Epideral vs. natural *PIOG*

I had a epi with my son but it only numbed one leg..so it was pointless..plus ended up with a C section so ya..

I had natural w/ both of my babies and most likely will again for my 3rd child.  It hurts really bad, but it was worth it for me.  I didn't like the thought of a needle going into my back.  So I put up w/ the pain for a few hours and then recovery time was easy!

I had an epi the last 3 hrs of my labor I was in labor 20 hrs but it was really painful. Now with this one I am trying to decided if I want an epi or go natural 

No, it is never "too early" to start learning about this.   You only get to birth this baby once, why not make it wonderful?!     ;-D

I had 2 natural waterbirths.   They were VERY different pain-wise.  
I had become pretty interested in birth between the pregnancies, reading, studying, learning, becoming a birth doula.   

What happened was that I discovered how TRULY "mind-over-matter" birth really is.   If a mom brings fears to her labor it WILL make it hurt more.   A woman can reduce or ELIMINATE! her pain by becoming confident, unafraid!   She can even have an enjoyable, ecstatic experience!!

:-D

My first birth was hard!   I was SO SCARED!   And in so much pain!   I tore, hemorrhaged, had a rough time.   Even though it was a lovely waterbirth, it was hard, emotionally!
My second birth was SMOOTH!!   So nice, little pain, the baby was 10 pounds and practically fell out, into my own hands.   I had learned how to better work with my body, not to tear, how to push instinctively, etc.   It made an enormous difference! 

I have all sorts of ideas and suggestions.   Mostly I suggest that you should get informed.   Read a lot of books, watch normal birth videos, take natural birth classes, get a birth doula.
Learning about how to cope is one thing.  But also learning about why you DON'T want the narcotics in yours & baby's system is another education.   You'll learn what you do want and don't want~   and why!
And hiring a Normal Birth Specialist (midwife) can make a HUGE difference, as can choice of birthing location.   Have you considered a birth center instead of a hospital?

I had an epi with my first two. The first one took fine, but with my second, it didn't take right, so I could feel everything anyway. If you're looking into natural birth, buy (or borrow) the book Ina May's Guide to Childbirth. Some of the book might be a bit too hippie dippy for you, but the birth stories are amazing. I'm having my third this month, and I'm going all natural. Yeah, it'll hurt, but the pain only lasts until the baby's born. Recovery is much easier.

My first daughter was a back labor and 29 hours. I really needed my epidural, but it didn't work. I had a lot of problems and pain with pushing her out, but the epi did take some of the edge off. She was posterier so it was not fun.

With my second, I didn't get the epi until I was at 6 1/2 cm and I only got it b/c it was offered. I really wasn't in much pain and I wish that I hadn't gotten it, but I had her an hour later with one push so it was good.

With this one, I plan to go with out the epidural.

  I have 4 children and i did not have an epi with any of them now mind you i did have some pain meds through the IV ...had i waited like 10 more minutes with my youngest i would have done it medication free i only had a half a dose of stadol i think it is called but labor with him was way more intense than it was with my daughters....my nurse wanted me to be more still than what i was lol i was trying everything to get into a better sitting position to try and cope with the pain.

 my first i had an epi not because i really needed it for pain, but because my contractions were too strong and coming too fast for them to help progress. and i wanted to sleep. lol. so i got it at like 15hrs of labor (i was in labor for 30hrs total) but then about 2-3hrs before they had me push i was getting feeling back in my legs because of some stupid nurse not getting the guy to refil the epi bag..so i felt things u normaly would not with an epi...

with my second i was doing fine with out the epi till my water broke, i had about 5contractions and was is so much pain i was pretty much screaming for the nurse to get me the epi. it took them 2hrs to get it but during that time they gave me something in the IV for pain..it took the edge off just long enough to get the epi..but i ended up with a c-section cuz he was too big to come out..

with that all said it depends on ur pain tolerance, if u have to have piotcin used, and other factors..if u think u can do it without pain meds go ahead and try..u can always decide to just see how it goes and wing it..lol..but remember that epi's slow labor down and usually makes the use of pitocin a must..and most docs wont let u get an epi till ur past like 4cm..talk to ur doc about ur pain relife options..

i had an epi wtih my son but my daughter came out in 30 minutes from the time they broke my water so i didnt get anything, and you know what? i did just fine never ever tore either so its up to you, i loved the epidural

Just a piece of advice, when women describe their pain from giving birth and its been a while they remember the pain worse then what it was.

I had my first natural and I was in active labor about 3 hours if that. It hurt pushing and the after part I was sore and it hurt to pee without screaming but the moment I held my daughter I was pain free I didn't feel any pain until I stood up to try to go pee. lol.

I say try doing it natural and ask for an epidural if you can't handle the pain, you know your pain level better than anyone. So my pain level may have been an 8 but my 8 could be your 4, know what Im saying? The part that hurts the worse is after the baby is born when you are trying to move around. With this baby I am planning on getting an epidural but may not use it. If you don't want an epidural they do have other pain medications that will take the edge off and make it easier for you.