Re: the pain: I had an unmedicated birth, and I'll be honest -- it didn't hurt as much as my periods use to hurt. I used to get the worst cramps, especially when I was younger. Labor pain actually wasn't that bad -- the worst part of it was exhaustion from not being to eat or drink during labor.

I really, really regret getting an epidural. I know that's the opposite of your question, but...

I've done natural (broke my tailbone) and epidural (could still move during labor but afterward couldn't feel my bladder until it almost exploded, literally).

I'd take 6 months of not being able to sit over having a catheter for the rest of my life. But I'd take 1 month of a post-partum catheter (while my intact bladder repaired itself) over 6 months of tailbone pain.

Not sure yet what my plan is for #3.



Is this the right comparison? Did not having the epi contribute to the broken tailbone? (About which I am very sorry).

Sorry to be unclear. I wasn't comparing them. If I'd had an epi for my first birth, it's possible (likely?) I would have had a c-section b/c I would have been unable to push the baby past my tailbone--so I'm actually grateful for that experience. Those are just my only two experiences, so I described them.

But the complications with the epi do give me pause over choosing one again. (That said, I chose it b/c I was in more pain than I could ever have possibly conceived--more pain than pushing through a dislocated bone--I can't recapture it, even now. The pain had stalled my labor and I was truly suffering. So from that standpoint, it could easily have been epi vs c-section. I'd still choose an intact bladder over everything, though )

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had a walking epidural that wore off around transition. I was never totally numb and could move my legs, but contractions weren't painful. Until it wore off. Holy hell, worse pain than I ever imagined. I could barely breathe let alone push. I was able to get up immediately after, but that was also painful because I had a lot of tearing. Oh, and the shot to numb me before stitches? Awful. Next time I don't care I'd I can't walk for 2 days, nothing could be worse for me than going through that again.

This is what happened to me! I was a FTM and when it came to push it was all natural! I could not breathe so they pulled out the oxygen mask, but that freaked me out even more! I had the intense pain and the 'ring of fire' in the final moments. Honestly still think I am traumatized from it. I know people love 'natural' childbirth, and that is awaeome! Just not for me.

Wow, it sounds like you haven't done much reading on the topic, otherwise you would have known that the pain level is higher when the epidural runs off than if you wouldn't have had it. The epidural also prevents the body from releasing oxytocin, endorphin and adrenalin normally.
The experience of women prepared for a non-medicated birth is much different.

Anonymous wrote:I've done natural (broke my tailbone) and epidural (could still move during labor but afterward couldn't feel my bladder until it almost exploded, literally).

I'd take 6 months of not being able to sit over having a catheter for the rest of my life. But I'd take 1 month of a post-partum catheter (while my intact bladder repaired itself) over 6 months of tailbone pain.

Not sure yet what my plan is for #3.

Is this the right comparison? Did not having the epi contribute to the broken tailbone? (About which I am very sorry).

PP, again.

Not sure if it was epidural-related, but I also didn't have those lovely gaga baby hormones after #2. It was a little sad to not feel so lovestruck the second time around.

I've done natural (broke my tailbone) and epidural (could still move during labor but afterward couldn't feel my bladder until it almost exploded, literally).

I'd take 6 months of not being able to sit over having a catheter for the rest of my life. But I'd take 1 month of a post-partum catheter (while my intact bladder repaired itself) over 6 months of tailbone pain.

Not sure yet what my plan is for #3.

done it both ways. Prefer epidural, as it allowed me to rest and the exhaustion from the natural was very tough on me.

Anonymous wrote:I had a walking epidural that wore off around transition. I was never totally numb and could move my legs, but contractions weren't painful. Until it wore off. Holy hell, worse pain than I ever imagined. I could barely breathe let alone push. I was able to get up immediately after, but that was also painful because I had a lot of tearing. Oh, and the shot to numb me before stitches? Awful. Next time I don't care I'd I can't walk for 2 days, nothing could be worse for me than going through that again.

This is what happened to me! I was a FTM and when it came to push it was all natural! I could not breathe so they pulled out the oxygen mask, but that freaked me out even more! I had the intense pain and the 'ring of fire' in the final moments. Honestly still think I am traumatized from it. I know people love 'natural' childbirth, and that is awaeome! Just not for me.

I've done both. First, with an epidural, was awesome.
Second, totally natural was painful but bearable. I only had to get through 30 minutes of strong contractions though (hence no time for the epidural).

Given the choice again, I'd definitely get the epidural.

I had an epidural with my first and am 29 weeks with DC2 now and planning to go unmedicated with a midwife this timel. As a few others have posted not all epis work the same. Mine was too high and caused me to have major shortness of breath which makes pushing very tough. Also I personally felt rushed into the epi pretty much when I walked into the hospital fully effaced and 4cms. I was told, 'you dont want to miss your window'. Then once Epi was in the nurses immediately ordered pitocin although I was still progressing and contracting consistently. From here a cascade of issues came, I had a bad reaction to the pit and started having major shakes and even had my heart rate drop at one point. Then they said they were having trouble keeping the babies rate through the fetal heart monitor and insisted on an internal monitor and of course you have a catheter. I felt completely overwhelmed with all of the "medicalizing" of my birth experience. I ended up with a third degree episiotomy after 30 minutes of pushing, with a first birth at 11:45pm. (ridiculous!) I didn't understand it at the time but months after as I was still unable to have painless bms and after a lot of reading I realized that my birth was taken over by the nurses at the hospital and my OB not having patience. Perhaps if I had had the epi later and it not been too high and they not insisted on Pitocin automatically accompanying it, I would feel differently. It's not that I want to feel unnecessary pain but the decision to have an epi or not turned out to be much more complicated than I appreciated the first time around.

The natural birth was the best choice for me and my baby. I had complications during labor that would have been masked or made worse by an epidural.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had a 30-hour unmedicated birth (planned on no epidural) and I will do it again.

I know from the research it's less risky for the baby, and the side effects of getting an epidural (and possible complications, including death like that poor woman at Sibley) were just not worth it.

Was it painful? Oh hell yes. But like PPs have commented, it's a day or so of pain total. I don't understand people who can't handle any pain at all -- how do they deal with life in general?

And yeah, the high you get after natural labor is amazing.

People feel and experience pain differently. There's been a lot of research on this.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/06/030624090043.htm

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-164684/Wimps-really-feel-pain.html

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303302504577328271568159692.html

Personally I don't understand people who don't understand their experience in life is not universal.

Indeed, and since when does the fact that someone chooses to minimize the often excruciating pain of labor mean that they can't handle "any pain at all"?

Anonymous wrote:I've done it both ways. I feel like an idiot for having an unmediated birth. It's like insisting on a drug-free root canal. Why?

I have also done it both ways and while it was great to be walking after and no numbness I would NOT do it again. It was terrifying and painful. No thank you.

Anonymous wrote:all:

I'd like to complement the non-medi birth ladies on their profanity use. Even when advocating for un-medi birth. I found it very funny and think OP will as well.

I finally wanted to add that even with an epi I felt that ring of fire but in a weird way it was good b/c I felt my child coming out and think that helped me only push for 15 minutes. So there is (IMHO) upside to epis not working all the way.

+1

I felt that ring of fire with and without an epidural. OWWWWWWWCH!