https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 25 Jun 2026 07:20:07 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-an-epidural-free-birth/page/2#post-1885964 Thu, 02 Oct 2014 12:27:08 +0000 Mrs.KMM 1885964@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For me, there are a few reasons I want to try for an epidural-free birth:</p> <p>1. I want to minimize interventions period and epidurals, "cascade of interventions", etc (everyone's already touched on this).</p> <p>2. I want to be able to get up and move around during labor if I so desire.</p> <p>3. The thought of someone sticking a needle in my spine gives me the heebie-jeebies. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-an-epidural-free-birth/page/2#post-1884938 Wed, 01 Oct 2014 19:48:54 +0000 Charm54 1884938@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't want an epi during my pregnancy because I had an irrational fear of not being able to move my legs and feeling "frozen". I broke my back when I was 16 so I was worried that would complicate the epi even though I'm fully healed and the dr said it wasn't a problem.</p> <p>After 24 hours of intense, exhausting labour and stalling at a 3, I got an epi. I took the most peaceful, joyous nap and woke up 2 hours later ready to push. It sped up my labour unlike anything else. I felt every contraction while pushing, but in a helpful way. I didn't feel a thing when they were stitching me up which might be the best bonus of all.</p> <p>You can be sure the next LO I will be walking in the hospital asking for that miracle drug!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-an-epidural-free-birth/page/2#post-1884924 Wed, 01 Oct 2014 19:35:52 +0000 Vegmama 1884924@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@coopsmama: My reasons were that 1) I was having a home birth, and pain management (with drugs) wasn't an option. 2) I just knew I could do it ... I saw my own mom give birth without pain medication, and I think it was a pretty formative experience. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-an-epidural-free-birth/page/2#post-1883836 Wed, 01 Oct 2014 07:54:59 +0000 skipra 1883836@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>With my first I wanted to go med free because I was worried about it slowing down labor and leading to interventions. I was induced a week early so I was expecting to wind up with a c section if I "gave in" and got the epidural. The induction contractions were so awful that I got the epidural relatively early and it was wonderful and labor from that point on was quick and easy. Based on my experience the first time I planned on an epidural for my second but for me regular labor was so much easier than pitocin labor that it was too late by the time I wanted it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-an-epidural-free-birth/page/2#post-1883752 Wed, 01 Oct 2014 07:04:20 +0000 bushelandapeck 1883752@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was worried about additional interventions. I also worried about it not working and then feeling like I wasn't able to handle the pain. As it was, I ended up needing a small dose of Pitocin because my water broke but I wasn't in labor. I was able to manage the pain without an epidural. As my EDD for #2 gets closer, (39w today!) I am nervous about being able to do it again, though it's still my plan to avoid an epidural. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-an-epidural-free-birth/page/2#post-1883682 Wed, 01 Oct 2014 02:42:13 +0000 anonysquire 1883682@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I hate needles. And I didn't want to feel numb or fuzzy or anything because that would increase my anxiety. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-an-epidural-free-birth/page/2#post-1883680 Wed, 01 Oct 2014 02:24:32 +0000 lamariniere 1883680@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>With LO1, I think I was scared into not wanting one by the birth class teacher, who made it sound like an epi would lead to tons of interventions and complications. I always knew it would be an option, but wanted to try without. Well, when my contractions finally started, they were 2 min apart, so I couldn't catch a break. I got one at 7cm. </p> <p>With LO2, I was totally on board for the epi, but I labored even faster and it was too late for one by the time the anesthesiologist made it to my room. My entire labor/pushing was less than 45 min. I would not wish that pain on anyone! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-an-epidural-free-birth/page/2#post-1883372 Tue, 30 Sep 2014 19:23:59 +0000 Mrs. Chocolate 1883372@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Im not big on medicine as a whole and try to live with pain before taking it. I also kind of went with the belief that woman have been doing this for as long as mankind has been around and I am as strong as any woman and wanted to at least experience some of labor before deciding if I needed to change my tune. I was lucky to have 2 unmedicated births so far </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-an-epidural-free-birth/page/2#post-1883368 Tue, 30 Sep 2014 19:21:26 +0000 artsyfartsy 1883368@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've never been a big medicine person. I wanted to experience childbirth and be in tune with my body. I felt like an epidural would hinder that. Plus I didn't want any further complications or interventions from it. </p> <p>After 12 hours laboring unmedicated I took one so I could sleep. Labor stalled and I had an uncomplicated c section!</p> <p>Haven't talked to my doctor about VBAC with number 2 yet, but I still dream of being able to have an unmedicated natural birth. But realistically I just don't see it happening based on my first birth. