Posts: 29
6/24/12 8:39 P

I have 2 children already and am 33 wks with my 3rd son... I had an epidural with my 1st son who weighed in at 7'10 and went all PAINFULLY NATURAL with 2nd son who eighed in at 7'1... With the epidural I remember being labor for like almost 24hrs and natural I remember getting to the hospital at 2pm and the baby was out by 7pm and I was up and moving instantly... I feel like I should have a natural because the labor and delivery process went faster but also I dont think I can handle that much intense pain... What are the babyfit members views on epidurals and natural childbirth and I would love to heear some experiences =)

Posts: 8850
6/24/12 9:45 P

I had an epidural with both of my kids and will plan on having one the next time too.

With my first I had the epi but didn't realize at the time that it wasn't near as effective as it should have been. With my 2nd the epi was a dream and I felt no pain at all. I got to completely focus on my daughter being born and it was a wonderful experience. I don't think I would have gotten to enjoy the birth the same way if I was distracted by pain and for that reason I will plan on the epi again. I had 0 side effects from the epi and was up and walking around within an hour after delivery.
That said I can understand why some choose natural too. It's a personal choice for sure.

Also wanted to add that the reason your 1st delivery was much longer may not have had anything to do with the epi. Usually 1st deliveries ARE longer. My first was a tough 18.5 hours and my second was a very easy 6 hours (with the epi working all the way)

Edited by: SCRAMBLEDEGGZ at: 6/24/2012 (21:48)

Posts: 5460
6/25/12 1:38 A

As a doula I've helped women with and without meds. I'm a tiny bit biased but I'd look into hiring a doula either way you decide to go. If you decide to go without meds she can help you cope, rest, relax, and she will support your partner. If you choose to get meds, planned or unplanned, she might have ideas to make labor shorter and easier on you.

As far as whether or not you should get an epidural, that's a personal decision. I went in both times wanting a natural labor but I have very long labors so I took an epidural for exhaustion both times. If I had to it to do all over again I'd still try to go without. For pain relief alone the risks aren't worth it for me. There are times when an epidural is in your best interest though, that's when the benefits outweigh the risks.


A huge reason I'd avoid the epi if possible is that with my first it stopped labor completely, not one contraction after it was placed. With my second it only worked down one side of me. I have more than one friend that got an epidural headache, one with back pain 2yrs later, and one that had a c-section after developing an epidural fever. For me the benefits must outweigh the risks.

Edited by: HOPE2B at: 6/25/2012 (01:42)

Posts: 12335
6/25/12 10:12 A

My 1st I had an epi. Second had natural. I loved both experiences. Next time around I will go natural again.

Posts: 130
6/25/12 4:40 P

I had an epidural with my first at 7 centimeters and wondered why I had held out for so long once I received it. I planned to have the epidural for pain but after watching all the baby shows where the epidural makes it hard for the women to push baby out or slows labor I held out. The contractions were bad but nothing I couldn't handle so I decided to stick it out. The nurses are actually the ones who rushed me to get it. They started telling me the pain was going to get 10x what it was and urging me to get the medicine. Then the anesthesiologist came to the room and said it was now or never because he had to make his rounds to the other rooms. I got the epidural and after that I had no pain at all. I got the epi at 11:30am and pushed Jacob out in 3 sets of 3 pushes at 4:56pm. I never had side effects from the medication but like others said everyone is different. I am not sure what I will do this time, it all depends on how bad the pain is and how long the labor will be.

Posts: 321
6/25/12 5:21 P

Both natural births and this one will be too. I like to be in-tune with my body and waht's going on and breath my way through the contractions. I had very good preparation on how to confront the pain. The first time round I didn't put it into practice because all I could concentrate on was the pain. Second time round I really used the breathing techniques taught to me by the midwives and found that even though the contractions were more intence than with the first labor, I handled them much more efficiently.
I won't lie. Both times I just wanted the pain to stop, but working through it felt, I don't know, more satisfying I guess.
Don't let anyone tell you that you're making the wrong decision though because if you're not at peace with how you're doing things it might not be a good experience in the end. Your body, your baby, your decision.

