epidural/natural birth.

I will be 36 weeks tomorrow and still don't know if I want an epidural or not. It seems like there are so many risks.. And I've never been on any form of anesthetic. But I'm only 18 and natural birth just seems terrifying and painful. How bad was it for you?

I just turned 19 I had my son when I was 18 and I got the epi and ive had no problems at all. Some people have back pains after they get it but I dont. I could never go natural I was in a lot of pain so the epi held me relax and get some rest.

I have had both. My first I had an induction which is full on and crap, and I had an epidural injection but no infusion. My second 9 weeks ago I only had gas. But I've ended up with more back problems from the pregnancy and birth of my second and had no issues with the first. Recovery was quicker with the first.

I think go in with the mind set that you will go with the flow. You will not know your pain threshold until you are there. And it comes down to how long and intense your labour is etc. Then if you are struggling to manage the pain then have an epi. But things change suring labour so go in with an open mind. :-)

<blockquote><b>Quoting Sonia Tuckerman:</b>" I have had both. My first I had an induction which is full on and crap, and I had an epidural injection ... [snip!] ... Then if you are struggling to manage the pain then have an epi. But things change suring labour so go in with an open mind. :-)"</blockquote>



Oh. I thought I had to tell them ahead of time if I wanted one. Thanks (:

I made it to 5cm and asked for epi, didn't have any problem what so ever.

I had an epi, no problems at all from it. Glad I did too I ended up needed a csection. If I hadn't they would have had to knock me out fully from the start and my husband wouldn't have been allowed in, I wouldn't have got to share hearing his first cry or anything. They did have to put me under to stitch me up though because I could feel that, but since my husband was there our son never was with anyone but him. They handing him right over and showed him where to wait for me. So he got the full first hour of his life to share just him and his baby boy  

Quoting Izzy Barnett:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Sonia Tuckerman:</b>" I have had both. My first I had an induction ... [snip!] ... go in with an open mind. :-)"</blockquote> Oh. I thought I had to tell them ahead of time if I wanted one. Thanks (:"

No, you can go in with your birth plan. So what you would like to happen. But it doesn't always work out that way. If you have intense labour with slow dilation, you'll want to get the epi. And all you have to do is ask for it. Depending on where the dr is, you may have to wait a bit, but keep that in mind also. I didn't want the epi with the first but induction is so intense that I ended up screaming give it to me. lol. But it was so close to the end, they injected some drugs and that was it, I was pushing. So they had to check if it worked while I was pushing. Which it didn't work to start with anyway. But have in your birth plan, what happens if you ask for it. And tell your SO what you want to happen also. My SO knew that I didn't want one, but he knew that when I screamed for it, to not try and talk me out of it. So just make sure its all down on paper, cos you are unable to talk when the pain gets really bad.

I went into it 10 years older than you are now, and I'll tell you this: if I hadn't been completely sure of what kind of birth I wanted, and my reasons for it, I wouldn't have had it. Age isn't the main thing, but I mention it because at 18 most women aren't completely comfortable with their sexuality, being assertive when it comes to their needs, and being comfortable with the power of their bodies. If you only have a little bit of time and you're not sure yet--not trying to discourage--but you need more preparation. You'll probably give in to relief of that pain, because the labor pain will probably shock you. At your age, if I'd been giving birth, I would have been glad to get a brick to my cranium to take that kind of pain away.

When it comes to giving birth naturally, I found that I didn't have to do anything but trust my body to birth my baby. I didn't push, I didn't fight the pain. You can do it. I believe any woman can. You just have to know what you want.

On here--I think member 'Donelle Gale' was 18 when she had her completely natural water birth. I don't know the handles of any of the other younger natural birth mamas.

I am 20 and just had my son and i did it all natural and so happy i went all natural. I liked the fact i could feel what my body needed to do. But just do whats right for you and your body.

Quoting Damon's Mama:" I am 20 and just had my son and i did it all natural and so happy i went all natural. I liked the fact i could feel what my body needed to do. But just do whats right for you and your body."

Agree. If your birth is uncomplicated etc, you'll be fine. If there are complications then do what feels right. I did prefer my labour natural (with gas), but I felt most of both births. Best advice to OP, dont fight the pain. Yes, I'm not going to lie, its smurfing bad, but if you fight it, it will be worse. Just breathe and centre yourself to what needs to happen.