Vaginal birth poll

Lately, I have been trying to decide if I want to have an epi or try to go naturally. It seems like every person I talk to recently has a delivered a full grown toddler naturally

I don't tend to be a wimp pain wise, but I am nervous about delivery (and maybe a little afriad of being a wimp )

What do you plan to do?

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I don't care if I see trails... I don't want to feel a thing regardless of how I give birth.

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I answered we'll see, considering, my mom had no time to even get an Epi bc I being the first and ONLY was out in less than 2 hours . If history repeats itself, more power to me, if I go for any time longer than I'm able to take the pain, I dont' care if I'm hit over the head with a cast iron frying pan, just do what needs to be done...

Message edited 9/18/2008 1:13:48 PM.

Re: Vaginal birth poll

I said only if necessary. I am scared of an epi and possible complications (especially because my spine is fused in the area due to scoliosis), and do not want to feel like I can't move my legs. I'm going to try and go natural and only get an epi of it's totally unbearable and my doc suggests it or I need a c-section.

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We'll see what happens...i would prefer no medication, but whatever....

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This poll is making me feel so much better! I want to wait an see what happens when I get there.

Remind me not to listen to the guys in my office talk about what their wives did, what the heck do they know!?!

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When I had my son, the epi was up in the air. If I needed it I would get it, but I wanted to wait it out and see. I wasn't totally for it, but wasn't totally against it either. I just wanted to see what happened. I ended up getting it at 6 cm. They had started pitocin and broken my water at the same time, and the contractions were rolling on top of each other. It was crazy. So I was very glad I got the epi.

I am going in with this one with the same attitude. We'll see how it goes, and take it from there. I really think being open minded is the best.

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I want drugs

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At this point I'm scheduled for a c-section so I'll definately be getting drugs! But if I was going vaginal I would be all about the epi, I hear it's a wonderful thing

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Drugs all the way. I'm the biggest wimp ever.

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I had an epi and I am SO glad I did. I had second degree tears and I would not have wanted to feel THAT on top of everything else. Also, I had back labor and once the epi wore off, I was in tremendous pain, worse than the labor.

I did experience a complication from the epi called spinal headaches. Once it was diagnosed and treated, I was fine. I plan to have an epi with my future pregnancies.

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i go in wiht the mindset that i will go for as long as i can with nothing- but im open to anything on an as needed basis.
with my DD i was induced so it was a long labor. DS i got the epi at 9.5cm's- i dont regret not making it natural- i just wish i could have gotten it earlier.

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I want to avoid an epi or other anaethetic becuase it frequently will lead towards the use of other drugs... and it's the OTHER drugs (ie. pictocin) that I'm worried about.

An epi, especially if given too early, may stall labor.... necessitating the use of pictocin, which unlike naturally produced oxytocin, causes VERY strong and long contractions.... these contractions can sometimes be too much for the baby, and will put it in distress.... which in turn causes an emergency c-section.

Also, with an epi, you can't do things that encourage natural labor like walk around. you're laying on your back... not a good position as far as labor progress and delivery is concerned.

sooo, natural all the way. I will suck it up as much as possible, so I can walk around and have gravity on my side

I know there are dozens of reasons for a section, but if I can reduce the chances of even 1 reason, I'll do whatever possible.

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I used to say I wouldn't go w/o an epi in a million years - WHY endure that pain if there's something that can prevent it? .........

But, then I saw the size of the needle -

And then I spoke to my friend who was basically in labor for 3 days and said by the time she was FINALLY ready to push, the pain wasn't bad .......Well, it wasn't comfortable, but it wasn't as unbearable as people had described. -

I guess everyone has a completely different tolerance for pain, mine is usually fairly high ..........So I'm going to see how it goes. - The milisecond I change my mind though, they will come at me w/ that needle !!

I've never done any of theis before and I have NO idea what I'm doing so I figure, never say never - right?

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My plan right now is to wait and see. I do not like the thought of not feeling my legs so I think the epi may stress me out. I really would love to do it pain med free but I'm not sure if I can handle it. Maybe I'll channel your mom Nina!! If she can deliver all of those kids naturally, then I should be able to! Right?

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With my last pregnancy i was terrified of the idea of epi.. and then once the contractions got too painful to handle the fear disappated and I was begging for the epi. Im doing the same again this pregnancy. I didnt feel the epi being done. Only part that stunk was the epi wore off when it was time to push.. so I had 2 hours of pushing and felt it all.

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I think I'll be getting the drugs. I have a very low threshold for pain.

<-------- BIG wimp over here!

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In my idea situation - vag birth, no drugs. My mom didn't have time for drugs with either me or my brother. I really hope I get to do it that way.

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I really want to be strong, but I am SCARED SCARED SCARED, did I say SCARED of pain? I do not know if I can handle it. I am beyond petrified.

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Posted by wannabemom

I want to avoid an epi or other anaethetic becuase it frequently will lead towards the use of other drugs... and it's the OTHER drugs (ie. pictocin) that I'm worried about.

An epi, especially if given too early, may stall labor.... necessitating the use of pictocin, which unlike naturally produced oxytocin, causes VERY strong and long contractions.... these contractions can sometimes be too much for the baby, and will put it in distress.... which in turn causes an emergency c-section.

Also, with an epi, you can't do things that encourage natural labor like walk around. you're laying on your back... not a good position as far as labor progress and delivery is concerned.

sooo, natural all the way. I will suck it up as much as possible, so I can walk around and have gravity on my side

I know there are dozens of reasons for a section, but if I can reduce the chances of even 1 reason, I'll do whatever possible.

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Give me the drugs ASAP. I'd take it myself before I go to the hospital if I could.

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I am going natural....... I have no option for pain medication as I am having a homebirth. One of the reasons I chose a homebirth is that I felt that if I was offered pain medication or I subconsciously knew that pain medication was available I would have a hard time coping with the pain.

If you do want to plan a natural birth I suggest you do a lot of research and reading on different coping mechanisms. Also try to take a birthing class that focuses more on natural childbrith and not just breathing during contractions but physically moving, squatting and using differne positiont to get through labor such as the Bradley Method. Also, another option is looking into Hypno-Birthing.

A few great books to read if you are contemplating a natrual delivery is:

"Birthing from Within" by Pam England and Rob Horowitz

"Ina Mays guide to Childbirth" by Ina May
"Spiritual Midwifery" by Ina May

"The thinking womans guide to a better birth" by Henci Goer.

Also try reading birth storeis of women who have gone completely natural and write down some of their coping mechanisms......

I think the biggest success comes in being aware about all of the stages of labor, and what to expect and learnign relaxation techniques that work for YOU. THe more nervous and anxious you are the more your body and muscles will tense up leading to more painful contractions and labor.

ALso a practitioner that is comfortable with you walking around, eating and drinking during your labor to keep your strenght up and one that is comfortable with delivering you in what ever position is comfortable for YOU...not what is convinnient for them will also lead to a greater success......

Remember women have been nirthing babies for hundreds of years and even today, out side of the US in countries such as Japan, Sweden, England, NOrway, Denmanrk and many many more.....women primarily go natural.....

HTH