reasons for not having an epidural?

jolene555 wrote: i am compelled to ask why anyone would not want one of these lovely lovely things? i know of many reasons, but i just want you hear all of yours.

kit_kats_mom replied: my personal reasons are:

1. major needle phobia
2. fear of errors and spinal headaches or backaches for the rest of my life (ask JDKJD about this one...her story has cured me of ever wanting one now)
3. I know I can handle the discomfort that comes with labor...done it once, I can do it again.
4. I wanted to experience the full labor experience & let my body do what it was made to do
5. Epidurals can interfere with pushing and the entire birth process and may lead to more interventions which I'd like to avoid at all costs.
6. I don't want the side effects of the drugs to effect the baby in any way. I want her to be as alert as can be when she arrives so she can promptly breastfeed and we can get our bonding started.

I'm sure I could think of other reasons if I had more time It's such a personal choice and heated topic though. I have no problems with other moms who choose to get them. Their pain tolerance may not be as high as mine or whatever. I dont' think they are all bad...just not for me.

All that said, I just spoke with a girlfriend who had 6 hours of back labor before she finally requested an epidural. That's my biggest nightmare. If I have major back labor, Even I may go for one. I like to leave my options open. I'm not into torturing myself. LOL

MommyToAshley replied: Well, I had a couple of reasons:

I wanted to go natural because I did not want any drugs in my system or my baby. I also read that an epi makes it harder to realize when there are contractions and curbs the desire to push, therefore prolonging labor.

And, the second reason is that I was self pay and the epi costs around $1500.

With that being said, I did get an epi. I tried to go as long as I could without the epi, but I just couldn't take it any longer. Ashley was a BIG baby and I am convinced that I would have had a c-section without the epi. The epi also helped me to relax and Ashley was delivered 20 mintues after I got my epi. So, even though it didn't go as I had planned, it went well. While I think it is ok to have a plan as to whether or not you want an epi, I recommend being flexible.

DansMom replied: Labor is the most painful thing I've ever gone through, and I begrudge nobody the decision to seek pain relief. For some women (quite a few) narcotics and also epidurals slow labor down and even grind it to a halt, because they are rendered immobile. Then they get pitocin to get it going again. Sometimes that works and sometimes it doesn't. It's hard to know how a labor would have gone without the intervention. I really did not want to be immobile, and didn't want to end up with Pitocin followed by a C-section. Statistically, I believe it's much more likely when you go the epidural route to end up not being able to deliver naturally because your contractions subside and can't get going again with artificial stimulation (this happened to one of my sisters and a friend).

Based solely on my own observations, I think the timing of getting the epidural is crucial. If you wait as long as possible, when labor is already really well under way on its own, I think it's less likely to have the negative consequences I described above. For one of my sisters, she was about 3 cm for hours and hours and had a bad head cold. She finally decided for an epidural, and while she was asleep for 2 hours her contractions peaked and she was at 10 cm ready to push! Relaxing helped her body work. My other sister, the opposite happened. She wanted the epidural as soon as she felt contractions, basically, and she started out with narcotics before that. She slept for hours and hours while dilating, but at the crucial time they just subsided and they had no choice but to take the baby. She was devastated---she wanted a natural delivery, but wanted a pain-free labor.

Jamison'smama replied:
THat is the reason I ended up with one---well since I had a c-section I would have had one anyway but after many hours of back labor it was epidural or I was going out the window! It was too much--the back pain was unbearable. I would love to go without though!

Nicole replied: I only had one with my last two baby`s the first one was because he (Austin) was early and labor was very slow (thank god because i was able to get the two staroid shots to make his lungs grow) they worked and he was born very healthy with no problems at all and come home 4 days latter.
But the second time with my daughter (Cheyenne my youngest) i was induced and i got one i`m sure the dame thing would have worked if the guy that put it in would have turned it on, so after having someone put a big butt needle in my back i got no meds for the pain and had her all natural
With my 7 year old(Dakota) i went though about 32 hours of labor with no pain meds then ended up having to have a Cesarean and they nocked me out for that
But he was born very healthy
I`m hoping to have this baby all natural too

Kaitlin'smom replied: for me I was terrified of the need in my back, and all the thougth of what if they miss and stuff. I totaly scared me and I wanted to try with out, and I did but when the back labor started I could not take it, it was the worst pain ever. I already had been through back problems with part of my disc deteriotaing and that was very pain full until it was corrected and it did re-grow. So with the horrible back pain I had to get one, and I ended up with and emergency c-section not beacause I could nto feel to push but she was laying on her cord and it was wrapped around her neck, causing her heart rate to drastically drop (lowest I saw was 60's DH saw it hit 40's) so no matter what I would have had a c-section So I was glad I go it in the end that way I was able to be awake, I would have be terrified if they had to knock me out.

