? for Moms and Moms to Be

tastyburger

okay, I'm just going to come right out and say it.  Part of the reason I want unmedicated is because I have heard about the extreme euphoric state that occurs afterwards, like you are on the strongest drugs ever created (ie adrenaline) and I've had some of that before (with the passings-out and whatnot) and it was incredible.  I'm a selfish cow, because if I can, I'd like to experience that and see what all the hallabaloo is about.  Oh, plus for my baby.  yeah.

the_mulva

budda, i hate needles, but the spinal really wasn't bad. I barely felt it.

KristenBtobe

Shoot, go for it! I read some book where women were having orgasms during labor. Yea, not me. But if you're one of those with the inclination, sounds dandy!

buddhagouda

[i]budda, i hate needles, but the spinal really wasn't bad. I barely felt it. [/i] I want to believe, but I'm giving you a questioning side eye.

noisy_penguin

I'll be honest, my epidural wasn't great.  I had to sit hunched over while they went to find the attending because the resident screwed up. It took an hour to get in and they didn't have it in right when they finally finished; I could still feel mostly everything on my right side. It helped enough that I could close my eyes through some of the contractions though, and I really needed it.

heatherkj

I'm backpacking Europe with Tasty. Well, except for that part about euphoria afterward, because I've never heard of that before.My mom gave birth to me naturally, but had an epidural with my twin brothers (she pushed both of them out, go mom!). After doing it both ways, she once told me "Giving birth naturally was the dumbest thing I have EVER done."So since then, I've always just assumed that since I'm wimpy, I would get the drugs. However, after witnessing my nephew's birth, I'm not so sure about the epidural. First of all, hers completely DID NOT WORK. Secondly, the baby is almost six months old and she is still having severe problems with back pain and numbness due to nerve damage as a result of her epi. Scary.

pdxmouse

Not by choice, but I was totally natural this last time (only got to the hospital 20 minutes before the birth). No tearing or stitches, but feeling a head come out of there gave me flashbacks and tears everytime Mr M went to touch me for about 2 months. No one should ever have to experience that...stretching. I can't imagine what it would be like to actually feel yourself tear. The only euphoria I felt was that it was over and I had an outside baby. You might ask a midwife how often she sees women who actually get euphoric or O during labor. The drugs used today are some of the most tested, safest ever. Women marched and picketed for the right to pain meds in childbirth before the right to vote. Why put yourself through what you don't have to?

pdxmouse

I was told they could reposition an epidural that wasn't working. I have no idea if this is true or not since I DIDN'T GET TO TRY.

heatherkj

They tried no fewer than 4 times to reposition SIL's epidural, they gave her things called "boluses" (sp?) that were essentially big doses of the epi drugs (instead of the slow drip) to help ease her pain, and none of it worked.They did offer to completely take it out and redo it, but it took them 45-60 minutes (when it was supposed to take 20!) to get it in the first time. She had been through so much with it at that point that she was scared to let them try again. With that said, I've also had friends who swear by the epidural and did not have any of these issues. But I guess for me, seeing her go through all of that (and the lasting effects she's experienced) have made the "risks" of the epidural very, very real to me.

Knottie_22382082

Why put yourself through what you don't have to?I've seen unmedicated birth advocates liken going natural to running a marathon.  It's not something anyone HAS to do, but some people want to (or want to try, at least), just to prove they can.  I think I'm in this camp (from right here where delivery is still kind of a long way off, at least).  I want to do it at least in part just because I think it would be cool to see what my body can do on its own.  I'm totally open to changing the plan if I need to, but I like the idea of giving it a shot, even though I know I don't remotely "have to" go through that.

noisy_penguin

I was told they could reposition an epidural that wasn't working.That's what they were doing for me for an hour. It helped some, but I eventually got to the point where I just needed to lay down so I told them to stop.

