No Epi.

I've started strongly considering trying this birth without an epi. I am planning to labor as much as I can in the jacuzzi tub at the hospital, as well as using some other methods they have available to me, and hopefully find a way to block out or cope with the contractions. I was induced with my first and i got the Epi almost instantly after them breaking my water. I was stuck on the bed, and never gave myself a chance to try and go through contractions naturally.

My question is, in comparison to the contractions, how bad does the actual delivery hurt? If you make it through the contractions is pushing just the easy part?

Also if you need stitches , do they numb you first, or do you feel them sewing you back up?

Good luck, I could never do natural! I loved my epi

The pushing was great in comparison to labor/contractions. It didn't hurt at all.
It just felt like I needed to take the biggest crap of my life. Lol.

I didn't get an epi. You can do it! My water broke at 8am & she was born at 7:12pm the same day! Honestly it wasn't really that bad. I kept my room full of people up until I had to push, they kept my mind off the pain. I don't think I'll get one with this baby either.

Oh, and I needed one stitch and I had my doctor numb me. I was a baby about it. Lol. It was my first time ever getting stitches. She thought I was crazy. Haha.

Pushing was awesome.


Contractions hurt but I kept in mind it was not going to last forever.

I had an internal laceration and my mw numbed me before she sutured it.

I went no EPI for 3 out of my 4. Honestly it was so much better! My births were much faster and I was able to move around and help the process. When I did have my EPI it only worked for an hour or so and then I could feel the contractions. When I did have the EPI I had to push for 45 minutes, without it the longest I ever pushed was 4 minutes. Yes it is harder because you can feel the contractions but you can do it! And it doesn't last forever, as soon as baby is out the pain is instantly gone. Just put your mind to it, make sure your support team, dr's and nurses know your plan.

I've had two opposite births. Painless contractions and painful 'ring of fire' for my second birth but it was over pretty quickly. I tore 2 stitches worth, I imagine if it had been more I'd have been in a whole other world of pain. Then with my third I had painful contractions, and painless pushing since she popped right out without tearing/pushing at all.

ETA: I had a numbing shot for my stitches.

I personally enjoyed dilating, but did not enjoy pushing. I know that it is very common to hate dilating but really enjoy pushing.

If you have a chance, check out Ina May's Guide to Childbirth. There are birth stories in it that I found very helpful (and very empowering). She has some great suggestions for working through the contractions.

I was very lucky, I didn't need stitches with either birth, but my midwives would have given me pain medication if I wanted it (if it was only one or two stitches, they would offer to stitch without the pain medication, apparently the shot isn't all that pleasant).

Best of luck!

If you get induced again you dont have to get epi. But its not that bad my epi after induction slipped and by the time dr got in it was to late for epi. To kick in had baby with pains of pitocin but it went better than 1st pregnancy

Quoting Mason Ryan=♥:" The pushing was great in comparison to labor/contractions. It didn't hurt at all. It just felt like I needed to take the biggest crap of my life. Lol."

LOL I heard the pushing was like "the ring of fire."

Thanks you guys! I'm really hoping I can push through it!

<blockquote><b>Quoting {{Expecting #3}}:</b>" LOL I heard the pushing was like "the ring of fire.""</blockquote>




That's what I always heard, but I never experienced that surprisingly. Lol.

Pushing is always really easy for me. I had my children naturally and pushing was my favorite part of the whole process. 2 pushes with DD and 5 with DS. I really loved the birthing ball and my husband was amazing at massaging my back and applying counter pressure. Do not labor in bed! You can do it. GL!

I kept telling myself no epi either. I got to 9cm and I was smurfing dying for that damn epi. Goodluck