We took a prepared childbirth class yesterday and I am thinking of trying to go without an epidural. This is surprising because I always just assumed I would have one and never felt strongly about a natural or med-free birth. I know this is really personal but, if you didn't have one, what was your reasoning? Do you feel like you made the right/wrong decision and why?
Post by CallingAllAngels on Jan 20, 2014 10:15:38 GMT -5
I had one with my first and honestly it hurt more than it helped. I was already fully dilated when I got it. It slowed down my contractions a lot and I pushed for a long time (2 hrs) because my contractions were so far apart and I don't think I was pushing efficiently bc I couldn't feel the contractions.
With my second, I didn't have one and it was a much easier and faster labor (though it was more painful).
I went pretty fast both times though, so I don't really have experience with a long labor.
Post by MadamePresident on Jan 20, 2014 10:15:40 GMT -5
I didn't want one, but the women in my family tend to have fast labors. I assumed that my labor would be fast also, so I prepared to not have one. It was. I also decided to do a homebirth, so it wasn't an option anyways.
Post by Jalapeñomel on Jan 20, 2014 10:19:59 GMT -5
I was the opposite. I thought I would go med-free, but my labor happened so fast and the pain came on so quickly and suddenly that I couldn't get the epidural fast enough. And in hindsight, since I was pushing before it actually fully kicked in, I probably could've gone without it.
Well, for my first birth, I arrived at the hopsital at a 9 and my second birth, I arrived at an 8, so that ship had sailed Truthfully, I hoped for a med free birth, but didnt' have any expectations. It was more a matter of my labor pains not being as bad as I had thought....I didn't think I was as far along as I was either time when I arrived. My first childbirth was an easy vaginal birth, they didn't even have time to give me an IV lock before the baby arrived. Recovery was easy and I don't regret going med free. My second one ended up as a C section, since the baby had turned head up during labor, so I didn't have a choice there.
I didn't really have a stance either way. If I felt like I needed one, I'd get it. With all three labors, by the time I got to that point, it was too late and I was delivering. If I had a long labor though, I'd totally get one just so I could get some rest.
This is where I was at. With DD1, I wasn't really sure if I wanted one and went in thinking I'd try until I felt I needed one. By that time though I was 8CM dilated and within the next hour she was born. But, I did get nubane, which all that did was knock me out inbetween the contractions, I felt a little out of it, and still felt the pain. DD2 my labor was faster, had no time for one but did get nubane again. With DD3, since I had gone without the first two times, I figured I'd try this time without anything (no nubane). I think if my labors had all been longer than 5hrs, I would've definitely gotten one.
Mainly, I just didn't want interventions that could increase my chance for CS. I was worried (whether it's rational or not) that I wouldn't be able to feel as much with an epi, which may prolong my labor/pushing and eventually wind up with a CS. I also know I have a high tolerance for pain & thought I could do it, so I figured I'd at least try. I didn't get one either time, but I definitely told myself that if I needed one, I'd get it and wouldn't beat myself up about it. I don't know that I'd call it a right/wrong decision since I'm not really sure what labor with an epi would have been like, but I know that I'm glad I was able to labor at home as long as I could, push for a shorter time both times, and not wind up with any unwaned interventions.
I wanted to go medfree for the same reason. I was very glad I did it.
I had a low platelet count through my pg and by the time the labs were back to see if they were high enough for one, I was already pushing. I went in knowing that there was a good chance is have to go without so I just mentally prepared myself as best I could.
Post by stealthmom on Jan 20, 2014 10:37:52 GMT -5
I didn't like the idea of not being in control or not know what was going on with my body. Plus when I learned how an epidural is administered it made me very nervous and I thought I'd want to avoid it if I could.
now ask me how nervous I am for my c/s on fri. Talk about not being in control . . . lol.
I was more scared of the epidural than the pain. Irrational, but true. As I researched med-free birth, it became my obstacle to conquer. Some people run marathons, climb mountains, etc-- I wanted to conquer med-free childbirth. I wanted an extreme experience in which I tested myself and was really present in a mental and physical struggle.
It was the hardest thing I've ever done and the best decision I've ever made. I gained a lot of self respect and confidence that day.
I had one for 1 & 2, but not for 3 (the labor was too quick) I felt much more in control with the epidural, but I know that is because I wasn't prepared for transition or dealing with out meds. I was scared and clueless even as a third timer. I think reading up on natural birth or taking a class would have helped me immensely (although obviously I got through it!)
I went in thinking I would see how bad the pain got and get one if I felt I couldn't handle it anymore. I was also very scared about how it is administered and losing control of my body. I was given pitocin and went from 1 cm to 9 cm in three hours. I wasn't checked in that three hours and by the time I was asked if I wanted one it was too late. It was very painful but now kind of cool to say I did it without an epi. My recovery was very quick too - not sure if that is related.
I will ditto everyone who said they didn't want the increased risk for interventions. My body didn't go into labor naturally and even with the induction, my contractions were really far apart (2-3 mins even at the very end) and an epi would have slowed them down further.
