Awake or asleep during labor?

I was offered an epidural very early in labor and declined it, but I asked for IV medicine to help with the pain. I don't remember what they gave me, but I was OUT! From 11am til 9pm I was out cold. My husband said I was awake each contraction, but I don't remember that at all. I woke up when they suggested the epidural, but was very loopy from the IV medication. If I have another baby, I'll definitely remember not to ask for anything until I'm about ready to deliver. As for being put to sleep without my consent, I would sue for malpractice. I don't feel that's a valid reason to be put to sleep without your consent. If you've requested something like that, it's one thing. But for him to do it while you wished to remain awake..that's not right.

I have had 7 children 6 pregnancies. I was awake for the labor of all of them until they knocked me out for an emergencty C-section for number 4 and 5. Either way I think that whatever way you have to get thru it is fine. In the end I think we all want the same thing, healthy babies to hold and cherish.

I have three children and I was awake for all of them. I can not imagine not seeing and felling everything that happen that day. But if for some reason my DR thought it was best for me to be asleep than I would have to trust in what he said. The doctors job is to make sure that the mother and baby is delivered safly.

I would rather be awake. I had a c section when I was totally put out and I missed so much. Now refuse to be put to sleep. Plus I always get really sick when they put me all the way under. Congradulations on the new baby!!!!!!

I wasn't put to sleep with my c-section, but I might as well have been...the spinal had made me so drowsy that everything is a blur and I was pretty incoherent anyway. Furthermore, because it was surgery, I didn't get to get her until hours later...they only showed her to me-which is a blur too.

i was awake for the whole thing stiching me up and all.. i had an emergancy c-section but still i dont think its right that they put you out because its to traumatic...it didn't affect me at all it took forever to get me closed up and at the end i started to feel them stiching but i told them and they gave me more morphine but i was happy i was awake i even have a friend that watched her's threw a mirror now im not sure if i could handle that but i wanted to be awake because my mom and boyfriend would tell me what was going on with my baby and my boyfriend brought him right to me after they were done with him! i was so happy when i first saw him over the curtain i just started crying! tears of joy of course but still!

well i guess if you had a natural birth then you would have been awake during your labor... anyways i doubt if anyone was awake when they were having a caesarian delivery... its just not possible dearie.... the pain would have been too much to bear... its better this way!

Wow, I can't believe that they put you to sleep AFTER you delivered, I think that is odd. I had my first four natural with no pain meds, and the last one (my girl) I had to have emergancy c-section and I was awake through all that too! I'd rather be awake so I know what is going on!

I have had 3 c-sections. They have never even offered to put me to sleep. I think I would rather be awake ayways though. I know I was really tired the last time. If they would ahve stopped talking to me I think I would have gone to sleep all on my own.

I have had 3 children and I was awake with every one of them. I can't imagine going to sleep while in labor of delivering. Who does this? I know I want to see every second of delivering my baby and to know the exact moment she is brought into the world.

I have had 3 children and I was awake with every one of them. I can't imagine going to sleep while in labor of delivering. Who does this? I know I want to see every second of delivering my baby and to know the exact moment she is brought into the world.

I was wide awake during the birth of my 2 children. I opted for natural childbirth without the use of epidural. I was given the gas mask but it didn't really help much in reducing the pain.Then when I thought I can't take the pain any much longer ,my baby is out. Phew!

we should slep fpr a certian time as the drs. advice......i think this is quite healthy..........as much as u sleep as much u reamin healthy.....thankx

i wanna be awake

I have given birth "naturally", to 4 children. I was completely AWAKE during the labor, delivery, and aftermath for each one. My doctor, who happens to be a woman, sang the entire song of "Happy Birthday" to each of my children as soon as they entered this world. I also got to hold and snuggle all of my babies immediately after pushing them out, even before the "cord" was cut. I don't really understand your doctor's way of thinking....you had already given birth, which is the hardest part. Why on earth did he put you to sleep when you were already over the most difficult part?

Back 30 years ago women didnt have a choice about the matter. We were all knocked out. They called it twilight sleep where your really awake to push when they tell you to but you eventually fall asleep and wake up after its over not remembering a thing. I remember my first labor pain and told them right away, give me the shot!

Sleep during labor? I have never heard such thing. They just give you an injection to numb the area they are going to stich and that does it. I would never want to sleep during labor.

I had my first labor and delivery experience in August of 2002. I was in labor for 23 hours and ended the entire process with an emergency c-section. I was awake for the process, but I wish I had been put to sleep because I felt everything. People tell me that I shouldn't have felt anything, but the anesthesiologist said that I would feel tugging and pulling. I don't know about you guys but the last thing that I wanted to feel was tugging and pulling. I have delayed having any more children because I now have a big fear of having a repeat of last time. The only way that I would have more children is that I was asleep for the entire process.

I was awake during mine , I didn't lay in labor a long time either, some women lay in labor a long time, I feel sorry for them , I had one lady next to all she could do was yell and scream , they finally gave her some to quieten her down ,man did it scare me .

i would like to be awake during the actual delivery but probably not during the other part because it could have been traumatic for me too maybe