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I wanted a med free birth because I was worried that it would slow labor down, and I was also nervous about complications like the ones Mrs Wagon had where they punctured something?! And she got horrible headaches.

I ended up getting an epi and it was the best thing everrrrr. And I had no complications and if anything, it helped my labor progress because I was able to relax. Team Epi for life!

Most meds affect me more than the norm so I was hoping to avoid one. However, after being induced and not really progressing, I gave in because I didn't see an end in sight. Ended up not really liking it because could not feel a thing, as in I'm making a face like I'm pushing but have no clue if I'm actually pushing when we finally got to that point. Oh well.

I'm thinking about trying to not get an epidural for #2.

I always planned to have one with #1, but when I was in labor, my platelets dropped too low (I have ITP) and I wasn't able to get one. Laboring without much pain meds was HARD and pushing out Xander's giant head was the most painful thing ever! And I remember immediately after telling Hubs that for #2, I WAS getting an epidural, no matter what!

But now that I'm expecting, I'm actually thinking of not doing it! My recovery after Xander was born was relatively smooth, and not having to worry about any potential complications from an epidural is enticing. Plus I had back labor with my first and I've heard epidurals aren't as effective for back labor and you're likely to get back labor again, so an epidural may not even help me out much. I'm also thinking that since (generally) #2s are quicker to come out, it might not even be as bad the second time around and since I was able to do it the first time without even being prepared, maybe I can do it again!

@blackbird: mine helped my back labor too!

I didn't want one because I wanted to be able to have a tub birth and move around in labor. I ended up getting one when the nurse told me I would be going back for a cs and it was HEAVEN!

I didn't want one just because I didnt. Haha. I'm a little on the crunchy side & I wanted to know what actual med free birth feels like. I ended up getting an epidural around 9cm. I'm really not sure what I'll do with #2.

I was scared to get one due to the "cascade of interventions" theory. I got one when I was complete due to the fact that I couldn't push effectively without searing pain, and it didn't even freakin work! It made my right hip feel warm and tingly but that's it.

@blackbird: haha, yeah, I'm just going to assume I won't be able to get one anyway. And I've been through labor without it so at least now I know what to expect! Last time I was all "OMG, THIS HURTS!!!!!" Pushing was the worst part, so hopefully that part will be shorter this time and the whole thing will be slightly more endurable!

To be honest, my primary motivation was that I was terrified of getting a needle in my spine.

I wound up getting one because my labor was stalled out at the 17-hour mark. I was having pain between contractions, and my OB thought I was ready to push but I couldn't. After I got the epi we discovered that there was still a lip on my cervix. It took six more hours and some pitocin before I was able to deliver the baby. So, I'm glad I got the epi. But between the contractions and my fear it took three people to hold me down to get it inserted.

I have a friend whose epidural failed for her second delivery. She said that all the postpartum care felt AWFUL without an epi!

I was scared of the "cascade of interventions", but my Mom is a loud and proud all natural birther (4 kids), and I really just wanted to prove I could do it, too! (And I did!)

@hilsy85: haha ahhh I'm so famous with my epidural horror stories. That being said, after 2 horrible experiences, I'm still Team Epi because I know, from feeling everything with my first, that I wouldn't make it if my labor wasn't super duper fast!!

Several reasons:
1. my mom dropped her bp to critical levels for days and now has renal insufficiency as a direct result of an epi for thoracic surgery
2. the cascade of interventions & slowing labor theories
3. my midwife told me that some studies have shown that epidurals can have the same side effects on newborns as opiates (respiratory distress, sleepiness, difficulty latching initially due to sleepiness)

All that said, I developed pre-e and PPROM and they had to hang magnesium and pit (and they didn't tell me they'd hung the pit) and I was hallucinating and having panic attacks because I thought I couldn't breathe, so I ended up getting an epi. It allowed my body to relax and dilate (I had been stuck at a 2 for almost 12 hours) and I could feel enough to move my legs and to feel to push. It was like it pushed the "mute" button on my pain and panic.

The epi ended up being wonderful for me, but I wonder about its effects on my son. He ended up in the NICU on a ventilator (born at 33w5d), and I've always wondered if the epi contributed to his respiratory distress. He was a preemie (and a "wimpy white boy"), so I'll never know. The great news is that he's a perfectly healthy and happy 2.5 yo now.

@cheesetomywhine: Ugh, despite being epidural free, I still needed an IV! That would've been a nice perk though!

I've never wanted one. Once I found out about the "cascade of interventions," I definitely didn't want one. I wanted to labor and push how I wanted. Also, my husband and other people didn't think I could handle the pain. I had my med-free birth and I wouldn't hesitate to do it again.

I didn't want to just because I didn't want to. No real concrete reason why. I ended up getting one, though, because after being awake for over 36 hours, in labor for 20+ hours, and only progressing to 2-3 centimeters, I needed to rest. I got the epi and slept for 3 hours. I firmly believe if I hadn't gotten the epi and gotten that sleep, I would have needed a c-section. I pushed for 3 hours, and I really think that I would not have had the stamina for that if I hadn't gotten that sleep.

Oh, and my epi fell out shortly after I woke up from that nap, and so I still felt pretty much everything for pushing, which was actually a good thing.

I was terrified it would slow my labor and lead to the pitocin-decel-ceserean "cascade of interventions." Then once I was in labor, I went from a 1 to a 7 in about 2 hours--there was no slowing it down. I got a great epidural, could still feel everything but with manageable pain, and regained some control and composure, and welcomed my son in the best possible way. I wish I hadn't had so much anxiety leading up to delivery, but you do the best you can with what you know.

I was terrified of needles in my spine. I have a history of issues with my back so I was positive something would go wrong. I finally caved and while my fear came true- had to have the epi redone because it didn't work the first time- it wasn't until they were putting in the epidural that they discovered I was gbs positive because the doctors office never told me I was. The epidural allowed me to hold off on pushing until I could get antibiotics. My husband had a brother that actually died because they hadn't tested his mom for gbs yet and she was positive, so we fully believe the epidural probably saved our baby's life. Totally team epi now.

@Arden: I'm curious why don't you believe in epidurals with pitocin? That seems to be when the dr push them most, "oh pitocin contractions are horrible" I don't know how many times I heard that! I'm just hoping #2 doesn't need to be induced and I can see what labor is like without pit

@jetsa: And yeah, labor IS harder with pitocin and I'd seriously consider getting an epidural if I were having a pitocin induction - though I'd wait as long as I could to make sure labor was in full swing first.
Women who manage pitocin inductions without epidurals are seriously tough cookies!

I was told before pregnancy I wasn't allowed an epidural (bleeding disorder) but even before that I wanted to do it as med-free as possible. I ended up getting induced so had the NZ equivalent of pit. Labor sucked but I ended up having a super easy delivery with no tearing and I loved being able to get up and shower after we had done skin to skin and breastfeeding for a few hours.