I think I want an ALL natural birth...what are the benifits of having an epidural?

Autumn - posted on 04/13/2009

With an epidural you still feel some pain and pressure, but not so much that you struggle to cope. Lots of women find out that they can't even have natural births. I use to want to do it completely natural but after being induced both times (body just didn't want to go into labor and almost needed a c-section), I have come to the conclusion that having an all natural birth is good for nothing more than bragging rights. The kids still comes out just as fine with or without the epidural, vaginal or c-section. One baby won't end up better than the other just because mom wanted to be a super woman and do it all natural.
The best advise I can give you is try it without the drugs, but if you feel it is too tough don't feel bad about getting the epidural. You are only human and your baby will still be beautiful and just as health.

Joy - posted on 04/13/2009

. although it wont directly effect the baby, epidurals tend to slow down your labor, so what usually will happen in the hospital is this:

 

epidural

labor slows

doctors give you pitosin to boost the labor

this causes more intense and painful contractions

then you need a boost of epidural

then pitosin which also causes long contractions

Don't feel bad about choosing an epidural or not. This is your baby and your experience. This is completely personal to you and not every situation is the same. You can tell the doctor what you want and you don't have to have the above scenario happen. Just because it happened to one person doesn't mean it will happen to every person. Our hospital provided birthing classes to expecting parents and the teacher told us repeatedly that we should never let the doctors push us into something we don't want. It is your choice, except if there is a medical condition that could cause complications.

Don't let anyone - doctors, nurses, friends, etc. - try to scare you into a decision.

Autumn - posted on 04/13/2009

There are a couple of old posts about my natural birth, and reasons why. Read the Birth book by Dr. Sears as well.

Autumn - posted on 04/13/2009

Sure if you want to put something the equivelent of cocain in your body, and yes it does get to baby and effect him.

I did what was best for me and my baby. Feel free to read my blog www.autumnjadeg.blogspot(dot)com

User - posted on 04/13/2009

3 children * forgot to add 3rd one he's still new lol

User - posted on 04/13/2009

I had epidurals with both my other children .. i gave birth 9 weeks wed's coming and i had epidural again but failed OMFG its the worst thing ive ever gone through.. But once he was out the pain went..but never again without a epidural.. after the birth i lost 2 pints of blood was so weak they wouldnt let me bk to ward had to stay in delivery till morning coz was hooked up to drips.. Its down to u no-one else we well be all singing off diff hymm sheets .. I aint gunna lie to u labour hurts.. Epidural hardly hurts at all but there is that risk of it not working at all like mine my dr did try to re-do it but was called to cardic arrest TYPICAL.. I think why go thought so much pain when u dont need to its silly its just stresses u out.. xx

Autumn - posted on 04/13/2009

I am so with Amanda! I had epi with my first, I felt out of control, and helpless. With second it was a natural water birth. I was in control and powerful. Birthing on your back is a bad idea, you tear worse and your control is taken away. Watch Business of being born, it changed my life.

Hayley - posted on 04/13/2009

i didnt have an epidural i wasnt able to i had a pethadin injection and i slept for 10 hours of my labour with no pain, i didnt want an epidural because i have a back problem and it can make it worse.

i dont know what options of pain relief you get. but i would recomend mine any day, i know friends who have got through labour on gas and air alone. At the end of it all what ever you chose it will be worth it because you will have a beautiful child to hold.dont make a decision till your in labour as you may not need pain relief

Amanda - posted on 04/13/2009

Well it all depends really, an epidural can be an amzing thing if you really arent able to deal with the contractions, they can have a downside though. although it wont directly effect the baby, epidurals tend to slow down your labor, so what usually will happen in the hospital is this:

epidural

labor slows

doctors give you pitosin to boost the labor

this causes more intense and painful contractions

then you need a boost of epidural

then pitosin which also causes long contractions

So basically what happens is the doctor will come in say your labor is taking too long (they dont like to keep the beds filled it takes away from their money) so then they will give you the pitosin and that causes the longer contractions which takes away from the baby's oxygen so either the labor will take "too long" or the heart rate will drop and the doctors will suggest a C-section (by suggest i mean make it seem like they are telling you to do it) and then you feel like a bad mom if you choose not to and so you just do it. i know it seems a bit confusing but this is really how it works, I am a midwife and worked as a labor and delivery nurse for 2 years.

