Hellobee Boards

@blackbird: just wanted to pipe in to say that I had no epidural and didn't feel the stitches (and there were lots!!!). I believe my midwife used a local anesthetic.

I always thought I'd have the epidural but then I got pregnant and all of the sudden I felt strongly about not getting one. So I guess I can't really answer your question, but I just wanted to pipe in with the above comment in case that scared you off of going natural!!!

@runnerd: I approached birth with an open mind but wanted to be med-free as far as I could. I was then induced due to pih and thought I'd never make it wo an epi, I ended up asking for it 2 during labor the first time the pit was too high and I wasn't getting a break between contractions the second time I was in transition and was too far along to get it. Looking back I loved my birth experience and would undoubtedly go without meds again. My recovery was a breeze and I believe a large part of this was that I never had the epi. The nurses couldn't believe tgat I was up and moving so soon after birth (they don't see many med free births). Any questions I'd be glad to answer.
One other thing, I went into birth thinking it was just a long distance race and I still feel that's the best anslogy, you've pushed your body to run 26.2 miles you can go without an epi.

I assumed I'd end up with an epidural but had wanted to labor without it as long as possible...I figured I'd want to be able to walk around, bounce on the ball, etc.

I was admitted at 5cm and asked for it right away. After laboring at home for almost 24 hours with very slow progression, back labor, and throwing up a ton I *needed* to rest.

The hardest part was sitting still throw 3 back contractions, but, luckily for me, bending over my belly was the only way I was ever able to manage them. I didn't feel the catheter, and the only side effect I had from the epidural was that I had the shakes and was very cold for a while.

My labor didn't stall, it actually sped up (around 1cm an hour). I needed no other interventions because of it.

That said, mine did fail twice, once during transition and a second time half an hour into two hours of pushing. And by fail I mean it moved completely into one leg, from the thigh down. I wasn't able to be up and moving around for a very long time after the delivery (like 6 hours), and when I did I had to have two people helping me because that leg was just dead. And they also didn't want me getting out of bed because of blood loss from a hemorrhage.

I can't say anything about the after-birth high. I was really out of it from the blood loss, and the lack of sleep (31 hours). Immediately after delivery they gave me Pitocin and a third epidural. But tired as I was I had zero interest in sleeping.

It didn't impact my milk supply at all...my milk came in within 24 hours.

Overall, I'm very glad I got it. I wasn't able to sleep, but it stopped the vomiting (which came back when it wore off), and I could at least lie still and rest, which I desperately needed for the two hours of pushing. I'm really not sure I would have had the energy to get through that without it.

I'd get it again with a second LO.

I went in with the plan of trying natural birth, but being open to whatever to get a healthy baby out of it. I made it to 7cm, and requested a lower dose epidural.

From the time my water broke to baby out was just under 8 hours. It was overwhelming and I felt like I was on a runaway train- the first time I actually felt like I had some control was once I got the epidural. Yes, it slowed things down a bit, but just enough so I could get a 30 minute rest and labor down a little since I was already so close. I would hate to see how I would have torn had I not taken that break and labored down!

By the time I started pushing I asked them to turn the epidural off so I could feel what I was doing better. I felt like I had complete control over the situation as far as asking for meds and asking for meds to be stopped. I still felt that incredible rush at the end- relief at that last push when he came out. Best feeling in the world. I was up and walking around within about 30-40 minutes after he was born.

I am completely happy with how my delivery went, I hope my second will go just as well. I'll try natural again, but will have no hesitation getting that epi again if I feel like it.

One thing to remember- just because it is a documentary, does not mean it gives you a complete picture of a situation. I found The Business of Being Born to be incredibly biased and not representative of my labor experience at all. It covers one side of the story very well, but does not give the other side a fair representation.

@Danizaur: don't let the idea of pitocin get into your head. I had a pitocin induced med free birth that was totally manageable. So much of surviving a med free birth is mental so it is ideal to go in with an "I can handle anything" attitude (and a doula )

Just my experience, but my epidural didn't do any of those things! I had a wonderful epidural and had lots of control over my labor and pushing. In fact, I only pushed a 4 or 5 times, and from first push to Sadie's birth was only like 10 minutes total. And, I felt nothing but pressure! It was lovely. The few hours without the epidural though... HELL. I will always elect for an epidural in the future!

@photojane: @MamaMoose: yes! If everything is going well epi might help you relax before pushing so you can get that baby out.

Agree with @erinpye. When something has a clear agenda (as I think BofBB does) they're trying to get you to think in a certain way. This is not to say that there aren't helpful things in it, but I wouldn't take any of the points as the absolute truth without trying to figure out what the counter point would be. Fwiw, I haven't given birth yet, but I also waver in my thinking of epi vs. natural. My mom, on the other hand is like, "if they HAVE pain relief meds to give you, why on earth wouldn't you take them?!" Lol, I definitely still need to do more research though, this is all so complicated!

@Mrs. Confetti: that's good to hear!

I haven't given birth yet, but I just want to say this is so, so helpful! I'm just starting to think about this-- I need to decide if I want to give birth in the hospital's birthing center (more comfortable but no meds given for induction or epi) or the traditional labor and delivery floor, and I'm feeling totally torn. It's really helpful to read about real people's experiences!

@runnerd: I think your game plan makes sense, and I think your experience with perseverance through pain/exhaustion will help you avoid the meds.

Only counterargument I'd offer is that some women, for various reasons, don't find it so natural to relax and let go during labor, and aren't nearly as calm/controlled/composed as the women in the natural birth videos. For them, if relaxation and support techniques fail, I think sometimes the tension/fear/panic can be just as bad or worse for labor progress and bonding as medications would be. It's all a balancing act of what's actually happening in that moment for that mother and that baby. The theories can fly out the window!