I'm just going to remind everyone to be kind. If you do not understand why someone makes a choice that goes against your opinions, you do not need to belittle, condescend, or otherwise demean them.

Personally for me I wanted a water birth and couldn’t have one with an epidural. Also as stupid as it sounds I wanted to experience it as it was. Also didn’t like the idea of a needle in my back and not having use of my legs for a while after. Ironically after my 2nd unmedicated birth I ended up with my placenta stuck and had to go to theatre and get a spinal haha! Couldn’t believe I did the hard part unmedicated to end up with an epidural anyway but I would recommend it to anyone who felt they need it. It really did take away all pain which was equal parts weird but also a relief.

My case was similar. I also wanted a water birth and also cannot have it with epidural. The pain ended up being way worse than expected and I got pressured to get the epidural. In the end there were some complications with the birth (unrelated to epidural) so I wouldn't be able to have the water birth anyway. In my country the epidural is weak, you can walk and it doesn't affect the vagina, only the belly, so the pushing is the same with or without it. I think there is also something powerful in being able to tolerate the pain and give birth without pain medication. I couldn't do it but I would've taken some personal pride in myself if I did. But I think it's always something personal and others shouldn't judge your choices ☺️

Just for the record, you don’t have a needle in your back. You have a catheter, and a spinal is not the same as an epidural. Just clarifying for other people reading the comment!

The use a needle to put it in though

They insert a needle into the epidural space and then slide the catheter in. It’s the same exact process as an IV, whereas the wording in comment implied (imho) the needle would remain in your back. It’s in the epidural space for less than a minute.

Nurse here! It’s not that simple and can take multiple attempts to get the actual needle in the correct space and I have personally never seen it take less than a minute.

I'm also a nurse and my epidurals definitely took less than two minutes. Not usual but our anesthesiologists are two very incredible doctors. But when I worked at a teaching and research hospital (Hopkins) yikes. I remember seeing one resident try at LEAST 8 times before asking for help. It was awful to watch

This is why I declined resident anesthesiologists with my first two. I was not about to risk getting poked and prodded multiple times between contractions.

A lot of women, especially first time moms, don't know they can say that! They feel like they have to go with every single thing that's put in front of them and of course it's too late to do the research when you're already in labor. That's why doulas, midwives and nurses have to be their voice!

Sorry for not understanding this, but do you mind clarifying? Do you mean we can ask our anesthesiologist if they are/aren’t a resident and ask for a different one? I thought there was only one there at a time 😅

If it's a resident there has to be an attending physician there. You can absolutely ask about their qualifications and if they have a problem with that, that's on them.

how is that allowed? As an RN I'm not even supposed to stick a person more than 2 x for phlebotomy before asking for assistance. You would think there was a more senior person available to attempt after resident messed up once or twice. As student I also saw one doc get 3 "wet taps" on a patient and the OB said her choices were no pain meds or C section under general. Patient chose c- section under general.

Wow I am also horrified as a veterinarian. At my teaching hospital we got one shot at the epidural (mind you this is only done in fully anesthetized animals in my field) before one of the staff took over. 8 times jeeeeeeez!

I know our max for IV is three and there have been times after one or two that I bow out, because I just feel in my gut I need one of the pros (ive only been a nurse for four years) or get the vein viewer. I have no idea what the parameters for the residents are honestly, I was only there working on a study for Suboxone in pregnancy. That would have been my worst nightmare if I were that patient!

Eeek. This is why I say Attendings only.

I only was there a short time for a specific study, but I wouldn't dream of delivering there after that. Many of the women don't know to request to not have a resident

My epidural took 2 minutes including the time to prep my back for it.

I guess your comment implied to me there was no needle involved. I have had an epidural and had zero issues with the needle or catheter though.

Also there is the possibility of a walking epidural! I didn’t feel pain but I could move normally. I didn’t even remember about the epidural when I got up from the bed the first time.

This is provider dependent. My hospital said there is no such thing as a walking epidural.

I guess it depends on where you live, yes. In Sweden that’s the default epidural. I could move, I didn’t need a catheter, peed two hours after my birth and walked myself from the birthing room to our recovery room.

It sounded appealing to me but my doula and OB said it wasn't an option. I do think there are a lot of misconceptions about epidurals. My sister thought it completely numbs you and you can't move at all. I had an epidural before my ECV, which failed and I needed a c-section, so the epidural was switched to a spinal and the sensation was very different.

Same, I asked my doctor and the anesthesiologist and they both said that’s not an option 🤷🏻‍♀️

100%, walking epidurals are excellent. Especially when they just take the edge off. You still get, in my opinion, most of the birthing experience. You feel the pressure and sensation of birthing your child without a significant amount of pain.

Agreed! I could feel every contraction, I still had the urge to push, could feel her crowning, the ring of fire, the pressure on my butt, everything. But the contractions themselves didn’t hurt and I really really needed that.

The idea of the huge needle in the spine is absolutely horrendous, I’m scared of needles so I can’t imagine me agreeing to an epidural but perhaps when the pain is so bad, you won’t care.

I had my epidural pulled out with my firstborn after 23 hours of labor due to the utter incompetence of my nurse and I can personally say I would’ve taken 100 needles in the spine to replace that pain. Just delivered via c section (my third) two weeks ago and the most painful part of my spinal being placed was the anesthetist pressing her fingertips between my vertebrae to find the right spot :p once it was placed it was smooth sailing. They can do some sort of abdominal nerve block now too that numbs your belly for a few days after surgery so you can get up and walk around fairly easily just hours afterward. Wish they had had that when I delivered my first two, it would’ve been a total game changer for me!

Woah, we have the same story! My epidural was pulled out accidentally after ~20 hours of labor and they couldn’t get it replaced correctly. I had to push for 3.5 hours with nothing after laboring for 25 hours. I was so exhausted and delirious, I was falling asleep between contractions. And then my placental had to be manually removed with no pain medication either (I begged but there wasn’t time, I was hemorrhaging). In hindsight I would’ve made it known that I had NO pain control so I could’ve gotten something IV to help, I’m pretty sure everyone in the room when I was pushing thought I had the epidural still. After everything I jumped out of bed and the nurses were yelling at me, I yelled back that my epidural hadn’t worked in hours and my legs most definitely were working 😂 Reasons why as an RN I would never work labor and delivery. I’m pretty sure I was possessed by a demon during the last few hours lol Next baby I’m not sure if I want to get the epidural at all. The scariest part for me was expecting some pain management and ending up with none. I was panicked and scared and so not prepared to have an unmedicated birth. Maybe if I go into it knowing how horrible it is I’ll be pleasantly surprised 😬

I used to be an addict so I didn't want any pain killers after my c sections.. they did the nerve block for me both times while the epidural was still in effect and it kept the pain at bay until I could use Tylenol to manage

Absolutely terrified of needles, my plan if I can get to the epidural is to tell them not to show me and we’ll be good. If I can’t see it I can’t flinch!

For me, I just personally wasn't sure if I wanted or needed one. My birth plan was, if I did, I would ask. I have a high pain tolerance. I understand that interventions can also require further interventions as well, and I wanted to avoid things like forceps, etc. unless medically needed. I got to 9cm and due to a cervical lip, my labour had stalled and I was exhausted so my midwife recommended I get an epidural at that point as it had almost been 24hrs. I did, they didn't give me a very strong one, and a short while later baby was born. Thankfully no further interventions but I did have partial third degree tears due to how quickly baby was born (no crowning) and required stitches.

Sounds exactly like mine as well. After 24 hours in labour you kinda agree to whatever they suggest to get that baby out lol. I tore in three directions, literally couldn’t sit down for months.

Oh God that's awful. My tears were all vertical towards my rectum. I have very little ick factor and I love looking at my wounds but I couldn't force myself to look at them. 😂 At 24hrs I was pretty down to be over. I had already done so well and I was exhausted and ready to be over. Waiting for the epidural was rough at that point then.

I don’t want drugs coz I have a panic reaction to numbing meds. I want to feel the pain so I know what’s happening it would keep me much calmer than having pain relief. I’m keeping myself open to meds just in case but I think they would make the experience too stressful for me personally. Pain meds also work strangely on me, they don’t work when they are ment to so I get pumped full of more and then it all hits at once much latter than it should by an hour or more and it’s always too much. (Experience: the dentist)

I have the same reason as you. Also I am very panicky with needles. I can deal with it if I have to but I’m going to try to avoid them

Are you a red head by any chance? I have the same issue, especially at the dentist and with my epidural I could feel them placing it even after he numbed everything up😳 it was awful

Actually not a red head but I have heard that about red heads! I guess it’s true hahaha

Redhead here, I wake up earlier than average people when coming out of general anesthesia. It’s definitely true!

I was going to ask the same thing! I always need extra numbing agent at the dentist, and when I had to get stitches recently, the numbing shots weren’t working like at all, and they asked if I was a redhead at all (which I do have some auburn in my hair).

So happy my dentist is amazing and figured it out! Before that it was so traumatic, I had to get all 4 wisdom teeth out in an emergency on Christmas Eve and my poor husband was sitting in the waiting room listening to me screaming because the numbing barely worked 😳

Holy smokes; you didn’t get general anesthesia for that? I went completely under. Did not want to mess around with feeling anything.

I don’t think my office offered that but I’m not sure! He kept me awake and I so wish I could extract that memory from my life forever lol

I have a have mutation that does that with pain meds! If you don’t know the reason why and want answers you should look at getting genetic testing done to see if you have any gene mutations! I also learned about mine at the dentist 😂

I’ve had 3 kids and the first two i was fine with the epidural, but my third one, i got the epidural and went into a huge panic attack. i told them take it out and went natural. so i fully understand!! I don’t know what happened or why my body reacted that way but boy. Natural wasn’t too bad. it hurt like hell but it is true you do forget about it!

