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I wasn't sure I wanted an epidural, I really wanted to try to go naturally. I started throwing up with contractions though, which wasn't something I was expecting and that kind of made me lose focus and I was getting very anxious. I had been laboring for 9 hours and was only at 4cm, I just couldn't get my body to relax during contractions. That all contributed to me choosing to get an epidural. For me it turned out to be just the right decision though, and I don't regret it at all. I dilated from a 4 to 10 in just two hours, labored down for a bit and then only pushed for 15 minutes. I barely tore and only required one stitch and had a relatively easy recovery. They did augment with pitocin after my epidural, but I didn't end up cascading into all the interventions that make epidurals sound so scary sometimes. There are good stories and bad out there, you just can't be sure what will happen, but for me the epidural was a positive experience.

I had two horrible epidural experiences (first failed three times, once during transition; second went too deep and ended up as a spinal, which resulted in a spinal headache 48 hrs later, and ended up getting an epidural blood patch that night... I've officially had SIX epidurals total for 2 deliveries) but I really do not regret either. It's unfortunate that the situations happened that way, but I just don't see any way around it. I was at one of the top OB hospitals in the nation (Brigham and Women's) with anesthesia attendings at my beck and call but what can I say, crap happens and I have a cursed spine... all I know is that once the pain got too intense, I really had no other choice. I was begging them to knock me out, put me under general anesthesia and do a C-section. I'm glad that didn't end up happening!!! When the epis were in effect the relief from the pain was the best I ever felt in my LIFE. And even though the spinal caused problems later, my second delivery was so easy, quick, and completely painless. even though the aftermath of the blood patch was horrific, I will always have the memory of an easy and pain-free (and pleasant!) delivery of my daughter!

i just wanted to write and say my childbirth class did freak me out about the epidural a little, but I knew 100% that I wanted it (unless my labor happened to move miraculously fast & I wouldn't have time for it).... But I got an epidural and was super happy about my decision.

I labored at home for about 9 hours before heading in to the hospital.... I was 4 cm when I got it - and about 5/6 hours later I was 10cm. It didn't slow my progress down - but I was pushing forever (5 hrs) - he was just stuck, we had to add pitocin in to make my contractions get closer together after pushing for 3 hrs....

I was also able to push in 4 or 5 different positions, all laying down of course, but found one I liked best, they didn't tell me in the class that there would still be options even laying down & hooked up to the IV.

Without the epi I'm not sure I would have been able to have him vaginally. With the epi I got a couple hours rest, and was able to push for that length of time and with the addition of pitocin. Towards the end I let the epi run out (i just wanted it to end so I stopped upping the medicine) so I felt every contraction and did feel my son come out... So, long story, for me it was the right choice.

Our hospital class was SO anti-epidural, they had me fearing it more than I already did. I actually really hate that they made me feel that way. You would think a class put on by the hospital would take all of the options into consideration. We had absolutely no complications with my epidural and the tech made sure it was on just high enough to take away the pain but low enough so I could feel the pressure and know how when to push!

I was scared to death of the epidural until I was in PAIN and you know what? It was so easy!! I would say the worst part was having to have the catheter in. That was just weeeird. They removed it when I started pushing, though so I didn't have it in long (it wasn't long between getting my epi and pushing for me.

Actually, I have found that a lot of my friends and my experiences were the same - once we got our epi's, it seemed like labor sped up. Maybe it's because we're finally able to relax and let things happen without stressing and being miserable?

@ladyfingers: don't listen to your friend! Just go into your birth with as much information as possible and keep your mind open to doing whatever you feel is right once the time comes. Your frame of mind when you're in pain is really different and you'll know what to do and what's best for you and your baby!

@ladyfingers: I ate two popsicles in between pushing -- that was the only thing they allowed besides water & ice chips. no food though... and after he was out I drank the most amazing gingerale of all time. haha.

they also "straigh cath-ed" me - so not a constant catheter, just came in & placed it a few times.

do what you feel is best! You'll know when you're in it!

lol I am glad to hear I was not the only one FREAKED after birthing class about the epi!

