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I didn't have an epidural and LO was still born slightly posterior (she came out sideways) anyway. We had zero issues with supply and feeding aside from a tongue tie.

@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: labored for 32 hours (posterior baby), finally decided to do an epidural at 4cm, was 10 cm within 6 hours after that. The epidural probably saved me from a c section (not that that is predictable, but my doctors have suggested that. After so long in labor without rest I was on the verge of getting to tired to do much else.)

@looch: Same here. My body was so out of it (pushed for 2 hours) that I couldn't pee on my own at first so I had to have a catheter before being able to leave the L&D room.

I had a med free birth that was relatively complication free. I could feel everything but labor was fairly slow and steady so I was able to manage the pain. The urge to push for me was very powerful- I can't imagine not knowing when I was supposed to push or not feeling it, but I know it happens to other women without an epidural.

They did use a vacuum assist at the very end due to concerns about her heart rate, and she came out on the first contraction with it. Minor tearing. And I definitely had the post birth high you hear about, I felt amazing! Sore, but I was on top of the world. Never felt a high like that before (in a good way). Recovery was pretty easy.

I'll try to go med free again this time, but I feel like I was able to do so last time because I had no complications, not that I had no complications because it was med free.

Well, i did have an epidural, but I was induced before it was administered AND bed-ridden the whole time. I did have some pelvic floor issues, but PT has made my issues near nonexistent!

Both articles don't address the scenario of induction first, but also, the anesthesiologist told me that an epidural would lower my blood pressure during labor, which was the reason I was induced in the first place! So it's not like they aren't without their merits, besides pain relief.

I had a spinal fo a c-section with my first, and she was very alert and fed immediately - within minutes. I had a very long induction with an epidural with my second. She was very alert and fed within the hour.

One of my friends recently had an epidural, got a top up because she didn't think it was working, it kicked in and she could not feel anything whatsoever and then the baby just came out - no pushing, nothing at all. She didn't tear, wasn't even swollen, baby was alert and fed immediately and she was discharged in a few hours.

I've had 2 births, one with and one without an epidural. I didn't have any of the side effects mentioned with either birth. The major difference was that my recovery without epidural was much faster, but I was only in labor for 45 minutes for that birth, so I think it is due more to a quick delivery rather than the epi effects.

I had a med-free birth with zero complications. Total labor time was 12 hours (first contraction to baby's arrival), total push-time was 40 minutes. A small labia tear that healed quickly. Baby latched right away, and I was able to get up and move around pretty quickly.

Two epidural births that were both awesome. I had a 9 hour labor and pushed for 20 min with #1, and an 8 hour labor and pushed for 9 min with #2. No issues with supply, and was up and walking around shortly after.

@Lilbear: stories like yours are exactly why I have always been open to an epidural if needed. I've heard similar stories a number of times.

@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: my unscientific opinion is that women with complication free births can go without an epidural more easily. If baby is stuck or posterior or labor stalls, they are more likely to opt for an epidural, AND more likely to have a more difficult recovery.

@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: also labored about 6-8hrs, epidural around 8cm and baby came about an hour later. absolutely no side effects other than i was crazy thirsty the following day. also up and walking within the hour.

I had two epidural and am really glad I did.

Baby 1: spontaneous Labor, day after EDD. Labored at home 9 hours, went to hospital, 4cm, got epi, was 10cm 6 hours later, pushed for 5 hours. Baby was 8lbs 3oz. Looking back I gave myself too much epi so I couldn't feel the pushing the first few hours, once it wore off a bit it was easier. But he was big.

Baby 2: 10 days late, went in to be induced but was already having contractions every 6-7 min. Gave me 25mg misoprostol, 4 hours later was in active labor at 4/5cm, labored a bit, got epi, 2 hours later I was 10cm, labored down, then pushed for 1 hour, baby was posterior earlier, but turned and just his head was coming out sideways, pushed in 4 or 5 positions even with epi to get him out. He was 9lbs, 6oz! I loved my epi's, both babies latched and nursed right away.

@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: it was like that at my hospital, too. you had a button and you could punch it for more medicine. I used it a lot with E (major sciatic pain, man, i forgot about that!) but didn't use it at all with T!

I only read the first article. I have had an epidural birth and a med free birth. Laboring pre-epidural was much more painful the first time. I was in full active, painful labor for many hours so I felt so great after the epi. The pushing part was a breeze...maybe 25 minutes. No pain just pressure. I was up and walking around right after skin to skin.

Second time was so fast that only the last hour was painful. So overall, labor was a breeze. But pushing was excruciating. Truly. I literally screamed through every pushing set. With my first i was totally focused and calm during pushing and u felt very "present" with the epi.

With the med free birth I felt totally out of control and kind of animalistic....all I could think was baby:out.

Both times I had second degree tears. Both times i was up walking around after skin to skin. Very good milk supply but painful latch (tongue ties) with both babies.

Honestly I didnt experience a lot of the benefits I'd heard of for med free births. The "high", my med free baby was LESS alert than the first baby, I had the same type of tear.

I guess if nothing else, it's cool to say I've done both. If i were having a third, I would love to have a short labor again, but with an epi before pushing. That would be my ideal.

I was 4cm when my water broke 2 week before EDD, however I wasn't having contractions. I labored most of the day with pitocen but by 5pm my water really gushed and the contractions got super intense very quickly. I couldn't breathe through them, I was hyperventilating and my hands were going numb. I was only about 6-7cm. I had the epi placed around 6:30pm and that hour or so until it was placed was the longest most uncomfortable I have ever been. Once I got the Epi I was able to relax finish transition and by 9:30pm I was ready to push. I pushed for 2 hours but I think my issue was more that she was not at the proper station when I started pushing. I had a small tear and she nursed right away and was very alert. Recovery was what I expected. I would do the Epi again without a 2nd thought.

I have yet to read all responses, but here is my experience.

Admitted at 5cm at 6am - received morphine for pain (prob 6:30am) while epidural plan was being sorted. Epidural received at 6cm at 8am (godsend!). Noon I was 9cm (never checked again) and began process of turning off my epi. At 1pm I was feeling ready. Pushed for 15 minutes - surprised the Dr with how quickly I pushed her out. She came out screaming with two great apgar scores - which I was worried about bc I did need oxygen at one point and I was worried she may be a bit blue!

I specifically did not want to be the first to hold her - but I had her about 20 mins or so after birth (the stitching was very painful for me - I could not imagine holding a new born or trying to nurse through it). She latched immediately and nursed for a short period. I could feel my legs when they moved me to recovery (about 45 mins) but they didnt quite want me standing yet on my own. I went to the bathroom (with some help from the nurse) about 2-3 hours after I had her - from then on I was independent...though I think I didnt hold her standing until sometime later just to be sure.

Out of my 3 deliveries, the easiest recovery by far was the one after a med free, 0 intervention birth.