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-an-epidural-free-birth/page/2#post-1883317 Tue, 30 Sep 2014 18:22:40 +0000 Mrs. Oatmeal 1883317@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I really wanted to be with the midwives, and one of their stipulations was that you couldn't be planning for an epidural. Also, I was freaked out by the whole needle/catheter thing. I got an epidural after 40 hours of labour (back labour), and I didn't regret it at all.</p> <p>Next time, I'll try med-free again. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-an-epidural-free-birth/page/2#post-1883313 Tue, 30 Sep 2014 18:20:45 +0000 Mae 1883313@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wanted to go med free mostly because I was afraid of the cascade of interventions leading to c-section, because I wanted to be able to labor out of bed and in the labor tub/on the ball/in the shower, and because I thought that my odds of tearing badly/needing an episiotomy would be lower with no epidural. </p> <p>I ended up getting an epidural because I was induced and had horrid back labor (epidural worked perfectly, I felt 0 pain until it started to wear off and then they upped it and felt 0 pain again). I'm torn on if I'd get one again (unless I was induced again-- then I would definitely get it again!)</p> <p>Pro epidural:<br /> - totally took care of my pain FAST<br /> - did not stall my progress at all. I actually progressed much faster after I got my epidural<br /> - I didn't have any real complications from the epidural, beyond some lingering back pain for a few weeks that was not horrible<br /> - When I ended up needing a c-section (LO was sunny side up and tilted and my midwife wouldn't let me go longer) it was super easy, they just turned up the dose. I didn't need to sit through placement at 8 cm dilated. </p> <p>Against epidural:<br /> - It completely killed my legs. I couldn't move them hardly at all, and that means that I couldn't get out of bed to labor at all.<br /> - It did make me sick. After getting the initial dose and then the upped dose I got nauseous and threw up and got the chills and that sucked.<br /> - I still worry about tearing from ineffective pushing </p> <p>I think if I was to have another baby I'd try to go med free again. But if I was induced and/or if I had back labor again I'd get another epidural and not be too terribly concerned about it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-an-epidural-free-birth/page/2#post-1883293 Tue, 30 Sep 2014 18:02:31 +0000 ScarletBegonia 1883293@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm embarrassed to say that I wanted to go med free because 2 of my friends had, and I wanted to show that I could too. I didn't really give it too much thought beyond that. I made it to 10cm and 1.5hrs of pushing with no progress before I caved/the on call OB told me I had to have one, as i was being brought in for a forceps delivery and if it didn't work in 3 contractions I would need a C section. For about one hour they let me push with a super light epi (took the pain away, but I felt all the pressure), and still no progress, so they numbed me out completely and luckily my son was delivered by forceps.<br /> If I could do it again I would get the epidural around 5cm. I'm upset that I went through all that pain and then got the epidural anyway - it was the sweetest relief I've ever felt and I will never labour hard without one again! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-an-epidural-free-birth/page/2#post-1883275 Tue, 30 Sep 2014 17:47:55 +0000 Arden 1883275@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ballerinabee: Pre-e is it's own crazy animal, I'm sorry you had to deal with that. It's one of the rare issues that totally warrants an induction. And lady, if I were on mag and pit I'd for SURE get an epi. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-an-epidural-free-birth#post-1883232 Tue, 30 Sep 2014 16:55:34 +0000 ballerinabee 1883232@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Arden: in my case they hung pit with the magnesium for my pre-e, because mag softens the uterus, slowing down labor. I didn't know they had hung it, but I ended up with an epi because the insane pit contractions + the mag-induced hallucinations made it impossible for me to relax and work with the contractions. After the epi, I went from a 2 to complete in 3 hours! I was shocked, since I expected the epi to slow things down. </p> <p>Then again, nothing about me is normal! Ha. :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-an-epidural-free-birth#post-1883205 Tue, 30 Sep 2014 16:31:48 +0000 MrsStar 1883205@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>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. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-an-epidural-free-birth#post-1883183 Tue, 30 Sep 2014 16:12:30 +0000 jetsa 1883183@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Arden: thank you for the explanation, i knew you'd be thorough and I love being better informed. I made it through but at one point I begged for meds (turns out I was in transition) my labor was also relatively quick and that helped me. I'm very hopeful my BP behaves itself this time and an induction isn't necessary. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-an-epidural-free-birth#post-1883166 Tue, 30 Sep 2014 15:59:52 +0000 Arden 1883166@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@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.<br /> Women who manage pitocin inductions without epidurals are seriously tough cookies! