I am planning on it, but not completely against drugs...just really want to do it without. This is my first, so I'm delivering at a hospital. I am completely against getting an epiedural...just freaks me out. I'm hoping i can do it!

I planned for it last time but I ended up having a C-Section due to failure to progress. DS was sunny-side up which can make it difficult for them to move down the canal. I was stuck at 9cm for hours but only at "0" station.

Anyway, I did stay unmedicated for a long time. I didn't get drugs until they pulled out the Pitocin to amplify my contractions so that he would come down. I kind of got frustrated at that point because I knew the Pitocin would make the contractions worse and and figured I would be having a C-Section anyway so I might as well have the drugs!

All of that aside, I made it to 9cm unmedicated and I had bad back labor since he was facing the wrong direction. This is pretty much the worse setup for labor. Yes it hurt, it hurt bad, but I found that I could handle it. I used HypnoBabies to get me through most of it and it really helped. I was calm and I stayed relaxed most of the time. In fact, even though it was hard to do, relaxing through the contractions made them 10x more bearable. One time the doctor came in while I was in transistion and he asked the nurse how I was handling my epidural. I hadn't had an epidural at that point so I must have appeared pretty calm!

The epidural didn't hurt and it relieved the pain. The catheter that went along with the epidural was VERY uncomfortable though IMO. I felt like that was the worse part of the whole thing.

I plan to attempt a VBAC and I hope to go drug-free this time. I will use HypnoBabies again. Hopefully things will work out this time. I am not opposed to another epidural, but I don't think I will need it if labor goes like it should.

I'm still trying to decide. This is my first child.

I am reading Ina May's Guide to Natural Childbirth (I think it's called), and it makes sense to me that if you have an epidural, you can't effectively feel what your body's doing and labor will take longer. But, there are also pros to having an epidural, so I'm just not sure yet!

Had an epidural with my first one. I was freaked out by it too, but after contractions for 2 hours I changed my mind. In fact I found that it made labor easier on me because I wasn't under any stress because I didn't feel anything. I usually do not tell people about my labor because I was a freak of nature and unfortunately not everyones is the same. My labor from the time my water broke till baby was born was 6hrs. and it was the middle of the night so after I had the epidural I was able to sleep for a couple of hours reserve my energy for the pushing part. Yes you do not feel pain but you do feel pressure when you have a contraction so you know when to push. Also I was hooked up to a fetal monitor the whole time and the nurse could see on the monitor and so could I when I was having a contraction so I knew when to push that way also. I could have pushed my son out faster than the hour it took him to if I hadn't been so freaked out about the possibility of hemmorhoids. I will be having an epidural this time also if I can get there in time. Do remember they can only give the epidural up to a certain point once you exceed that you have no choice unless you have to do a C section. I think of it this way you are in quite a bit of pain after the birth and I hope your hospitals offer the ice pack pads they were a life saver.

One thing to remember: We all leave the hospital with a baby. I am a full supporter of medicated birth and just want to say that once you get into the labor, you should reserve the right to change your mind and not be pressured from any angle. There are no winners or losers here, ladies.

Quite true! I had a way that I wanted things to go but they didn't go that way. I have a happy healthy boy now and I'm grateful for that. I hope to have an unmedicated birth this time, but if I don't...shrugs. I will NEVER let my desire for a certain birth experience trump the safety of my child. Since I'm looking at a VBAC, this is a real concern for me.

I'm only 33w but last Friday went into preterm labor. I've now experienced the beginning of labor and what my hospital does. Being hooked up to the monitors, having an IV line, and a catheter, there is no way I want to repeat that by having an epidural. Even before this last week, I knew I didn't want an epidural and now I feel stronger about it. This is my first, so I reserve the right to change my mind, but I think a strong mind set of less drugs will be important for me to be able to commit to no epidural. If I wasn't on bed and pelvic rest, I would be doing things like perineal massage (to stretch things out and lessen chance of tearing) and practicing labor positions so I'm ready when it's actually time for baby to be born. I also think everyone has to make their own decisions and most important thing is of course healthy baby and mama!!

I'm really hoping to go drug and epidural free but if I can't I'm not going to beat myself up over it!!

tristajohnson - Good call on the perineal massage. Something I'd totally forgotten about, but meant to do. Thanks for the reminder!

mpederson - It's the fast and furious part that my doctor was talking about and has me worried. My mom had a fast labour with my brother (3hrs from when her water broke to his birth), so I could end up in the same boat. Whatever will be will be!

I had a planned natural nonmedicated home birth with my son. The birth of his placenta on the other hand required pitocin and anti-hemorrhage drugs due to a complication. I also required a local anesthetic for my perenium when it was sutured. I am definitely planning another natural birth! I loved it and it was awesome.

I am currently pregnant with my 3rd and plan to do a nonmedicated birth, if possible. My hx goes-

1st baby- Had planned non medicated birth, if possible. I was induced (bc I was over and had GD). I was limited to basically laying down, sitting on the edge of the bed, or standing right beside of the bed so pain management was limited as well. After ab 6 hrs I could not take it any more. I had a dose of Stadal followed by an epidural. Delivered ab 6 hrs later.

2nd baby- Again, didnt want the epidural. Labored at home untill I knew it was time to do something. Went to the hospital and was at a 6 but thats as far as I made it. I could hardly breath. It hurt so bad and I knew what was coming- the IV and the monitor = bed ridden. So I asked for the epidural. I delivered ab 5 hours later.

So now I am going to try non medicated again with the prayer labor will be quicker and manageable. But if it's not- oh well. A healthy baby in the end IS all that matters. (Prayers that all of you will be successful and have healthy babies too

I'm open to whatever I need at the time.

With my first I was all set on a non-medicated birth, but he was posterior (back birth) which was very painful, and long. I had days of contractions starting and then stopping (apparently turning baby into correct position, bodies are very clever eh?), so hadn't slept well for days before the birth. Then after 18 hours of labouring midwife said she was concerned I may become too tired to push, she wanted me to have an epidural and and have a nap before the pushing. I didn't want to have gone through all that just to have a C section so I agreed, but I couldn't sleep I had a crazy reaction to the epidural, gave me the shakes, so though I was in no pain at all, which was great, I couldn't sleep ... epidural was still there when pushing, but I could feel when to push, and pushing was 40 mins, just a slight tear deep inside me as he came out like superman and cut me with his finger nails!

Number 2 was footling breech and couldn't be turned, tried allsorts to get her to turn, but nothing worked! She's still very stubborn now!

Planning a VBAC this time, again my intention is to go without drugs, but I know that labour is such an individual thing, all births, like all babies are different, and the end result is the most important thing. So I'm open to whatever I need at the time.