I also wasn't willing to have a needle stuck in my spine. I have a friend who had back pain for a year after giving birth because they hit a nerve in her back when inserting the needle. I would much rather deal with a few hours of labor pain than longer term issues even if the chances are remote.
I didn't have one for either delivery. Not enough time... Although I was on the ante- natal ward when contractions started both times they will only give you paracetamol or pethedine. I took the paracetamol, not the pethedine. I also had a TENS machine to help. Epi was only in delivery room.
By the time they let me down to delivery ward I was 2cm (their entry level). From there I progressed very, very quickly. With dd2, there was 40 mins from being a 2 to baby out. 5 mins from a 10 to baby out. Dd1 was similar progress but more pushing. I had gas & air for both once in delivery
212, thank you for putting into words how I feel about it. I haven't been able to articulate my feelings to my DH about how I would like to go into it and you summed it up perfectly. I know things can change, but what you said makes perfect sense to me.
Post by gibbinator on Jan 20, 2014 11:11:06 GMT -5
I laboured for 27 hours without getting an epi. It was absolutely doable. Between dh massaging my back, sitting in a tub of hot water and NO2 gas to get through transition, I never felt like I wanted to ask for it.
My main reason for not wanting one was because I'm personally a better safe than sorry, low-interverntion, short term pain, long term gain type person. There are risks associated with getting the epi (very rare but nonetheless possible) and I wanted to avoid them. I also kind of wondered could I do it? It was a challenge.
At 27 hours the Dr/nurses advised me to get it because I was exhausted and he said that if I didn't get any rest soon I'd be too tired to continue pushing (had been for over an hour) and I'd have to get a c/s. So in the end I did get the epi BUT, it didn't have time to come into effect before ds was born (grrrr). So I had all the fun of an epi free labour/birth and also all the fun of getting the epi.
Thus time around I'm not sure what I'll do. Long labour was not fun, and getting the epi was not as painful as I've heard it described here. Just a pinch like any other needle. However I did end up with some annoying itching from the urinary catheter and also from the tape that held the epi in my back for several days afterwards and I could do without that again. I think that probably if this next labour seems to be going in the direction of 20+ hours again, I'll probably get the epi. If things are going at a more average/fast pace I'd like to avoid it.
My primary reasons for going med-free: -avoiding further interventions, especially a c-section -desire to be fully present in the moment -worry that drugs would disrupt my ability to cope/make me feel out of control/out of sync with my body and self
I did know that if the pain got too intense, that might have outweighed those concerns. But my doula and DH were amazing.
I think there was a part of me that really questioned if I could do it, and I'm still really amazed and grateful it worked out.
I didn't want one so I had the freedom to move around during labor and delivery and feel like I made the right decision for me. My labor was also fast. He was born 8.5 hours after my water broke and contractions started. (I was already 7cm when we got to the hospital).
Hey one way that our kids are NOT the same! OP, I had every intention of doing what I could to go med free for as long as possible if not the whole thing...but after 12+ hours in labor and about 5 of that on Pitocin, I was exhausted and in pain and desperate for a break so I tapped out and asked for the anesthesiologist. And I'm glad I did-I had no complications with it (other than it wearing off on my left side a couple of times, resulting in a visit from the anesthesiologist for a bolus of pain meds), was able to catch a couple of power naps but more importantly relax a bit, and it ended up wearing off almost completely by the time I delivered. I ended up delivering AJ roughly 13 hours after I got the epi, but I don't feel that it slowed my labor at all...that was the result of taking me off the pitocin. If anything, I think it helped me finally get some serious dilating going on, because I was 3cm when I got the epi and 9cm 5 hours later (docs stopped pitocin when I hit 9cm and then my contractions stopped, which is why I blame the pitocin ;D).
I think I made the right call for me, because as I said I don't feel the epi was the cause of my slow, slow labor progress. Plus while my docs did talk to me about a possible c/s a couple of times (because it had been quite a while since my water had broken), they were also open to first giving me more time to progress and then try pushing through the last centimeter before we booked the OR. I ended up needing vacuum extraction to get AJ out because I'd been pushing for 2.5 hours and was exhausted, but I had the birth I'd hoped for-meaning the willingness of the doctors to let me make the decisions I felt were best without pushing me one way or the other, which was the biggest thing for me (after delivering AJ safely of course).
Post by dulcemariamar on Jan 20, 2014 12:00:59 GMT -5
I got the epi but it didnt work. If i wanted the epi, I had to get pitocin. I wasnt keen on that but I had been in labor for over 25 hours so I was scared about getting a c-section so I was up to trying anything at that point.
I thought the pushing part was horrible but I have nothing to compare it to. Does the epi take away all of the pain? What do you feel when you push?
I didn't want anything to slow down labor or potentially increase my risk of C/S.
Honestly, once I got into the hardcore contractions I couldn't even really think about anything but that. I do remember after hours of completely insane contractions thinking if I wasn't at least an 8, I wanted one. Thankfully I was at a 10 and was ready to push. Pushing was easy and the best part for sure.
I also wanted to do it bc so many people said I couldn't, lol.