i just had an ALL natural birth at home in november and my labor was 48 hours long, the way that i got through it was preparing myself while i was pregnant, Think of it this way, its natural, its not a disease its a healthy normal part of life, its something that i never would want to miss, that and with an epidural you cant feel anything, so they dont let you get up and move around, you have to lay in a bed strapped to an IV and monitors the whole time, i cant imagine going through labor laying in bed, i had to stand and i got help from gravity as a bonus, sorry its so long....Watch this movie you can rent it from blockbuster or netflix

its called "The Business of Being Born" it really helped me to make my decision i hope this helps. Also, i am an advocate for natural home births but i understand that its not for everyone, and any way you do it its a miralce, completely worth it, and good luck!!

Amanda

Jeanna - posted on 04/13/2009

it will minimize the pain if not block it completely

Jessica - posted on 04/13/2009

The epidural was soooo relaxing!  It really gave me the opportunity to really enjoy my labor.  Although, I will warn you...when it came time to push it stopped working.  My doctor arrived moments before she was born and didn't know the epidural wasn't working and gave me an episiodomy without any anestiesia (which was far was than any labor pains).

Roxanne - posted on 04/13/2009

Quoting Amelia:

It all would be worth it if you HAD to do it that way, but you get the same reward with the epidural, you get your baby in the end. you will still have pain with the epidural when it comes to pushing.

  Luckily I felt no pain, even while pushing. I tried like hell not to get an epidural. It was pretty terrible for my husband BEFORE the epidural.. I was screaming and crying and honestly, in the worst pain of my life- but he could not do anything about it. After 6 hours of natural labor I got the one, and I am pleased with my decision. It made the next 6 hours much more enjoyable for me and my family. It did not hinder my ability to push but in fact helped me immensely. The only bad effect for me was I had an epidural backache for the next 2 weeks or so, which is mildly annoying when you're bending over trying to lift a 7 pound baby. And if you have a perenial tear (which I did) or an episcotomy it delays feeling the pain from that for a little while as well. They will explain to you/remind you of the benefits and the negatives beforehand so that you may make an informed decision. It is your choice and until you're in the moment it is really very hard to say ultimately 'yes' or 'no'. Good luck and let us know how it goes!! Whether or not you choose drugs, you are still a superhero :)

Joy - posted on 04/13/2009

All deliveries are different. I had an epidural because I needed an emergency c-section after 24 hours of labor. I was so grateful to have it because contractions are the worst pain in the world and I was able to relax and finally enjoy the whole experience. I am absolutely going to have another epidural with my second child just because my first time around was so rough.

However, my best friend, who has had 4 natural at-home births, had really easy births and her contractions didn't last long. She swears that having natural births is best because instead of being a spectator (ahh, the beauty of feeling fantastic from an epidural) you feel as though you are more a part of the whole delivery process.

I'm not sure if you've made a birth plan or not, most hospitals don't follow them anyway, but tell the doctor before hand that you want to go all natural at first just to see how it goes. You might be one of the lucky gals who has easy deliveries. If not and a few hours of excruciating pain are too much to handle, by all means get the anesthesiologist in there to hook you up.

Cinda - posted on 04/13/2009

I had natural child birth with both of my children and eventhough it was very painfull I wouldn't have changed anything.

