Pregnancy Forum - Epidurals....

Pregnancy Forum > Pregnancy Forum > Epidurals....

What happens during labor? What do contractions feel like? And how do I know that labor has begun? Read on to learn about birthing basics....

Has anyone given birth with no epidural?

yes
nope

58% [ 7 ]

41% [ 5 ]

Total Votes : 12

Q: Epidurals....

asked by: Eyes Wide Shut on February 2nd, 2006

Especially eHealthy

About a year ago I had surgery on my tailbone to remove a cyst. It left me with 36 stitches...3 layers of 12....

Since conceiving, i've wanted no pain intervention with my birth. I consulted my Dr. And told him about my incision and let him know that I am not really allowed to become constipated due to damaging the scar area. Which was really hard after the surgery due to anestesia blocking you up!! Lol...Anyways...He was very optimistic about it...He said that it actually makes his job a lot easier..Being that you can feel the urge to push and feel what your body is trying to tell you to do.

I have started 'perenial massage' which is the stretching of your vagina to promote non riping during crowning. It also simulates crowning so that your body doesn't freak out when you finally feel the sensation of the head emerging.

I guess what i'm getting at is has anyone here given birth with out the use of pain medication? If so...Are there any other tips that you could give me about the situation. I am looking for a class to begin my breathing lessons....

Any suggestions???

Sarah

Replies(9)

acoles70

replied on February 2nd, 2006

Experienced User

I gave birth to my son with no pain medicine. I didn't even take demeral (stadol). The medicines given in epidurals and pain medicine can effect the baby or cause problems with the mother. I know alot of women that have back pain from having them, others have been paralyzed (rare). I was only in labor 5 hours and pushed him out in 3 pushes, it was my first baby. I was able to get up and move around right after I had him. I would go no other way. It really wasn't that painful, until the last hour. Pushing made the pain go away for me. I tore a little, not even enough for one stitch. I had a small baby though. 6lbs.12oz. Good luck. You can do it.
Ashlee

Eyes Wide Shut

replied on February 2nd, 2006

Especially eHealthy

Thanks for your response...That's what I heard about the pain...That it only gets so bad and then it levels off at that stage of pain..Then you push. I really want to experience childbirth like my ancestors did. There are millions of people a day who give birth without an epidural..So what makes me any different..Ya know?

My Dr. Said that in many cases ripping naturally is better than being cut due to infection and healing time. I have a really young Dr. Who isn't about standard procedure if ya know what I mean. He doesn't belive in always making an incision or using pain meds. The only thing he mentioned about maybe making a cut is if the baby's head is threatening to tear me upward into my clitoris area.

Thanks again for being optimistic about my decision....Did you go to any childbirth classes??

Sarah

replied on February 2nd, 2006

Experienced User

Done Both Ways

I had an epidural with my first, and nothing but the gas with my second.

It was hard, but as soon as the baby is out, it ends so siddenly that it's hard to believe it was happening.
I didn't tear either time, and to be honest, I never bothered with all the excersizes massage etc that they recommend.
It's true you cant feel to push with the epidural, I couldn't feel a damn thing- I just thought about pushing real hard, and hoped something was happening - the baby came out, so I guess I managed a few pushes !!!!
It was funny, they were saying wait till you feel another contraction, and then push- I couldn't feel a damn thing, so I just pushed- or thought "push" at random.

Good luck either way.

Eyes Wide Shut

replied on February 2nd, 2006

Especially eHealthy

Lol....Yea..That's basically what i'm trying to avoid..I would hate to have to get some hemmeroids cuz I can't feel anything and am pushing too hard!! Yikes..Just the thought makes me cringe!!

Thanks for your response!! Every little but helps!! I'm this anxious and I got 12 weeks to go!! I can't wait until it's time!!!

mum2bubba

replied on February 2nd, 2006

Experienced User

I had no drugs with hayley (but believe me I wanted every drug there was) I labored at home for about 3 hours and gave birth 5 minutes before arriving at hospital so I didn't have time for anything. The pain is intense but when you start pushing it doesn't hurt as much. Hope all goes well. :)

fatfamily02

replied on February 2nd, 2006

Extremely eHealthy

acoles wrote:

i know alot of women that have (chronic, permanent) back pain from having them, others have been paralyzed (rare).

this is exactly why I did not believe in them either. I was in hospital with one of my miscarriages(only one I went into hospital with--molar pregnancy--almost bled to death) and a girl lay in the same room paralized from an epidural--this was 25 years ago though. Well, I had mine that long ago.

My first 36 1/2 hours labor, demerol towards what they believed to be the end, but I went so many hours longer, I was out of meds, but so exhausted I was passing out.

2nd induced from the beginning--late--no pain meds at all, I felt it all and I loved the part where she came out. And chose to do it the same way the next child. 26 hours labor.

3rd child all ready to do the "natural child birth again" induced 2 different times(2 weeks apart)---really late--fetal distress--c/section. I was so disappointed. I did not like recovery either.

I did not ever do birthing classes--did not plan on having my daughter natural it just happened so fast once she decided to get into birth canal--no time for meds. I would do it again if I could--just like my daughter. I cant explain it, and if you can actually make it to the pushing pains, then you got it made. The pushing relieves the pains.

diamondsz

replied on February 3rd, 2006

Extremely eHealthy

With my daughter labor was 4hrs22min and I went natural during active labor, I had a shot of demerol in early labor to help me sleep so I could have energy and that did the trick. This time I think I want demerol/entonox to help if I cant go through it natural but im hoping to avoid it all, I will never get an epidural I worry to much about the side effects...

Sammy001

replied on February 3rd, 2006

Active User, very eHealthy

No pain meds at all. I was in labour for 26.5 hours. I ripped some, required 1 stitch.

My boy was huge tho...9 lbs 10 oz..
I was 9 lbs 15 oz... My poor mother... She ripped problem to appetite with me..

Sorry !!!

~*~Jillian~*~

replied on February 3rd, 2006

Extremely eHealthy

Well I had an epidural...Actually I had two ..Because the first one didnt take on the left side of my body and they had to do a spinal one ...And I havent had any back pain..Or any other problems at that...So I think its very rare for things like that to happen ..I dont think I could have made it through my labor without it ...To tell you the truth I was in so much pain ..But that was me and everyone is different..

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