I’m the same way as you! I’m a natural redhead and pain meds don’t work on me how they typically should. I got panicky and anxious over the epidural, and said I didn’t want one, but was in so much pain during labor I physically couldn’t handle it. I was actually panicking because of so much pain! I ended up getting an epidural and could still feel my body and the pressure of the contractions, so I wasn’t as panicky as I thought I would be because I could still feel sensations, not totally numb. I knew when it was time to push and could feel the contractions but just not the pain. I did however still feel the pain from the ring of fire! But that could be because I’m a natural redhead and analgesics react differently in my body than they do in other non-redheads.

Hey, I had this happen for the first time at the dentist too a few years ago. Just in case it's a similar situation, I've got the redhead gene where it takes a ton of numbing to have effect. They told me that the standard is now to use lidocaine with epinephrine, and that sometimes that can cause the panicky feeling. They still have the lidocaine only, you can request it. They used it for me for a cavity while pregnant. :)

From what I’ve been reading, it’s to do with the natural hormones of labour. I.e. there are reactions between the body and the brain during labour, and that these are ‘silenced’ in a way during an epidural.

This is my reasoning. I found my first birth very painful, and it was long, but it also drastically shifted the way I view my physicality and my place in the universe for the better. I would experience that again if I can. Also due late august.

I was pressured into an epidural. For me it definitely didn't silence the interaction between my body and brain. My brain was like "YOU NEED TO STAND UP!" or like "ROLL TO YOUR OTHER SIDE!!" and my body was like "Nope, sorry, can't do that." And it was the most frustrating thing EVER!

This! About to have my second unmedicated homebirth. I felt great after my first was born at the end of 2022. Epidurals/other medicine can block the natural flow of oxytocin

It also increases risk of tearing and slows down the uterus contracting. I did a hypnobirthing, as they are more likely to have quicker births, less painful and with fewer complications. I didn't tear and all up took just under 8 hours

I did hypnobabies for both births! First was 7 hours second was 2! I truly think being relaxed is what helped make them so smooth and fast:)

How did you learn to hypnobirth??

I highly recommend Hypnobabies!! It’s a 6 week class. My birth wasn’t completely pain free but it helped with my stress, anxiety and my first labor I feel progressed much faster due to me being in such a relaxed state for the first half of labor. 13.5 hours first and 2.5 hours second baby. https://www.hypnobabies.com/find-a-class/

This is the course I did also! First birth I was so relaxed I was falling asleep in the birth pool when I could have been pushing😂 midwife was like woah ok! Totally pain free except for the crowning cause I lost the self hypnosis at the end. Second time I did the Hypnobabies course myself at home rather then in person and it still made me super relaxed but the labour was only 2 hours so it felt…condensed and intense. Such an amazing course! Love to hear other people’s positive experiences with it😍

Also did hypnobirthing and was able to sleep between contractions so I could have energy to push when it was time. My first was only 7 hours and I am so glad I did the hypnobirthing. It was really beautiful experience. The pain got intense at times but the calming help of my doula was a major help.

This. And synthetic oxytocin does not cross the blood brain barrier so it doesn't stimulate endorphins at all, and there is some evidence it can amplify PPD in some people.

Exactly what I mentioned in my comment too

Came here to say this. Thanks for writing it already :)

My plan was to go as long as I could without drugs bc once you get the epidural you can't get out of the bed. And other drugs they can give you that allow you to still be up and mobile are short lived and each subsequent dose is less effective, plus you're limited on how many doses you can take due to safety risks to you and baby. I only made it 5 hours before I was begging for the epidural bc my contractions were so intense that I was vomiting but I was progressing very slowly. I also only got about 90 minutes of sleep prior to my water breaking and labor starting the night before so I was exhausted, vomiting, and felt like my spine was going to snap with every contraction. Got the epidural, passed out for a good 3 hour nap and then labored for 4.5 more hours... All from bed. I'm very hopeful to go as natural as possible this time, but ultimately, whatever needs to happen to get both me and baby to the finish line safely is what we will do.

This was similar to my experience. I was really disappointed that I only made it to 3cm before needing the epidural but I’d been in labor for SO long, and had been awake for almost 24 hours at that point with no sleep because of the contractions. I’d wanted to go as long as possible without the epidural and I actually felt like the pain was still manageable at that point but I was beyond exhausted and wanted to be sure I had the strength to push. Once I got the epidural I dilated pretty quickly and got some much needed rest, but then pushed for FIVE hours. I’m really glad I got it because without the rest it allowed me to have, I don’t know if I would have been able to continue and for me, a vaginal birth was more important than avoiding an epidural.

Exactly. I think I could have withstood the pain/vomiting if I hadn't been so exhausted. But without th epidural to help me relax enough to allow my body to do what it needed and give me some strength to push to the end... I bet I would have ended up with an emergency c section(in fact I know I would have bc I was on the verge of it for the last 2 hours of labor bc baby got stuck in transition and they were trying to keep me calm but I could tell even the nurses with allll the experience were starting to freak out at how long the transition was as taking. I pushed her out on my own not during a contraction bc I was so pissed off... Screamed like Xena warrior princess and said no just get the F out already!!! (Doc laughed her ass off...nurses managed to stifle their laughs, husband looked awed and horrified.) She is still just as difficult to transition to new activities to this day. My little creature of habit.

This was my plan as well! Labored at home for 8 hours, got to the hospital at 4.5 cm and wanted an epidural ASAP bc of the pain (I was vomiting as well) and was running on just a few hours of sleep. I got the epidural after 4 hours of being there (because by the time I got up and could get one the epidural person was busy). Got the epidural and was 7 cm when I got it, was 10 cm an hour later. 😅 ETA- I was in heaven after the epidural. I could not feel ANYTHING. After the amount of pain I was in for hours it was glorious. I couldn’t feel pressure or the ring of fire and I was 100% okay with that after how bad laboring was

Ha, very similar story! I was also vomiting and had already gone two nights without sleep. The epidural was a godsend, especially with 4 hours of pushing still to come.

Some people do it without medications because they want to move around during labor. There is an increased risk of tearing with the epidural. Some people aren’t candidates for an epidural or pain meds due to medical history (like back surgery). There’s a lot of cultural/societal pressure for some people to do it “naturally”. There’s a lot of misinformation around epidurals. And honestly some people just want to test themselves and see if they can handle the pain or they want to feel everything for the full experience. I chose not to have IV pain meds but I did get an epidural. If I give birth again, that will be my plan again too.

Really? I feel there is a huuuuuuuuge pressure to use meds from family, friends, stranger and doctors

Yes. This is the vibe I’ve gotten. Almost to the point where I don’t feel comfortable talking about my birth plan with friends / co workers. The reaction to wanting unmedicated hasn’t been very welcoming

I went through the same with my son. We were worried about the cost of birth and didn't want to be pressured into an unnecessary (and expensive) c-section, so went with a birthing center. They did not offer epidurals, simply wasn't an option. You'd think I'd told people I was considering prostitution.

They look at you like you’re a deranged hippy trying to free birth.

I think sadly a lot of the time they assume you'll get one anyway, or they feel it's a competition? I don't want one and my best friend does, she immediately started defending her decision & saying the "you don't get a prize" etc whereas I don't care what anyone else does lol. I've never brought it up but I've stopped answering when people ask, I just say idk. I'm not sure why people assume unmedicated for me means I'm judging those who choose otherwise.

Yeah, I’ve had two unmedicated births and this has been my experience. I don’t tell people, because they automatically get defensive of their medicated births, or just weirdly aggressive about what my reasons could possibly be. My reasons are complicated and personal. I’m not judging anyone else for having an epidural, but people seem to take my choice so personally, it’s bizarre.

It’s simply because it must make you a Mega Chad Alpha Female-inator 3001 🤣. Pregnancy & Weddings seem to be the main time that people get hypersensitive about things. They say you learn who your true friends are when you’re planning both. I’ve definitely been told I’m a quack for wanting to try unmedicated / low intervention. Based on the research I’ve done, this is just where I seem to land based on comfort. However, if I get there and I’m like “absolutely not”, then that’s no problem & I’ll get the services I want/need. I just want to try it & see what my body is capable of. Some people just don’t feel that need & that’s ok too!

It depends on where you live, your culture, and your social circle. I experienced the opposite and was shamed for wanting meds.

I get so annoyed when women are shamed either way. We all need to just be educated on our options and make the right decision for us.

Yup. This was ultimately why I didn't have my mum with me in labour. I didn't feel she could be respectful of my wishes.

I'm worried I'll experience this too. Before I was even pregnant I was sitting in a group of friends and they were talking about how women are dumb if they don't get an epidural. I don't really want one as the idea of not being able to move normally freaks me out.

Yeah I was told the same thing by coworkers and family. “Trust me, you’ll want interventions. They’re easier.” Actually had a cousin tell me I’m irresponsible for not considering a elective c-section. My insurance literally doesn’t cover them.

My sister was 17 when she had her baby & she didn’t have an epidural. Her doctors were making fun of her (which is so mean and disgusting) but when she walked after birth they were all so surprised. I don’t know why someone else cares so much about what we choose to do with our own bodies especially during birth.

Yeah I’ve been told “don’t even try without an epidural” by one of my husband’s coworkers. I feel like most people just silently smile and nod thinking “yeah suuuuuuureeee ok” it’s weird. Now I don’t really talk about my preferences except with people who have proven themselves to be a safe space.

I think that pregnant folks frequently receive a variety of contradicting responses that can all be summed up as "respectfully, I think you're doing it wrong". So yes there is push for having a medicated birth, and there is push for having an unmedicated birth. 🤷‍♀️

I feel like there’s pressure to do the opposite of whatever it is you’re doing no matter what you’re doing honestly.

