Epidural...or no Epidural ???

So I am almost 22 weeks pregnant with my first child and I am completely scared/confused about the Epidural I just keep hearing negative things about it and because my mother didn't have it so she cant really support my decision to have one or even think of having one I am not to great with pain I just need some advice and some insight on it.........

I think your decision will be clear when the time comes.

Quoting Andrea Mayy:" So I am almost 22 weeks pregnant with my first child and I am completely scared/confused about the Epidural ... [snip!] ... to have one or even think of having one I am not to great with pain I just need some advice and some insight on it........."

its a personal choice, but personally i wouldnt make any decisions about wether or not you want one till you are in labor, i wouldnt have been able to do it without an epidural i thought i was gonna die i was in so much pain. the needle wasnt hardly nothing compared to the contractions.

Research it, it'll help give you some insight into the pros or many cons there are with an Epidural. It's a personal choice that you have to come to, we can't really make it for ya hun.  

If you aren't getting one because you are afraid of one, that won't last in labor. When you are in excruciating pain that fear won't matter. To have a natural labor you have to want one and commit to one. I say think real hard about why YOU do or do not want one. And do some research as far as how to get the labor you want. I have don't both, a 70 hour induction with an epi, and a 28 hour natural VBAC (had to get an epi at 10cm because i had a cervical lip my body wouldnt let me push past)

I had the epidural with my first and it was awesome! But no one can make that decision but you! If you aren't good with pain but don't want the epidural you can get other pain meds that won't numb you.

I know its a personal choice i just don't really know anyone who has had one and i dont know the pain level of the process if it hurt terrible or if it was more of a relief from the other pains

My epidural was so lovely, that I kinda can't wait to have another child just so I can have another epidural LOL.

If you've basically already chosen to have one but are worried it'll hurt when they put the needle in, just know once you're in labor & experiencing contractions, the needle going in is nothing compared to the pain you will already be experiencing. If you don't know your choice yet, just do your research if you're not sure what you want yet.

I went in with an open mind. That way if I decided I needed it then I didn't feel disappointed in myself. After 4 days of labor I was begging for it. It was a life saver.

Quoting Brantley's mama 8-24-12:" its a personal choice, but personally i wouldnt make any decisions about wether or not you want one ... [snip!] ... an epidural i thought i was gonna die i was in so much pain. the needle wasnt hardly nothing compared to the contractions."

I totally disagree, if you want a natural labor you have to prepare your mind for it. To have the strength to get through it and the skills to cope. If you go into if not sure... you will probably get one.

Quoting Just Ames:" I think your decision will be clear when the time comes."

  I did not want the epidural and was told I may not be able to have one due to my scoliosis but when I was in labor my tune changed because I didn't anticipate what would happen. My son's heart rate kept dropping (they thought it was cord compression but it turned out it was a rare issue called velamentous insertion of the cord where the cord is attached to the membrane around the placenta instead of implanted firmly) and that made it so I was stuck on one side, unable to move around or do anything I planned on doing to ease the contractions.

Made it to almost 7 centimeters and gave up because I was also having back labor and I couldn't take it. I didn't even consider that I may not be allowed to move freely like I wanted or that something could go wrong. Thankfully the epidural went off without a hitch and my spine didn't cause issues with its placement. Beat myself about it and I was mildly worried about the risks at the actual time but you really don't know what you'll do until you're actually in labor!

I had it with my first and didn't have any negative happen, just got reaaally numb. I'm not very good with pain and the doctors were going to be sticking a bunch of smurf in me and I didn't want to feel it. Especially them checking dilation..that hurt so bad I wasn't too sure I'd be able to take child birth pain. But I am going to try with my next one and see if I can handle it, if not I'll get one. Just do some research and come up with what you think would be best for you.  

When the time comes u will know what ur choice will be

I've had 2 epis

1 drug free labor, and during this 1 I was screaming to give me drugs while I was pushing him out lol

Do rule it out, and see how u feel, as u go.

My 1st I was in labor for 43 hours by last night 7 hours before birth I was a hot mess, starving, contracting, dirty, and tired, the gave me shower put epi in and they had to wake me up to deliver  

I had the epidural and it didnt work for me