DansMom replied: Everyone I've known with back labor ended up being grateful for the epidural---that can be really rough. Even without back labor it's no picnic.

jolene555 replied: okay, now i'll share . . .

i was not hell-bent on going natural. it wasn't until i went to lamaze class and the teacher used what i call scare tactics to convince me natural was the way to go. i don't think that was fair of her, because it made me feel very guilty. i was induced and refused any meds for hours. as some of you may know, the pitocin makes labor very intence, and when i hit 5 cm i couldn't bear it any longer. i got the epidural and it was wonderful. i was able to sleep for 4 hours and when i woke up i delivered my precious baby girl with very little discomfort.

i think it is important for 1st time mommies to know that having an epidural dosen't make you a bad mother, or any weaker than any other woman. until you feel it and are going through it you can have no idea what you'll need.

DansMom replied: I think I was lucky---my lamaze teacher was very supportive of pain relief for those who chose it, and her focus was on having us make a birth plan and to be as in control of those choices as we could be. (I was so out of control during labor that that's a laughable idea even now.) Your experience sounds a lot like my older sister, where the epidural actually helped things progress immensely. It all worked the way it was supposed to with her. I was able to walk around to keep things moving, and even though it was a longish labor, it did keep progressing so I felt motivated for most of it to stick to the plan. Toward the end I asked for an epidural, but I was deemed ready to push then, thank goodness.

favre4fan replied: I had epis with both and my labors were not prolonged at all I had 8hr with nolan and 4hr with austin, but I think I saw someone above wrote timing is everything! i was scared though because i hate needles!! I also am very big into excercise so I think that helps alot!!

coasterqueen replied:
Back labor is the absolute worst...IMO that is. That is exactly what sent me BEGGING for an epidural The nurses kept asking me if I wanted one before that and I said nope but when the back labor started.......I could not stand it.

MomToJade&Jordan replied: I decided when I had Jade that I would go as long as I could without anything. I never did get back labor, but I was in labor for 14 hours. I was put on pitocin pretty early on, my contractions were just not regular enough (my water broke about 5 in the morning so they had dedided to keep me there). I think I stayed at 3 cm for hours. When I was finally given the epi I had been in labor for forever. With it my body was finally able to relax enough to dilate. The pushing was nothing for me. The funny thing is if we ever do have that second baby I will not ask for the epi unless I truely need it. My Mom told me that she had to be on the pitocin for all of her births. It's pretty likely that I will be the same.

jolene555 replied: i think the worst part of the epi was having it put in. it was so awful - he had to try 4 times!!! i have a tattoo on the small of my back, and was going by it for the center!!! i could not believe it, as if my tattooist was picky enough to make it center as to help my anestesiologist. arg. dosen't much matter, because soon after i wanted to kiss him.

Kaitlin'smom replied: for me, when they put it in it was not nearly as bad as I thoguth it would be, my nurse was great she talk to me, held me, and walked me through the intire thing. I did not feel anything until they did the nurve test and that was not bad just weird having my leg jump like that. I was so happy with the experiecnce

MomToJade&Jordan replied: I was having some pretty bad contractions when they put mine in. You know I didn't even feel it. I think I was too busy trying to stay still and breath through all of the pain. I couldn't believe it when he told me it was in.

mrshires replied: My epi was a godsend. My dd was 9lbs 4oz. I had nothing but back labor that I could recognize. By the time I got to the hospital and into my gown, they hooked me up on the machine to measure my contractions and it was flatlined at the top. They gave me the epi right away and I got to relax. My labor progressed fine, and I was able to get sleep. I realized I was in labor when I was laying on my back to help my backache and it kept getting worse and worse. I didn't get any sleep that night at all, so the 2 hours I got before having my dd at 1150 am were sooo important! And it didn't hurt, but I was aware of everything going on around me when I had her.

Amanda

Kila replied: I went into the hospital saying that I wanted to try to have a natural childbirth for all of the same reasons as everyone else. But if I needed to I wouldn't reject the idea of intervention of some sort. Since this was my first child I really didn't know what level of pain we were really talking about. I went through 17 hours of back labor and was only 4 cm. I was exhausted and couldn't deal with it any more. It scared the living heck out of me. The fact that your putting a needle in your spine didn't make me feel good for one bit. I cried when they did it. My db said that was the scariest part for him to deal with. The look of fear in my face made his heart stop. But I think all of this stemmed from the fear of the unknown rather than the actual pain itself. Once I got it in place and became comfortable with the fact that I had an epidural, I was fine. I went through a total of 37 hours of labor so the key thing is to remember that after a while your body becomes accustomed to the medication. Therefore, an increased amount is necessary to dull the pain. I had to have the anesthesiologist come 3 more times before she was born in order to cope. I think at this time it wasn't the pain that was killing me, per se. I think it was the combination of the pain and exhaustion of being in labor so long. You can only do so much over a certain period of time.

aspenblue1 replied: Well I can give you my story as to why I don't want another!