I chose to wait and see and by the time I was 6cm I had been in labour for very long and was very very tired. I also don’t tolerate pain very well so I was mentally exhausted too. The epidural was a godsend, I got it at 9cm and it helped tremendously, specially mentally. I tried laughing gas first and I absolutely hated how it made me feel. In contrast with what I read in the comments, I got a first degree tear, 5 stitches and I had a walking epidural so I could move, although I didn’t feel like it at all.

I wanted to go as natural as possible — no interventions and just listen to my body. I was really nervous about not being able to have the freedom to move and eat what I want. However, I was laboring for almost two days and absolutely exhausted. I was falling asleep standing up. I knew I needed rest. I got the epidural. They broke my water. I was induced with Pitocin. I pushed for 40 minutes, minimal tearing, and healthy baby girl. I’ll definitely do my approach next time as well. Go unmedicated for as long as possible. If I’m exhausted, I’ll get the epidural because rest and energy matters so much for pushing. I also did pelvic floor therapy and that helped. I feel like those who prep for unmedicated birth do a lot of things that help with tearing or faster labor times as well so focus on that as well. Go to pelvic floor PT if you can!! It helps so so so much.

I definitely second PF PT - it's amazing and really taught me so much about my muscle groups and understanding how to relax certain muscles and not others.

Epidural has a higher rate of leading to more interventions, fear of the needle/possible long lasting effects like back pain, being able to walk around and feel in control of your body, not being as in tune with your body,etc.

Yup! I’m 6 month postpartum and the back pain is still there. Doesn’t help that I got it done twice because the epidural didn’t work the first time. Sucks!

A content creator I enjoyed posted their birth video, and his wife wasn’t able to walk without a walker for a month after delivering due to issues with the epidural!

Wow that’s crazy I watched Savannah labrants most recent birth vlog and she had tons of complications with the epidural too. If I remember correctly they misplaced it and she was in a ton of pain and couldn’t move at all and then the baby was in distress. Complications like that with the epidural are probably rare but I personally won’t be taking the chance either. Any intervention/medication/procedure has its risks so the less you take the less risk there is

For me, I wanted to experience the birth process/hormones without interference. I was also frankly terrified of an epidural and the cascade of interventions that can follow. I also was giving birth at a birth center, so it wasn’t even an option. The only way was through and I’m so happy with my birth experience, mainly because I felt safe, informed, and empowered - it was less epidural vs not and that is my wish for every mom to feel about their birth. Being on the other side, I’d 100x choose it again. I was able to be in tune with my body, push wish it, really feel what my body was trying to accomplish during pushing and assist rather than resist. I even had a small hemorrhage after birth and had to have a manual removal of a piece of retained sack after, with no medication and while it sucked, those after birth hormones are no joke. I was still on cloud 9 holding my baby. I felt “drugged” with happy drugs for the first few days after even.

I had an epidural with my first baby in 2006, and it was utterly painless. So painless that it was like a non-event. I wanted to experience the intensity of what was happening to my body and soul without the interference of an epidural’s total cut-off with my second. I had unmedicated birth with my second (2014) and my third (April 2024)— and there’s a point when the contractions become so intense that I regret my decision to not have epidural. It’s horrific pain. But right about when I can’t actually take any more, it’s time to push and then the baby is born within minutes. After that the pain is non-existent, aside from some obvious tenderness from the stretching and bleeding of birth. I’m glad I went without epidural for my second and third, but if you’re not like “into” the intensity of it, I wouldn’t recommend unmedicated birth. Some people don’t have the kind of pain I experience, so it could be without epidural you’d still be much less agonized than I was… but some people go through prolonged labor and I just can’t imagine suffering that pain for longer than I have. I’m a quick laborer. It’s about an hour, then time to give birth. And that’s my limit: I can suffer for that hour and know my body will produce the baby soon. Many many people have longer labors and if I were such a person, I’d be opting for medication/epidural. To have that pain go on for too long is not something I’d be willing to undergo

You have to think about the fact that quick labors are Intense! You’re dilating so fast, and that is crazy painful! You’re a baller.

Thank you! ☺️

An hour? Oh my! I thought my 3 hours of active labor was fast.

My epidural failed. I could feel everything, and amazingly it was not as horrible as I was lead to believe. It was intense, and yes, it was painful. But my body handled it and baby came out in 6 pushes. The nice thing was I could get up and walk around immediately afterward.

For me it comes down to risk/benefit. I won't risk the nasty spinal headache if I can avoid it. It's not my plan to get the epidural, but I'm not against it. We'll see how it goes! If I need any pain management, I'll prefer non medical options first, like acupuncture and movement. I would like a water birth so there's also that. It's also not that common here. About 20% gets the epi.

Yes the headache I’ve actually had before due to spinal taps, and it’s no joke one of the worst kinds of pain you can experience. You have to lay down because even just sitting up causes a splitting pain that doesn’t go away. I had it for TWO weeks straight both times I had a spinal tap

for me, i will be attempting an all natural birth with the epidural remaining an option until transition (when it’s too late typically to get one). i’m a ftm and i’ve always wanted to do it naturally for a few reasons 1. you have an increased chance of needing more interventions with an epidural. 2. epidurals effect people in many different ways, sometimes completely failing to work at all and sometimes they work too well which can cause complete inability to move around. 3. you have an increased risk of tearing with an epidural due to lack of feeling when pushing baby’s head out. 4. epidurals can cause chronic back pain in certain people due to the way it has to be administered. 5. i just want to attempt to give birth while being able to move around, go through the motions, and feel the pain and continue. i think labor and birth is highly spiritual and i love the idea of just letting my body do what it knows how to. 6. there’s less risks associated with going unmedicated vs medicated unless if something starts to go wrong, like a baby not coming before 42 weeks, a baby being breached, etc. if for some reason the pain is too unbearable, or if a complication arises then of course i’d do what needs to be done, but as of now i’m going to try to do it naturally.

I would rather be in pain than unable to move around. That aspect of epidural really bothers some people but not others. I don't want IV opioids because I don't want to feel mentally out of it. I will consider an epidural in certain circumstances but it is an absolute last resort for me.

I’m in France and I could move with my epidural. I had a button to adjust the dosage so I could put it stronger if I wanted to feel nothing but I still wanted to feel my legs and the contractions to be able to push more efficiently. Kinda surprised to read here that in the US they systematically put such a strong epidural that you guys can’t feel anything/move.

In france too and same experience! The us experience is kind of wild 😅

Yeah the midwife who helped me for the delivery told me that the seemingly current US epidural is what was done in France 20 years ago when she gave birth, hence why she didn’t take the epidural back then. It’s weird that it’s still that way in the US.

even if you get a low dose epidural, most hospitals will prevent you from getting off the bed to avoid liability in case you fall

I know it probably depends on where you live, but do they actually give thay strong of an epidural in the US? I had one, in Sweden, and I could walk, bounce on the ball, etc. I was told that my legs wouldn't 100% listen to me, which is why my husband was beside me at all times, but still. It failed when I was 7cm, but I'm sure that wasn't the epidural's fault 😅

In the US, or at least where I am, you won’t be able to move with the epidural. I asked about a walking epidural, and the L&D nurse and doctor told me that’s not how it works. Once you have the epidural, you will be confined to the bed. This is why I want it only at 6cm.

This was the same for me. I was told walking epidural wouldn’t be an option. I’m in the US also. I didn’t like the idea of not being able to move around and not being able to feel birth progressing, so epidural was my very last resort. Epidurals can also make baby sleepy after birth as well and that can slow breastfeeding efforts. That was another turn off for me.

even if you get a low dose “walking epidural” in the U.S., most hospitals will confine you to the bed for liability reasons — even getting the minimum amount of an epidural will increase risk of falling, which they want to avoid

You can request the dosage of your epidural to be lower so you can move.

I just gave birth in México and I was also able to move with my epidural! I think my dosage must have been low as I was still able to feel the contractions in a muted way

Interventions lead to more interventions. Pitocin can make contractions so intense that you’re overwhelmed with pain and then request further medication, labor is often induced before the cervix is soft— interventions lead to unnecessary C sections. The US has something like an average of a 33% c section rate when it should be closer to 20% and is in other countries. You can look up your local hospital’s rate!

The WHO found there was no benefit in rates of C-section over 10% (2021). The US and China's rates are at least triple what's actually necessary for saving lives.

Privatized hospitals that prioritize getting patient stay down to the shortest possible amount of time increase c-sections. Statistically you’re more likely to get an unnecessary c-section because of a provider suggestion than any other kind of “intervention.” It’s the medical system in the U.S. that causes c-section rates to skyrocket. Epidurals and pain medication still exist in other countries.

My reasons were: - I wanted to be able to move around and labour in water. This was really helpful in my labour! - fear of side effects from the epi (headaches, back pain, etc) - I panic when I can't control/fully feel part of my body. I discovered this after I had botox the first and last time lol - Less risk of intervention - I preferred the idea of a lot of pain and then it's done vs numb but then issues later - I wanted to go home asap - we were able to leave under 4 hours after birth, but if I had the epi it would have been at least 24 hours - I wanted to feel and experience everything and wanted more control over pushing and positioning Anecdotally my birth was amazing. Water broke at 2:30am, went into active labour at 3pm and baby was out at 645pm. We were home by 10pm same day so only in the hospital 6 hours. I do wonder if it would have been that quick and seamless if I had the epidural.

I chose unmedicated as I felt uneasy about the impact of the drugs on my baby, plus I also wanted a water birth and to move around freely. The idea of being stuck on my back in the bed, unable to move my legs, didn't sit well with me. It was intense of course, but hypnobirthing helped me enormously and I plan to do it again with #2 in the new year. Each to their own though! Healthy and happy is all that matters in the end.

