I ended up having an epidural with my 1st but didn't feel like I really needed it even though I was induced. It just wasn't ever very painful. I got it out of fear lol I ended up getting a c section at the end of it all anyway. I thought I wanted to try a vbac but leaning towards a planned c section again.

With my first I had an epidural that wore off before they could get another dose in it. My second was an induction, and I definitely got an epidural with pitocin going! It was actually my easiest delivery.

With my third, I made the mistake of second guessing myself and got in a warm bath. I wasn't in pain at all while in the tub lol. I got to the hospital at an 8.5, got a quick epidural that lasted for a whole 30 mins and wasn't worth the money. She was my natural birth, despite having some medication lol. I definitely plan on having an epidural again. My body goes extremely quickly when I am in labor, so it's really painful. I also have a fear of not getting to the hospital!

This is my 5th pregnancy and I'm planning for 100% natural as I did the first 4.

I always recommend goin in with an open mind. You never know how your labor will progress. With my first child I was in labor for 30 hrs which included 4 hrs of pushing. It was long and miserable and I am so thankful I got my epidural! My labor progressed so much quicker after I got it and I was able to be up and walking around within an hour after birth. My 2nd child I seemed to handle my labor pains better so I put off getting the epidural. I was in labor for 10 hrs which included 1 hr of pushing. Once my labor became too intense I begged for the epidural but the time it took me to sit up for it and the anesthesiologist to touch my back o jumped from 6cm to 10cm and was told it was too late and to start pushing. I did so much damage to my body including permanent damage to my shoulder. It took me almost 4 hrs to be able to actually get up and move afterwards and even then it was so difficult and painful had my son not been rushed off to intensive care to be prepped for emergency transport I wouldn't of gotten out of bed at all. With my 3rd child I decided I wanted an epidural as soon as I was admitted regardless how well I was handling the pain. I received the epidural right away and was had my ideal birth minus the anesthesiologist missing 4 times because I was put in a bad position for the epidural. My labor lasted 7 hrs I only did 2 small pushes for baby to be born and I was up and walking around withing 45 minutes after giving birth. My son was facing upwards when he was being born and hadn't dropped at all even when I made it to 10cm so I sat there for 3 hrs at 10cm without pushing to allow my body to bring him down and out on its own. By the time we decided to push his head was already almost fully out and he flew out so quickly he got rug burn on his nose lol this time around I am planning to do the same thing except I know what position to go into when it's time for the epidural regardless what the nurse and anesthesiologist recommend. Do what you feel is best for you and baby. Nothing else really matters in the end as long as you and baby are alive and well.

Baby number 4 here first and second baby I had epidural 3rd baby no epidural.. im not sure with this one guys ill play it out

Medicated! My first I had an epidural and was loaded up on morphine (the baby had already passed away), and I can't imagine doing it unmedicated! Even the contractions alone were rough... I guess I'm not so tough!

My first I was labor for 12 hrs tired a family birth center and decided to get pain meds but when I got to the hospital they checked me I was at 8 for 2-3hrs not budging so they thought I had time before I gave birth but getting up and going to the bathroom I went from 8 to 10 and tried pushing on the toilet, they moved me from the toilet to the bed. They gave me the pain meds threw the Iv when he was already out like really, 30 mins of pushing

My second 10 hrs of labor and I went into labor at 4 in the morning and was trying to wake up the kids father, and he didn't wake so I kicked him cause I was on the toilet for 30 mins not being able to get up, so when I did finally get up I tired to wake him he didn't wake so I kicked him. Anyways we found a baby sitter my doula came and picked me up and we went to the hospital when we went in we were laughing and they said I wasn't in labor if I was laughing, I was so calm cause I knew that it hurts less when your calm.

So they checked me and I was at 6 almost 7 1 he of labor and had to get the meds cause I had strep b, but walked around while I was in labor having a good time joking around. I love my doula helping me threw labor. 30 mins of pushing, I screamed that's the part I want to work on

3rd 5 hrs of labor went in always at a 1 hr of labor always 6cm going on 7cm when I go in, yet again laughing with my mother this time and they were going to send me home cause seriously who laughs while in pain, but when your calm it hurts a lot less, and focus on something other than pain is great, they checked me in and when I hit 7 they broke my water like they did with my others. When it was time to push they thought I was at 10 when I was 9 so the doctor told me to push and was very rude my phone went off and he loved my ringtone but I told them to shut it off, and then his phone goes off I tell him that she was stuck and he answers his phone and I tell him to hang up and check on my baby, he jumped from me yelling at him. He checks me and says oh you were only 9cm not 10 she is stuck around your cervix and so he tried with his fingers to stretch the cervix and I kicked almost got him, so he got mineral oil and did it when he told me to push and she was out pretty fast, I pushed for 35 mins with her.

