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At first everyone I know is "get the epidural" now everyone I know that has had a kid says they get headaches and/or backaches after having had an epidural. What's a safe alternative to it besides a natural birth because I know I can't handle that.
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Have you talked to your Dr. about IV stadol or demerol or something along those lines?
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No I haven't talked to my DR about anything relating to the birthing plan yet. I have an appt. with the hospital I'm to be delivering at on March 10 and my next Dr. Appt is this thursday so I thought I'd get some ideas from people who've actually tride alternatives that I can bring up with him. I know I'm cutting it rather close!
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You really may not need anything. I never had any kind of pain medication at all with any of my 7 births. It really is not as bad as you think it will be!
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I dunno...I have a really low pain tolerance- I had an incident 2 years ago where I bumped my knee on a table at work and passed out from the pain. But maybe because my body is preparing for this and was caught off guard for that it wont be so bad
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Child birth really isn't as bad as you might have been led to believe. Having a good labor and delivery coach is a blessing. That alone makes all the difference in the world.
IF you decide to have medicated pain control, they can give you a shot to numb the cervix. It is injected directly into the cervix so once you get it, the majority of the labor pain is relieved. You'll still feel your uterus contracting but most of the pain-pain comes from the expansion of the cervix so the shot helps a lot.
Demerol is also wonderful but you may want to avoid that because it makes you sleepy and slows down the labor.
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I got epidurals with both of mine and have no horror stories to tell. I LOVED my epidurals. But both my babies were 10# so I can't imagine giving birth without an epidural.
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I did have stadol and other painkillers. Especially on the last one, I really wanted to try to do it w/out the epidural, but finally gave in (don't wait too long, though, because there's a point where it can be too late). It was a good thing, because I was having back labor. My first was a star gazer (head was facing way up) and I needed forceps. My second was pushed up against my tailbone. Don't let anyone force you into doing it naturally because you never know why the pain is going on, and why it seems worse than others have predicted. It is YOUR pain...If you think it's unbearable it is, and the goal is to get that baby out with both of you healthy.
In my case the epidural backache and headache were well worth it - can you imagine getting a 3rd degree tear w/no numbness? Also, you don't want to be too exhausted to take care of your baby and care what is going on - you're young, so that is a HUGE plus. Talk with your doctor - they will give you the guidelines. As I said, I did try to go natural, but had to have pitocin, which can also make the pains heavier, and with the other factors, there was just no way. Plus, the second baby was too high and my water had broken, so I couldn't walk from umbilical cord fears; walking helps relieve pain. Just keep an open mind for everything. You may never know how you feel until you are right there. I really thought I'd make it on the second one. Good thing I gave in!!
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Originally Posted by aliadam
I got epidurals with both of mine and have no horror stories to tell. I LOVED my epidurals. But both my babies were 10# so I can't imagine giving birth without an epidural.
I couldnt have done it without my epidurals, I know becuase I tried. I have no sideffects and no horror stories and have never heard of anybody that does. If people complain about back ackes its probably from holding a baby all day and the headackes are from the babies crying
Really every body has a different experience so the best thing to do would be to talk to your doctor.
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I did two without anything and two with the epidurals. Would do the epidurals in a heart beat any time! They actually ended up speeding up the process for me. Of course, I also had pitocin for each one too!