Here's my experience on the whole natural vs epidural

With Nolan (baby #1), I wanted to go all natural...no drugs. I didn't know what to expect and because his labor was sooo long, I opted for the epi. I had already been in labor for 17 hours before I got the epi. They don't want to give it to you until you are at least 4cm and in active labor. I was having contractions every minute and a half, and it took me forever to get to 4cm! Then the anesthesiologist was in surgery, and I had to wait that much longer until he could come and help me. I had a really great epi experience...I could feel the sensation of the contractions, but no pain.

With Gideon (baby #2), I wanted the epi. I arrived at the hospital already at 5cm and wanted it soooo bad. But he came so fast, there was no time. Because of this experience of having no drugs, no iv, nothing...I really loved it. Obviously, you don't love the pain, but there is something to be said about allowing your body to naturally have a baby.

With Haddon (baby #3), I figured, he too, would come fast and there would be no epi. I never planned on it. Again, my labor went fast, and I loved having the control of my body in the whole labor experience. I had no iv, no drugs, etc. Loved it.

With Jamison (baby #4)....same thing. Except I went even faster and dialated from 5 to 10cm in less than 10 minutes. No epi, no iv, etc.

Here's my advice....if you try natural childbirth, I highly recommend it. But you are not a failure if you end up with an epi. I loved that I was able to get up an hour after the baby was born to take a shower, after he was done nursing. I loved that there was immediate relief of pain after each baby was born. I loved the empowerment I felt as I kept my body relaxed and could feel and fully experience my baby being born. I would learn all I could about pain management as far as it goes mentally...that is really where it all ends when it comes to delivering naturally. It is very easy when you are in the throes of labor to want to completely give up and get 'depressed' about the pain and how it will never end, etc. Keep your mind focused on your baby and not on the contractions. It's going to hurt...like nothing you've ever experienced, so be ready for that, but I can't speak more highly about going drug-free

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lol jessica, i quit smoking on my own but good analogy, i know what you mean...

i think ill probably do like Amy and go in trying to go natural and if i cant do it i'll get the epi thanks for the input ladies!

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I'll go natural, only because I hate being stuck laboring in bed! Well, that and my lifelong fear of needles... An epidural scares the hell out of me. Both of my labors were short and the unmedicated birth was definitely the better experience overall (I had something in my IV with my first to "take the edge off"). I'd probably be willing to think about the epidural if I had longer or more difficult labors, but I can manage the pain without meds for a few hours and I like being able to walk around during early labor and take a shower right after delivering.

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I want to just go in without a plan and just go with the flow. If I feel that I need it than I will, but if not, I won't. I did with DS and was able to feel him as I gave birth, but was not in any pain. It was a perfect experience for me.

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i dont have the option of an epi, because of the blood thinners i am on. Which is ok by me. When we arrived at the hospital with my son, i was dialated to a 10, so there was no option for one then either. I did ok on my own, and am hoping it will be the same this time around. I think if you go in thinking you want to go natural, you are more likely to. But if you give in and get an epi, dont be hard on yourself, labor is not easy

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Nic~momma to:

DS 9/04
DS2 8/21/08 weighed 7lbs9oz 20 inches long

I will probably have an epidural. I have had one with all my births. I have also had pitocin with all my births. With the first, I had nubane before the epi. It made me feel loopy and out of my head. I will NOT have it again. The first epi was too strong and I couldn't feel to push. I pushed for nearly two hours and had to have a vacuum assisted delivery. With the others, they had changed the epi and I was given the bolus where I could give myself additional doses if needed. I never did until I was complete and could feel the pressure to push. I feel that I just am able to relax and let my body work with the epi. Now recovery afterwards may be harder with the epi than natural. I will be in the bed and have a catheter due to the epi. It is just part of that choice. Only you know what works for you and what you need. That is hard to determine until you are in the situation.

Totally lurking here.....

I had an epi with my first, it worked like a charm. Even helped me relax and go from a 6 to a 10 in 2 hours. I could feel pressure but no pain. However when it cam time to push, I really couldn't feel how effective my pushes were. After an hour of pushing, Jack was finally born. He did have a 14 1/4 in head and weigh 8 lbs 11 oz, so that might have been part of it. My recovery was AWFUL. I couldn't move my legs for a good hour, and once the epi wore off, I felt like I had been hit by a mack truck!

With my second, when the anesthesologist finally showed up, it was too late and I was complete. I will admit that I freaked out, because I realized what I was about to do with no pain meds. But I calmed down and pushed three times and Lily was born. My recovery was 100% better the second time around. I was able to move just fine and needed no help to the rest room or dressing myself.

This time around I don't plan on having an epidural, but if I am in labor for 10 + hours, I won't rule it out!

There were my stories! Good luck with your desicion!

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I had an epi with both of mine thus far.. but really want to try natural this time around. I'm actually planning on not having TIME for an epi. My entire L&D with Ds was just under 11 hours, and only 4.5 hours with DD. I have a good chance of going even quicker this time around. My Dr and MW want me on my way to the hospital at the FIRST sign of labor. So... I could possibly just go too quick to even be eligible for an epi.

You asked how long it takes to get going..... the actual numbing is pretty quick... it;s the "getting it" that can take time. With DD, I went into the hospital at 2:30am with really stong ctx. They watched me for an hour to be sure I "really was in active labor". At 3:30am.. I had diallated from a 2-3cm, and told them I really wanted an epi. I was then hooked up to an IV, as they needed to get a full bag of fluid in me *before* I got the epi. That took another hour.

It was 4:30am when I finally got my epi. It wasn't too bad waiting... but like the others have said.... you get to a certain point (I think it's like 6cm or more) where most Drs and MWs will NOT let you get an epi. They really want you to be able to have feeling down there when you start to push. Like someone else said... it's hard to know how effective your pushing is when you can't feel it.


Since you want to be able to walk around... I'd try to go natural, as you can't walk around when you have an epi. You may also want to talk with your MW/Dr about being on the monitors and such while in labor. Typically... when you are all hooked up, regardless if you get drugs or not... you can't easily get out of bed and walk around. Perhaps ask if you can have intermitten monitoring, vs constant monitoring.

No matter what happens.... you are in no way a failure if it doesn't all go the way you wanted. (ie: epi, c-section..etc) The outcome is the same no matter what, and in the end... a healthy baby and a happy momma are what matters most!!

My BIG reason for going natural this time around.... my previous labors have been sooooooo easy!!! We are talking..: go to the hospital.. get some drugs.. go to sleep... wake up, push a bit.. have a baby.... no pain... at all. I want DH to see me suffer!!! Is that bad??!! He seems to think giving birth is nooo big deal. As it's been super easy for me everytime thus far. I have a habit of going into labor at night, so when we get all settled at the hospital DH just goes to sleep til I'm ready to push. He's gotten off too easy in the past...I want him to know that L&D is HARD!!!! I want him to feel bad for me, and I want him to know what I go thru to bring his children into the world. Aren't I horrible??!!

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haha whitney thats too funny... it would be a different story if men had to have the babies... front page news material every time one was born i betcha!!

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My husband kept insisting L&D would be easy.....until he saw what 10cm looked like Now he's not sure he wants to be in the delivery room because I might "kill him or break his hands".

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My Babies


"Where there is love there is life"