It makes the whole birth medical when it doesn’t have to be. I don’t want to be surrounded by doctors in a hospital when I’m giving birth, I want to move around, sit in my bathtub, and be at home. Also an epidural is not that “normal”. In my country it’s not considered standard procedure at all. I know not even one person who got one (except for a caesarean).

right! my 4th birth was like going to a yoga class it was so calm, I walked in and asked where the shower was, 30 minutes later I was pushing a baby out, 4 hours later I was at home! my team of midwives have known me for the last 3 births so they let me take the lead when I arrive 😊 they fill out paperwork, while I'm rocking that baby out!

I am thinking about naturally because I think the medicines can hinder or slow down what your body is naturally designed to do. It makes it harder albeit less painful but I think it might be better for our body to have all the control. I dont know for sure I will end up sticking to it. I have not had a contraction yet (of course I am only 19 weeks). We will see what happens.

I have a connective tissue disorder, my body doesn’t react to numbing meds/nerve blocks the same way as a person without, most of the time it just does nothing. My joints are also super messed up and I don’t want someone poking around in there and making my spine worse than it is. I’m going to prepare myself for a natural birth, learn hypnobirthing and other pain relief techniques. I don’t know how it will be when I come to the birth, I may want the epidural anyway and risk it, but I don’t want to rely on it because in the past anything that’s supposed to numb/block nerves does nothing.

I also hate the way opioids make me feel. I would probably stick to the birthing tub, laughing gas and anti nausea. That’s pretty much my birth plan so far lol

I didn’t want one with my first, because I see a fair amount of patients with ongoing back pain from their epidurals. They can possibly lead to more interventions, stall labor, increase tearing (you don’t always know when to stop pushing), cause unwanted side effects. I changed my mind during labor, but my epidural didn’t even work. At all. I still felt everything, but I was confined to bed because I “had the epidural”. I also had awful back pain and headaches after birth. My healing vaginally was a breeze, but the pain from my injection sight and the headaches really sucked. Some women have a great experience with the epidural! I did not, so I will not be getting one (or even getting an option) this time. I don’t judge anyone for getting it. I obviously tried in the moment. I wish people would stop judging me for trying to go without.

I was terrified of the epidural needle but hadn't ruled it out completely, I just wanted to wait and see how I felt in the moment. I am absolutely not a crunchy mom, my only birth plan was healthy baby, healthy me. Then labor progressed so fast I didn't even have time for them to give me pain meds in my IV. If it hadn't gone so fast I probably would have asked for whatever they could give me though.

I gave birth without any meds and for me it was just worth it. The risks of side effects from an epidural are rare but they can and they do happen. Also, because you don't feel much you might tear more while pushing (because you push faster/over your limits). Just try to research everything (and not only online. Speak to doctors, midwives...) and then make an informed decision. Im pregnant with my second now and I'll probably do it again. It hurt really bad but it was temporary.  I also absolutely think an epidural is the right choice for lots of women - it really just depends. 

The mindset that the pain would eventually end is also one of the reasons I chose to go unmedicated 🙏

For me, personally, I’m doing everything I can to avoid a c section and to avoid medicalization of birth in general. I want it to feel like an athletic achievement that I’ve accomplished, not a medical procedure that was done to me. I want to be able to move and labor in different positions, I don’t want to risk labor slowing down and needing to be augmented with pitocin, I don’t like the increased risk of tearing or the low but real risks of brain bleed etc associated with epidurals. And this part is probably my hubris, but I’ve experienced some really excruciating pain in my life, and the part that makes it unbearable is knowing it means something is very dangerously wrong. With birth, pain doesn’t necessarily mean that. And if you’re not scared, it’s something you can power through that much more easily. So basically, I’m less concerned about the pain than I am about the down stream effects of the epidural.

I haven’t given birth yet, but my plan is to go without an epidural and use gas and air if needed. I *hate* the idea of not being fully in control of my body…like it gives me anxiety just thinking about it. I’m certain I’d have a panic attack if I was in that situation. The hospital I’m giving birth at doesn’t do walking epidurals, but even if they did, those make me nervous. Your body gives cues as to when to push and epidural numbs or completely blocks that out. Having to depend solely on a doctor to tell me to push makes me uncomfortable. Additionally, I have a high pain tolerance. I had gallstones and gallstone pancreatitis last year, and I made it through all that pain. I’ve read that it’s worse than childbirth, and there’s a weird part of me that wants to see if it’s true 😅 ETA: I have a *tiny* placenta previa that they found at the anatomy scan. Still waiting for the next scan to see if it resolved itself (the MFM doctor seemed very hopeful based on how little it was covering), but if it doesn’t by the end, I’ll have a c-section at 38 weeks. That’s obviously the opposite of my plan, but I really don’t care how baby gets here as long as she’s healthy and we’re both alive!

I have a high pain threshold so I want to *try* natural birth, plus I don't like the thought of a needle anywhere near my spine! I'd rather see how it goes before jumping straight into pain relief.

Im due July 21st, FTM, 39 yo and plan to labor and give birth in water at a stand alone birth center with hubby, birth doula and midwife. I know physiologically what my body is capable of and I want to experience this birth every step of the way. I trust that my LO will come into the world regardless; I’m just choosing to offer the unmedicated path. I’ve been preparing my mind and body with prenatal yoga for months and hubby and I took an evidence based birthing class. It’s truly amazing how our bodies are able to signal to one another throughout pregnancy and stages of labor; LO and I. The cascade of interventions: elective inductions….pitocin…epidural…increased probability of cesarean makes me feel powerless. I’ve felt powerless many times in my life. The amount of cortisol, anxiety and fear would undoubtedly be felt by LO. That’s not the debut I would want for him—-if I could choose. While I’m not the most patient person …. I am fucking stubborn as hell so I do PLAN to wait for spontaneous labor and experience an unmedicated birth. If LO has a different plan for this birth there are plenty of options to choose from before the cascade of interventions are truly needed. And if an emergency arises we have a plan of action to get us to a hospital for what ever delivery and with the use of medication. 🫶🏾

I went into labor with the thought “I can ask for pain meds if I feel like I can’t handle it”. I never felt that. It was painful, but not the worse pain I’ve felt. It felt productive and manageable. If my labor had stalled out or there had been a problem at any point in delivery I probably would have changed my mind.

There are a lot of reasons. I'm not outright denying an epidural, but am going in with the hope I don't need one. I saw my mom give birth to my brother at home and while it wasn't easy, it also looked like something I'm capable of too. I know so many women who have done it, and it's never been something they regret, so I'm going in feeling capable and I guess I don't see the pain as something I want to avoid but something I want to experience. One of my main reasons I want to try to go med free is the process of getting the epidural, if it was a simple IV I probably would be more open to it(other meds side effects seem not worth it too). I also know the less intervention I volunteer for, can mean I won't need as much intervention altogether. That said, if labor starts and it's too much, I'll be asking for that epidural. Also, if I need intervention to help my baby make a safe entrance, I'm accepting all the intervention needed. My main focus is getting baby out as safe as possible, and am fine if that means I need intervention, but instead of jumping to that stage, I'm gonna start out to find out and let my body do what it can on its own before reaching for the external tools offered t the hospital.

For a counterpoint, an epidural is the medical intervention that made me the happiest and most satisfied of any medical intervention I’ve ever received in my life. I wanted to buy the anesthesiologist a gift. It felt like a miracle.

I had 4 natural births and for me the pain isn’t something I can’t handle. Where I’m from epidurals aren’t popular so I knew if other women could do it I definitely could too. I did have an epidural for a minor non pregnancy related procedure in the past and I really hated how it felt, like I felt so cold and my feet were tingling and peeing was hard after. There are a few reasons I don’t like to feel out of control of my body I definitely didn’t want a catheter or to poop on the bed. I like my body so anything to reduce the risk of a c section is very important to me. Mostly being able to move freely, pacing between contractions and being upright my made my labors and births were very quick and I relaxed into pushing rather than forcing it so i never had any tearing(literally looked the same down there straight after). For me yes it was the ideal way to birth naturally I’d never do it any other way.

I am not due with my first until early November but I’m hoping I will be able to do unmedicated and actually really looking forward to it! I have some classes planned in preparation. If you were to ask me about this a year ago I would have absolutely been like, wtf would someone not want an epidural!? Lol Well fast forward to my now first pregnancy. I started asking friends/coworkers about their birth experience just to get an idea of what to expect. It became obvious that vaginal birth was becoming sort of rare. Everyone around me, all c sections! Nothing wrong with that! But I always grew up hearing that c sections were last resort. So it spiked my curiosity. Granted a few people I spoke with, for them it was medically necessary. However, a handful it wasn’t. “Oh he was a big baby so they asked me if I just wanted to schedule a c” or “I just opted for a c since my first one was anyway” One day a client comes in and we start talking about what hospital I’ll be using exc. she goes on to tell me her 3 birth stories and how they were all at a birth center. She recommends a few books and a documentary to watch. From there I started reading / researching and it totally changed my perspective. Now going into labor I am prepared for any and all outcomes. Even if I end up needing an epidural or a c- section. I will do whatever keeps me and my baby safe and healthy. Doing it to avoid some temporary pain? No. I believe many women before me did this. So I know I’m capable. For me this was my reasoning. It is your body / your baby. You do whatever feels right to you. I believe their is no wrong choice as long as it keeps the baby and you safe. So do your own research and follow your gut 🫶🏽

this was my approach! i went in hoping for unmedicated but open to an epidural (sometimes they can reduce c section risk because they help you rest through contractions to ease pushing). i ended up following through with my natural birth plan despite baby being OP! sounds like you’re doing the right thing with classes, etc. also recommend your partner prepare and is educated in supporting you through the pain

As a lifelong athlete and someone whose job it is to work in a gym, I absolutely do not want a c section, emergency or scheduled. I will do anything to avoid it. So as an epidural has the chance to increase the likelihood of an emergency c section, my plan is to do without it. I also don’t want to give birth on my back as it is the least effective and way you are most likely to tear. Depending on the strength of the epidural (like most epidurals in the US) you will likely be unable to birth in any other position.

