I am afraid to get the epidural? i dont like needles. So should i just do it natural?

Question

I am afraid to get the epidural? i dont like needles. So should i just do it natural?

Answer 1

My contractions where so intense that I didn't even feel the epidural.  

Answer 2

Its all your preference, and you would be a brave lady to do it naturally, but it can deffinatly be done! :)   However i guarantee the pain of having the baby naturally is ALOT worse then the pain of an epidural needle...  you dont see the needle and the pain from contractions makes the needle feel like nothing!   Everybody is scared of the epidural, but once you feel the pain of the contractions you will do just about anything to take it all away.. you will probably be begging for the epidural!  But you could also get lucky an have a quick an easy birth.. so really you cant make to many decisions that will stick until your actually there giving birth GL!

Answer 3

When the pain gets bad enough, your fear will magically disappear.  I know mine did.  I had every bad thought you could possibly have about the epidural, but when I couldn't take it anymore, they could have told me they were gonna chop off my leg after they gave it to me, and I would not have cared!!  My second baby, I got it first thing, and I will do the same this time, I am 23 weeks with *another* girl.

Answer 4

I am terrified of needles but believe me after 6 hours of contractions on pitocin I was begging for an epidural it doesn't even matter when you are in active labor you will make the choice some people can handle the pain and others will beg for it. it all happens in the moment

Answer 5

Honey!!!! Let me tell you something!! I said the same thing with my first baby well my only right now....I went through mine natural until I reached 5 centimeters dilated....WOOOOO LAWD!!! Is all I can say about that I was walking around the hospital nurse station like UH UH UH!!! in pain I tell ya but walking made it feel a bit better. So I dunno you may be able to do it. I thought I could but honey I was crying for the epidural...I did breath through the contraction at first and did well...but still I  needed the med's and then they took forever to get to me with them...OMG!! Yes I won't lie I felt it all...I was having a contraction yet they wanted me to lean over a table and just "BREATH" WTF it felt like it was going in my back through my legs i am not lying to you. But honestly after wards it was worth it trust me. I too was a NO EPIDURAL GIRL!@! at one point in time. I was actually able to relax until i had to push her so that I had my strength to do it. All was well. I had minimal tearing or what they called a "Skid mark" not enough to sew up but I was torn just a little. I did not mean to scare you but I thought you may want to hear the truth from someone who was just recently in your shoes...yet you must still remember everyone is different. :) Bye

Answer 6

There are other options, you'll learn about them in your prenatal class. One thing you ought to know is that a lot of the "I can't cope" feelings come from low blood sugar, and a few barley sugars will change your mind very quickly; stash a packet in your hospital bag. I wanted to do it naturally, but my mother in law was being such a hag in the days before, I was emotionally drained and went into labour already tired. I ended up having pethadine at 5cm. That allowed me to rest (which sounds stupid in the middle of labour) and I was fine after that. So, my second piece of advice is when you are getting close to the end, change your voicemail message to "I haven't had the baby yet and am busy resting up and pampering myself, can't possibly let you interrupt!" and take the phone off the hook. ;)

Answer 7

Sure, there are many different things you can do to cope with the pain.  Moving around and being in a place where you are comfortable can definitely help you relax while in labor.  There are many different birthing techniques that can help you cope with labor pains.  The Bradley Method, Hypnobirthing......if you can't do the epidural (which could cause more harm that good anyways) try one of these other methods.

Answer 8

i have a terrible needle phobia and choose to haveboth my children without one

its not that bad

Answer 9

Don't rule out an epidural!  I too thought this way and I can seriously say from experience that when you're in labour and you feel the pain of having a baby, if the lesser pain means having an epidural, you'll more than likely have one.  It just feels like a pinching feeling in your lower back for like 3 seconds and then they start the IV and you don't feel anything down there anymore.  It is very special to go it natural and I'd like more than anything to do it with my second (38 weeks, 4 days preggo) but if I end up in the hospital with too much pain, I'll likely have it again.  Make sure you ask them to NOT let you see the needle.  

Answer 10

Well wait until the time comes and then see how you feel about it, I really don't want the epidural either because I'm so scared of things like that but if the time comes and the pain is to bad to bare then I will get it I'm sure... Just have to see what its like you really cant plan for that type of thing. Good luck!