Natural or epidural? Advice?

Question

I'm a FTM getting closer to my due date and I've been trying to decide whether or not I want to try and have a natural birth...I have 2 close friends that gave birth naturally recently and I work with a lady that had 3 natural births. I'm just nervous and kinda on the fence about it. I don't want to have complications or be groggy and too numb from the epidural or other drugs (plus that needle is huuuge!) but I've never experienced contractions either. I feel like I have a fairly high pain tolerance but I just don't know! Would anyone that's had babies before like to share your experience? How bad does it really hurt going natural? Or did you feel ok and have no problems getting an epidural? Thanks!

Answer

I had the epidural with my first two daughters and I will have one with this baby too. The contractions were way too painful for me and I have a high pain tolerance. I never looked at the needle so Idk how big it is. All I know is that it doesn't affect the baby and not feeling any pain is a plus! That's my opinion/story. 😊

Answer

I have had two babies....no epidural...one was 8pounds 7 ounces and one was 8 pounds 13 ounces. I refuse to have a needle in my spine....freaks me out...and I don't do well with pain meds...I prefer to maintain control of my body. Now, I have a high pain tolerance and my labors progressed quickly....so I would honestly say go in determined not to have one, but don't beat yourself up if you decide to get one. I like being able to be up and moving right after labor...and I really didn't think my labor was that bad. However, had I not progressed quickly, Idk if I would feel the same.

Answer

I was induced so the Pitocin made my contractions so much worse than anything I could ever imagine. I got the epi and I was literally soooo happy and relaxed. My husband said he felt awful seeing me scream and cry in pain so I would probably take the epi again. But also next time I'd hope I'm not induced and can tolerate the contractions a little better

Answer

I tried for a natural with my first. 3 days of active labor, and exhausted mommy (and daddy, and no cervical change. Finally my doula said, "you are suffering, it's okay to get help". Then I got the epidural, water finally broke, I got some rest (first rest in 3 days), cervix changed, and had a baby 7 hrs after finally getting the epidural. It was a nightmare. This next time I'm going right for the meds and doing whatever it takes for a stress free and easy delivery. A friend of mine didn't have time for an epidural for her second and got the laughing gas, she swears by that stuff. So that's going in my birth plan of options as well. Whatever you do, be very flexible with your birth plan. Know the risks of what an intervention may have. But you are in No Way a bad mom for not going natural. There is a reason women used to die in child brith back in the day. We don't have to anymore. Don't compare your friends experience(s) to yours or to your plan. Do what is good for YOU!!

Answer

Don't take anyone's advice to heart. Cause every labors different. And no matter what you say or want you won't know until you're in labor

Answer

With both my boys, I had pitocin and epidural. I had a good experience with both and no side effects. For me, the epidural helps my body to relax enough to dilate quickly. I go from a 4 to a 10 cm in just about a two hours and then ready to push. I am terrified of needles, but the epi did my bother me either time. The IV in my arm hurt way worse than the epidural did. I wouldn't be opposed to trying to deliver naturally, but for me, the pitocin and epi are so easy and I don't have to be in labor for very long, so I take the "easy way out"... Both of my boys are healthy and normal.

Answer

I got to an 8 with my second and got an epidural. Everyone's pain tolerance is different. It's not a question of if you can deliver naturally, because everyone woman is capable, it's do you want to lol?

My best advice is to just go in with an open mind. If you decide during labor that you want pain meds that's totally ok. If you don't that's great too :) you really won't know until you're experiencing it yourself!

As for the pain, yeah it sucks! No other way to describe it haha but in the end you have a beautiful baby and it's all worth it ☺️

Answer

My first I had epideral and it only worked on half my body, I could feel everything on my left side and nothing on my right. I also had preeclampsia and Hellp syndrome with her so my labor was super long and they had me on Magnesium which made me feel like I was on drugs. I can't remember much from her first 58hrs. My second she was naturally. I got to the hospital to late and by the time blood work came back it was to late for anything.  2 hrs after walking into the hospital she was born. Recovery was so much easier and I felt nice to remember this moments with her. This time around I think I'll try Togo naturally again but it depends on the circumstances and how long I labor for. Whatever you choose to do is fine! You know what you can handle and there is no "wrong" way.  Good luck!

Answer

I'm also a FTM due March 24th and I have the exact same worry as you! No advice unfortunately but just wanted you to know you're not alone :)

Answer

Here are my two experiences with an epidural. First one, all I felt was a little pinch of a needle because the numbed the site first. They insertedit the catheter before I even knew it and I never felt the next contraction. It didn't slow my labor or anything and delivered my healthy boy 5 hours later. The epidural wore off really quickly. They got me out of bed within 30 min and had me walk to the bathroom. I didn't have any feeling of grogginess and I never felt like I was doped up, just couldn't feel anything from my stomach down while laboring. My son was not groggy or sleepy after delivery and I was able to breast feed him immediately after delvery. My second experience was a little different. I had to deliver my stillborn, which probably didn't help with the situation much. The insertion of the epidural was very similar to the first. What was different with this one, was the fact that I had an adverse reaction to it. I went numb up to my forehead and was slurring my words and incredibly light headed. My blood pressure also plummeted and I required a dose of epinephrine to raise it back up. They had to take me off the epidural completely for about an hour, so the meds could wear off. They were able to start it back up, on a quarter of the dose. This time, it only worked on half of my body, maybe not even that. I will be on pain management this time around too, I need it for medical reasons, just haven't decided on my options.

Natural or epidural? Advice?

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