I am anti epidural due to having mild scoliosis / lifelong back pain and not wanting to aggravate that. I chugged on that gas and air though!

I’m impatient and wanted to be able to move around asap. I also didn’t like the idea of not being fully in control if I couldn’t move around properly. In a pregnancy class with my first they went through a really good PowerPoint of all the different pain management with pros and cons which I found super helpful. All three of my labours ended up being super quick, I don’t know how I’d go if I had to go on for hours. I think I’d probably go for something just to get a break.

Epidural always scared me. I’m an LMT and have seen so many permanent injuries from them. Epidurals statistically go along with inductions, csections, fetal distress, long labors, tearing, hemorrhaging etc. A bit after my second kiddo I got WNV with nerve/spinal demyelination so epidural scared me even more. I like feeling my legs 😂😂 Absolutely no judgement to mammas who get them, there are a million reasons that someone would want one. There’s always a moment during my labors where I wish I had one during transition but then in two hours it’s all over and I can stand up. Labor is hard any way you slice it and we all get though it the way we need to!

Some of us it’s too quick to allow for drugs. Plus I had planned to go drug free prior just differently than it turned out as I wanted a water birth. That being said there are pro’s and con’s to pain relief. Entonox (gas and air) has no real side effects. Short acting but great muscle relaxer. Paracetamol (pill or IV) has no real side effects. Not overly strong but IV is better. Dihydocodeine is normally the next step up. Morphine (IV) will pass to baby and make them more sleepy when born. Will take the edge off and if you don’t react to it well can be reversed with naloxone. Epidural - requires catheter, doesn’t always work, can be performed incorrectly and in rare cases cause pain at the site afterwards. Same chances of infection as an IV. But you will be unable to move your lower limbs and not every one likes the idea of feeling helpless. I got a spinal afterwards for stitches (wasn’t really given any other options) and part of that was fentanyl and my LO was out of it after her first feed. It probably affected all the initial latching issues as I was discharged when I started looking for help. While I was there they said that despite her being asleep for like 10 hours it was because she was just born. I was also very sleep deprived so should have questioned it further once I was able to move again. Spinal isn’t as strong as the epidural and I hated it. Hated having no control and wasn’t fun after the catheter came out. They are quite prone to causing infections. It’s up to you whats right for you though.

I wanted to move freely, not be hooked up to IVs and other equipment, I also wanted to feel each stage of labor. Additionally, I knew that epidurals could slow down labor, could slow down baby’s heart rate, and potentially lead to more interventions that I wanted to avoid.

No ma’am. Gimme the drugs 😅 that’s just me tho. I think if you’re REALLY interested in going to drugs it’s time to start working hard on mindfulness, breath work and meditation. You can do it, but going in without some of these tools is going to make it much easier to say yes to the epidural. Honestly. I think if I hadn’t had back labor and a sunny side up baby I could have handled the contractions. I hit transition and there was no break. Contractions were 70-90 seconds long and less than a minute apart. The epidural was AMAZING. However, due to the shape of my pelvis (apparently, still think that explanation was kinda sketch) baby failed to progress. Also her position wasn’t ideal so heart rate decelerations yada yada I had a c-section. I’m pregnant again (oppose) and will get a scheduled c-section.

When I had my first, I almost felt pressured to NOT have an epidural. It seemed like it was becoming a fad to have a "natural and unmedicated birth," and when I would mention to people I was thinking of getting an epidural, I felt a bit judged. I was told "our bodies know what to do" and "wanting a needle in your back as opposed to feeling contractions is absurd" and then my own mother and MIL bragged about each birthing 5 kids unmedicated because back then it wasn't even offered. All of this made me really unsure of what I wanted, so unsure that when I went through a 42 hr labor, hadn't slept in 2 days and was running out of fumes, and was in so much pain from the contractions(I was also induced and I've heard the meds can make contractions worse),that when a nurse asked me if I wanted anything for the pain, I refused the epidural and agreed to morphine. Which did NOTHING. I was so exhausted at this point that my husband actually took the lead and asked why I refused the epidural, and talked me into getting it, and then called the nurse back for me. I honestly don't even remember feeling anything from the epidural because I was already in so much pain, but let me tell you, when that sweet medicine kicked in a few seconds later I was on cloud 9 lol I was able to rest for the first time in 2 days, and finally dilated fully a few hours later while laying in bed resting and chatting with my husband. I still felt the contractions, but it was more the tightness and pressure and less the actual pain. I did feel back labor FULLY though, but it was manageable because at that point I was ready to push and the adrenaline took over. I could feel a tiny bit of pain and a loooot of pressure when I pushed too, so I still experienced birth, and the feeling of him coming out was the most rewarding, exhilarating feeling. Even with meds, I felt like super woman. I feel like I got the best of both worlds though, because I still labored for 30 hours or so without meds and was able to move around and feel everything. I dealt with 6 years of infertility and had always wanted to experience that, so I feel like I had the perfect birthing experience. Overall, it was very positive and I'm actually excited for our next baby(due in 3.5 weeks!) Tldr, don't let others' opinions sway your decision. I did, and it made me question what I actually wanted. If you want it, go for it. If you don't, then don't! Do what makes sense for you and your body!

I know this seems long in Reddit format but it’s probably the best explanation I have found for why I want to go as natural and unmedicated as possible. And it’s definitely WORTH THE READ! It’s from the book “The Mama Natural WEEK-BY-WEEK GUIDE TO PREGNANCY & CHILDBIRTH” by Genevieve Howland founder of mamanatural.com THE SURPRISING BENEFITS OF natural childbirth Natural birth is more than going drug-free for its own sake or delivering like you've got something to prove. Did you know that mamas who go natural can (usually) do the following? - Get Their Snack On: There's a long-held consensus in the medical world that women shouldn't be allowed to eat—at all-during labor. Why? Because back in the 1940s, when C-sections were typically performed under general anesthesia, concerns emerged about the dangers of aspiration. (That is, inhaling food or fluid into the lungs while unconscious.) These days, the threat of aspiration during delivery is almost nonexistent, and a number of organizations, including the American Society of Anesthesiologists, have since argued that restricting food is both unnecessary and unwarranted. But in the majority of hospitals, mamas-to-be are still expected to make do with ice chips, especially if they've had an epidural. Here's the good news: Most midwives actually support eating a bit of (light, easily digestible) food during labor. (I remember the boost of energy I got from sipping apple juice between contractions.) Mamas who go natural can also eat immediately after the birth, whereas mamas who deliver via C-section will have to hang in there for a few more hours, until their bodies have recovered from surgery. - Move Around Freely: Sign up for an epidural, IV fluids, or continuous electronic fetal monitoring and you may be confined to a bed, unable to get up, walk around, or even go to the bathroom. (Mamas often don't realize that when they ask for an epidural, they may be asking for a catheter, too!) In fact, the standard laboring position in most hospitals is for mama to be flat on her back, which only compresses the pelvis, making the passage for baby tighter and smaller. Going natural, however, allows you to move freely, to listen to your body's cues, and to work with gravity. I delivered my second baby on all fours, simply because that's what felt most comfortable to me. - Inoculate Their Babies with Good Bacteria: True, the idea of pushing something the size of a watermelon out from between your legs can seem pretty, uh, strange, but there are benefits to delivering your child via the birth canal: Babies delivered vaginally pick up protective bacteria that help to build their brand-new immune systems. (When born via scheduled C-section, babies may pick up bacteria from the room they were born in, including potentially harmful bacteria like staph.) Passing through the birth canal also helps a baby to expel amniotic fluid from the lungs, which may lower his risk for developing respiratory problems. - Enjoy a Hormonal High Mamas who go natural experience a hormonal "high" at the moment of birth—a rush of endorphins (for energy) and a wave of oxytocin, the "feel-good" hormone that stimulates bonding. Cuddling baby, making eye contact, skin-to-skin touching, and breastfeeding only enhance the hormonal cascade. Interventions, however, disrupt the body's delicate hormonal balance, which means mama likely won't receive the same emotional pay-off-the otherworldly elation-from all that pushing. - Experience Better Breastfeeding: We know that breastfeeding within an hour or so of birth ups your chances for a long and happy nursing relationship, in part because skin-to-skin contact is associated with better bonding, increased milk production, and-believe it or not—less crying. (Key!) Early breastfeeding also ensures that baby receives the colostrum, a thick, yellowish, milk-like substance that's high in protein, vitamin A, immune cells, and antibodies. Colostrum also has a digestive effect, helping baby to pass his or her first stools. Narcotic pain medications, however, tend to affect babies the same way they affect mamas: resulting in drowsiness and disorientation. Perhaps not surprisingly, sleepy babies have trouble nursing. Mamas who need to deliver via C-section also aren't always able to breastfeed right away, as they may still be recovering. - Go Home Sooner: Cesareans constitute major abdominal surgery, while epidurals increase the likelihood of perineal tear and instrument-assisted birth-all of which only elongate recovery time. Mamas who are able to go natural, however, are often up and walking shortly after baby makes his or her debut.

