Natural birth vs epidural

Hi there, I've had 4 children. I had an epidural with my first even though I thought I could handle the pain and had told the doctors I wanted her natural. Well I could NOT handle the pain. Even if you go the route of the epidural, you do go thru an amount of painful labor. The epidural was such a huge relief. I gave birth to a very healthy little girl who is now 32. There were no side effects whatsoever. My next 3 came so fast that there really was not time to give the epidural so I had them natural. Every woman is different and we all have our different pain thresholds. I would tell any woman not to feel bad if they want an epidural. It is a personal choice but don't suffer needlessly just for the sake of saying you did it natural.

You are going to get a lot of conflicting answers about whether childbirth is the worse pain there is or not, because there are a lot of different women with different pain threshholds, plus every labor and delivery are different. Every woman's body is different. Some can birth a baby with ease, some have to struggle to get the baby out. I've had seven babies, and I am a total labor chicken. I'm one of the ones who will tell you that it's the worse pain you will ever experience. I'm also going to tell you that having a baby is one of the most delightful, soul filling, spiritual experiences you will ever have too, which is what makes us come back for more. For a few hours of intense pain, you have a the rest of your lifetime to enjoy your child. Some of my children are grown now, and I still enjoy them. I had four of my babies with natural childbirth, including one at home, and three epidurals. They do have what's called "walking epidurals" now, so that you are not paralyzed in bed. I had one of those with my last baby, and it was NICE!! If I were not past menopause now, and could have another baby, I would do the epidural without a second thought, although they are pretty painful going in. We also adopted three children, and one of those adoptions I 'labored' for every bit as much as I ever labored in the natural sense.

no need to apologise. this is something many can talk about. i've had 5 and 3 was with ether or some other gas? not sure. terrible way. one was with sodium pentethol or an injection of some sort. not as bad. one was from epidural it was great. you think the labor pains are a bit bad, but when the birthing starts, they give you that shot and its great after that. easiest one i had!!

HI Nagikka, I am a mother of one boy. I remembered well the pain of labour and it sound scary to me if I were to recall back. I still can remembered when I started to get backache during midnight,I can't sleep for the whole night and I am not sure whether is it the sign for delivery. I was sent to hospital in the morning around 7am and according to the nurse, It was the sign of delivery.I was in pain for few hours in the labour room,waiting my the right time to deliver my boy.Actually I was already on 7cm dilated and the contraction is getting stronger and stronger. I just feel uncomfortable to lie on the bed.I even hold my husband's hand very tightly. However,after struggling and in strong contraction for about 4 hours, I decided to go for c-section. I was so worry that I might not have the strenght to push my baby out if I really determine to go for natural birth. Everything was going smoothly and within half an hour time in the operation room,my baby was come to this wonderful world. I am so happy being the first time mom.

I can't answer the question about an epidural, but I can tell you that I've had two children, both with a mostly natural childbirth. I intended to go fully natural with my daughter, but she was an induction after my water broke and I wasn't contracting, so the pitocin that they had to give me made the contractions stronger. I asked for an epidural but was unable to get one due to a backup with anesthesology. Therefore, they gave me a half dose of stadol to ease the pain. My daughter was born fifteen minutes later and it was a beautiful experience for me. I swore that whenever I had another child I would do it either the same way or I'd do it all-natural. I did it the exact same way the second time and again I thought it was beautiful. I'm not going to lie to your and say that it doesn't hurt, but for me all the pain was forgotten the moment that my children were placed in my arms.

Well I'm not pregnant and nor have I had a child yet but my Mom has told me about each. Shes been through both. And she told me natural birth is the better way to go. Not to mention, I am terrified of how they give you the epidural. First off they put it in your spine and it is incredibly painful and then while they put it in you cant move otherwise you risk being paralyzed. Thats enough for me to prefer natural birth. but thats just me and what I've heard.

I have had three natural births at home. I had an eight hour labor with my first baby. I had the first stage of my labor in a water pool. I had some gas and air as well. I pushed my baby out on a bed. Then I retained the placenta and had to go for a manual removal in a hospital. I had a two and a half hour labor with my second baby. I only had twenty minutes of strong pain. I didn't have to push and my baby came out really easily. I delivered the placenta fine that time. I went into labor at 07.00 with my third baby and she was born at 14.10. My labor had been slow with very light contractions to begin with. I had an early lunch at 11.30 then a bath because the pain was strong. Then the pain got very very strong. The midwife arrived then my baby was born ten minutes later. I delivered the placenta with four blood clots and then I lost two and a half liters of blood. I got taken to hospital. Childbirth is painful but worth it. I have had two births with no pain relief. I have had one birth using water and gas and air.

I have had an epidural and a natural birth. I had an epidural with my first daughter as she was turning into the back-to-back position which is the only thing that made labour painful for me! With my second daughter I had a completly natural birth! I much prefered the natural way. The epidural got rid of all pain but I had to stay in hospital much longer as I needed a caphater and I couldnt move my legs as they tend to paralyse you from the waist down. Not the best way to spend your first few days with your newborn! With my second I gave birth at 23:57 and was home at 13:00 the next day :D

Hi..I have one son.He was 2 years old now.I was born him with natural birth and honestly,yes,it's painful but just for a moment.But,All women who ever born child have different experience.There is who feel very painful but I just feel less one hour.the painful should be lost when you look your baby born healthy.So,if there is no problem in my pregnance,I still choose natural birth.

I kept an open mind about both. Before I had my first child, I took all the classes, read all the books . . . and I would have liked to have done all natural birthing, but knew it would be ok if I needed an epidural. When the time came, the contractions were so strong. I have never felt pain like that before - not even with the worst of menstrual cramps. It just got worse and worse - and finally I gave in and asked for an epidural. I was nearly blacking out by the time they did it! But after the epidural kicked in, yes, it was all completely painless. In fact I got too numb (up to my chest) that I told them about it, and they brought down the dosage of it (however you say it in medical terms). All I had to do later, when the doctor gave the go, was to push. And out popped a baby - hee hee. For me, I could not complain about the whole labor/birthing process. While I was waiting around in my hospital room, I could hear women who were doing the natural thing . . . and boy, the screams were hard to take. But kudos to women who are able to do it! I am very happy that the epidural made birthing such an easy experience for me - and I have no regrets. I am, however, glad to have avoided a cesarean. I am pregnant for a second time now . . . in a few weeks the moment will come again where I'll have to make that decision. I will go for natural as far as I can . . . but if not, I know that epidural will help me out - and I'm ok with that.

According to my experience many women experience a pain during labor and during delivery, this is because they were not taught the proper way of breathing and the proper way of controlling there muscles when the baby start to come out. I really believe that the pain is really control using epidural because there is an anesthesia being injected to your system so that you won't feel the pain. The difference is that you feel the pain in normal process and the price is not that much, on the otherhand you won't feel any pain during delivery, but the price is high. Well, it is for you to decide what you will be using in your delivery. Have a nice day. Happy mylotting. Hope my response help you understand.

I had an epidural giving birth to my son. It was completely painless after the epidural took effect but it was sooo painful prior. My baby's too big for me so I had a difficult time and labor took a little longer so the first one wore off and they had to give me one more epidural shot. Fortunately I didn't need one more.