OK- Here's the thing: I am 32 weeks pregnant, and I still haven't decided what kind of medications I want to use during labor and delivery. I kinda want to use just a "local" anesthetic, but people have told me that isn't strong enough. Should I use an epidural??? HELP!

Ok, so I wouldn't recommend it, BUT, it helps with the pain if you are a sucker for pain. I just gave birth last year in July and I had no epidural and I'm telling you if you are in the right state of mind and you practice your breathing and massaging and all that good stuff they teach you in Lamaze , and you can hang with pain, then you shouldn't have one, BUT, If you aren't progressing and the pain is to much for you to relax I recommend it, BUT not right away, wait until you are @ least 4 centimeters dilated, or else it will take too long for you to progress. Plus rumor has it, that epidurals give you back pain in your later months after birth, with my first son I can agree, but it eventually went away, but with the baby, didn't have one, so had no back pain.

Everyone is different in how they manage pain. There are a number of pain management techniques, and they aren't all medication.

Remember, epidurals can sometimes 'not take' - so don't RELY on pain medication to be your failsafe.

If you ARE going to choose pain medication as pain management, I recommend either a spinal (saddle block) or epidural. Epidurals offer the most manageable pain relief, while spinals are the fastest acting. IV meds like Demerol and Stadol don't really help with pain, but allow you to be loopy and 'high' enough that you don't care that you are in pain and can sleep between contractions. I have not heard of one woman who has taken Demerol, Stadol, or other IV medication who has enjoyed it - they all regretted it,

I would urge you, even if you are set on medication during labor, to find another, non-medication, option as you never know if you will be one of the few who don't react well or 'take to' the medication.

Relaxation is the best pain management, along with staying active during your labor. Staying off your back and butt will keep your contractions less intense and difficult to manage. Practicing a mantra, visualization, self-hypnosis, guided imagery, and the like are all great and very effective pain management options.

I wish you all the luck and congratulations!

It's completely up to you. An epidural is the most effective as far as controlling pain, but it also has the most potential side effects for the baby.
I researched all the options that my hospital offers, and I'm choosing to take a step down, and use IV meds. They're not as strong as an epidural, but I figured I can handle the pain.
Women's bodies are able to handle completely natural birth, so in my view, any pain meds are better than none.

If you don't need the pain then why go threw it? I think allot of people do it just to say that they did it. I didn't. But don't let people tell you "you will not be alert" That's bull shit. Do whatever you want. The pain will help you decide.

Go as natural as you can until you can't take it anymore, and this point will come, then get an epidural. I've known MANY women who have been completely natural until about 1/2 way through their contractions, then they demand the epidural. Good luck to you.

ABSOLUTELY! .. there is also now an intrathecal and it is different in that it doesn't alter your state of mind like an epidural, it still makes you numb like an epidural, and it is only given once, with an epidural, you keep a tube in your spine. The intrathecal is given in your spine only once, you don't have the tubing to worry about afterward. I would research that option as well if I were you. I had an epidural for my first pregnancy and an intrathecal for my second.

yes

YES! It is the best thing that man kind has ever invented. You literally don't feel anything afterwards. Congrats and good luck!

YES, believe me you will not regret it.