I had epidural with a vaginal birth. I was scared of the epidural because I also heard the bad stories. I waited until I was almost 5 can dilated to see if I could do it naturally. The pain was pretty bad. I was just about to cry from it and I was shaking. Everyone is so different. I called the anesthesiologist in and discussed the pros and cons with him and explained my fears. I decided there were more pros than cons. And I was at a really good hospital. I was SO grateful for the epidural! Everything went great for me. Pain stopped in minutes and I was able to push my baby out with my doctors coaching.

I was so set on natural for my delivery but those contractions got the best of me and I couldn't take it so I got an epidural. It numbed my entire lower half. I was so scared cause I couldn't move my legs. They were just dead weights. So when it was time to push, I was so exhausted and wanted to give up. I had to have help. But I will say I didn't feel the contractions anymore so that was a plus

I’ve had 3 epidurals and have had no problem nor have I heard anybody else say they have (in person). I’m sure you are going to hear things just like you will hear natural birth is scary (I wouldn’t know) but there are people that prefer to go that route. It’s a matter of opinion really.

I've had 2 babies. 1st one I went into labor on my own. Was 2cm before labor started @40+3 and had to labor a few hrs til I was 5cm and got an epidural. It was amazing!! The baby crowned on her own and I pushed about 3 times and she was out. My 2md I was Induced for high bp at 39+4. Started pitocin about noon, started feeling contractions but they weren't painful til a couple hrs later after they broke my water , labored a couple hrs and had to get an epidural because the pitocin makes the contractions so strong! Again just a few hrs later I felt pressure and she was crowning herself!! So again pushed a few times and she was here! I plan on doing the same with this l little boy. And I have scoliosis so if an epidural is going to mess anything up I would think it would have done some damage to me if it was going to but I had no adverse effects after it wore off. I believe they relax your body so labor can progress quicker not slower.

I’ve actually experienced both. I’m not gonna say the epidural was bad, it helped me a lot! However, I definitely preferred my natural birth. With my son labor was longer, I tore, had hemorrhoids, afterwards I felt disconnected and out of it when she was born. I was numb but I could still feel the pressure, the epidural took the majority of the pain away. Afterwards I could barely walk and felt like I just had surgery. This time around with my daughter, I labored at home for 20 minutes, made it to the hospital and gave birth less than 1 hour of getting there completely natural. The pain was horrid, I wanted an epidural but baby came too fast. I felt everything, I felt her moving down through my birth canal, I felt her head come out, I felt when her shoulders came out! I felt like I took a major poop (I actually pooped while giving birth) 🤦🏾‍♀️ lol anyway, the experience was completely different, although it was painful, I was PRESENT! I wasn’t high or numb and I was able to actually experience the full effect of giving birth. Afterwards I felt FINE! Once she came out and I delivered the placenta I felt fine. My vagina burned but I didn’t tear. I was able to get up, shower, and walk around after only a few hours. I came home 2 days later and walked up and down the stairs just fine (I have a 2yr old also) I rested as much as possible but when I had to get up for something I was able to. Ofcourse I was sore, but I wasn’t in pain like I was with my first.

I felt like with the epidural, I pushed my body sooooo hard to deliver because I couldn’t really feel it, so I didn’t know how much pain I was really in until afterwards. With my natural delivery I did what I could when I could. I gave birth in doggy style position and I focused on breathing and alternated between big and small pushes to get my baby out. I relaxed and I felt my body open up on its own. It was an amazing experience! I don’t know if this has any correlation, but my breast milk was very abundant compared to my epidural birth. She latched and nurse perfectly soon after birth. While she latched on one breast, the other would leak. Now I’m 2weeks pp and am bf’ing exclusively and pumping about 8-10oz extra per day ! With my son, I struggled with my milk production early on. I had to formula feed in the hospital, it took a few days for my baby to get anything from my breast.

If I have another child, I’d want to do natural again ☺️

I had 2 epidurals with my first 2. Went all natural this last time.

Personally natural wasn’t bad at all!

It’s all about breathing!!

It was so special for my husband and I.

Had two epidurals & planning for my third. Was in labor with my son for 5hrs & 3hrs with my daughter. Everything went great !

I had my son no epidural and vaginal. I was in labor for 7hrs . Yes, it hurt but i stayed focused and remembered the pain is only temporary

I had two epidurals and I was able to get up and walk 10-15 minutes after. With my first the nurses wanted me up to go to the bathroom and I was able to because most of the feeling came back. With my second the nurses didnt want me to but I didnt want to get my bladder emptied by them because I could already feel my lady area and most of my legs. I was a little wobbly but i made it without falling and it made it easier to recover. The only issue now is i have back pain.