I said to DH I wish just he got to learn/see that part of class and I could leave my head in the sand!

I was not induced, and got the epi, NO regrets. I was at the hospital just under 3 hours before getting it!

I was overdue, went into early labour 40+5, active labour 40+6, had her at 41w!

I thought I had a high pain tolerance, wanted to utilize all the options (tub, birthing ball, bars, walk, etc...) and go "natural"/med free if I could.

I got to the hospital when contractions were 4 mins apart, then began throwing up through contractions, morphine didn't touch me, and then I was checked and was only 4cm!

Bring.on.the.epi!

It really didn't hurt that bad, and the relief from it was unreal/so worth it. It allowed me to relax, sleep, and be SO ready for pushing! Being "tied" to the bed was so much of a non-factor for the level of relief. DH and I slept, and it was great, by the time we got a night of sleep, I was a 10, and ready to push!

I really regret the pain management I agreed to with DS & other than getting him out of it the whole experience sucked..... So I went unmedicated this time. Most of the moms in my natural birth group have the same background, epi with first & unmedicated with subsequent. And they pretty much unanimously agree they should've gone unmedicated with their first because it was such much better than they expected.

As for your friend, I'm on the other end not understanding why, with all the information & resource we have, anyone would choose to go medicated. *shrugs shoulders* I just am really glad that I (would bold if I could) birthed DD as an active participant as opposed to her just being born.

Sidenote: that's not said to make anyone feel bad about them choosing a medicated birth. It's simply the primary difference I found between DS & DD.

i obviously haven't had my epi yet since we're both feb mamas, but i do know that my hospital allows/encourages epi moms to labor in different positions. of course, if you have the epidural you won't be walking the halls, but a lot of doctors/hospitals these days are very up-to-date with new and different laboring techniques for medicated births.

Disclaimer: I was induced.

The only thing I regret is that I elected for it and it didn't work for more than an hour or so. They stuck me a million times, I had a back that itched like it got attacked by fire ants afterward and I had a lingering popping pain in my spine for a couple of months.

@ladyfingers: Here are some of the mistakes I made my first go round...

(Wanted natural birth, ended with cesarean)

-Not having a doula for my hospital birth. Tbh I think even for an out of hospital birth they are an amazing asset that all moms should strongly consider having regardless of birth type wanted.

- Didn't have a pro-natural provider. Specifically when I talked about thinking of going natural he shrugged it off like "okay... whatevs"

- Didn't change providers when at my 40 wk appt my obgyn said they'd induce my on Monday if DS hadn't come yet. Now I realize how much induction increases other interventions needed & how in most cases is unnecessary... and my MW has had lots of "over due" moms transfer into her care for this reason. I ALWAYS tell moms now it's not too late to change providers until you've already had the baby. lol

- When contractions started I didn't rest at all, rather I walked & walked & walked & walked for 17 hrs! (Feared getting induced so tried to push labor)

- After getting hung up on by the on-call obgyn I went to the hospital, was only 2 cm... They kept me & immediately started pit.

- After being asked "you sure you don't want anything for pain" 10 times in literally 2 minutes I accepted stadol to take the edge off & get some sleep. As I posted on your other thread... feeling drunk, not moving, and then getting cut off when things were tough sucked! lol (I would never just decide one day to run a marathon, I'd work up to that distance beforehand... labor is very much the same)

- I then stayed in bed the remainder of my labor. Well, I couldn't get out since I had the stadol & I'm positive it inhibited my progression.

- Consented to arom because of slow progression & then also internal monitoring

- Then after another 17 hrs I consented to a cesarean bc the doctor played "dead baby". You should never make a decision out of fear but out of all the risks involved with not agreeing to the intervention & to accepting it.