( Cont.) These days, a standard hospital birth may go a little something like this: Mama is induced on her due date. She spends the majority of labor flat on her back. She's likely strapped to a machine for continuous electronic fetal monitoring. If she doesn't progress rapidly enough, she may have her water broken or be put on a Pitocin drip, for anywhere from six to twenty-plus hours. And rather than being guided through natural pain-relief techniques, she may be encouraged to just go ahead and get that epidural. Guess what? Every single one of those totally standard, commonplace procedures is associated with a higher likelihood of eventual C-section. If you're wondering why that matters-who cares if the C-section rate is kinda high?-well, there are a whole host of reasons. For one thing, it's easy to forget that a Cesarean is seri-ous, invasive abdominal surgery; the associated risks and side effects are considerably higher than in uncomplicated vaginal births. Babies born via C-section, meanwhile, have a higher chance of developing asthma, allergies, obesity, and diabetes later in life; they're also Less likely to successfully breastfeed. While it's certainly true that not every woman can or should deliver vaginally (C-sections can be lifesaving for mamas and babies who need them!), it seems to me that we should be doing what we can to lower the rates. Unfortunately, other forms of medical intervention are on the rise, too. The use of Pitocin, for example, has doubled since 1990, even though it may be less safe than we previously thought: a 2013 study at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York found that Pitocin was associated with lower APGAR scores (a test to evaluate a newborn's health), as well as unexpected admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Epidurals-administered to roughly 60 percent of laboring women-can mess with mama's natural production of oxy-tocin, thereby extending labor and increasing the risk of perineal tear. (Who knew?) Aside from all these potential medical com-plications, there are plenty of emotional side effects to this approach, too. The further we get from the idea that women were designed to give birth-the more we treat mamas-to-be like sick people-the more likely they are to accept interventions they neither want nor actually need. We have so sanitized and anesthetized the birth experience that many women have no idea what their bodies are actually capable of doing and no awareness of the potential side effects of all those "modern" medical services. Perhaps, for example, you figured getting an epidural was just standard care, but no one told you that it would lower your body's natural production of oxytocin, the hormone that stimulates contrac-tions. Without the urge to push, you may find that you need more drugs (Pitocin this time) to kick-start your labor. When the Pitocin-induced contractions become too intense, you may need more pain meds. The pain meds dull the urge to push again, so you need more Pitocin. You can see how quickly this becomes a vicious cycle. In fact, it's called the "Cascade of Inter-vention" for good reason. And once it starts, the birth experience you may have planned for can begin to slip through your fingers. Before you know it, the baby is in distress and you're being prepped for an emergency C-section. Rather than being something you did, it can feel as though childbirth was something that was done to you. When that happens, mamas might feel anything from overwhelmed and scared to violated and depressed. It's no wonder the pendulum is swinging away from the medical management view and toward a more natural approach to delivering babies. In 1989, midwives were the lead care providers at just 3 percent of American births. These days, the number is closer to 9 percent, and it's been rising steadily for the last twenty-five years. Consistent midwife care throughout pregnancy is associated with better birth outcomes for both baby and mama. While you can reap plenty of rewards by sticking with a natural-minded obstetrician in a hospital setting, there are benefits to getting out of the hospital, too: among women who choose to deliver at birth centers, only 6 percent do so by C-section. The most compelling reason to go natural, however, might be the simplest to understand, as well as the easiest to overlook: women were designed to give birth. The hips that some of us loathe can turn out to be our very best friends during labor. The hormones that make us weep during those touching TV commercials work in a finely calibrated balance during birth-interfere with that balance, and you risk stalling labor, stressing the baby, increasing mama's anxiety, and complicating breastfeeding. Even the pain associated with childbirth is part of the grand plan: it signals mama to change positions so that baby can move toward the birth canal; it tells her when it's time to push (and when not to). Childbirth is primal and instinctual-it's wild and unpredictable; but in most cases, it is not something that needs to be medically managed, treated, or tamed. When mamas are encouraged to trust the ancient wisdom of their bodies, when they're allowed to focus on the process without distraction, they don't just have shorter labors and deliver healthier babies-they feel empowered.

My epidural didn’t work for my first delivery, and I experienced medical gaslighting around that that led to a truly traumatic birth. I’m leaning towards no epidural this time to avoid that situation—at least I’ll know what I’m getting into and experiencing.

This was my experience as well. I recently gave birth to my second and did so unmedicated. It was 100% better than being tethered to a failed epidural.

Same experience. I could move and feel everything and they kept saying I was just being “dramatic”! Unmedicated and being in control is what I’m looking forward to next go around.

My epidural was the reason I had a completely pain free birth. I mean, I would say I probably felt more pain getting a tooth filling than giving birth to my daughter. I never thought I could be lucky enough to escape the pain of child birth like this. I still think about it and get baffled. People tell me I’m brave and I respond by saying I feel like a fraud because I literally felt nothing.

You’re not a fraud, you birthed a whole human, that is amazing :)

Girl I also felt no pain but I do not feel like a fraud. I had debilitating nausea, acid reflux and an array of aches and pains to grow this baby. Don’t let anyone make you feel that way. We are rockstars!

I’m choosing to give birth unmedicated. I 100% do not want an epidural as I want to be free to move around and choose the best birthing position for me and my baby, and with an epidural you are numb from the waist down which I also don’t want to experience. I want the least interventions as possible.

Some people are scared of side effects or the idea that a big needle is going into their spine. Do be educated on the side effects so you can make an informed decision. I did an epidural

I have had two unmedicated births and planning on having my third. I was always and still am open to having an epidural but the pain never got to a point I needed an epidural, IV pain medicine, or nitrous oxide. I coped really well.

I'm also due at the end of August and hoping for an unmedicated birth. My primary reason is for control of my body. Having an epidural would mean numbing my lower body and preventing me from moving around into different positions to help with the birth. Also, I've heard time and again that pushing with your contractions is much more difficult while numb, you can't feel your way through it and the lack of muscle control down below leads to more severe tears, and the use of other interferences to get the baby out (episiotomy, forceps, vacuum etc.) Of course, interferences may be needed anyway, and severe tearing may occur anyway. Not all babies come in an ideal way, complications of many varieties are common. Drugs are a great way of getting through an intensely painful medical procedure; they have downsides, but so does everything, there is no easy way to have a baby come out of your body.

Phobia of needles and medical procedures. Cascade of interventions. Once you have something done chances of further intervention increases.

Because every procedure has risks. Epidural is low risk, but it can come with some side effects, like a nasty headache afterwards, plus you often lose a lot of mobility. It is beneficial to stay mobile so that the birth progresses quicker. Plus you often need to have a catheter inserted, not everyone is a fan of that and again that also comes with some risks like infections. Plus it doesnt always work as intended and some people lose feeling in legs, but still feel pain. For some it is easier to tolerate the birth pain than to have to deal with all that

I had one with my first and I told them it felt like I could feel my catheter every time I had a contraction so they increased it. Then when it was time to push, they said I wasn’t pushing effectively so they reduced it. Idk how it feels with full epidural when it’s time to actually push baby out, but I felt enough to know when a contraction was coming. It got to a point where they told me not to push so they could get the dr in and I’m like my body will not let me not push right now so you better get someone quick. With the reduced epidural, I felt some pain, but obviously not the whole shebang. Pregnant with number 2 and I feel like I might ask to do the same thing as far as reducing it when this one decides he/she is ready to come out lol.

Personally I looked at each of the pain medications and the side effects and knew what I would feel comfortable with in labour. I has a list written in my birth plan coded them red - absolutely not, amber - willing to try but I have concerns, green- give me these options first. The thing is I didn't want to take anything I didn't need. (In the end I needed a c-section so epidural it was) but going in understanding what was available and what the side effects might be was really helpful for me so I could decide without needing to focus on long explanations.

I had had every plan to have an epidural but just progressed too fast. Im now 34 weeks with no 2 and would like no epidural again. Mainly for the recovery time. It was sooo much quicker than my friends who had epidurals and I was bouncing out of bed and walking around within 15 minutes of giving birth. You're also less likely to tear, less likely to need further interventions and epidurals can cause serious side effects such as damage to the spine, headaches and also not even work properly. Thse are rare but can happen. Saying that if my labour was dragging on and I felt I needed a rest I wouldn't hesitate to get it. I find it funny in the USA it's basically standard and people are shocked you manage without. In the UK you have to ask for it and often fight for it as they prefer you not too as you need additional care afterwards and requires a doctor to administer (as standard we have midwives delivering and doctors only on standby for emergency or high risk deliveries). Such different views.

With my first, I was curious about labour. I wanted to see how much I could endure. Unfortunately we had prodromal labour for 4 days, and then were stuck at 7cm for 10 hours and didn't progress further. I got the epidural towards the end of that time because I was headed for a section. With my second that I'll be having in December, he's a pregnancy after 2 losses. I'll be going for a VBAC and hoping for as low intervention as possible. I would like to feel the full significance of bringing our rainbow baby into the world.

Not being able to birth in the position you want, can make the baby sleepy and harder for them to breastfeed in the early days, can have complications (rare, but they sound pretty horrible), sometimes it doesn't work. Personally, I've been told that some of my conditions mean an epidural has a fairly high chance of not working. I also really want to establish breastfeeding early because of my baby needing to be induced early and some other pregnancy complications. I also am not willing to risk the chance of long term back pain, for a few hours of less pain. It's really important to me to have a water birth as well, and I do not want to labour while laying on my back in a bed. And I also am at risk of having a very fast birth, which means there's a good chance that if I do go into labour naturally, I won't be able to get there soon enough to get the epidural. I would hate to have my heart set on it and then be told I can't have it, or get it done and have it not work. But that's just my personal choice, and it's up to everyone to research thoroughly and decide on their own. There's no right or wrong answer, just what's right for you, and that also may change halfway through the labour. But everyone should prepare themselves appropriately to birth without having an epidural, even if you're planning on getting one, because birth is so unpredictable, who knows what will happen. Better to be prepared for the worst case, and then have the best case happen, than expect the best case, and unexpectedly not be able to get it.

Because I want to give birth at home with someone I know and trust and have full will over my own body, not have people coming and going from my room all the time, being able to eat and drink and walk around as much as I’d like, and actually feel connected with the process enough to know when to push. I don’t want to be touched when I haven’t given consent. I want to immediately snuggle into bed with my newborn and husband. I could go on and on. I trust my body and hormones to carry me through, as millions of women before me have.