Posts: 408
6/25/12 8:41 P

I went natural because I was afraid of the epi slowing down labor and don't react well to anestesia in general. The pain was manageable before and after transition but transition itself was intense. It helped me to read beforehand about different stages and understand where I was during labor to know that the most intense pain would soon pass. If I had to do it over or again, I would still go without epi.

Posts: 3153
6/26/12 9:23 A

With my first son I had an epidral and with my second the baby came so fast there was no time for anything...lol

I must say that with the epi, I of course didn't feel anything but it also meant I had no ideas if I was pushing or what was happening. With my secodn i felt evrything..it hrt but I felt each push so i knew what I was doing was working:)

whatever you choose, hope you have a healthy delivery and a wuick one too:)

Posts: 1598
6/26/12 1:03 P

All natural (thank God) and I had back labour (ouch!) but still did it thank God (I have a fear of needles n that's really what held me back).
I would go natural again in a heartbeat, God willing. I was up n walking around with one n a half hours of having DS (thank God) and because I went natural I got to be up n moving until I felt the need to push (thank God).
You have to do what's right for you in that moment though!!!
GL :)

Posts: 233
6/28/12 5:35 P

For me the long term back pain I have from the epidural is not worth it. My son is 6 years old and I very frequently still have back issues. One day of pain while in labor is better than years of back issues.

Posts: 84
7/5/12 2:09 P

I choose to have a midwife and have an all natural birth. Things don't always go as planned. I was doing great, got to the hospital at 8am and was already 6cm dilated and progressed quickly. My midwife let me push for 1.5hrs as she knew how much I wanted a natural birth, Olivia wouldn't descend all the way down the birth canal and my dilation started moving back to 7cm and we knew it was time for a c-section and epi. My birth plan with baby #2 will be to have a natural birth VBAC...if I can get pregnant.

Posts: 4996
7/6/12 11:53 A

pitocin and epidural with my first.
natural with my second.
pregnant with third - opting for natural.

Posts: 1
7/10/12 4:18 P

I tried going natural with my first, but wound up with an emergency c-section after 37 hours of labor. I went 30 hours before I asked for an epidural. Then I asked for it so I could sleep, not the pain. I had a doula and she was WONDERFUL! Whenever a contraction would start, she would do her thing and I hardly noticed the pain. Mind you, I never made it to the actual birth, so I can't speak on that part. Since you've had 2 successful vaginal births, I would suggest natural with an experienced doula.

Posts: 2
7/16/12 5:44 P

My coworker recently had a baby and they gave her the option of epi or laughing gas (we are in canada so maybe that matters). She chose the laughing gas because it doesnt go through to the baby and you only take it as you are having the pain and not constantly, that way you know when you are having contractions and when to push instead of someone having to tell you.

I havent looked into it that much personally but its definitely something I'm talking to my OB about for my delivery. Heard too many horror stories about epi's and them being screwed up.

(again the laughing gas could just be a canadian thing, but doesnt hurt to look into or ask about)

Posts: 10339
7/17/12 7:25 A

There are lots of other options for pain relief besides "painfully all natural" and epidural. Gas-and-air, being in water, pethidine, TENS machine, using body movements and positions to ease the discomfort.... lots of options.

Personally I've done 3 all-natural, so I don't have any experience of any of the above except using body movement and positions, along with breathing. I haven't found any of them to be particularly painful - in fact my first delivery was painless. But I know I'm pretty unusual and lucky! I keep meaning to try a wter birth but never quite seem to get it together! At least the bath is run ready for when I'm done!

Do your homework to find out what is available at your hospital/birth centre. Then do your homework again to find out the pros and cons of each.

Also, I think the difference in the speed of your births is more likely just because the first labor is usually longest. So if you go for an epi this time, it doesn't necessarily mean you're in for a long labor again.

Mine have been #1 13 hours start to finish (water breaking to baby arrived) with 90 minutes "active labor". #2 9 hours start to finish with about 60 minutes "active labor" and #3 11 hours start to finish with 30 minutes "active labor". So the first was longest altogether and longest hard-work part!

Edited by: CATHY_T at: 7/23/2012 (16:04)