All of this. I also came to a point in both my labors where I thought, "if I'm not at ___, then I'm going to need an epi." With my first, I was 10, with my second I was "only" at 8 (but in my mind needed to be at 9 or 10). First labor was med-free and second I got an epi.
We took a prepared childbirth class yesterday and I am thinking of trying to go without an epidural. This is surprising because I always just assumed I would have one and never felt strongly about a natural or med-free birth. I know this is really personal but, if you didn't have one, what was your reasoning? Do you feel like you made the right/wrong decision and why?
I didn't have one. We took a childbirth class and after that I knew that I wanted to at least attempt birth without getting one. I had gone through my pregnancy med-free and I wanted to see how far I could get without an epidural. My husband thought I was crazy, but I told him that he had to support that choice and if I wanted it I knew that it was there. I told him to remind me to ask them to tell me before it was too late to get one. Well, in the heat of the moment it was suddenly more than I thought I could take and I told them I wanted an epidural. They called the person to do it and I got back into the bed and they checked to see how far I was. It was too late to get one because of how fast everything changed. In the end I was really glad that I didn't get one. But then again, I had a tiny baby. So I don't know if I would say the same thing if I would have had an average sized baby.
I had one with my first, but my "plan" was not to. I am glad I got it then-I was induced with pitocin and the dr had to break up scar tissue on my cervix for it to open, and omg I could not take it. I would have hyperventilated, I think, if I did not get it.
I didn't have one with DD2, and I'm glad I didn't with her. It hurt, but I really wanted to experience 'natural' childbirth and see if I could do it.
If we have a 3rd, I'll plan again not to but if circumstances need it, I'm open to it.
Also-we took a Bradley course before DD1 was born, and it was drilled into us that babies born with epis are sleepier, less able to latch immediately, etc. not the case at all for DD1. She was super alert after birth, and for hours after. She latched easily and nursed for 40 min an hour after she was born.
Just for a other perspective I had one, but by the time E was born and we were moved to post partum it had worn off and I could walk.
I labored for 22 hours before I was even admitted. I could barely walk through the contractions at the hospital but I was only at a 4 by then. We had been up for so long at that point I asked for it just so we could both sleep. It was pretty apparent I was looking at a long labor at that point.
They asked me if I wanted it upped in the morning after the doctor broke my water and I said no, I just kept the drip. I felt everything when I was finally at 10 and could start pushing.
I was afraid of the epidural causing labor to stall and possibly causing a "cascade of interventions." I didn't like the idea of not being able to move around during labor. I didn't like the idea of having to spend more time in the hospital than necessary during labor. And, finally, I just wanted to see if I could find other, non-drug ways to manage the pain.
I do not regret not getting the epidural. I arrived at the hospital fully dilated and ready to push and am very happy with my birth experience. Having a doula helped.
Post by hilwithonelary on Jan 20, 2014 13:15:42 GMT -5
My initial motivation was fear of the epi. The insertion, not being able to move my legs, the potential side effects (especially spinal headache). Also, my number 1 goal was to avoid a c section unless absolutely necessary, and I wanted to avoid anything that might increase the chances.
With DS, I did end up with an epi. I think that was largely due to the high pitocin dose. It didn't work very well, so I wasn't really sold on the epi experience.
I tried again and succeeded to go med free with DD. I didn't need pitocin with that labor, and it never felt unmanageable like it did with DS. It was still one of the hardest things I've ever done, but it was also an amazing experience. In the very unlikely event we have a third, my goal would be med free again.
The first time, I just didn't feel I needed it. There are situations and lengths of labour that would have led me to an epidural without "failing" at anything, but I didn't get there. I was coping fairly well, and I feel like if I'd had the epi and ended up labouring on my back in bed with DS, it's very likely I would have had a c-section. I pushed for a couple hours with him on my hands and knees because that's how it felt best. If I couldn't feel it, I don't know I would have had the instinct to do that and it's very possible that I would have stalled out in the pushing phase.
The second time, I didn't make it to the hospital. It was nice to have birthed before and understand the sensations I was feeling. As soon as I had my first grunt during a contraction, I knew we'd never make it to the hospital.
I thought the pushing part was horrible but I have nothing to compare it to. Does the epi take away all of the pain? What do you feel when you push?
I found the pushing part to be sweet relief after 18 hours of labor.
Honestly, as hippy-dippy as I am, I wish there was some kind of epidural available for about a week after giving birth. That was the point at which my breasts were sore from nursing, my back and neck were sore from the same, and the rest of me was sore from not sleeping much. I would have loved to be anesthesized at that point. Instead, I brought an acupuncturist to my home.
Post by curbsideprophet on Jan 20, 2014 13:32:54 GMT -5
My main motivation was to avoid the cascade of interventions and possible c-section. I was also concerned about the side effects to me and or DD. I wanted to be able to be up and moving around, I did not want to be tied to the bed. I also wanted to attempt a water birth. I did labor in the tub, but ended up delivering on the bed. Overall it seemed like the healthier option if I could do. I was willing to consider an epi in certain situations. If I thought the epi would help me relax enough to continue with a vaginal birth and help me avoid a c/s I would have done it. That was never an issue though.