It took the dr 3 trys to get it in right and I was complaining of headaches right after the birth. They let me leave the hospital that way 3 days later headed back to the hospital to get epi #4 to stop the spinal fluid from leaking and to stop the headaches.

I could not even lift my head off the pillow. I couldn't get up to get Isabella, Jason would have to get up and bring her to me. It was the worst feeling in the world to not be able to get your crying child because you couldn't move.

kit_kats_mom replied:
I've heard of that happening and those first few days are so important for bonding. I would hate to be ill during the first days of my childs life. That time is hectic enough even when you are feeling your best KWIM? Add to that the nighmare of a doctor trip, with a spinal headache and a newborn?? Nope, I'd really rather not.

Again....back labor....maybe I'd get one, but I will do my best to be a trooper and get though it without.

kimberley replied: yikes Carrie, that sounds awful. i am sorry you had such a bad experience.

i had epi's with all 3 kids but one didn't take. with Jacob, i did it too soon and had a horrible doc and nursing staff. it was fear that made me get one so early. i am sure if i had the emotional support from ANYONE, i would have hung in there longer but i kept thinking in my head, if this pain gets worse, i am going to die! anyways, the early epi meant longer labor (although i did sleep through most of it) and HUGE problems when it came time to push. i couldn't feel my contractions at all and no one would check the monitor and tell me when to push. Jacob was a big baby (8.5lbs with a huge head) and got stuck for an hour. i couldn't walk for almost 2 mos post partum.

with James, i went in and demanded my epi as soon as i got there because i knew he was coming soon. i could feel it. the nurse checked me, said i was only 3cm and to go walk around. ugh! every step had me double over in pain cuz the cx were coming so fast and strong. 20min later i went back and the assessment nurse went on break! i was furious. when she got back, i again demanded my epi and my ob called and told her to give it to me. she called for the anesthetist and he just went into sugery for 2+hrs . for those hours, i was something from the exorcist. i actually refused to push without an epi, but looking back, it didn't matter because it didn't take effect. my birth experience was less than pleasurable.

with Jade, i was doing well getting through the cx on my own. but when they kept badgering me to break my water, i decided to get the epi first since i heard the cx are insane when they do that. my biggest complaint... no mobility. the epi ties you to the bed and the fetal monitor. and the only real pain i felt was when her head entered the birth canal and that was all of 1 minute.

if there is a next baby, i plan to birth at home with a midwife and no meds

wow, i am yappy these days. sorry so long.

mitchzgirl replied: I'm so afraid of needles I almost passed out getting my EARS peirced... I also want to experience a natural birth(yay ), and then maybe i'll think about an epidural for next time(s)

MomToMany replied: I would look into other non-medication ways of coping, like a warm bath or shower, rocking, walking, humming, using a birthing ball, or anything else that would make you comfortable. Your body knows what to do. and any medication is interfering with that. Women have been giving birth since time began without it. Why mess with Mother Nature? As you can see, there are so many risks to having an epidural. You also don't know how it will affect your baby.

If or when we have more, I'm not allowing one drop of medication in my body or the baby's unless absolutely necessary for my life or his/hers. I'd have a home birth, but I'm not that selfish and wouldn't jeopordize my baby's health.

The best thing you can do is to educate yourself on other ways to cope. Make a birth plan, with specific instructions to not ask you if you need pain medication, which might tempt you to take it. Discuss it with your Dr., so he knows your wished as well.

jolene555 replied: i think it is safe to say that no 2 women experience the same intensity of labor or have the same tolerence for pain. i admit i probubly could have survived labor without the epi, but barry wouldn't have.

toddzgurl replied: I am horrible with needles for one but my mom had one with her last child and she has had really bad back troubles ever since!! I want to try to have an all natural birth before diving for the drugs!! If you know what I mean!!

jcc64 replied: Have 3 kids. Had back labor with BOTH boys, but still went naturally. Was no picinc, believe me, but they were mercifully quick.
Decided to have an epi with Corey so I could "enjoy" the labor more. Got it at 7cm, she was born 10 minutes later, and I wound up having a HORRIBLE reaction to the drugs. Vomiting, uncontrollable shaking, sweating, and wild swings in my blood pressure rendered me unable to hold my baby for over 5 hrs. Dh was totally traumatized, as was I.
Would never have another one again, but since I probably won't have anymore kids, it's probably not an issue.