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My #1 reason to avoid the epidural is so that I can move through my labour. I really want to be able to walk, sway, roll, rock and help move the baby down with gravity as much as possible, and the epi pretty much lays you up in bed the whole time.

I didn't plan to, but ended up getting one at 8 cm dilation (they're not kidding about transition!) I plan not to this time either, but we'll see what happens when the time comes. I'll have my mom in for support in addition to my husband this time, so I'm hoping that will help. I'm not too worried about it either way!

I wont be having an epidural. I will report back how that goes for me.

My anesthesiologist is one of the dear loves of my life for giving me the epidural. Talk about a dream delivery. So, yes, 1000 times yes!

I want to be able to move around during labor to different positions, walk and go in and out of the whirlpool tub, so I’m going to try not to have one. BUT, if the baby’s heart rate is increasing or she starts to get stressed because my body is stressed and in pain, then I will definitely get one. I’m leaving the option open.

When I think of labor and birth, I get happy, relaxed, and kind of dreamy. When I think of an epidural, I get tense, paranoid, and a little bit nauseous. While I am aware that complications MIGHT arise and I MIGHT have to be drugged or operated on, I am PLANNING on a fully natural birth in my own home.

I don't want one, less because I am psyched about pain, but moreso because of the "cascade of interventions" that often happens once you start with the epidural. I really want to avoid interventions, especially C-section, so I want to try to go natural.

@cyneswith: @daniellemybelle: what they said! I'm definitely planning on a home birth.

I had one and it would do it again. I didn't feel drugged as a pp said. Must be a cultural thing but where I live if people ask if you had a natural birth they mean csection v vaginal.

I know many on the boards think an epidural is the worst thing ever and that if you don't go 'natural' you are somehow putting your baby at risk and that an epidural is the fast train to csection. End of the day you have to do what's right for you and respect other people's right to the same.

@daniellemybelle: I think DH is probably a little more comfortable with me being in a hospital too (he's a little nervous nellie sometimes) but he understands that I'm terrified of hospitals and is so far supporting my home birth goal

I didn't get an epidural with both pregnancies. With my first, I was kind of toying with the idea but as I got closer to the due date, I got more nervous about it. My mom didn't get any pain medicine either when she had my sister and I. She said it was easy peasy and the pain wasn't very much at all. My mom tends to exaggerate quite a bit so I knew I couldn't rely on her opinion. I just kept it open and just addressed my pain every hour during labor. By the time I finally called in for the epidural with my firstborn, I was already ready to deliver so I didn't end up getting it. For my second, the epidural was actually the unknown to me so I would've been more nervous about getting it than not. Both my labors only lasted 8 hours or so with excruciating pain for just about 3 hours and only needed to push for 30 minutes. So I was lucky in that respect. Also, my husband was an awesome coach. I guess he paid attention during our birthing class and really helped me get through each contraction. I don't think I would've been able to do it sans pain meds without him encouraging me.

Yes. IF there is #2 I'll get one. I was in labor 15 hrs before my csection for breech Baby Bear.LOL

My plan was to see how it goes, I didn't want a pain fest but my mom had fast labors so if that was the case I thought it'd be fine. My labor ended up being long. After my water broke I got to 6 cm pretty quick and then progress decided to sssslllloooowww down even though I was having contractions all the time. So after awhile I got an epidural and I did notice it changed my contractions (they stopped for awhile) and baby's heart rate got a bit too steady (I got on oxygen), those were the two side effects I didn't like. I never felt groggy though or drugged up with the epidural and breastfeeding went very smoothly. So I'll probably have the same plan to see how it goes again and put off getting the epidural at least for awhile and I'll try to have more juice or gatorade or something for energy during labor, it's intense.

I haven't made up my mind but I'm not great with pain so I definitely would never say never. I'm more likely to have a section, with twins, and for the same reason a home birth is pretty much out. I basically want whatever gets me and the babas through the whole thing as easily and safely as possible!

I wennt in hoping for natural but being open minded since i hadnt done it before. I did want to avoid intervention as much as possible, especially a c- section. But i ended up being induced because i was late and the pitocin made the contractionns strong. I made it to 5 centimeters and then i swear they turned up the pit and the pain went from hard but manageable to excruciating. After reassurance from the nurse that i had progressed well enough to likely avoid a csection i got the epi and it was great! I think it helped a lot to have an open mind.

i voted "other" because i'm not sure if you use epidural for c-sections.

@tequiero21: I had one for my c-section.

I had an epidural because I honestly didn't want to be in extreme pain for an unknown number of hours. When my epidural did work, it was a beautiful thing!

In this early stage of looking at the various options, my goal is to have a natural delivery without an epidural but if it gets so bad that I need/want one than I will request a walking epidural, which apparently is a lower dose of meds so you still feel the contractions and have control over your legs, etc.