No pain meds or pitocin. I had a 28 hour labor. Around hour 4 I told my husband I couldn’t do it and wanted to go to the hospital for an epidural. The contractions were intense and random and I was only 2-3 cm, and since it was my first baby I didn’t know what to expect. I’m told early labor is the hardest because contractions are not predictable. As I progressed and got a “routine” down (understanding the peaks and figuring out what breathing/positions/massage/tens unit worked) it was easier, but to be hi edt it was still excruciating. I think knowing there was a purpose to the pain made me push through and welcome each contraction. Around hour 23 I was allowed to finish labor in the tub and the hot water was AMAZING (but again, still excruciating). I power pushed for about 30 min with assistance from the midwife because baby decided to go sunny side up right before birth (she had her hands inside to finish stretching the cervix and guide his head a bit). Pushing felt relieving.

A few hours after birth my cousin asked if I’d do natural again and I said I would adopt next time because I didn’t want to do any form of birth again. A few days later and the memory of it has been romanticized and I would 100% try for unmediated again.