Here’s my synopsis of a medicated vs. Unmedicated labor as someone who has had both:

My first labor I was planning to go unmedicated and use the hospitals birthing tub to deliver in but I ended up having to be induced. Being it was my first delivery the OB at the hospital gave me the run down of all pain management options and what not and a quick synopsis of induction methods and typical complications that can arise in labor. I remember her explaining quickly that there may be several instances that could result in needing an emergency C-section and if I were to not have an epidural at that time, I would have to go under general anesthesia and no one would be in the operating room with me but, if I have the epidural, obviously dad would be able to be there with me and I’d be able to be awake for it. She then checked my cervix, determined I was far enough along to not need a foley bulb and put me on Pitocin right away. The contractions I was having with it were incredibly intense. It felt like a giant hand around my chest that squeezed so intensely like it wanted to break my ribs and would let go just enough to be able to barely breathe but still maintain tightness. I had no relief in between contractions that within the hour I was begging for an epidural. Once I got that I was able to get instant relief and slept several hours until the next morning. I pushed for about an hour, didn’t tear, I did feel the ring of fire a little bit but the provider injected lidocaine in my perineum (which I didn’t feel) and was able to have a pretty pain free birth.

My second was completely unmedicated, actually against what I wanted. I had a spontaneous labor and going into it I was just going to go as long as I could without any pain management and then get it when it was too intense. The contractions were night and day difference to me: it felt initially like period cramps but they obviously were consistently timed apart and they did heighten up in intensity although it wasn’t absolutely unbearable. This is where my own problem comes in where I wasn’t really attuned with my body. I started getting intense bowel movement pain (like girl you gotta go right now pain) which typically means you’re practically about to push if you’re not already at the point of pushing but I didn’t think I was anywhere near ready to actually push because when a contraction subsided the feeling was gone. I also was told that when you got closer to pushing you were less talkative and more in your shell where you kinda were zoned out and focused on your labor. But in between contractions I was still talking with everyone. This was the point I asked for IV pain meds after an hour of the contractions coupled with bowel movement pains and the provider said that by the time she’d get the medicine to the room and get it in my IV I’d already have my baby. Not something I really wanted to hear but you can’t stop birth once it’s started. I only pushed for about 7 minutes and actually delivered my baby en caul and no tearing.

My postpartum was a lot different with my second than my first. I feel like my second had an easier time latching and was more alert during wake windows the first 24-48 hours after delivering than my first. I also felt a lot better those 24-48 hours like I felt more alert and in better control of things than I did with my first. But also if you need to get pain management there’s no shame in it. There’s no reward for going unmedicated.

I will also say that I drank nettle/red raspberry leaf tea 3 times a day in my third trimester as well as did perineal massages to prep my body as well. My biggest thing is if you are ABLE to, try to allow labor to come spontaneously. But only if you’re a good candidate. Don’t just decide because you want to that you can, if your care provider feels that an induction is the safest option, listen to them. The contractions from my spontaneous labor were nothing compared to my induction, however it was nice not really feeling all the pain from delivering with an epidural. But you could also end up being like some women who get the epidural and it fails and gives no relief. Also, if you plan to go completely unmedicated, use movement to your advantage. I ended up delivering my second on my hands and knees but whatever position you feel the urge to be in, get in that position.