• Menu
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Before Header

The Pregnancy Nurse®

Preparing you from bump to bassinet.

Header Right

  • Pregnancy Resources
    • The Online Prenatal Class for Couples
    • Shop 🛒
    • Free Resources
  • By Trimester
    • First Trimester Resources
    • Second Trimester Resources
    • Third Trimester Resources: Finish Strong!
  • Healthy Pregnancy
    • Healthy Eating
    • Pains of Pregnancy
    • Pregnancy Activities
    • Pregnancy Medications
    • Will it put you into labor?
    • Prenatal Care
  • Labor and Birth
    • Signs of Labor
    • Cesarean Section Delivery
    • Hospital Routines
    • Induction
    • Pain Management
  • Partners
  • Postpartum
  • Glossary
  • Podcast
  • About
    • Invite to Speak
    • Contact

Mobile Menu

  • Pregnancy Resources
    • The Online Prenatal Class for Couples
    • SHOP 🛒
    • Free Resources
  • About
    • Speaker Requests
    • Contact
  • By Trimester
    • First Trimester Resources
    • Second Trimester Resources
    • Third Trimester Resources: Finish Strong!
  • Healthy Pregnancy
    • Healthy Eating
    • Pains of Pregnancy
    • Pregnancy Activities
    • Pregnancy Medications
    • Will it put you into labor?
    • Prenatal Care
  • Labor and Birth
    • Signs of Labor
    • Cesarean Section Delivery
    • Hospital Routines
    • Induction
    • Pain Management
  • Postpartum
  • Partners
  • Glossary
  • Podcast
You are here: Home / Labor and Birth / Pain Management / What to Do If You Can’t Decide if You Want an Epidural or Not?

What to Do If You Can’t Decide if You Want an Epidural or Not?

December 11, 2023 //  by Hilary Erickson, BSN, RN

All articles are written/reviewed by pregnancy expert Hilary Erickson, BSN-RN, -- a nurse since 1997 with 20 years of labor and delivery experience. This is medical info, not advice. Consult your provider for expert advice on your own health decisions.

Are you stuck in the ‘epidural or nothing’ mentality? Let's break down the walls and explore the multiple options available for managing pain during labor. From natural techniques to IV medication and nitrous oxide, learn about the choices at your disposal. Remember, you're not alone in this journey!Are you stuck in the ‘epidural or nothing’ mentality? Let's break down the walls and explore the multiple options available for managing pain during labor. From natural techniques to IV medication and nitrous oxide, learn about the choices at your disposal. Remember, you're not alone in this journey!Are you stuck in the ‘epidural or nothing’ mentality? Let's break down the walls and explore the multiple options available for managing pain during labor. From natural techniques to IV medication and nitrous oxide, learn about the choices at your disposal. Remember, you're not alone in this journey!

Not sure if you’ll want an epidural or not? Honestly, you’re not alone. The majority of patients don’t know WHICH they will prefer when labor actually starts (honestly, how can you). So, here are some tips on how to prepare and what to do at the hospital when the time actually comes?

But how do I know so much about epidurals? Hi, I’m Hilary — The Pregnancy Nurse®. I’ve been a nurse since 1997 and I have 20 years of labor and delivery experience. I’ve seen thousands. of patients unsure about what they want and I have some great tips on both how to prepare and how to manage your plans in the labor room!

This is part of my Complete Guide to Epidurals — so if you have more questions don’t miss that!

Learn about the other options

The epidural isn’t your only pain management option in labor. While it does vary a bit hospital to hospital about what you can get in labor there are a few basic options:

  • Natural pain management
  • IV pain medication
  • Nitrous oxide (availability varies)
  • Epidural

I actually talk about them all right here (so grab it):

Featured Image
This is part of my pregnancy newsletter |  Unsubscribe at any time

I think a lot of people get stuck in the “epidural or nothing” mentality that it doesn’t do you any favors. Knowing that you have options is a HUGE help!

