Ok so I just asked this question on facebook and got lots of great responses, so I thought I would ask in the blogging world. How does everyone feel about EPIDURALS??? First off... I'm NOT pregnant. Second, I did get an epidural when both kids were born and all was great. I got to enjoy the whole birthing process. Not that I want to be a downer I just never hear bad stories about them, which is good but I just wonder what is the big fuss then. So I'm giving you all the topic of epidurals....... discuss.
ps your lucky I posted a picture of just the tools... their were lots of other pics I could have used. =)
17 comments:
I personally chose not to get an epidural with Christine, and that's what I'm shooting for again this time around. I don't have a total soapbox about it or anything. I just pretty much hate needles and the thought of something going into my spine. I did a bunch of research on different pain relief/coping methods, and my dad encouraged me to try natural-- he boosted my confidence by telling me I have a high tolerance for pain. In the end, I'm really happy with the way things went down. It was very empowering, and my recovery was a snap. That being said, I think that people who choose epidurals are smart! Just educate yourself about your options, decide what you do or don't want out of the birth experience, and make the decision that works best for you. The most imporant thing is healthy happy mom, and healthy happy baby!
OH MY GOONDESS all I saw was your title and thought you were pregnant! I got so excited :) I've never had a baby nor will for quite some time and when I do I WILL have an epidural. Us Lindbloms have birthing hips but no tolerance for pain
Leah you are so dang cute---what a question huh? I had 4 epidurals, I did not want one with the 1st baby, I wanted to be "all Natural" but she was not turned the right way and I started to push before it was necessary, so I had no choice but to get an epidural...after the 1st one I loved it so much I ordered it ahead of time on the way to the hospital ha ha no really seriously I think if you can handle natural it is def a better way to go for recovery purposes. Also I never had any back problems until after the epidurals, I am not positive it has to do with the epis but if you can do natural go for it.
Yay for drugs!!!! That's probably why I choose to come to earth in these days and not pioneer days...seriously. You should ask this question to everyone: Would you get your tooth pulled naturally? NO!
Yes! to the super huge needle that they have shoved into my spine three times! The births are awesome- we laugh and play the entire time and I am able to walk like 15 minutes after birth. SWEET! I have never had a complication from an epi. only from the dang IV needles they put in my hands. I say go with the pain free method!
I figured I would be in the minority here. I have done 3 labors without epidurals (2 had an IV drug called Nubain, one was COMPLETELY drug free). My sister has had 4, my mom has had 5, and my other sister just had her one and only (all epidural-free). The nurses ALWAYS doubt us (except my first nurse who was exceptional) - when they find out we've been there, done that, they realize we're not smoking crack, we really CAN do it. I HAVE heard horror stories. One lady in our previous ward had spinal fluid leaking (I've heard this from several women actually) so they had TERRIBLE headaches, like couldn't even get out of bed. And, when you have a newborn, you sort of need to be able to sit up to feed them, etc. ;) I also saw that on "Baby Story" once - hers was so bad she had her boyfriend buy her a bedpan so she wouldn't have to get out of the bed to go to the bathroom.
But, laboring is also painful, yes, but it ends! It's over shortly after the baby is born! In my opinion, it really is all in your preparation for the event. If you tell yourself you're open to the epidural, you're gonna get one. If you mentally envision yourself handling all of it without an epidural, you CAN do it. If you don't even see it as a choice, it's not as hard as it seems.
And, truly, as far as enjoying your labor and delivery, I didn't enjoy it in the "I played games all day long" sense - BUT I did enjoy it. When I look back, I wouldn't have it any other way! I'm really proud of myself for sticking to my guns and being able to do it and I enjoyed the process, painful as it was! We had to push for very limited time because we could feel it and could push correctly. We were less sore and less likely to need episiotomies (I never did and neither did my little sis).
Epidurals used to be even more dangerous when they first came out and I think my mom and mother-in-law had a bias against them (a friend of my MIL had an undetected heart problem that caused MAJOR complications with her only epidural), so I definitely grew up with a bias against them and I think that's why I never wanted one, but I am glad I've done what I've done and I will do the same with my next.
You already know my stand. I plan on having drugs and if they would give them to me now I would get them now and just wheel around at work. Hee Hee Hey if I don't have to feel the pain I'm not going to. But hey good for those of you that are willing to do it natural. :)
I went into delivery hoping to do it natural but not sure of myself and therefore I ended up with an epidural. That was my problem though, I doubted myself. Like your other friend said- if you don't think of it as an option then you'll make it going natural. I totally get the "why be in pain if you don't have to" thing. But for some reason I feel like it would be like a challenge or climbing Mount Everest or something. Kind of a right of passage being a woman. I don't know. I think it would be good to do it at least once then you could really be justified in having an opinion on the subject. To each their own and of course there's no right or wrong answer. I have heard scary stories involving epiderals though so I guess that's a deterrent. (sp?) Anway, I think of all people, YOU Leah should go all naturel, haha. I mean, come on, you don't even FEEL the contractions. Your good as gold! :)
Are you crazy??? Epidurals all the way!! They don't harm the baby at all since it's not injected into the blood stream. And your recovery is still quick and fine.
