual epidural and that’s really the most you’d feel… to me, getting the IV in the hand hurt worse! But you really don’t notice the pain compared to your contractions. Small and quick price to pay for a painless experience. 
As a first time mom I was so nervous for labour! I was scared about the contractions because I hated that I didn’t know what to expect going into it. My midwife gave me a great example of how it works! I liked knowing what it would be like so I love sharing this with others. 
I had contractions every 3 minutes, lasting 1 minute. So, every 3 minutes a contraction will start. If my contractions are lasting a minute, the pain starts to build up slowly until the 30 second mark. That 30 second mark is the PEAK of pain you will be in. After 30 seconds, the pain starts to subside for the final 30 seconds until it’s over and you get a break between your contractions. So the first 30 seconds are “holy shit, it’s starting, shit that hurts,” to “ok it’s going away, holy shit, ok it’s gone.” Then you have 3 minutes until the build up, the peak, and the let down. So the first thirty seconds are the worst you’ll endure. That’s where it’s mentally tough! In the moment it’s like WOW this hurts but after I got the epidural I was like damn, it really wasn’t that bad. My husband looked at me like I had twenty heads 😂 
Hope this helps! Congrats mama! ❤️ Any questions, feel free to ask x

Answer

I had to be induced, and labored for about 2 days. If you have to be put on pitocin for any reason, I would say it is going to be near impossible to go without an epidural. I did however ask for a walking epidural so I could control the dose and frequency and was not totally paralyzed. I still definitely felt my child born and was able to labor in different positions (squatting, all fours etc). My boy ended up being just shy of 11 lb and failed to descend under my pubic bone and came very close to an emergency c section but I was able to push through and deliver vaginally because I was aware of the emergency c section risks when baby has already started making its way down the birth canal. I tore significantly and can confidently say the tearing was absolutely nothing compared to the pressure. I had so much pressure I had significant rectal prolapse and hemorrhaged significantly and had to stay an extra few days in hospital. 
You don’t get a trophy for an unmedicated birth. I would say go into it with an open mind and realize that at any point, you can choose to get an epidural without an ounce of shame or feeling like you “gave up” etc. even with my epidural I was still able to be very present for my birth and lord knows I was still feeling pain lol, it just took the edge off

Answer

I havr had 2 kids with no pain meds. Didn't plan on using them mostly because I have a very high pain tolerance but figured I'd assess as it went and could ask for one if needed. Thankfully I sidnt think it really hurt at all because my labors both progressed so fast an epidural was not possible anyways as by the time I was at the hospital I was 10 cm both times. But again for me personally non of labor or delivery really hurt. Uncomfortable would be my description but for me I've had stubbed toes hurt more than childbirth but again thats me. Had the pain been horrible and I had the option would have because why suffer to make a point. Personally just haven't needed them and not planning on it with baby 3 that I'm currently pregnant with unless this labor is drastically worse somehow.

Answer

I didn’t want an epidural at first because I have a very high pain tolerance and thought I could go without it. Then ended up getting one at 6cm because I couldn’t sleep, it effected my blood pressure badly so they decided to turn it off so I ended up giving birth without it anyway. It really sucked but I made it though, and didn’t tear at all which I believe is because I knew when all the contractions were and when to push. 
I’d definitely just go in with an open mind, if you end up not needing it great. If you end up needing it, nothing wrong with that either!

Answer

Make sure you let your doctor know you want it as an option on your birth plan so they are aware . You can still try to go unmedicated but if you do end up wanting it they are going to have to know before you go into labor so it can be ready . If you don’t let them know in advance they may not have an anesthesiologist around to give you one depending on the volume of people they are dealing with

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Have fun I never screamed more in my life, it hurt so bad the head burns but the shoulders are sharp stabbing pain that doesn’t stop then it goes good after you get the shoulders out….

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I had an epidural with my first. So with my second I wanted the epidural however, he came so fast  and a month early and I didn’t have time. I barely made it to the hospital. I begged for some sort of relief but everything happened so fast. I didn’t want to push I was in so much pain, they couldn’t get an IV in me. They finally told me he probably pooped inside me and that’s the only reason I got him out. Turns out he didn’t but I think they said that to make me push. They couldn’t monitor him or anything unless he was out. He was less than 5lbs and I still to this day wish I made it on time for an epidural. Kudos to those that do it on purpose.

Considering no epidural..?

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