You can still feel a baby coming out with an epidural as the epidural blocks the pain signals but leaves the touch and pressure sensations, so even when you use an epidural, you'll still feel the baby moving down and crowning, but without the intense pain of the contractions or burning.
Birth without an epidural is an extremely painful and very intense feeling and can feel like a stinging and burning pain as everything stretches out.
The contractions during child birth is described as intense cramping, tightening, pounding, stabbing or even dull, numbing sensations in your uterus and your abdomen.
The intensity of the pain with childbirth ranges from feelings like intense period cramps, to the worst pain that you've known.
Some women experience childbirth as surprisingly manageable or even orgasmic, and others find it torturous.
Also the physical sensation during childbirth is a powerful, all consuming pressure that is often described as the body expanding or muscles working extremely hard.
Longer and more intense labors without medication are generally harder to manage and everyone's pain threshold is also different.
Some pregnant women going through labor avoid epidurals as a result of concerns about side effects of epidurals like itching, headaches and low blood pressure as well as limited mobility during labor and a possible need for interventions like C-section or forceps.
A desire for a natural or empowered birth experience and misconception about risks of epidurals are also common reasons why people don't often want epidurals.
Although epidurals are generally effective and safe for pain relief during birth.
And even some women also worry about the effects on bonding or breastfeeding and other women simply prefer to avoid any medical interventions unless they are required or necessary and focus instead on normal physiology.
Before going to the hospital you will be between 4 to 6 centimeters or cm dilated, with strong and regular contractions, although it also depends on your doctor's advice and how far you're away from the hospital and if your water breaks.
If you're currently in early labor and less than 4 to 6 cm dilated, you may be sent home to wait for stronger contractions, although having any decreased baby movement, significant bleeding or your water breaking during pregnancy are all good reasons to go to the hospital.
Active labor is when you're around 4 to 6 cm dilated, with contractions that come every few minutes and lasting longer and feeling stronger.
If your water breaks, even without any contractions you should go to the hospital and if you have significant bleeding like a heavy period or you notice significant drops in the activity and movement of your baby you should go to the hospital immediately.
Another good rule to follow to tell you when to go to the hospital for labor is the 3-2-1 rule in pregnancy which is also a guideline that helps you know when you should go to the hospital for labor, which means that when contractions are 3 minutes apart, last around 2 minutes or a minute and longer, for at least 1 hour and you can't talk or walk through the contractions you should go to the hospital.
The 3-2-1 rule in pregnancy and contractions occurring at these times is a signal for active labor, although other variations of this rule also exist like the 5-1-1 rule.
The 5-1-1 rule in pregnancy which is a common guideline that is used in late pregnancy to help you determine when you should go to the hospital or birthing center for true labor.
The numbers 5-1-1 refer to the frequency, duration and consistency of your contractions.
At 5 minutes apart, contractions are coming every 5 minutes, which is measured from the start of one contraction to the start of the next contraction.
1 minute long, each contraction lasts for a full minute.
And 1 hour long, the contractions have consistently followed the 5-1-1 pattern for at least 1 hour.
However this 5-1-1 rule is a general guideline and not a strict rule or instruction.
You should also discuss with your doctor or OB-GYN or midwife in advance on when you should head to the hospital for the labor.
A high risk pregnancy or a previous rapid birth might require different timing.
And true labor contractions will get progressively longer, stronger and closer together and will not stop with rest or changes in position.
False labor or Braxton Hicks contractions are often irregular and may also ease up if you do move around.
Some doctors also recommend variations like the 4-1-1 rule or the 3-1-1 rule, which indicates the contractions are 4 or 3 minutes apart, respectively lasting one minute for an hour and regardless of the pattern of contractions, you should also call your doctor or get to the hospital immediately if your water does break or you experience any heavy vaginal bleeding, or you notice any significant decrease in your baby's movement.