coconut / 8681 posts
Definitely not. I had an amazing epidural with no issues and it helped make my labor experience something that I can look back fondly on. I don't feel like I have anything to prove by trying to go med free.
GOLD / eggplant / 11517 posts
@Navy_Mommy: Yikes, definitely. I had to have a catheter replaced immediately after giving birth because they wanted to monitor my urine output. An extra 12 hours of being on the cath AFTER birth was not my idea of a good time at all.
hostess / wonderful honeydew / 32460 posts
I have epidurals with both.
I probably could have gone without with DS, but eh. I was happy to have relief both times.
I had great experiences thankfully.
pomelo / 5093 posts
I tried to go med free the first time, but I needed a foley induction, and I wasn't interested in doing that and pitocin med free. But I hated my epidural, when it even worked. I'll go without next time if I can avoid the pit.
GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22646 posts
yep! pushing was the hardest part for me and at that pt the epi didnt do crap for me. so i'd like to attempt without epi.. and for that matter iv fluids of any sort for as long as possible.
pomegranate / 3890 posts
I the epidural, I went for hours without it but it help me relax and progress when I received it.
persimmon / 1447 posts
Had an epi for both, but #2 failed about an hour after I got it. I was definitely hurting, but I think I could go med free for #3.
grapefruit / 4823 posts
If I wasn't having a planned csection with #2, I would absolutely ask for the epidural again! The relief was amazing!
kiwi / 673 posts
I want to try med free next time. My epidural failed, anyway, and it sucked for the pain to kick in once it was so intense. In the end, though, I'll just be happy not to have another c-section.
pomelo / 5621 posts
@regberadaisy: I wanted to be epi free for #1, but that didn't happen. If I have a second I will see how it goes, but I'll probably do an epi again.
cantaloupe / 6610 posts
No. I get that going med-free is important to some, but it just isn't to me. I'll be smiling with a big fat needle in my back for every baby that I have!
grapefruit / 4049 posts
I got it the first time and had no problems with it, but for #2, felt like I could do without... I was blessed with a fast labor and arrived at the hospital at 9.5 cm, so there was no time for it anyway. So yeah, went completely med-free (no IV/heplock or anything) for #2! Would shoot for med-free again if there will be a next time!
pomegranate / 3225 posts
I'm interested in hearing from more moms about this... I got an epi with DD at 7 cm but did not react well to it (labor stalled, had to get lots of pitocin, had fever, shaking, etc). So I don't know if it's worth it to tough it out without it or to try to get it a little later now with baby #2...
cantaloupe / 6885 posts
Hellllllllllll no!!!
I was on the fence for lo1, but after 20 hours of labor that wasn't progressing I got an epi . Best.thing.ever. I was able to sleep, relax, and went from a 3 to a 10 in no time.
I'll be asking for one ASAP next time!
apricot / 294 posts
I had an epi for my first delivery 2 years ago, and went med free for my second delivery 11 days ago. I said, when I was first checked in the hospital, if I am a 4 then i am getting it, if i am 6-7, will hold off and see.
I was 6.5 and the contractions were tolerable, so I waited. An hour later I was dying but i asked to be checked before deciding on the epi. I was a 9 so I thought it will be over soon (and i didnt think i could sit still for the epi)
The pain was so intense, I thought my body was being split apart. And that was before i began pushing. But the pain really does vanish the second your baby is born and the recovery was great (other than incontinence issues about which I just posted).
Like other posters said, how rested you are makes a difference. I had been up about 40 hours with my first labor, and was so exhausted. I delivered 9 hours after receiving the epi, with 2 hours of pushing, so I definitely needed the epi to rest up. This time I was taking mid day naps with my toddler for several days leading up to labor and felt great. The second labor also progressed so much faster. So although I was in unbelievable pain, it was over pretty quickly.
grapefruit / 4988 posts
I planned for a natural childbirth with LO but ended up with the epidural and have never regretted it. If/when I have another, I think I will plan to get the epi ahead of time so I won't stress over having to make the decision.
apricot / 294 posts
I should add that I credit the epi with ending up only with a first degree tear after my first delivery (3 stitches), because when the baby was crowning the OB had me STOP pushing (she said to breath like I am blowing out candles) so she could slowly stretch me over the baby's head and minimize tearing. There was so much pressure and it was hard not to push, but there was no real burning pain so I was able to stop pushing.
This time i think the lack of an epi caused me to tear (again only first degree) because when they told me to stop pushing or to give small pushes, I could not stop through the awful ring of fire and just gave a big push.
bananas / 9973 posts
no no no no no I just.can't.imagine. I was thanking the man who made the epidural like he was a god when it finally kicked in. lol
cherry / 104 posts
I got one with my first. I wanted to go natural but they had me on Pitocin which made the pain unbearable and I waited so long the almost couldn't give me an epidural.
My game plan this time is that if Pitocin is mentioned I'm getting one right away otherwise I'm going to try to go natural, but I'm not holding on to that idea.
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