I also talk about all four of those pretty extensively in here — including how to best use them during your labor.

Learn About Labor

While labor is very nuanced, it normally follows some basic patterns that if you learn them, can help a lot.

You’ll know that early labor can be prolonged, and really annoying — but that at some point it’s going to shift gears into more active labor (that’s when you’d go to the hospital).

Then you’ll hit a transition phase before you start pushing and then have your baby.

They’re called the stages of labor.

Every person takes them all at their own pace, but it’s progression is something expected in labor. As you know this and know what your body is going to do/feel like during each of them helps this “fear” that things are going off the rails (hopefully that makes sense).

I compare it to riding a roller coaster in the dark. If you’ve ridden it before and gotten some help you can enjoy it a bit more than if you’re just stuck in the dark with no idea which way you’re going to go or how to brace yourself.

Getting a good birth class is going to help you know what to expect. I recommend this one.

A bright, white post image with a pregnant woman in the hospital. She is sitting up in bed and smiling. The image is simple and clean. At the top of the image, there is the title "Get Ready for Labor and Delivery" in large, bold letters. Below the image, there is a subtitle "no stress, all support!" in smaller, italicized letters. The font is easy to read.

Prepare both ways

I think it’s important for everyone to prepare for birth in BOTH ways (epidural or non-medication birth).

That means you understand the epidural, how it works, what it can do for you (and what it will NOT do for you). You know some basics of the procedure and what you can do after you have it (aka, take a nap but then still keep moving from in the bed).

It also means you have some natural pain management techniques. These are SO important even if you’re 100% team epidural for a variety of reasons:

  • Laboring at home & before you get the epidural
  • Coping in case the epidural doesn’t work quite the way you’re hoping for
  • Managing after birth pains
  • Living with teenagers (I joke, but seriously — learning to cope with stress/pain is a great life skill regardless).

The Online Prenatal Class for Couples comes with a FREE bonus video all about natural pain management techniques. I’ll show you how to breathe, some techniques to use at home to incorporate music, massage and distraction to help you cope with it.

Having a LOT of different techniques at your fingertips (and your PARTNER’s fingertips) is a huge win in all of this. Breathing doesn’t work for everyone, but learning how to move and how your partner can comfort and support you is a big win!

An illustration of a happy pregnant couple giving birth. The woman is in the process of giving birth, with a doctor assisting her. The man is holding the woman's hand. There is a speech bubble above the man's head that says "Do you feel CONFIDENT about your upcoming birth?" Below the image, there is a subtitle that says "You can!" There is a large "Click here to get confident" button below the subtitle.

You’re Not Alone

A lot of people seem to think that everyone else has their labor plans figured out, but as someone who’s seen a LOT of people in labor (and continues to talk to pregnant women daily) I’m here to say they don’t.

I’m a huge fan of birth plans, but much like the rest of life, they don’t always work out like you’d planned (grab my free birth plan worksheet/video series right here):

Featured Image
Part of our Pregnancy Email Series  |  Unsubscribe at any time!

In fact, the idea that you’re going to figure it out as you go is one of the smartest things to think.

People who are 100% team “unmedicated birth” sometimes end up needing an epidural (or a c-section) — and they haven’t taken the time to learn about the “other side” of things. Perhaps leading to more anxiety, stress and possible birth trauma afterwards.

People who are 100% team epidural are unable to cope with early labor at home, they may end up at the hospital too early and may not use movement to their advantage both before or after the epidural.

OR if they don’t get the epidural (for a variety of reasons) they just freak out that they aren’t able to handle it. Which again — can lead to birth trauma.

We don’t want any of these things at the hospital, so being prepared for both is such a great idea. I love that you are already on the right path!

Take it as it comes

This is the biggest one.

I see people coming in super stressed about getting the epidural at the “right time” or how they’re going to mange the pain.

The good news is that IV pain medication works almost instantly.

