did you have a water birth? or any other pain killers in labour?

I am getting the epidural for sure.
Why put myself threw all the pain if I dont have too!

I had an IV painkiller. I took lots of shower to help with pain, but since my water broke I couldn’t use the labor pool. I oonly took a pain killer once and then a couple of hours later my daughter was born.

I agree, I am not yet due to give birth until mid-January, but I’ve already established a crucial element of my birth plan to be receiving an epidural.

But, every woman feels differently about both pain and the methods they’d choose to cope. I’ve read up pretty extensively on this subject, so I can provide some keen insight.

In terms of Natural Vs. Medicated, many pregnant people argue that going natural is healthier for your baby, less selfish, and allows them to be more apart of the experience. In my opinion, it is uneducated to think this way, as they’ve never proven an epidural or any other medication during labor can pose a risk to the baby…only make them a little sleepy. In fact, hospitals have strict regulations imposed where they will deny certain forms of medicated aid after a specific point in the labor, because they suspect it may cause complications during birth.

Do you have a high pain tolerance? Or are you a baby like me? lol. My biggest issue is actually throwing up during labor (I’m an emetophobic), as many women can experience as a reaction to intense pain. And in general, (and I know this is a fantasy), but I’d like to have as pain-less and intense-less, stress-free labor as possible. Based on what I have researched, this for me would mean an epidural. It really is like a miracle cure-all. It can make a woman screaming and crying in pure agony, be completely relaxed, at ease, and pain-free in a half hour…and maybe even smiling.

It just makes sense to make yourself as comfortable as possible so that you can have the environment and experience you want, and so that your baby may come into the world peacefully.

However, you must also keep in mind that whatever you decide, you must always remember to remain flexible. Labor is a very unpredictable time, and it is in your best interest to go with the flow of whatever happens as best you can.

Oh, and p.s. – I’m not sure about the birthing pool. I do know that the warm water calms the muscles and reduces the pain of contractions, but you cannot use pain meds while in the tub. My best friend utilized this method, but she also went totally natural until she had to have her C-Section. If you wish to use a variety of methods like me, I’d suggest either sticking it out with the contractions until 3 cm (the earliest you can receive an epidural) or ask if you can go into the whirl pool or receive i.v. drugs. Then, once the pain gets really horrendous, get into bed and get the epidural ASAP. You’ll probably feel great afterwards.

Others suggest breathing techniques you can learn at a birthing class to help impede your pain response. Also, walk around as much as you can before you’re confined to a bed, read, listen to music, or watch tv, play cards, or talk to your family.

I plan to do many of these things to keep it as low-key and comfortable for me as possible. After all, with drugs or not, the pushing part is pretty intense…and you’ll wanna be feeling good up until then

Good luck!