I'd also note that I had a very long labor with both DS and DD so the fact of my "failure to progress" with DS was more like "failure to wait" since DD proved to be just as long & not needing intervention to successfully deliver her. If you're interested in seeing other "mistakes" some now natural moms made you can check out this thread on another forum: http://babybump.alt12.com/community/groups/139-natural-birth/posts/2388958-making-mistakes

@scg00387: "I feel like online some are really really vocal about being anti-epidural and add to the dread of getting one - whereas in real life everyone I know who had an epidural had a positive experience and don't regret it"

Agreed! I don't know any moms personally that dealt with spinal headaches or residual back pain but "know" alot from my birth month forum. Then again I don't know many moms IRL so maybe that's why. lol I'm pretty much the same online & IRL since I'm the only natural birth mom I know IRL..... gotta clear up those misconceptions that those I know have..... "going natural is crazy...". lol

I do know someone in real life that had a really rare complication form her epi and couldn't walk for weeks after delivery. Her husband had to take months off from work to help take care of her anad the baby. She has had premanent nerve damage. It is really rare, but it was scary to hear what happened to her. Everyone else in real life has done fine with theirs (minus a few who had epidurals fail and need to be redone).

I got an epi at 5 cm and do not regret it even remotely. I had pitocin to speed things up a bit and the contractions were really intense and holy hell painful. I don't think I would have been able to push properly without it to be honest, the pain was that bad and I couldn't focus on anything except the pain. Its really not bad getting one and all the cords and whatever that you are hooked up to weren't noticeable for me at all.

I loved both of my epidurals, but before my first I had a lot of concerns about getting one. I was worried that getting an epidural meant no eating or drinking, no getting out of bed, laboring on my back/side, pushing in the traditional position, and being hooked up to a ton of monitors/wires/etc... Turns out, a lot of those fears did not matter when I actually went into labor. I was puking so much before my epidural, there was no way I could have eaten or drank anyway, since it was all coming right back up. Even without the epidural, you'll be hooked up to a bunch of wires and cords (my hospital required continuous fetal monitoring past 4 centimeters, a blood pressure cuff, an oxygen finger reader thingy, and an iv, regardless of whether I had an epi). I was so weak during each contraction, my husband was holding me up anyway, so it wasn't like I wanted (or even had the strength) to out of bed and move around. And by the time I got around to pushing, my epidural had worn off enough that I could feel most of what was going on and I was a pretty effective/fast pusher.

I think it's good to have concerns and be aware of what you may/may not want, but it's also good to realize that you won't know for sure until you actually get into labor. All of your fears may be totally overwhelmed by the pain of birth, and you might get an epi anyway. OR you might realize you can handle birth just fine without meds, and you don't need to get an epi. Either way is great, but you just might not know which way you're going until you're actually in the midst of labor.

I kind of regret getting the epi. My labor progressed pretty quickly. I went from first contraction to 10 in about 6 hours. I ended up having a cervical lip that the OB was afraid would end up rupturing and that she didn't think would clear quickly. At that point I couldn't not push. A ruptured cervix terrifies me, so I opted to get an epi. I ended up having irregular contractions for a super long time and LO wasn't born until 6 hours later. In the end, though, I have a healthy baby and all is well. Maybe next time.

In a perfect world, these things would have gone differently:

1. I would have sucked it up and not gotten the epi.
2. I would have moved around to clear the lip. L&D was super busy and there were no rooms for me. They ended up making a makeshift delivery suite in the PACU. Because of the room's actual purpose, I wasn't allowed to walk around, go to the bathroom, etc.

Childbirth class had me nervous about epidurals too.i went into labor hoping to hold off and maybe not get one, but once my water broke they didn't want me up walking the halls or on the birthing ball, and the pain was worse than I expected so I got one. Honestly I don't regret it one bit! I was able to relax and rest up for pushing! My epi had worn of a good bit by the time I pushed, which although painful, I liked, because I could feel my contractions and know when to push. Honestly my experience was perfect to me!

I think it is important to go into labor with a open mind. That will be your biggest asset. I wanted a unmedicated birth bu I will not beat myself up if I could not handle the pain. I went as long as I could then went for the eipdural. I was not tethered to the bed. The catheter was not bad at all. And I did not regret it at all. I pushed for 2 hours with no progress bc her head was so big so in glad I went for it!