The epidural works faster than most people think it will. Once they get it in, within a few minutes each contraction is getting shorter and less intense.

What I mean to say is that you can take each contraction on it’s own.

You don’t have to think about what labor might be down the line.

Yes, you understand that labor is going to progress, but that you’re OK right now and you’re coping pretty well right now — and if in an hour you’re not. You’ve got options.

Honestly, knowing I have options makes me feel so much more secure. I just always want to know where the exits are, right? 🙂

The Online Prenatal Class for Couples is going to teach you your options, and how to talk with your labor team to make the best choices for you right now. It really is the easy way to get prepared for birth.

  • Bite-sized <20 minute lessons make it easy to shove into your busy life
  • Available when you are, lessons are on-demand
  • So many couples call it “fun” and enjoy doing it with their partner (rather than a chore).

Looking to get prepare for your birth? I have some easy options for you!
~~~~~~~~
– Worried you’re missing something? Grab my pregnancy planner so you don’t miss a thing!
– Thinking about an induction? Grab Inductions Made Easy to feel prepared in just 20 minutes!
– Wondering how to get that baby OUT? Grab Going Into Labor Made Easy so you know how to (and not to) do it!
– Postpartum got you anxious? Check out Postpartum Care Made Easy so you can stay SAFE even when all your attention is on that little on.
🚨 AND if ALL OF IT has got you on edge The Online Prenatal Class for Couples is perfect for you — You’ll feel so ready before you even know it!
~~~~~~~~
No matter WHERE you are at in your pregnancy journey, we have resources that can help!

And, if you’re not quite sure you’re ready for that whole thing, check out my free prenatal class. It’s your first step toward getting in the driver’s seat of your birth.

Pin
Share
Post
  • About the Author
  • Latest Posts
Hilary Erickson, BSN, RN( Registered Nurse | Prenatal Educator )

A nurse since 1997, she has worked in various fields including pediatrics, geriatrics & hospice.  She has  20 years of labor and delivery experience in the San Jose, CA and Phoenix, AZ areas.

As an evidence-based prenatal educator Hilary has delivered thousands of babies and has educated hundreds of thousands of parents from a diverse patient population to help them have a confident birth.

  • How To Build Confidence For Your Birth Experience
  • Why Labor Pain Can Feel So Different For Each Person
  • Avoid Tearing at Delivery: 3 things you can do.

Category: Pain Management, Third Trimester Resources: Finish Strong!

Previous Post: «Pregnant couple giving birth with a nurse and a doctor The 5 Worst Pieces of Pregnancy Advice I Have Heard
Next Post: How to Ask Your Doctor to Induce You Ask your provider for an induction»

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Hilary has been a nurse since 1997 and has 20 years of L&D experience

The Online Prenatal Class for couples prepares couples for their hospital birth in just a few hours

Site Footer

The Online Prenatal Class for Couples
TikTok Facebook Instagram Pinterest YouTube

Reminder: Please don’t take the advice on this website over the advice of your physician or a professional.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Disclosure & Privacy Policy | Terms | Accessibility Statement

Copyright © 2025 pregnurse.com. All rights reserved.

The Pregnancy Nurse®Logo Header Menu
  • Pregnancy Resources
    • The Online Prenatal Class for Couples
    • Shop 🛒
    • Free Resources
  • By Trimester
    • First Trimester Resources
    • Second Trimester Resources
    • Third Trimester Resources: Finish Strong!
  • Healthy Pregnancy
    • Healthy Eating
    • Pains of Pregnancy
    • Pregnancy Activities
    • Pregnancy Medications
    • Will it put you into labor?
    • Prenatal Care
  • Labor and Birth
    • Signs of Labor
    • Cesarean Section Delivery
    • Hospital Routines
    • Induction
    • Pain Management
  • Partners
  • Postpartum
  • Glossary
  • Podcast
  • About
    • Invite to Speak
    • Contact