All Natural with all of my kids and doing it again relax make sure people around you are relaxed to, and calm. A tense room makes you tense witch makes it hurt more. Get a doula if possible.. and good luck medicated or not, we are still strong mommas to give birth.

Same thing happened to me. My second baby came so fast I had time for nothing. I plan on going unmedicated this time as well, even though after my second was born I said I would NEVER do that again, lol. The main thing I am worried about though, is will I even make it to the hospital in time?!

This is my second kid and the first I didn't want any drugs but it hurt so bad I got it at 9 cm and my mom was mad so this time I'm not doing any drugs

Mmm epidural.

I needed meds just for them to insert the catheter with baby#1. After 35 hours of labor ended up having a csection, where the epidural wore off as it started... So I started to feel everything, but my tolerance for pain is so low I'm almost certain I'll need an epidural this go round too.

I'm on #3. Both vaginal births with no medication. I'm so scared of needles especially in my back so I opted to not get an epidural. Music calms me, so I made a play list about a month before due date. Worked wonders. For me it's mind over matter. I focus my thoughts on the baby and what he/she will look like. Once they tell me to push, I'm focused on holding my baby, I get so excited the pain doesn't bother me.

I had the epidural with my first and it worked wonders however I always had to turn side to side because I have a curved spine. But I had to have a emergency c section due to my and babies heart rates dropping fast.

I plan to hold off on the epidural long as possible and get it when I absolutely need it but I'm trying a vbac so I'm nervous about it deterring my chances.

I'm thinking unmedicated, unless absolutely necessary. My SO and I joke about how fast this baby will come. I have a high pain tolerance and labored at home with my daughter for too long. My doctor was upset I didn't go in earlier but I was still able to breathe through them and talk. When I finally told my SO it was time to go I made him stop for French fries from McDonalds haha.

Hopefully this time will be just as quick, though I know the pregnancy is going to last forever!

I want the epidural again I think even though mine wore off three times during labor but this time I'm going to try and wait as long as I possibly can before getting it.

I'd love to go unmediated so if it happens cool but definitely not saying no to pain relief if I find I can't handle it.

So I had unmedicated for dd and am going in with mindset 'I can do this'. If it gets too much, I'm already educated on my options.

I'd say go in confident but make sure you know you're options :)

Unmedicated. I had my first naturally and I was only in labor for 8 hours. Labored at home for the first half and went to birthing center when I delivered her in a birthing pool :)

I don't like to make plans I just want to go with the flow. It's hard to say what each one will be like. For the most part I'm planning on unmedicated but who knows really I had complications last time so I don't plan on having everything set in stone this time

With #1 I got an epidural and it took 2 people a long time to do it and then it got stuck coming out. I pushed for 2 hours and my Dr had to cut me to get baby out because his heart rate was dropping.

#2 I told them from the beginning I didn't want one at all. And the nurse was amazing and did everything she could so I didn't have one. I sat in a bath, walked a little and when I wanted one (from the pitocin) she turned it off. And offered me an iv medicine that only lasted 15 minutes. I had it 3 times and then my baby came in 3 pushes. My Dr was just putting on her smock. Lol.

I say, go in with the mind set you want to do it without, but also know it is there if you need it. That's what I did, but luckily I didn't need it.

I had an epidural the first time and I decided to go with the flow and what I felt in the moment during my first birth.

I plan on doing the same this time around. You never know what may change or happen. Better for me to just decide as I go along rather than have my heart set on something and be disappointed.

I had gas & air with 1st baby, 2nd I didn't touch the gas & air till it was time to push (and for some reason it didn't work, I could open my eyes! And talk lol) this time I'm most almost certain I will do the same, I know I can do it, and I loved being able to see my little boy be born, and passed to me ❤️

I had an epidural for #1 but her heart rate dropped evwrytime i had a contraction so they had me keep moving from one position to the next to help her heart rate. It can be a side effect of an epidural. By the time it was time to push I was feeling the contractions more than the pressure they tell you you are suppose to feel.

#2 I went in woth the mind set of drug free. I was dealing with the pain (a lot of back labor) and the nurse's said I was and 8 when they checked. Doc came in and said a soft 6, then I wanted drugs. Doc broke my water and then there wasn't enougb time between that and baby getting her for drugs.

With this one I am going in with an open mind and just seeing how labor progresses. If its quick I should be ok, but I am nor going to beat myself up about asking for drugs either.

First time around when I finally decided to take the Epi I didn't have enough time. Baby came before they could administer

Don't plan to take it this time around no matter what.

My body pretty much acted the same with my first labor experience. I thought I was pushing well enough.. evidently not hard enough and they shut it off. Complete waste of money I was mad! So this time around I'm going for it and not getting anything I don't want to have to go through that again and regret it.