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First time I wanted one and I got one second time lo was a stubborn breech baby and I had to have a c/s

I had a long labor with my first, and the pain was too much for me to handle. For my second I knew that I would be happier with an epidural to ease the pain.

@Mae: Thanks I know every labor is different but once it got to the point of serious pain I was already in transition--I DID beg for an epi to my husband but he and my doula helped coach me through it and when I found out I was ready to push, adrenaline kicked in!

I planned for a med-free birth but told myself that I wouldn't be too hard on myself if I ended up with an epidural. I had mentally prepared myself for labor to start slowly and gradually build up but my water broke and I started having contractions every 2-3 minutes or so pretty much immediately, and it was just too much for me. I will probably go into the next one with an epidural in my birth plan. I REALLY admire the women who get through their labors med-free! Those are some seriously amazing ladies.

I had a natural birth at home with back labor, a 27-hour long labor, and baby stuck in my hips for a few hours before I finally managed to push him on through. It was my experience that a lot of the coping mechanisms can work until transition - once transition hits, it's just a matter of getting through and all the "calm breathing" in the world wasn't helping me But transition also means you're close to baby coming out, and knowing that helped me get through!

back labor / 42 hours of unproductive labor with a posterior baby. The epidural helped me relax and rest, and she was born 6 hours later. Glad I had the energy for pushing, because she was struggling after all that time. I expect if I hadn't had one when I did, I would have ended up with a c-section as they were starting to get nervous toward the end.
Very grateful for it, will probably get one next time (but will wait until 4 or 5 CM). I'm over the un-medicated thing.

I wanted to TRY to go med free, but wasn't gung ho about it--I was ok with getting an epi if I decided I needed/wanted one. And the pain was way worse that I thought it would be, so I got the epi. And it was the best decision I could have made! It helped me relax so that I fully dilated in like an hour and a half, and I only pushed 20 minutes. I think it would have been much longer if I hadn't gotten the epi.

I wasn't set on a med-free birth, I was very open to an epidural, but wanted to put it off as long as possible--I sort of wanted to try going med-free? But I wasn't set on anything either way.

The reality was I was exhausted by the time I was admitted, had unexpected back labor that I couldn't get on top of at the time, and I was throwing up from the pain. Even though they failed twice, I'm still glad I got them, because I desperately needed rest.

I have a 50% success rate with med-free births hahaha. I have to say the number one reason my first was NOT med free was fear. The pain was terrible but I didn't know it was almost over! I was AFRAID and that tripped me up. The second time I powered on through

I think you can go in with the intent of wanting a med free birth but there is just no way to know what will happen or how you will feel in the moment. I planned to go med free but my contractions were so close together and I was progressing so quickly that I just couldn't breathe. I don't think I could have pushed as effectively or had any energy to push if I didn't have the epidural. I also don't think I could have managed the pain factor associated with the repair of my tear after birth without the epidural.

I voted that "I got one" but I was induced with pitocin so it wasn't quite as natural as I wanted...but I did not have an epidural or any other pain meds.

I had a very long PROM labor with 4+ hours of pushing. I had stalled labor. I had pitocin. I had a lot of pain. Honestly it never occurred to me to ask for an epidural. I was so set in my desire for a natural birth that I guess I blocked an epi out as even a possibility? I *thought* I had begged for a c-section at one point because I was so exhausted, but DH says he doesn't remember that, so it might have all been in my head. (I had a very quiet, internal labor.)

Induced because of pre eclampsia so i already had cytotec and pitocin and the magnesum sulfate drip. There was nothing natural about any of that and i fully enjoyed my epidural because the natural boat had sailed long ago

I had a med-free birth. I saw a midwife and delivered at a hospital with a very low intervention rate. I also labored at home for 11 hours before going to the hospital.

@Mae: Ha ha. The anesthesiologist came to my room almost immediately because I had already been in labor for 24+ hours (the rule of my MWs is that anesth. can't see you for the first 24 hours). I told the poor resident to leave before she could even explain why she was there. My husband still makes fun of me because I was actually quite rude.

2 natural births. I nearly had to have an emergency c with my first though.

I wanted a med-free birth, but even more than that I wanted to avoid a C-section if possible. My water broke at 6 pm and I immediately started having contractions. I labored overnight with contractions coming ever 1.5-2 minutes for a minute long with no epi. By 6 am I was exhausted and had not progressed past 3.5 cm. Because my water had broke they were going to start pit (and discussed a c section at 24 hour past water breaking), so I got the epi because I was exhausted from not sleeping all night. It was a lifesaver.