Kamikaze3

I suffer from migraines and have heard the epidural can make that worse during labor and even sometimes in the long run. If I can avoid that it would be nice. Plus even though I do not have to go through it, I think I would still like to try for the health benefits, recovery and what not.

tastyburger

what if I can have an awesome natural delivery and the baby just SHOOTS right out of my cavernous bagina *wink, nod*?  why go thru meds if you "don't have to?"

pdxmouse

For me I guess it's more like climbing Mt Everest. I don't enjoy running, but I can see how a marathon could be enjoyable. However, climbing Mt Everest just seems like pure and utter, pointless misery. And I've done it, more or less, twice. Sad about the repositioning. I thought the midwife seemed suspiciously upbeat about it. Not that it matters for me now.

pdxmouse

Tasty, I got as close to "shooting through" as I think is possible and I don't think it's worth it, but hey, it's your vag. I'm a little mystified about what the health benefits of natural are, but if I've reaped any I'd love to know.

KayRI

I haven't read all the responses so apologies if I'm repeating:  I kept saying I was going to go as long as I could without an epidural, but my sister told me her only advice would be to ask for an epidural as soon as possible.even with an epidural, I could feel every contraction, and I felt him being born.  I also am glad I didn't spend any time on making a birth plan, because laboring and delivering a baby for the first time, I think, is something you just can't plan for.  Every expectation I had went out the window.  Bouncing on a labor ball?  No chance.  Sitting in the whirlpool?  No way.  Just give me rosary beads and don't touch me and tell when to push.

noisy_penguin

I think maybe the resident I had was just dumb, Mouse. I probably should have let the attending screw around with it more, but they kept me in the sitting position while they went to find him and it took awhile. It was not good.That said, I'd still probably do it again if I were in the same situation. I don't think it always works like that, and it did provide some relief.

Jen&Joe06

I planned on an unmedicated labour and delivery. I made it 10 hours before my midwife told me to get an epidural (she knew things were going downhill for Ben and that a c/s would be required).Honestly, if I had not been induced with the devil drug and if there had not been complications I know I would have been able to continue unmedicated and deliver naturally. The pain techniques helped to work through the contractions. My problem was that being induced caused me to have no time between contractions. I couldn't even catch my breath. Your doctor will tell you when you last moment to get an epi is. You will be able to make a better decision about what you want to do once you are in the moment and know what you are dealing with.

Jen&Joe06

Re epi - I didn't feel it at all. It was crazy trying to lay still through contractions but I did not feel a single thing when he did it. Plusalso I hate hate hate needles.

wingedbride

I have heard that any pain meds besides the epi just put you in a weird fog and don't really stop the pain. Moms, true?

Jen&Joe06

I used the gas for a bit and it didn't put me into a fog at all. It did its job and took the edge off of the contractions.While I waited an hour for the epi to arrive the MW gave me a shot of something (no clue if it was morphine or what) and it put me into a huge fog. I would pass out for the minute I had between contractions then wake up and rip off my oxygen mask (had to have it on because it was the only way they could detect Ben's heartrate) and put on the gas mask and try to make it through the contraction before passing out again.Joe said it was brutal to watch me in that hour. I was completely out of it.

CaliopeSpidrman

I have already told Mouse I'm signing up for her version of 20 minutes of labor.My labor plan will be this:As long as I can spell my own name, I am in charge of making decisions as to how things will go at that time.

wingedbride

wow, jen, that sounds like a...blast. sign me up for that.

Jen&Joe06

Yah I would never get that shot again.

wingedbride

a friend had mentioned a shot. some pain med, but i just dont remember the name.

wendyld

My shot drugs were exactly as Jen described. Staydol or some such devil medicine. I kept forgetting to breathe at all and basically passing out between contractions. I was completely out of it and in ungodly amounts of pain. The epidural brought sweet sweet relief AND sped up my labor. I had no gas mask that Jen speaks of though.

katie.i.do

::making mental note to refuse 'staydol' or anything that remotely sounds like that that comes in a syringe::

Knottie_22382080

HT, we are like two peas in a pod.  I want a Priscilla Presley Style birth: knok me out with as manydrugs allowable, wake me up when my hair and makeup are done and hand me a clean and dry baby.

CaliopeSpidrman

I think Noisy needs to make you a big headed baby badge.

mrs.R.tobe

I planned on it. I was in labor for a veryyyy long time. Almost two days. But, I knew I wanted to go natural, so I just pushed threw it. But, after two hours of pushing, we discovered the baby was breech and face up. So, I ended up with a C section. Labor is very painful, but you can do it! Just think about how you are going to meet your baby and this pain is not going to last forever. If you do end up with drugs or a c section, don't beat yourself up over it. It's still hard work!