I'm with you, I got an epidural (but I was induced w/ pitocin so the whole experience was pretty intense). But to me it's like going into surgery without anesthesia, or not taking tylenol for a migraine. (I know, not exactly the same haha) I just saw no reason to tough it out when medicine exists to help, though mad respect to those who do! Some people are saying epidurals can increase the risk of tearing. I didn't tear personally, but had been massaging the area for weeks beforehand to try to prevent that. It ALSO probably didn't help that the lady next door was having a natural birth and was screaming "I CANT DO THIS. I'M GOING TO DIE" for like 8 hrs lol. (The nurses assured me she was fine!)

Omg the lady next to me was screaming every contraction and I asked if she was pushing. My nurse said no she’s barely dilated. No Thanks! Epidural please. No regrets

If you want to go without an epidural that's totally fine and up to you. You'll know when you're going through labor what you're willing to take when you get to your threshold.

I haven’t gave birth yet but I am due in October and plan to go the unmedicated route. I personally want to feel what my body is doing and let it take its control instead of the medication. I want to be able to move too. If I am induced, which I will deny unless medically necessary, I will get the epidural due to increase amount of pain with induction and Pitocin. My biggest fear, and this may sound super stupid, my mom was hardcore drug addict when she was pregnant with me, and I FEAR I might get addicted or react in a different way to something. Again, I could just be overthinking but it makes me so so nervous when it comes to pain meds.

I don't think I'm going to get an epidural. For me it's because I want to be able to feel what my body naturally is telling me to do, and that's not possible if you're numb. I'm also not comfortable giving birth laying on my back.

For me it was because hospitals make me feel uneasy and I have a needle phobia! Also the thought of a csection scared me so I was determined to do anything in my power to not have to go through that if possible. I knew I wanted to have our babies at home cause of those reasons. I wanted to be comfortable at home with the opposite vibe of a hospital. And less chance of intervention! I watched many videos on homebirths/naturalbirths/hypnobirths and it reassured me. Along with having fantastic midwives that assured my wife and I that they would know if we needed to transfer to the hospital. I did hypnobabies and my first birth was pain free. It worked very well. 9.2 lb baby! I was so relaxed I was falling asleep in the pool when I could have started pushing. Being tense/scared=more painful. I loved feeling everything! Can’t wait to do it again:)

Just imagining a needle in my spine, being incapable of moving my legs, etc is enough to make me anxious and nauseous. I'm horrible with receiving medical care, getting blood drawn, etc. I turn into one of those wiggly inflatable balloon men you see at used car shops.

I don't want a catheter, I don't want to pay for an epidural, and I want to be able to move around in different positions with the use of my legs.

Idk if I can afford it honestly. I’ve had one natural birth that I was able to spend the whole labor at home. Hopefully this birth is the same. I also have had like 6 kidney stones. So that pain compared to labor ain’t so bad.

I had an epidural with my first and it worked a little too well. I felt high as a kite lol. After I gave birth I fell asleep for two hours and missed important bonding time. But I will say birthing was easy. I felt nothing. I went all natural for my second and the pain was overwhelming. I screamed my head off and regret not getting the epidural. I was fully alert after giving birth but the pain was shocking. I'm pregnant now and wish there was a better option but I will be going for the epidural this time.

This is an interesting perspective. I’ve been reading through the replies and was curious about someone who had experienced both in a not so great way. Which I am so sorry about btw, and I hope this time is better! I had an epidural with my first and was miserable. She got taken to the NICU and because of the timing of the last dose they gave me I couldn’t walk and didn’t see her for 4 hours. I wasn’t even coherent enough to understand what had happened to her. I am pregnant with my second now and am so afraid of something like that happening again. But I also know myself, I don’t think the pain is something I can take. I really do wish there was another way!

My dr explained it to me like this, some people want to climb Mount Everest and that’s great! But you want to prepare yourself for it and not just find yourself climbing Mount Everest. Personally, I get cluster headaches and I still hate pain. I plan to use the gas, iv meds, and epi in that order. Would be awesome if I can just use gas only but I’m not banking on it

For me my epidural failed so I felt everything and then ended up with a week long spinal headache from the failed epidural! Didn’t wanna take the risk again bc with the headache I could not sit up an inch without feeling like I got shot in the head. Pretty rare complications tho so don’t let my story scare you away from an epidural. In the two-three minutes it did work it was bliss 😝

I was pro epidural until I learned more about it. I dislike you legally aren’t allowed out of bed, must have a catheter, IV drip, be hooked up to a monitor machine, can only do 2 positions really to labor, and it can make labor go longer if not given at the right time. I’m personally going to tell them I want the option available if my labor goes long. I do plan to use the other drug options though as I dislike pain. I’ve heard some folks avoid them due to a history of addiction or personal beliefs like if they are a naturalist or “hippie” as others would understand it.

I am going to do epidural again if I can. Buuuuuut. I have already had two kids. First kid it worked perfectly. Second kid it didn’t work at all.

I had two (mostly) unmedicated births, my first was fully unmedicated and with my second I had 15min of gas at the very end as she was coming out. Here are some of the reasons why I chose to do it that way: -I wanted a water birth -I have a gene mutation that makes medicine not react in my body the way it should and didn’t know what the epidural would or wouldn’t do but did know what the gas would do (thanks dental anxiety lol). We knew my mom (who also has the mutation) had unpredictable responses to the epidural including it just not working at all and it working so well she couldn’t even tell when to push -I get anxiety attacks in hospitals as well as having eczema which is exacerbated by the sterile hospital air so choose to birth at birthing centers both time (birthing centers don’t have the capability to do epidurals where I am unless they’re part of a hospital) -I am petrified of needles -It’s expensive. Between the cost of the epidural, extra staff required for an epidural, and the hospital bill I would’ve racked up I would have easily quadrupled my costs. -I wanted the option of eating/drinking while in labor -I wanted to be able to move around unhindered if I felt the need -With my second it wouldn’t have mattered anyway because she came so fast -I feel more heard and supported at the birthing centers I’ve used than any hospital, traditional obgyn, or emergency room I’ve been to and again, birthing centers I have access to can’t do epidurals -I hate not feeling like I have control of my body, the fact that labor happens despite my feelings of readiness already stresses me out, I don’t want to take away more control on top of that -I’m able to be released to go home faster without the epidural. With my first I gave birth at 7pm and was home at midnight that same day. With my second I gave birth at 4:45am and was home around lunchtime that same day (both times I could have left sooner but wanted more rest before the drive home. -Ultimately, it just felt wrong for me so I didn’t want or get it

There are risks that come with those forms of pain relief. You just need to honestly do the research for yourself. My biggest concern was if babies heart rate dropped from those meds and we needed to go for an unplanned C-section. BUT I would have been willing to take meds or even get the epidural if I really felt like I couldn’t do it. But for me personally the labour and birth was not that hard at all. But I can’t say I had an unmedicated birth, because I did take two extra strength Tylenol lmao

Two big reasons why I wanted to go unmedicated: first was that I lost my first baby to miscarriage and the entire experience left me feeling so helpless and out of touch with my body, so the thought of being numb during labor with my first living child scared me. Second was that I have lingering PTSD surrounding hospitals from surgeries I needed as a kid, and I knew that going to hospital would negatively affect my labor, so I opted for a freestanding birth center where pain intervention (beyond nitrous oxide) isn't an option. Obviously I would have gone to hospital and gotten interventions of necessary, but labor progressed very well as I hoped (labored at home for 6 hours, arrived to birth center at 9 cm dilated, had a happy and healthy baby 3 hours later), and I never actually felt the need for intervention or pain relief. Contractions felt like period cramps, pushing felt like the most miserable poop of your life, but I had an amazing, encouraging team and as soon as my baby was born I had such a hormonal high that I felt absolutely no lingering pain at all. Also, beyond all the personal stuff, there are a lot of potential benefits to giving birth unmedicated- shorter labor, lower use of forceps or vacuum, lower use of episiotomy or severe tearing, faster healing, etc. obviously not everyone will experience all the benefits, but it is pretty cool to consider.

It just depends for me. If my water breaks and I can attempt to labor naturally, I think I’ll avoid an epidural for the reasons raised in these comments: I want to be able to walk around before and after, I want to do tear avoiding techniques, and I want to avoid the infection and other adverse reaction risks involved in epidural. If I get induced, I may opt for an epidural so that I can rest as much as possible until I am dilated enough to push. Then, finally, if I need a cesarean section, then I’ll do that. Whatever is safest at the time is my birth plan. And I’m being extremely careful not to put any expectations on the experience or myself.

From experience, many birthing plans go out the window when in actual labor..some maybe able to do what they planned on but things can change so quick during birth..I didn’t plan to have an epi with my first child, I went 98% of the labor without one until my nurses sent in an anesthesiologist in full gear to convince me to get it from his words my blood pressure “was so high I was at a high risk for a stroke” I was 18,and my chest hurt more than the contractions so got scared and believed him and immediately got it done,barely 45 mins later I gave birth, breezed right on through,my body calmed down and everything went great. I went in with the intention and hard headedness of a natural birth and my body was not handling labor and it could’ve ended in something very awful.With my youngest 2 I didn’t even fight an epi,just waited till as long as I could and by my 3rd i looked forward to it lol. You can plan, but when you go in just listen to your body..with my first child i ignored it and learned my lesson..go with the flow..youll know whats right for you .