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-an-epidural-free-birth#post-1883159 Tue, 30 Sep 2014 15:55:43 +0000 Arden 1883159@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jetsa: It's not epidurals + pitocin, it's just pitocin period and it tends to follow epidurals. Pitocin causes longer, stronger, and closer together contractions. While this may speed up labor, it also puts more stress on the baby often leading to heart decels, which is why it greatly raises the chance of c-section.</p> <p>Pitocin is rarely necessary in labor, it's used simply to speed the process up. It has it's place after labor to help stop excessive bleeding, but during labor it's usually not ideal.</p> <p>This is my main reason for avoiding epidurals - epidurals tend to slow labor down, and pitocin is used to speed it back up, leading to a higher incidence of other complications. If epidurals were used without pitocin and hospitals were just more patient, I'd be much more apt to recommend epidurals! :P </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-an-epidural-free-birth#post-1883141 Tue, 30 Sep 2014 15:45:24 +0000 jetsa 1883141@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@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 ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-an-epidural-free-birth#post-1883133 Tue, 30 Sep 2014 15:36:58 +0000 jetsa 1883133@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wanted to avoid an epi because I'd heard it could slow down labor and lead to more complications. When my me decided to induce me due to maternal high blood pressure she told me I needed to strongly consider an epi if for no other reason than during labor she had no way to lower my BP and if it was too high I could harm baby and myself. I was induced with pit but never got an epi, my BP never got to the uncontrollable point. I loved being able to move around immediately and intend to go without for my second birth as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-an-epidural-free-birth#post-1883113 Tue, 30 Sep 2014 15:15:35 +0000 cookiemomster 1883113@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>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. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-an-epidural-free-birth#post-1883086 Tue, 30 Sep 2014 14:54:51 +0000 Dandelion 1883086@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was crazy and afraid of them for no reason. Once I finally got one, I was Team Epi all the way, lol. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-an-epidural-free-birth#post-1883082 Tue, 30 Sep 2014 14:53:05 +0000 Little Misters Mom 1883082@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>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. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-an-epidural-free-birth#post-1883080 Tue, 30 Sep 2014 14:49:05 +0000 Corduroy 1883080@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was trying to avoid additional interventions. </p> <p>Part of me also wanted the experience and wanted to prove to myself I could do it. In hindsight, I don't think that's a good reason but maybe I feel that way because I did without. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-an-epidural-free-birth#post-1883075 Tue, 30 Sep 2014 14:47:45 +0000 littlebug 1883075@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>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. </p> <p>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. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-an-epidural-free-birth#post-1883072 Tue, 30 Sep 2014 14:46:28 +0000 Arden 1883072@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I chose to go with a birthing center where it wasn't offered, mostly because I didn't want the cascade of interventions.<br /> When I eventually did transfer to the hospital because of meconium in my water, I still didn't ask for one. </p> <p>I plan on having my next baby at home with no interventions again, except next time I'll make sure to have a good transfer doctor lined up so I don't end up with a monster like last time if I end up needing to transfer.</p> <p>I actually do believe epidurals have their place and are really good things for some women (especially ones with long labors who need some rest at the end to regain strength), just not coupled with pitocin. :/ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-an-epidural-free-birth#post-1883063 Tue, 30 Sep 2014 14:43:00 +0000 avivoca 1883063@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>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. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-an-epidural-free-birth#post-1883057 Tue, 30 Sep 2014 14:39:51 +0000 birdofafeather 1883057@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It was a control issue for me. I thought if I could go without then I would avoid other things going wrong (cascade of interventions). I wasn't necessarily against them, I just wanted to see if I could do it. I had a quick labor and there was only a minute where I thought, I can't do this! And then I was pushing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-an-epidural-free-birth#post-1883048 Tue, 30 Sep 2014 14:36:35 +0000 Adira 1883048@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cheesetomywhine: Ugh, despite being epidural free, I still needed an IV! That would've been a nice perk though! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-an-epidural-free-birth#post-1883032 Tue, 30 Sep 2014 14:29:18 +0000 looch 1883032@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't want to draw the birth out, once labor started, my view was I wanted it to be done with as soon as possible. I didn't want to rest or sleep, I just wanted to push through. </p>