I had to have an epi because I was having a c-section. But the 1 1/2 hour I was in active labor I was in a lot of pain and I don't think that I could have handled it.

I went natural. The contractions hurts the worse for me ( I thought it was going to be him coming out of there that would hurt the most, but it was the contractions) as long as you stay calm and you don't panic you can probably handle it.

I didn't say a word as soon as they told me that the baby was going to be born that day ( I was 6cm dilated when I got to the hosp) I opened my eyes maybe twice and didn't say anything until after he was born. (i was really concentrating and focusing on the baby and that's it)

My story is reeeaaalllyy similar to .Mia's. You can read my entire story on the teen pregnancy forum under the thread "?Help?"

i went drug free all the way. No epi, np .I.V...No medical intervention....

Sarah

I was natural not 100% by choice

I made it 7 hours without anything. I was 5 cm when I got the epidural and then went another 7-1/2 hours with the epi until I pushed. I was really glad I had it b/c I started having some complications and I don't know how I could have controlled my breathing if I was feeling major contractions! The last hour or so of labor I was feeling contractions on the right side only. I will def. Try natural again with my next baby. I'm not one who says "as soon as I get to the hospital, i'm getting something!" lol everyone is different. :-)

I had an epidural. I really enjoyed my labor. I was able to still feel all the pressure and some of the pain from the contractions, but it took the edge off and made it durable.

i agree 100%. I was afraid with an epi I would miss out on the "feeling" of labor but I def. Wasn't 100% numb like some people say you are. I guess everyone is different.

I went totally drug free and people give me props for it. But I give props to the people who let someone stick a huge needle in their back!! Wheew...I know I could never have that. I have the most sever phobia of needles!! Eeeessshh....Never!!

Edited to show labour story for original poster.. My labor!
Posted: 09-09-06 5:34pm

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hey girl, well I just gave birth 4 months ago..So it's pretty fresh!


I was only in week 37 when I woke up at about 8:30 am with "period like" cramps. I started drinking water, thinking they were braxton hicks contractions. I tried laying down, moving around, and drinking water.


At about noon, the contractions started every 2 minutes. The pain went from my frony groin area, to my lower back and they were gradually getting worse.


I finally left for the hospital at about 4pm, when I couldn't speak through a contraction. On the way to the hospital is when they started to become intense. I couldn't do anything but concentrate and breathe.


We got to the hospital that day at 4:30pm. They got me changed and into my room and I was settled in by 5pm. They checked me and I was 5cm dialated. They asked me what my pain level was and I said it was about a 5.


An hour passed, and she checked me again and I was 7-8 cm dialtated and 90% effaced. This was the second stage of labor. My pain level was now reaching a 7.


About a half an hour later, at 6:30 they checked me again and I was 8-9 cm and my water broke during the examination. I had marconium in my waters, so they were extra precautious.

The baby's heart rate started fluxuating and the told me they would need to start an .I.V to hydrate me. I refused everything they were offering, but I did use oxygen to try ro stabalize the baby's heartrate. They asked me about an epidural and I refused. They did, though, allow me to get into the shower for pain relief.


At about 7:15, they checked me again and said that I was 9 1/2 cm dialated. And 100% effaced. She asked me to push and told me that I had become fully dialated. She told me to just let my body take over.


This was my transition stage. It didn't last very long at all. At about 7:30, they noticed me starting to strain. So they called for my doctor, to start setting up for delivery.


As I was pushing through each contraction, the doctor began to stretch my vagina to allow the baby's head to emerge. She told me that they might have to do an episiotomy, but I refused, and told her to let me rip naturally. She was concerned, but I pushed about 4 more good times and the head emerged. She suctioned the baby immedietly to remove any marconium from the nose and mouth. I pushed one more time and the baby's shoulders and body came out.

It was 7:58pm when they laid my daughter on my belly!! She was 6lbs 8oz and 19in long.

Post-pardom, I got one "running stictch" and started shaking uncontrollably. The doctor said it was my rush of hormones and addrenaline takig over. I started running a fever of 103 and was .F.O.R.C.E.D to have an .I.V and wasn't allow to see my baby because of a possible infection. The had me on antibiotics all throughout the night and continually checked my temp. Through the night. Supposedly, they said it was because I didn't allow them to put and .I.V in to start hydrating me during the birth.
I got up and got dressed and was rolled to my room. They gave me 2 .Vicodan and some laxatives. I slept, and they brought me my baby the next morning.

Birth was the most beautiful experience I had ever gone through. It was painful, undoubtedly, but it was all worth it.

For this being my 1st child, everyone believed my delivery would be long and drawn out. But it was finished within 3 hours of arriving at the hospital.

Hope this helps you girl!!! It's crazy that this happened 4 1/2 months ago already!! It's like I was just at the hospital!!!


Sarah

I had a jab of pethidine which was useless and gas and air which was crap. I was in agony because my baby was suspected posterior; i've never felt pain like it. The contractions were just bloody awful!!! The pushing bit was like bathing in chocolate after all the agony that had preceded it.

yeah I was scared of that a little bit, but I couldn't bear the contractions. My labor went sooooo quick. They contractions were never "small", they were just boom there consitently. The only thing I remember being numb was my one leg. I couldn't lift it very well. Lol

I did both. Natural and medicated, and once I felt the medicated I repeated that with each one.. Thank you god for meds..

I've done both - the first time was unmedicated and my boy was sunny side up, causing a lot of back labor. I was so anxious for labor when I was pregnant with my daughter that when I went to the hospital for induction, my blood pressure was sky high. I was terrified of that seemingly never ending pain.

With my daughter I made the choice to take the medication (not an epidural but like it. Only it wears off after 2-3 hours. Where an epi will last the entire time.) because I wanted to enjoy the birth and relax. By the time it was push time, I felt everything again.

I would use the medication again. It isn't a contest to see who is strongest or who is weakest. It is your birth. Your birth experience. Do whatever you feel you need to do to make it the best experience it can be for you.

Good luck!