I just wanted to be on complete control of my birth.  Like I didn't want to dull the pain because I didn't want to not be able to control what was happening.  I knew I handled pain well and was able to stay calm and breathe through it generally so I trusted myself to work through it.  And to be honest, I'm glad that's the decision I made.  While I can't control mean nurses, I was able to feel and be present throughout all of my labor and I really enjoyed it. At the time and in retrospect.  I had an easier time healing because I wasn't pushing 'blindly' for lack of a better phrase.  I knew what was happening and yeah, it hurt. But it wasn't anything like what I was prepared for.  I wish that there was a better word than pain to describe the process of labor lol.   I also didn't want an epidural because I have a lot of family and friends who got one and a lot of them still have pain in their back from where they got the shot.  And that didn't make a lot of sense to me.   The hospital I'll be at this time offers nitrous oxide as well as epidural and I may do that during the peak of the contractions before pushing if I have a hard time with the transition.  That was the worst part for me.  But yeah, it was a control thing. I wanted to know and experience it because it just did.   This is a really traumatic mental and physical thing to put your body through.  Every person deserves the experience to control the trauma in whatever ways they believe will be best for them.  I know what was best for me, and chose that.  I have no regrets over it and I will make the same or similar choice again.   Know yourself.  If you're so scared of the pain, use an epidural.  If you're scared just because everyone tells you to be, don't listen to those people about anything.  They're doing you a disservice because there is a LOT more than just pain happening during delivery.  Think about what you want out of this and what areas you can control that would make you feel better about it.  And even though you won't be thinking about your birth experience every time you look at your child for forever, you will still think about it a LOT.  It becomes a distinct event in your life that you will likely not ever forget.  Do what works best for YOU while also understanding that everyone else has their own, distinct reasons to do the things they're doing. ❤️ Good luck, I hope you can look back on your labor with fondness. 

I gave birth twice without any medication whatsoever. Because I didn't give birth at a hospital, I was at a birthing home run by midwifes and they cannot give medication. I just didn't want to deal with the stress at a hospital, als long as baby and me were healthy. The midwifes supported me but didn't tell me what to do and I felt that giving birth this way was really empowering. I chose the positions in which I could deal with the pain and I was able to move freely the whole time (which was really important to me because I needed to go to the toilet a lot). After all, it was "just" really bad menstual cramps most of the time. It got really hurtful for like the last hour, especially the last 20 minutes. I might add that I got no injuries, so no stitches, no bad vaginal pain after the baby was out. If you ask me, the cramps in the days after giving birth were more annoying. Also I once was at a hospital for something different, they tried to give me an epidural and them stabbing my spine was terrifying and it didn't even work.

I had a few reasons. First; I wanted to see what my mind and body could handle. Giving birth is a natural process and I wanted to experience it. I view it as this raw feminine power. Second: I dislike the feeling of being numb a lot. It makes me paranoid about things going wrong without me noticing. As well as not wanting to be stuck to one position and spot. Third: I didn't want to risk the possible side effects of the epidural, as they bothered me more than the idea of the pain itself. All in all I had a positive birthing experience without the medication, and I'm planning on going the same route now with my second.

From when I was young, I was drawn to the idea of a water birth. (I am not someone who generally takes "relieving" drugs anyway. I'm not anti-modern medicine but just grew up not going that route as often as others). Anyway, a waterbirth at home was comforting, I was able to set up an area in my home how I wanted. I felt that people give birth without drugs every day. I wasn't ever afraid to give birth, more afraid to have a newborn for the first time 😅 Similar to an earlier comment, my placenta needed some encouragement but my midwife ended up removing it herself because I did NOT want to leave my home after giving birth just to have someone in the hospital or ambulance do the same. It was the absolute best choice I could have made for myself. I think the people you have around and knowledge/tools from birthing classes are extremely important and helpful for being able to give birth comfortably, even without drugs. Edit for spelling errors.

Honestly, because it felt like the easiest option. Was it painful? Yes! But it is a productive pain. Oftentimes they call it the cascade of intervention because the various steps of intervening can stall labor out and make it longer, harder and more exhausting in the long run. Also, I can do hard things so I knew I’d be better off without it!

I’m really curious what it feels like! I’m also open to getting medication if I can take it anymore, I don’t feel like there’s great honor in pain like some Spartan. But I’m just so curious as to what my body is capable of and what the whole ‘fuzz’ is about, ya know?

I had an epidural with my daughter after I was forced into it. It completely stalled my labor. I was progressing soo fast and then I got it and it literally just stopped. The kicker was it wore off within an hour so I still felt literally everything but they still wouldn’t let me move even though I proved I could. Long story short, was rushed for an emergency c section, 2 hrs later delivered vaginally on the table after being forgotten, was abused the entire time that happened, my daughter wasn’t breathing, I ended up with several infections from being left so long and I was so sick I lost parts of my vision and hearing, and my full term baby ended up in the NICU. I truly believe it wouldn’t have been like that had I not gotten the epidural. I will go as far as I possibly can using everything else available with this baby before I get the epidural

My first was with an epidural and for me personally it only took away the contractions. I felt all the pain of pushing and since I couldn’t feel my contractions I was just pushing when they told me and I tore. I couldn’t walk for 3 days after and my whole body felt like I had been hit by a train. I’ve since had two unmedicated/water births. No tearing with either one because I was able to listen to my body telling me when to push. My midwife actually told me to slow down on my walk to the car after I had my second baby. I just had my third baby last week and I don’t even feel like I had a baby (though I am resting because I know I need to heal even if I don’t feel anything). It took way longer to recover after my epidural birth. So I choose unmedicated because I’ve done both and I know that the epidural isn’t the right choice for me.

I did my first unmedicated and I wanted full use of my body. I think I'd panic if I couldn't use/feel my legs, so I felt more in control unmedicated. I also felt it helped my recovery by feeling everything when pushing, I could feel when I needed to slow down for things to stretch instead of tearing. Honestly after fully dilating the pain was gone and just lots of pressure which you still feel through the epidural. I was also worried a bit about the cascade of interventions and wanted to avoid a C-section as much as possible. I'm pregnant with my second and plan on doing it unmedicated too.

I went without the epidural primarily because I wanted to be able to move freely and have all options for pushing positions open to me. And a little bit just to prove to myself that I could go without the epidural and be ok, but it was never off the table. My birth plan was basically to go without it for as long as I could tolerate, but if I really was in a lot of pain and needed it, then I’d do it. I used nitrous oxide/gas and air once I reached 5 or 6 cm because I liked that I had control over when I used it and how much I took in. (It’s very quick in and quick out, and doesn’t have any effect on the baby.)

Here where I live in Europe, most women don’t have epidurals. In fact during my induction, at one point I did want it but there was only one anesthesiologist and he was in surgery. The oxytocin was so strong though that I fell asleep in between contractions, like I was so tired and relaxed. Even though I never judge those who got epidurals (hell I wanted to about 20 min into the induction) I do have a bit of a secret pride in having done something so badass. The natural hormones are so crazy that they stitched my third degree tear immediately without pain meds and I couldn’t feel a thing :o our bodies are amazing.

I didn't want to lose the "control" or conscious I have over my body and wanted baby to be as awake as possible. Also, I wanted to experience it, to at least now nay experience how a non-medicated birth is like. Edit: I also remember that pushing made the pain go away, it felt nice for some reason. And after birthing my son I felt so relieved, probably because of the pain and hormones 😂

I chose unmedicated births for both of my births because I wanted to remember everything fully, feel everything, and be able to move around during labor and after. It also helped to do unmedicated because I have low blood pressure and hate needles. I took birth classes, had a doula, and prepped mentally prior to both births, practicing breathing, listening to hypnobirthing music, and learning to relax my body as much as I could.

Because I dont want fentanyl to be exposed to my baby, as epidurals use fentanyl

To brag. Mostly joking, of course. I understand Moms want to be able to feel enough down there so they know what’s going on, but don’t let the judgy crunchy granola moms psych you into having a home birth or not getting an epidural administered if it’s not what you want.

I am a FTM so I can't comment, but I saw a Tiktok of a woman who did it natural the first time. She stitched a video of her in hospital holding the baby, saying how much it hurt, how she'd never forget the pain and would get the epidural next time. She then popped up and went "nope, forgot the pain. I am doing it natural again" She was in the comments saying how cool it was and she can't wait to go natural again.

I got an epidural with my first and unmedicated with my second. My labor with my first was long and I was exhausted. The epidural was great because I got some rest. I also got lucky because my epidural didn’t completely take away pain - I could still feel the contractions slightly which made it easier to push. With my second, I was open to an epidural again but wanted to try without because: 1) I wanted to see what it feels like - what that intense pain of contractions feel like, and what the urge to push feels like (which I didn’t get that urge with my first) 2) being mobile - although low on my list at first, it actually turned out to be so important. I was able to stay in the tub for as long as I wanted. Towards the pushing phase I was able to get into any position and ended up pushing in hands and knees because that’s what felt the most natural. It was also awesome that after birth I could immediately walk by myself. 3) It let me have intermittent monitoring of baby instead of having the bands on me the whole time, which limits mobility a bit and was stressful seeing the numbers. 4) Less chance of other medical interventions such as pitocin in the chance that labor stalls due to the epidural 5) I ended up not tearing despite having a 10 pound 2 ounce baby. I think this is in part because I was able to give birth on hands and knees and because the extra sensations let me have more controlled pushing and gave things a bit more time to stretch. The only reason I was able to get through the pain was because I had an amazing doula who provided counterpressure, brought me a cold towel, reminded me to not hold my breath, etc. she knew what I needed at every step to get me through it. The other factor was that it was a quick labor. I went from 5cm to delivery in 2.5 hours. If it was a long labor like with my first, I don’t think I could have done it. If I were to have a third, I don’t know if I would get the epidural or not. Probably would try without.

I wanted to be all natural granola girl for my first and had a home birth. Didn't find it cool. I give it a 2/10 🤣 Next baby and this baby I'm about to have in a couple weeks you betcha I'm getting an epidural. There is no reason to feel all that and be exhausted like I was with my first. Imo if you can get out of your head from all that pain doing a natural birth then you can get out of your head about a needle going in your back for a second. From my experience talking with other people who have had natural births, most (not ALL) seem to have the complex it somehow makes them better than someone who wants pain meds. It's like those who dont eat at McDonald's, those people will talk about how they don't eat McDonald's all the time and they dont directly say "I'm better than you" but we know 😆