First of all, I truly appreciate everyone's responses. I see all of them as extremely helpful and insightful.
With that being said, I have decided to play it by ear.
From my first birthing experience I know the following:
Factors Include:
Back labor plays a smaller role in the thought process simply because I believe labor will be shorter as this is my second birth. Also, it is about pain and I know I can handle this pain even though it is terrible. It still will be in the back of my mind prior to making the decision though because it made the labor as a whole extremely difficult.
The visual is actually a pretty big deal for me. It really grosses me out. If you would like to see the video that I watched here is the link for it. I did not watch this video on purpose. I was just browsing through all of the videos on babycenter.com and that one came on. Once it was on, my curiosity got the best of me and I finished the video. I don't know why, but the tube grosses me out the most.
Bottom line - I really would rather have another natural birth because I know I am capable of it. However, I will consider my options that day/night. Adam is great and supports my decision either way.
Any day now!
Thanks again for all the responses! I feel more at ease with the thought of getting one, but also more confident in myself if I decide to not get one. :)
With that being said, I have decided to play it by ear.
From my first birthing experience I know the following:
- I can have a baby without pain medication.
- Back labor sucks.
- Sleep is important.
- I will not care if I can stand up after delivery.
- It grosses me out to visually think that a tube may be placed into my back.
Factors Include:
- How much sleep I have had prior to labor.
- If I am experiencing bad back labor.
- If I can get over the visual of the tube in my back.
Back labor plays a smaller role in the thought process simply because I believe labor will be shorter as this is my second birth. Also, it is about pain and I know I can handle this pain even though it is terrible. It still will be in the back of my mind prior to making the decision though because it made the labor as a whole extremely difficult.
The visual is actually a pretty big deal for me. It really grosses me out. If you would like to see the video that I watched here is the link for it. I did not watch this video on purpose. I was just browsing through all of the videos on babycenter.com and that one came on. Once it was on, my curiosity got the best of me and I finished the video. I don't know why, but the tube grosses me out the most.
Bottom line - I really would rather have another natural birth because I know I am capable of it. However, I will consider my options that day/night. Adam is great and supports my decision either way.
Any day now!
Thanks again for all the responses! I feel more at ease with the thought of getting one, but also more confident in myself if I decide to not get one. :)
I think it's a good decision. The best advice I got was that an epidural is a tool and has it's use. You don't use a hammer if you need a wrench. Epidurals won't solve all problems, but there's a time and place for them. You won't know until things get going what tools will be the most effective.
ReplyDeletePS - I got an epidural late in the game when I could no longer breathe through my contractions and me and Zoe had trouble getting oxygen. I felt a lot of shame about it for a while, but it's what I needed to do. I too was freaked out by the tube in you and not feeling my legs, but that part wasn't nearly as bad as I'd imagined it (it actually wasn't bad at all).