I don't want to have an Epidural. But everyone has been telling me that I will change my mind once i go into labor. But I am very sure that i do not want one. Everything about them just erks me.

Has anyone ever had any problems with their epidurals?
or anyone who has went through labor without one?

OR... (lol) Stories about epidurals ... "how they saved your labor"... or "I couldn't have done it without one"

I just want other peoples opinions on them. THANK YOU
whit

I swore that I wouldn't get one and then ended up with one. I hated it and don't want one agian. We are using the bradley methoud this time around to hav a NCB.

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Not a regular here, but I thought I'd chime in. I don't like the idea of an epidural either, after doing my homework on it. Did you know they actually slow down labor? And half the time they don't even work right, like they'll numb part of you, but not the rest? And tend to make you feel sick. I didn't have one with my DD (mostly because she was in a hurry, and the labor was only 2 hours) and I have to say that being able to feel exactly what was going on really helped me with the laboring process. Knowing what my body was up to, I was able to rely on my own instincts as to when a contraction was coming, and when and how hard to push. It's a really different kind of pain, it's bearable, if you just accept and try to work with it, not through it.

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I had 5 med free births and did well. I had sworn with my 1st I wouldn't get one and I didn't never got it with my following births as well. I heard enough horror stories about them and I am deathly afraid of needles anyways. I labored in water with my 3rd and 4th and it was heaven. Last one only lasted 17 minutes If you really don't want one stick to your guns. Good luck

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I've got an epidural horror story for you. With my 2nd pregnancy, I had to be induced. Well, the anesthegiologist apparantly had trouble locating my spine b/c my skin was so swollen. He stuck me a few times before he hit the right spot. Long story short, I lost alot of spinal fluid which caused me to have a spinal headache that lasted well over a week. A spinal headached is 10 times worse than a migraine. I will never get another epidural.

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Karen

Mommy to
Amanda Lynn born 5-7-95
Sierra Paige born 6-25-06
Chloe Alyse born 9/6/07! EDD 8/28/07

Well, sounds like I'm totally opposite of all the other mommies. I had an epidural with my daughter, the first on didn't take so I had to have 2. I was completely numb. I couldn't feel the contractions at all. Which I loved. My labor up until the epidural was slow. As soon as I got the epi I went from 5 to 10 cm in about 30 minutes. I was just getting comfortable when they came in to check me again and told me they could see the top of the head. I went straight to the delivery room, pushed 3 times and she was out. I loved the experience, it gave me a chance to enjoy it and not be worried about the pain. I joked with my doc this time around and told him I'm expecting 2 epidurals this time also. I will be getting it this time. Good luck!!





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Chiming in here too. I am the opposite of a lot of you too! I have 3 kids and 1 on the way. I had epidurals with all of them with no problems. It did not slow my labors down and I had no complications associated with it. Its all personal preference. My first baby I had no choice as I was prepped for a c-section but he ended up being a low forceps delivery.

Epidurals are a very controversal topic. If you cant get through your labor and not have anything thats wonderful! I personally, guess I am a whimp! I will have one with this one too!

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Debbie

Host of Due in July 2006 - Hot Tots

Ugh...I meant if you CAN get through your labor without anything.

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Debbie

Host of Due in July 2006 - Hot Tots

I`ve had three births and one epidural. One nasty birth, then one good with epi and then one great birth. So, to say that you`ll change your mind, well, noone can know that before YOU in labor.

But what I can do, is tell you about my experience with epi. I got the epi with an induced birth. In my opinion, being induced caused a more painful birth, contraction wise. I got the epi about an hpur before DS was born. Had I known it would be that soon after, I would have opted not go get it, but who knows those things...

Anyway; it was wonderful to become relatively painfree. Mine worked quick and it worked good.

There was downsides to it, though. I got a couple of sideeffects. The most immediate one was that I got this terrible itch. I itched for several hours, noone could touch me or it itched even more. It was horrible. It took the focus of my birth and newborn son.

The other was that it did my back in. The next day I neede help to get dressed, couldn`t even bend to get my panties on. For a few months my back hurt everytime I changed my son or overdid it, like carrying heavy or walking a lot. It started to subside into a throbbing feeling, witch got genereally weaker until I felt nothing, about a year later.

Would I have an epi again? Uncertain at that point. If I knew I was having a hard, long labor ahead of me, most likely. But I would insist to get checked and dpuble checked to see that birth wasn`t right around the corner.


My advice for you is; Read up on the different types of painrelief. From hot water bottles and acupuncture, to epi and other medications. That way, you`ll have the information by the time you need it and then you`ll be better able to make a choice based on what you feel is right in your situation.

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This is something you should talk to your SO about before the labor. With my OB, he asked that we have a labor plan. What we did and didn't want for our labor, and if we were open to medication. With my DS, I labored from Tuesday night until late Wednesday morning/early afternoon, then needed iv meds to allow me to sleep for a little while. Then my contractions got so unbearable, I begged for a epidural. I could sleep for awhile longer!! It didn't "take away" all the pain, but made what I felt more bearable. I had no problem with my doctor with putting in the epidural. It's totally YOUR choice. Whatever way is best for you and your labor.

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I didn't have medication with my first labour and loved the experience, with my second I had an IV of the same drugs they put in an epidural and i despised the whole situation, i do not plan on going back to a hospital for this birth.. this time baby will be born at home absolutely med free again.

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I had an epidural with both of my boys and neither one worked completely. With my first they wanted to redo it but I told them no and with my second I never told them that I still felt the pain. It's bad enough I let them stick a needle in my back the first time I was not going to let them do it again. I had decided to go without any medication with this one because the epidural did not work for me anyway. If you have your mind set that you can do this without the epidural then you will. People tell me I am nuts for wanting to do this with out the epidural but it is my choice and I am the one that has to deal with the pain and that is what I tell them. Good luck on your birth.

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It all depends on the situation and how you handle pain. There are many pain releif options though not just epidurals. I want to be able to feel it but I don't want to be in such pain that I am crying or screaming so it's really up to you, how you handle pain, and if there are any complications. Lets all pray for none!

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I've got 4 children, & I've had 4 epidural free births. I've asked for one twice, but it's usually a good sign that I'm fully dilated & ready to push
My labours have been 11, 9 1/4, 8 3/4, & 13 hours long & I've gotten through them with gas&air, showers & walking. I had Pehtidine with my first baby, but due to her being born distressed wouldn't use it again.
It's very important that if you do not want an epi, then you SO needs to know this & it needs to be put into your birth plan that you would prefer not to have an epidural & that it not be offered to you unless you ask for it personally.
Staying upright, walking around & squatting, bouncing on a birth ball all help to get labour going & keep it going. Being made to lay flat on your back is a good way to make labour more painful & slow it down, therefore necesitating an epidural for pain relief.
~*GOODLUCK*~ with it, & I hope that you get your epi-free delivery

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