Let me pose this question.....Heavenly Father gave us technology, but should we use it? Do you really think we should drive that machine called a car? Do you really think there's a blue ribbon for delivering a baby natural? Nope. There isn't. I understand if it's a personal choice, but keep it personal. Those that deliver with epidurals don't prance around announcing their bravery for allowing a HUGE needle to be injected in their spine while enduring mother of all contractions. The girls that parade around announcing their NATURAL deliveries are hilarious. Well, let me rephrase that....the birth mother's PARENTS that go around announcing the natural deliveries have got to realize this is not a competition. Either it's a quiet personal decision, or they have some "alternative medicine stick" up their butt, or they have small egos that need boosted.
I believe a delivery in and of itself recieves a blue ribbon. But not HOW you got the baby out.
Sorry for the rant. But you did ask for discussion, did you not??
love ya-
wow I love hearing everyones stories or thoughts. keep them coming. Also if you did have the baby a la natural... what was the worst part?? duh.. of courses pushing the baby out but I want details. I have no idea why I'm obsessed with this right now. Keep the comments coming =)
I came back to check out everyone's comments. I figured it would be 50-50 but I agree with Stephanie that there is no right or wrong answer it's just YOUR OWN personal preference! What get's me is that people say your recovery is faster without one. How do they know its slows recovery? They can't prove it's from that! I had a 3rd degree tare with an Epi and never went on perquicite (sp?) or felt pain after delivery. There are so many other things that can affect recovery for example your physical health before delivery, your doctors procedures during birth... I think both ways can have the same complications. You should ask Heather about her birth, she did it natural but she prepared herself the whole 9 months for it and just didn't decide to do it natural on the way to the hospital. Birth is just amazing no matter how you do it:)
I still need to get you money for those candles. Thx for ordering them. I know you are leaving town soon. We will be gone next tue for a whole week so I prob won't be able to pick them up till after, sorry.
k, so I'm totally laughing right now. YOu can certainly tell babues are NOT on my brain right now. I saw "Epi or No Epi" and thought...oh no! One of Leah's kids has a nuts allergy and has to carry an epi-pen around! I'm a dork. Oh, and I had 2 epidurals. Love them.
hey leah - so i was blog hopping around and found yours (this is your very slacking visiting teaching partner) - your blog is so cute...i dont have much to contribute to your question..i had a c-section so i'm pro epidural haha :)
Leah, to answer your question about what was the worst part of unmedicated labor...it's hard to say. haha I would have to say pushing the baby out is actually NOT the worst part! Pushing is such a relief when you get to that point. It relieves the pain of the contractions. The contractions get very strong and close as soon as your water is broken and that is hard (that's almost like the hump to get over. Once you're at 7, they really don't give you meds anyways, so you just have to get to 7. My sister just had her first last week and she said the worst part was after the baby was out and they had to keep "massaging" her uterus to get it to clamp down and stop bleeding (massaging is the kind term for pushing on it as hard as they could and bringing tears). If you need stitches, they have to numb you, so it's not pleasant, but it's probably not the worst either.
The VERY worst part is probably on your first baby when contractions are just starting to get painful and you get unsure of yourself and nervous about it getting worse and just the whole unkown. Now that I've done it three times, I wouldn't say I'm looking forward to it, but I don't fear it either.
Oh and by the way, babies born without epidruals DO come out holding ribbons. ;)
I loved reading all the responses! I'm sure I already shared this with you, but I had one with an epidural and one without. I didn't notice any differences in either of my babies, or with either of my recoveries! For future deliveries I will definitely go for an epidural! And as for the worst part, that would be the ring of fire!!!!!! I would be very happy never to experience that again!
~Heather
I say 'Natural Medicated' is the way to go. Epidural all the way. No questions asked. I have heard FAR more horror stories about 'natural' UN-medicated labor vs. 'natural medicated' epidural labor.
I will also quote our dear L&D nurse friend (linds) when I say "if you are NOT prepared for a natural labor BEFORE you get into the hospital, you'll never be able to do it with out medicine." So get educated before you start contractions and do some practicing.
Not to sound offensive, but the baby gets here 'naturally' no matter how it gets here... i.e. C-section, vaginal, adopted, epidural or not. I base successful mothering on how you raise children, not on how much pain you can endure with out the help of modern medicine.
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