Help I may not be getting an Epidural this time !!!!!

[SAHmommyOF2]

Hi Ladies,

I was wondering if any of you have had a child without an epidural.  I'm due on Nov 11th with my 3rd baby, it's a girl.  I have had an epidural with my other 2 and this would be my first time without one.  Can you all please tell me what it will be like will I even be able to handle the pain??  What questions should I ask my doctor about pain management ??  Thank you so much for your support :)

Courtney

[ohgooshie]

I didn't have an epidural with any of my 4 babies---The question is, how long are you in labor??? And how large are your babies?? Pain is all relative to those questions... I am not normally in "active" labor for longer than 4 hours and it has never been constant so it's bearable... On the scale? I'd say it's about an 8 but only momentarily... Now pushing is easier without the epidural because you have more "URGES" to push... So all in all, it could speed up the birthing process or vice versa...

So why do you want to go drug free this time??? I always wanted to experience the epidural but my babies come a little too fast... Oh well, we all want everything!!!

Good luck---HTH

[kelsbug05]

Its really how well can you handle the pain.. i thought i could handle the pain without but once the contractions were real i really felt it would be best to get one.. I did have one but i still felt my contractions and i knew when to push and not push.. i didnt push untill i was truly ready and only had to push 45 minutes then had my DD..so its hard to ask anyone really.. some people can handle it and some people cant. also i feel it depends on you ob or mw also they are a lot of help if they know what they are doing and are caring people.

[armywifenmommie]

i didnt have an epidural with mine i had IV drugs..but the downer with that is after the first dosage u dont feel it working anymore. so all the pain its supposed to hide u still feel as if u had nothing at all. my  labors werent long at all..12 hours with the first 18 with my second[induction]. i can handle pain pretty well when i did choose to get the IV drugs i would have the first dose and then minutes later they are coming regardless of my  cervix being ready. i think that you should try first not having anything as long as you can. only u know how much u can bear...when u hit that limit as for IV drugs if that doesnt take the edge off enough for you then go with the epidural. i tell my friends who ask what it was like without an epidural that it is painful no lie about that but its how much pain u can handle. always try first ask you dr the different levels of pain management they can give you as far as meds..but dont let them push the epidural on you when u know you can take more. this time around im goin to try and not have the IV drugs all together..im goin to use my radio on my phone as a way to mellow myself out and relax

[momtosammyt]

I had no pain meds with my first and will not with this one due october.  It was painful, but only unbearably so for a VERY short time...the rest of the contractions you can just breath through.  Once it gets so bad you feel like you cant take the pain, it is time to push.  That's how it was for me anyway.  I had such a strong urge that I only pushed for 5-10 minutes and out my boy slipped.  i forgot any pain at that instant.  women are strong and they have done this forever...you can do it too!

[Linsala]

No matter your pain tolerance it is possible to do it without an epi. I am not able to get one so I had both of my kids mostly natural. I had nubain, but it doesn't really do anything and wears off after an hour. With DD, I was induced and the contractions were 100x worse than with DS, but I still had to grin and bear it because no one will give me the epi. I survived and like the PP said, as soon as your baby is due you'll forget all about the pain. Good luck!

[SAHmommyOF2]

Thanks everyone for all your advise.  Here are some answeres to your questions.

How big are my babies? Austin is now 4 he was 9lbs 10oz (long and hard labor with epi) Carson is now 2 and he was 10lbs 5oz (nice easy and quick labor with epi)

Why am I considering no epidural?  Our insurance sucks this time and I have to pay $800.00 up front to the anesthesiologist so I can get a certification release card that is required to receive and epidural in Oklahoma.  I really don't want to put up $800.00 when we really need it.

How is my paid tolerance?  I would say very good, but I just don't know if I could handle the pain because I don't know what to expect, maybe it's the fear of the unknown??

 

Thanks Again!!

[lovingm0m]

I am due with my second son November 10th. For my 1st son, I had a natural water birth. I didnt want any drugs coarsing thru his little body so I had to bare the pain. Once my water broke, on the bed, I was begging to go into the tub which had the jet stream bubbles to relax me. My plug came out early, I was only 2cm dilated, so had an early labor of 34hrs.......but the real pain part, active labor, was only 2hrs. I was more afraid of the pain than I expected to be as I can tolerate ALOT of pain. I will have my second  son the same way and look forward to it being alot easier. Women's bodies are strong and are made to give birth, Im sure you will do just fine. Good luck.

 

[B.Harrison]

I was in labor for 16 1/2 hours and popped out an 8lb 6oz baby boy with no epidural and I plan on doing the same with this baby.  It isn't as bad as some carry on.  You can request some sort of pain medication if you need it... my husband went against what I wanted and requested something from the nurse and to be quite honest I don't know what I got, but it more or less made me drowsy and I got a little rest for about an hour and a half.  Apparently I was still feeling the contractions in my sleep though because they said I was lifting off the bed (I had horrible back labor!!)  My favorite thing to have on hand is a rice sock... fill a sock with regular long grain rice and warm in it the microwave (the nurses are happy to do this for you) and it helps a lot.  Also, I got in the shower dilated at 4 and stayed on a stool in there for a good hour or so (until the hot water ran out) and it was so relaxing.  When I got out things started speeding up and they say becuase it relaxed me so much.  I plan on doing that for sure again!! 

Good luck... I'm sure you can handle it!!  It's a different experience I'm sure but completely worth it.