Two Births, Two Stories: Epidural vs. Natural

Dreams of a Baby, Nightmares of Pain

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always wanted to have children. However, the thought of childbirth terrified me since I was a child. Perhaps it was the dramatic stories my mother told me about giving birth in communist Poland, or maybe it was the phrase “that’s nothing compared to childbirth” that I kept hearing whenever I hurt myself as a kid.

I love nature, but when it comes to physical pain, I never saw the point in suffering. I didn’t want to think about it or see it, so I deliberately avoided birth videos and stories from other women.

At every hospital visit, I made sure the anesthetist would be available on my due date. I even checked to see if they were planning any vacations. I wasn’t interested in birthing balls, massages, or essential oils – I wanted gas, injections, and a giant epidural needle as soon as possible. Back then, I thought natural birth was for flower-crown-wearing hippies. Let them give birth in the lotus position; I wanted full anesthesia, and ideally, I’d be knocked out and wake up after the baby was born.

By the end of my third trimester, looking at my growing belly filled me with rising panic. I knew the tenant would soon want to move out – and through a door that wasn’t exactly eager to open.

When Labor Gets Real

Then the day came, a week after my due date. I went to the hospital for an induction. It was noon, and the room was full of women, each separated only by a blue curtain. I received a prostaglandin suppository, settled into the bed, and… started watching birth videos. For the first time, I felt ready to see them. Positive ones only, of course!

Contractions started that evening. I’ll admit – for the first time, I thought I should have done some mental preparation. I heard other women groaning behind the curtains and desperately didn’t want to be in their place. But there was no turning back.

Epidural – My Saving Grace

When active labor began, I was moved to the delivery room, where my husband was already waiting. Honestly, I didn’t even feel the giant needle the anesthetist inserted into my spine. After a while, the pain disappeared completely. I only felt a slight pressure in my lower belly, but absolutely no pain.

I sat in the chair, joking with the midwives. It was quite a surreal scene, especially considering mine was a high-risk pregnancy, and many things could have gone wrong – but that’s a story for another time.

As contractions became more frequent, the midwives guided me on when to push. It was challenging because the urge to push felt more mental than physical. The contractions showed clearly on the monitor, but I didn’t feel a thing.

The labor was long and stressful. Sebastian got stuck in the birth canal, and that’s when I began to feel scared. Suddenly, a whole team of medics rushed in to help get him out. It was dramatic, but eventually, with forceps, he was born – and his first cry made it all worth it.

Recovery after childbirth was long and painful. For six weeks, I couldn’t sit and took painkillers almost every day. I spoke with women who experienced back pain after the epidural, but luckily, I had no such problems.

Oils, Balls, and a Ring: How I Prepared for a Second Labor That Refused to Start

When I got pregnant with Adam, I naturally assumed I’d have another epidural. After the first emotional experience, I was no longer afraid of giving birth, although the possibility of complications still worried me.

Like his older brother, Adam was in no hurry to join the world. A week past my due date, and still nothing – not a single contraction. I was invited for an induction again.

This time, I got a private room – pure comfort. I was better prepared than ever: essential oils, a diffuser, an exercise ball, and even a brilliant invention – a postpartum sitting ring. Technically a hemorrhoid pillow, it’s perfect for the hospital recovery period.

I was waiting for action to start, convinced this time would be smooth. I received the suppository and… waited. But the contractions just wouldn’t come. Not that day, not the next.

Waiting and Waiting – The Daily Dose of Hope

I was put on the waiting list for a labor ward room, where they planned to break my waters and start IV oxytocin. Meanwhile, the woman in the next room managed to give birth… in our shared bathroom.

When I finally asked the midwife what I could do to speed up the process, she said, “Regular contractions will open the door for you.”

Two weeks past my due date, time was no longer on our side – for me or the baby. I tried every labor-inducing method: pineapple, dates, exercises, and even a massage said to trigger contractions. Well… almost all of them – one was impossible due to logistical issues. But Adam remained unmoved.

Castor Oil – A Miracle in Disguise?

I decided to try one last thing and asked my husband to bring castor oil. The midwife advised against it. The hospital doctor called it an old wives’ tale that doesn’t work. Apparently, it wouldn’t hurt – but it wouldn’t help either.

Still, I decided to give it a try. I ate dinner and drank a few spoonfuls castor oil straight from the bottle with orange juice, and we went for a half-hour walk around the hospital. Then my husband went home. About an hour after he left, I started feeling contractions.

And they were… pleasant! I bounced on the ball, listened to music. During each wave, I focused on the scent of essential oils from the diffuser. It really distracted me from the pain. The pain didn’t even seem that bad. I practiced breathing techniques from my favorite YouTuber, Brigitte Teyler. The pain? It was there, but kind of… positive. I was so excited to meet my baby. And besides – I knew I’d be getting an epidural soon.

No Epidural – In Real Time: Was It Really That Bad?

I was taken to the labor ward, and the nurses began inserting needles into my hands to prep me for the procedure. That’s when I felt a huge pressure in my lower belly. One of the midwives looked between my legs and shouted, “The baby’s coming!”

I screamed that they couldn’t do this to me and begged for the epidural – but… it was too late.

Within less than an hour, Adam was born. By the time my husband arrived, I was already holding our little one in my arms.

What a surprise the next day! Painkillers were completely unnecessary. I could sit, and I didn’t even need the ring.

A Shift in Perspective – Summary

I’ve experienced two completely different births — one with an epidural and the other entirely natural. Both were unique and deeply moving in their own way.

The natural birth helped me face a fear I had carried for years and taught me to trust my body. Each experience brought an overwhelming mix of emotions and joy. If I were to give birth again, I would choose a natural birth.

No matter which path you choose, it’s worth preparing well and maintaining a positive mindset. Our plans don’t always align with reality — the body often has a mind of its own. That’s why I believe flexibility and openness to different outcomes are key to a calmer birth experience.

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What was your birth like? I’d love to hear your story in the comments!