What It Actually Feels Like To Give Birth Without An Epidural

When To Avoid An Epidural

There are some situations when women cannot receive epidurals. If you are on certain medications such as blood thinners, or if you have low platelets or problems with blood work, getting an epidural is highly risky and not recommended. Some women have an unusual curvature or extra weight in their spine that makes it difficult to find epidural space. If you happen to be bleeding heavily, it may be too dangerous to get an epidural since lowered blood pressure is often a side effect of the anesthesia. There is also a certain point during labor where it may be too late to administer an epidural. Every hospital policy is different, but it is usually late into active labor before the transition phase begins.

Coping Mechanisms

When choosing to forego drugs, there are alternative options to relieving pain naturally. Prior to delivery, practice breathing, meditation, and visualization exercises. During labor, having an exercise or image to focus on while laboring can be powerful in distracting you from the pain. Use an exercise ball, a birthing pool or simply lean against your partner during labor to help alleviate some of the pressure. Moving around can help you experiment with different positions that help with pain relief. Ask your partner for a massage or a heating pad on parts of your body that feel strained. Lastly, let go of inhibitions during labor and let your body take over in the form of yelling, grunting or crying. The emotional release will help with allover physical tension.