Did you have a natural birth and then an epidural birth?

[Anonymous]

I labored for about two days before getting the epidural. Just light enough so I could lay down and sleep a bit. If you’ve been able to progress through natural labor I would do that. You have to fight the epidural for pushing, even a light one. Plus most hospitals will make you stay in bed once meds are administered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One recommendation if you go the epidural route is to have a doula. My doula moved me around when I couldn’t and had all sorts of positioning tricks.

Interesting, I always thought of doulas being more for non medicated birth support

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I did. I had pitocin but not epidural with DC1. Getting the pitocin was not a good experience and I was pressured by an older physician who has since retired and just wanted to get on with it. Well, that’s what happened! I was given pitocin when I was admitted around 6am when I was maybe 3 cm, and gave birth at 9. No pain medication, it was massively painful and scary, partly because it went so quickly. I also had no idea what was happening in the room. I couldn’t really hear what people were saying to me. I didn’t see DH cut the cord. I felt very disconnected from him to some extent DC because of the pain.

DC2 was induced because I was over 40. I was in decided on an epidural, but once my contractions started to get pretty intense (which was 36 hours after starting the induction), I decided to go ahead and get it. I hated it. I completely lost feeling in my legs and couldn’t move them. I had breakthrough pain in one specific area but I couldn’t move or shift position to relieve it in any way. I vomited. But, I was able to have a conversation with the doctors who delivered. I was able to make eye contact with my husband and hold his hand. I was able to watch him cut the cord. I heard him when he told me the baby’s sex. All things I felt I missed with DC1. I think for that reason - the connection with DH - if I was going to do it again (I’m not!) I’d probably take the pain medication again.

My physical recovery was actually worse after the epidural, but no way to know if that was related. My emotional recovery was harder after DC1. I got totally lost in that pain and it took me some time to get over it.

NP. Thank you for sharing your experience. I am mad at that sucky first OB and the anesthesiologist the second time who overdid it. I hope you‘ve been listened to by family and friends and have been able to retell your experience. It’s so intense no matter what and retelling is such an important piece of processing everything. Hugs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I did. First birth was unmedicated—contractions didn’t seem that bad until I was 8 or so centimeters and it was basically too late. It was very intense and I ended up with an unusual tear and serious complications.

Second birth was a planned induction and so much easier. I got the epidural at around 3 cm dilated, then had some very intense contractions that I could feel but were bearable with the epidural, then had the baby like 90 minutes later in five minutes and two pushes. Everything was very calm and I felt much more in control. I could still feel the baby and felt like my pushes were more effective because I wasn’t as frantic from pain. I was stuck in bed, but I didn’t mind because everything progressed so much more quickly. No complications and easy recovery.

I don’t know how much of the difference between my birth experiences was because subsequent deliveries are easier, and how much was because of the epidural. If I have another kid, I am definitely going to ask for an epidural.

I had the exact same experience. If I had a third I would get the epidural as soon as possible.

[Anonymous]

I was induced twice. With my first I did not have an epidural and with my second I did (not planned). My recovery was about the same with both and I actually could go either way if I have another child.

I had the epidural with my second for a few reasons - baby was having early on decelerations so I was already stuck with extra monitoring. The bigger reason was that because of how he was positioned I was having the urge to push way too early, before my cervix was open fully. He was also jammed against a nerve and every contraction sent agony through my body - I actually still felt that with my epidural but dulled enough to be bearable. Over all, I had less pain with my first non-epidural birth than I did before the epidural with my second.

[Anonymous]

Unmedicated the first time and epidural the second. I recommend going into labor undecided, and when you get to the point where you're "over" the pain, request the epidural. Or don't, if you never get there. I was also nervous about the side effects, but not as nervous as I was about going through the pain of labor again. The pushing part was weird and the main focus with the epidural, whereas I remember it being more of an afterthought during the unmedicated. I had no side effects, and was still able to feel and move my legs. I did however fell a lot of pressure type pain, and they ended up giving me an extra dose in the epidural before pushing started. That did numb my legs entirely. I felt far more present and actually remember more, and enjoyed that first moment when they put the baby in my arms, rather than being exhausted and in lingering pain. My recovery was also way easier, but that is likely due to being baby #2.

[Anonymous]

I had an epidural with my first and natural with my second (not by choice). I would definitely get the epidural again if given the choice. I really enjoyed my birth experience with the first (with epidural). It was peaceful and I was relaxed and aware of everything happening. The unmediated one… not so much. It’s all a painful blur now. Recovery was the similar for me for both. I tore a bit more with the second, fast, I medicated labor and I had a short spell where my legs shook when the epidural wore off with the first, but other than that recovery was the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did. First birth was unmedicated—contractions didn’t seem that bad until I was 8 or so centimeters and it was basically too late. It was very intense and I ended up with an unusual tear and serious complications.

Second birth was a planned induction and so much easier. I got the epidural at around 3 cm dilated, then had some very intense contractions that I could feel but were bearable with the epidural, then had the baby like 90 minutes later in five minutes and two pushes. Everything was very calm and I felt much more in control. I could still feel the baby and felt like my pushes were more effective because I wasn’t as frantic from pain. I was stuck in bed, but I didn’t mind because everything progressed so much more quickly. No complications and easy recovery.

I don’t know how much of the difference between my birth experiences was because subsequent deliveries are easier, and how much was because of the epidural. If I have another kid, I am definitely going to ask for an epidural.

I had the exact same experience. If I had a third I would get the epidural as soon as possible.

+2. I waited until I was 8cm to get it, and by that point I was in so much pain that I panicked and totally tapped out. I was just done and couldn’t even push, they have to do an episiotomy and extract DC. This time I’ll be getting it as soon as I can.

Also, I was so tense they couldn’t get the epidural needle in and had to give me some stuff to relax. It felt niiiice. Totally recommend getting that if you can.

[Anonymous]

Being in a warm tub does amazing thing for helping to relax during intense pain. I did an unmediated at Sibley for my first, then my next 2 unmediated at home in the birthing tub. Worlds of difference being in wonderful warm water. Had my kids at 26, 32, 36.

[Anonymous]

unmedicated not unmediated

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Being in a warm tub does amazing thing for helping to relax during intense pain. I did an unmediated at Sibley for my first, then my next 2 unmediated at home in the birthing tub. Worlds of difference being in wonderful warm water. Had my kids at 26, 32, 36.

I wish I could count on this! I don’t want to do a homebirth though. I wish I felt up for that but I just don’t.

[Anonymous]

I’ve done both. Got the epidural with my second because I had to be induced and the contractions were insane… like so much worse than my non-induced labor, the pain was indescribable. That being said, I was at 9 cm when I got the epi and didn’t push for that long…. So I probably could have done it without the epidural? But I’m still glad I got it, I could relax and could still push in different positions. The pain without the epi was honestly traumatizing.

If I were you, I’d go in with an open mind. You don’t get a prize for going med free. Epidurals are extremely safe and complications are rare. I was totally afraid of needles and complications, but all of that went out the window with the pain I was in haha! And the relief was almost immediate, I literally cried I was so happy.