Pregnancy Info HOME

But seriously, I think I'm going to try with no epidural this time also. I can handle pain pretty well, but I think my body really needed it the first time. Good luck junebaby! It won't be much longer for you! :)

I had gas and air for mine and that was all I needed. I think labour is more frustrating with all the pushing than it is painful. All depends on the person and the labour itself though.

I too am afraid of the whole needle in the spine idea, even though I know it is common practice and generally safe. I have heard from a couple of people that they could still tell me exactly where they inserted the needle and they didn't like the epi. I just have a thing with it and have a high threshold for pain so went without one for my first. I did have in the very beginning, a shot of Demerol. It takes the edge off a bit yes. It makes you not care as much and sleepy in between contractions. I remember waking up after a minute or so and being in such unbearable pain that I screamed for an epi but by that time, I was JUST about ready to push. I do not recall the pushing hurting at all. I am pregnant again, due in September and hoping do do without an epi again. If you can tolerate pain at all and can count yourself through each contraction and mentally know that it's temporary and going to end, I think you could get through it if you're trying to do it without one. But the Demerol, known to have the same effects as heroin, only put me a bit in la la land, if that, and made me sleep a bit in between. My adrenalin was so high that it didn't even have much of an effect at all. Without the epi though, I felt like a superstar afterwards, the baby was alert and came out after just one push. Best of luck- you can do it!

Pain meds don't help IMO. I had an epidural with my first and it was wonderful! Unfortuantely my 2nd and 3rd came to quickly and I was unable to have an epi. but everything turned out okay in the end. in fact for my fourth i don;t really care if I go natural or if I have time to have an epidural then that's great too. The pain is horrific but it gives you a better handle on how hard you need to push.

I’m unsure if I want to go with an epidural mainly because if you choose to go that route then while the medication is taking affect it will confine you to the bed. This means being hooked up to a catheter. I can’t stand the thought of being confined and unable to move around. But it has two major benefits, in my opinion. The first one would obviously be the dulling of the pain, some women have had trouble pushing because the epidural has numbed them. And some women have wanted the epidural not to affect them while they are pushing because they feel that pushing is a special to experience the baby coming. If you know what you want during pregnancy you should really make sure your doctor knows, an epidural takes about two hours to take effect. Therefore your doctor must know a certain time ahead so that the medication will be useful. And they should also know if you want to feel the pushing so that the epidural to be discontinued in time. My second reason that I would choose an epidural is because you can feel comfortable giving birth in one position, which is the way that pregnancy is typically portrayed on T.V.; on your back. I don’t really want to give birth in a standing or any other awkward position. Because without an epidural you might feel the need to move around and get in a more comfortable position while the baby is coming.

I didn't have an epidural and my midwife made change positions every half hour because it helps keep things moving (something about your body adjusting to the position so the contractions aren't as effective). Also I delivered while I was on my side not my back. I stayed in the position I was in when I was ready to push. I due agree that many women who receive an epidural seem to push for a long period of time. Recently I have even hears of a couple of women being given petocin to deliver after pushing for several hours.

i've read they push for longer because the epi affects the muscles down there, not letting you push as hard as you were if you weren't having an epidural.

my sister sure seemed to like the epidural. I think they had to wake her so she could push..lol

june baby.. i had an newbane first and it did nothing for me. finally i asked for the epi and was sooo relaxed. it was nice. and i also think that getting ur iv in ur hand hurts worse then getting an epi. thats my opinion. ill take the epi everytime if i get in fast enough