Abby - posted on 04/13/2009

i cld still feel my contractions slightly in the top of my right leg, very random! i was worried i may freak if i couldnt feel my bottom half, but it's sort of more relaxing than paralising.

good luck x

Kristina - posted on 04/13/2009

My motto is no need to be a hero and go natural.  You are all ready a hero by becoming a mom and going throuhg labor, why go through it in more pain than you need to?  I went into labor not knowing if I was going to have an epidural or not.  I was very opend minded to either choice.  I did choose to have an epidural and thought it was great.  Getting the epidural did not hurt it was a lil uncomfortable but a very weird sensetion.  I recommend it!!

Rebecca - posted on 04/13/2009

I follow Abby's line of thinking, keep your mind open. You don't have to make up your mind until you are in labour. Contractions start off nice and easy but get nasty very quickly, after a few hours of labour I was exhausted. The epidural gave me a chance to relax somewhat before the birth (which was an emergency c-section) Just don't feel bad / guilty if you get an epidural, you still get to experience everything.

Emily - posted on 04/13/2009

There are risks and benefits to any kind of drug. You have to weigh what is going to be the best for you at the situation as with any drug. Since you want a natural birth I assume you are already well versed on the potential risks- and there are quite a few of them. As far as benefits go there is the pshychological. Some people are deathly afraid of pain. Others due to position of baby induction or restricted movement have extremely painful births. If an epidural helps them relax enough to conserve strenth and avoid a Csection or episiotomy it should be considered a benefit. I have had two all natural births as well as an epidural (for knee surgery). I had complications from my epidural and that is why I made the decision not to have one for labor ahead of time. I recomend the natural birth. It eventually ends. The complications from my epidural (10 years ago) haven't yet.

Abby - posted on 04/13/2009

i had 39 hours of 'labour'(trust me it was longer than that) i had an epidural 4hours before my son was born it meant i could have an hour and half sleep before he was born so i was not as shattered as i wouldve been without it. i said i'd never had one but then couldnt cope. just make NO definite decisions on a birrthplan, be open minded. hope this helps xxx

Helen - posted on 04/13/2009

It takes the pain away so that you and relax and doze and when the time to push comes you have some energy left. i had contractions on and off for 4 days (no sleep) and the labour was 11 hours. Without an epidural i dont think i would have had any energy to push as i spent most of those 11 hours dozing

Lisa - posted on 04/13/2009

I have had both, my first child was with an epidural, I was able to sleep and then wake up to push, I could not feel the contractions so it was hard to know when to push but they do tell you so you will know when. my second child I had all Natural in a birthing center in a hospital, I was able to walk around get in a tub It was tough my boy was 9lbs 5 oz but being in charge of what was happening to me was nice. the odd thing is I remeber more from my first birth then I do my second, I dont know if maybe the epidural let relax more (probably did) either way it is your decsion and whatever works for you is the best decsion to make. good luck

Amelia - posted on 04/13/2009

It all would be worth it if you HAD to do it that way, but you get the same reward with the epidural, you get your baby in the end. you will still have pain with the epidural when it comes to pushing.

Kirsten - posted on 04/13/2009

I have to agree with the other ladies... there is really no benefit in my opnion of wearing yourself out with the horrendous pain of contractions and pushing when there is a safe, effective way to not have to go through it. I had an epidural after about 1 hour of contractions, got to take a nice little nap, and then woke up and had a healthy beautiful baby girl. It was wonderful.

Jade - posted on 04/13/2009

i went with an epidural. why not...the only difference in an epidural and natural is no/little pain. i would advise you to go with the epidural but its your decision.

Brittany - posted on 04/13/2009

I understand that you don't have to go through the pain. But in the end once your child is born isn't it worth all the hard work and pain? I'm just curious and trying to see what people have to say about it. My sister wanted to go all natural also and told me that I would change my mind-like everyone has said that. I am still undecided right now though. Trying to get an idea from those who HAVE already had kiddos.

Amelia - posted on 04/13/2009

what aren't the benefits? i thought i wanted to go natural too, but when those contractions started coming strong i quickly changed my mind. why be in that much pain when you don't have to. it doesn't effect the baby.but it's your decision...you might beable to handle it.