I’ve had two epidurals. I had a stuff back for a couple weeks after the first one, but that is it.

I had 13 and 7 hour labors, and the epidural gave me enough relief to take a nap and enjoy the process of laboring.

Also, they have other medications you can use other than an epidural. My sister in law had laughing gas and there’s one medicine (can’t remember what it’s called) but the nurse said it’s like you just drank a margarita. Lol.

I have a high pain tolerance, couldn’t feel my contractions (I was being induced so I knew I was having them) they kept turning my pitocin higher (that’s a whole other story) and I still couldn’t feel them. I knew I wanted the epidural but decided to wait until I was in more pain. Then my doctor recommended one to relax my body so I got it. I didn’t feel anything until I wore off and I was crying because I was in so much pain. they redosed me (I had a 26 hour labor with only 12 with an epidural). My nurse recommended that I don’t get another redose so when it came to pushing, I knew when to. So I didn’t, but i was still slightly numb but I felt when to push. However, my left leg was numb and an anesthesiologist client of mine said they must have accidentally gave me a slight spinal as well. I would do it again. And I don’t have any more back pain than I would have with carrying a baby around and working on my feet all day. Hope that helps! Whatever you do, it’ll be okay!! 💖

@april.renae01, it’s your last baby you should definitely try natural and let your doctor know you would like the epidural for stand by. I’ve had 2 natural births and 1 epidural and the epidural was such an amazing experience! I’m going to try natural this time again just because I know I can do it but will not be afraid to ask for the epidural just in case things don’t go as planned BTW you can do it momma!! Xoxoxo 😘

I’m pretty sure I was around 7 cm when I got my epidural and lord was it heaven sent Bc my contraction were HORRIBLE(I was induced due to blood pressure issues, and I’ve heard pitocin makes it worse but I have nothing to compare with yet) , I had no bad side effects and I was walking around 30 minutes after I had him. I only had the epidural for about an hour before my son was born though.

Both my labors were done naturally (not intended). first time around the epidural did not work they tried it 2 times and after that second time I was over it and just went ahead and pushed. Second time I was already dialated enough and had been in labor for over 10 hours so right when I asked for it I just went ahead and pushed naturally.

I won't lie to you it hurts! However in the future I think I'm gonna just do it naturally by choice because I hear alot of stories about women who have pain issues. Even though the epidural didn't work for me I sometimes get pain on and off in my back which I'm sure is from that.

Never had an issue with the epidural. My back hurt a little after but went away.

@babybirdboss-mom, it also happened to me. Completely agree with you.

I had both and it hurst the same.!! 😩

I had an epidural. I had back pain for about a year after, but I’m still going to get another one!

@april.renae01 i can tell you now from people i helped who had c sections and natural, going natural was a piece of cake. If youve dealt with a csection you are already one tough mommy! Either epidural or natural i think you will be good either way. We all think natural in our head until labor hits and the pain starts coming. I think its one of those in the moment decisions.

With my first I got an epidural at 8cm. It took the edge off and I was able to be comfortable while pushing. My second was natural and the worst experience of my life. I didn’t feel empowered or even happy when my second was born. I felt defeated and numb. Took me a little bit to snap out of it...

Everyone is different and feels things differently. Even every pregnancy and labor can be dramatically different for the same person. My second labor, from the first contraction to the last, was ten million times more painful than my first labor was.

@jstory316, I had to have a c section with my first bt since I’m planning for this to be my last I would like to experience a vaginal birth. Just not sure what way I wanna go.. natural or epidural

I honestly wish I didn't do the patosion and epidural they turned the epidural up way to high it was supposed to be on 10 and it was on 14 when it was time to push I couldn't feel anything and hand to have her pulled out with the sucktoin cup

I had 2 epidurals and 3 natural. Still have back pain from epidurals. It wasnt so bad going natural but my labors were quick. What was your experience with your first one?

I had epidural with a vaginal birth. I was scared of the epidural because I also heard the bad stories. I waited until I was almost 5 can dilated to see if I could do it naturally. The pain was pretty bad. I was just about to cry from it and I was shaking. Everyone is so different. I called the anesthesiologist in and discussed the pros and cons with him and explained my fears. I decided there were more pros than cons. And I was at a really good hospital. I was SO grateful for the epidural! Everything went great for me. Pain stopped in minutes and I was able to push my baby out with my doctors coaching.

I got an epidural with vaginal birth and I have no problems with the epidural that was some of the best sleep I ever got . It all depends on your pain tolerance .