Positive experiences of unmedicated births?

[SallySummerPop]

I am considering a non-medicated birth (if everything goes smoothly), I understand I may change my mind at the time but all the stories online are about how bad it was. Does anyone have any unmedicated birth stories to share that are positive please?

All drugs have potential side effects. Perfectly reasonable not to want to take the risk.

None of these answers help you OP except to show that birthing mothers experience pain in vastly different ways. You won’t know until it’s your turn how you will feel, so you can plan, but you can’t guarantee anything.

The Only thing that helps IMO is the consistent emotional and practical support of calm, experienced women who have seen many births. It’s no coincidence that lots of positive birth stories have this and lots of negative ones don’t.

It would be lovely to have an unmediated birth, more power to you. But if things change and medication is needed, please don’t let it make you feel like a failure, don’t let it play on your mind and feel like letting people down or you’ve done something wrong. I’ve known so many people keep going and fight for an unmediated birth and when things have turned and medical intervention is needed, they’ve felt hideous, like their body has let them down in some way. We live in 2025, we are blessed to have these medical interventions and we must do what we must for our babies.

I didn’t want it because I wanted my baby in the midwife led unit 10 mins down the road. They offered no medical intervention. The hospital in the city is 45 mins on a good day.

My point is medicated birth isn’t always the immediate go to. Sometimes it is needed but not always wanted.

I've had two home births with no drugs at all, not even gas and air. They were intense because they were fast, but the pain wasn't really that bad, just the final bit, the ring of fire, but it doesn't last long. There are always options so you can start without drugs and see how you go. If you need them, then ask for them. Just do your research beforehand so you know what effects they might have on you and the baby/breastfeeding so you can make informed decisions.

I had two mainly unmedicated births - I tried gas and air both times but didn’t find it worked and it made me queasy (and I was doing it right, slow breaths etc) so I didn’t bother beyond a few puffs.

I was induced with DD2 due to PPROM so there was medication involved, but I’m assuming you’re talking about pain medication.

They were fine. I mean, it hurt a lot. But manageable without feeling like I needed to ask for other pain relief. I didn’t set out for no pain relief (although DD1 was a home birth so I knew it was gas and air or nothing), and had I needed the drip for DD2’s induction I was prepared to refuse consent unless I had an epidural already administered, so I had no plan to specifically do it unmedicated.

Was just curious is all. I was convinced I didn't want the epidural then 0.02 seconds into my first contraction I soon changed my mind lol

I didn’t want an epidural because of the increased risk of further interventions being needed when you have an epidural. I didn’t want pethidine as it often makes people feel sick and woozy. I’ve had gas and air before for a badly broken arm and didn’t like how it made me feel.
I wasn’t entirely opposed to some form of pain relief, but wanted to hold off if possible. Turned out there wasn’t a point at which I feel I needed it.

I have not ruled it out but it simply wasn’t offered. Birthing in a safe, known environment where I can move around, eat and do whatever I want in my own time was more important for me than access to pain relief. No form of pain relief is available for home births in my country, not even TENS.

I definitely knew that I would never agree to epidural. I had an operation during pregnancy with epidural as anesthesia and I can’t imagine using that during labour. I could move my legs but they would not let me stand up or move around and I could not feel anything below the waist. I would be very concerned about directed pushing and the higher rate of birth injuries related to epidural. My reasoning was that I’d rather endure hours of pain than years of living with effects of instrumental birth or pelvic prolapse.

My first was unmedicated. I thought I was ok with doing that, and wanted it as my plan as I have a high pain tolerance, mum and sister both had speedy unmedicated births, seemed logical. Went to the hospital when the pain actually got bad, around 12 hours after water broke, it was 2am, I was 2cm dilated and they told me to relax as it would be a lengthy process (cliffnotes: it wasn't). The pain was really intense, but i'm not a screamer, so I was pretty quiet about it, but I asked about pain medication which they said they would bring. Being told it was lengthy from where I was at made me think "what the hell is coming pain wise". By the time the nurse did come back 2 hours later the baby was mostly out. I will say that the pain was manageable. The weirdest part I think was when the "ring of fire" started, which wasn't actually painful down there, but was in my back and I didn't know how to get comfortable, standing hurt, sitting hurt, squatting hurt etc. It was then that I sent my DH to get someone to check who looked rather panicked and asked me to stop pushing. I'd say the best laid plans never go how you think. Go in with your best flexible plan. You're going to have no idea what it is like until you are doing it. Good luck.

Edited to add that I've had toothache over a long weekend, and that was IMO significantly more painful than childbirth. If you have a high tolerance and everything goes well, why not give it a shot (if you want to).

I was induced due to being a older mum and diabetic, so aside from the pessary, my labour and delivery were not medicated.

I had one drag of the gas and air but it made me vomit. Then, when I got a bit grumpy, fed up and tired, I asked for an epidural. Midwife said "This baby will be out before the Anaesthetist gets here"

To be completely honest, I didn't plan it to be pain relief free, it just so happened to work out that way. I was on a paracetamol drip for a high temperature, but let's be honest 2 paracetamol isn't going to do a busting lot for you in terms of labour and delivery pains!

Well my two were born in 1985 and 1993.. we were not told what we were having.. not given choice of elective c section and only offered gas and air..
Had no choice.. but l had easy births.. only tiny babies .
6 pound
6 pound 13.
We just got on with it.
I've had worse pain than giving birth.

Really? I had lots of choice in 1995!

My mum had an epidural with me in 1982.

I don’t think you can use this as a comparison of unmedicated vs medicated. The medicated was the first birth and first births are notoriously more difficult than second births. The first birth could have been a lot more traumatic without an epidural…

Get the Elle tens machine - best you can get and start using it as early as possible. Either decide on home birth or stay at home as long as you can. You can use the Freya app. Move your body. You can use aromatherapy and homeopathy during the birth. Prep for it like a marathon, eat well and do lots of yoga in the run up. Read ‘Birth as a rite of passage’ by Rachel Reeves. Giving birth in water is best and gives you more privacy. Hold off on gas and air until you really need it. I have had two vaginal births, the first I wasn’t prepared for, the second I was and was really able to surrender to the contractions which just weren’t that painful. I’ve had worse bouts of food poisoning to be honest. Crowning is pretty intense but that is what you have the gas and air for and it’s fairly quick.

Just sharing my experience. The pain medications directly led to complications for me, confirmed by my medical team.

Also avoid induction unless there’s a medical need. If you can feel your baby moving and you’re being checked regularly by a mid wife, hang on in there. I went to 42+5 with my first and 41+3 with my second. Acupuncture is a good intervention if you do want one, worked both times. Also hire a doula for the birth - best thing I ever did

I’ve given birth twice, both without pain relief. first labour was 8 hours and second one was a couple of hours. Yes it hurts but it’s bearable and you know that the pain is bringing your baby into the world and that it will soon be over. TBH I enjoyed the process.

I gave birth with no pain relief, would I recommend it, I'm not sure! I was induced, had an episiotomy and ventouse delivery in theatre (was rushed in for crash section under GA but thankfully babies hard did stabilise in time for them to cut me and pull baby out) I did recover absolutely fine x