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Childbirth

Anyone have an epidural for DC1 but not for DC2?

31 replies

MonstersDontCry · 20/05/2013 10:57

I'm 32 weeks with DC2. I had an epidural and forceps with DC1.

Obviously because of the epidural I couldn't feel any of the pushing or crowning ect, so I still have no idea what 'giving birth' actually feels like!

So what was it like for you if you didn't have an epidural second time round? Would love to hear anyones experiences.

OP posts:

Report

5madthings · 20/05/2013 11:02

I had one for ds1, three day labor with syntocinon drip and awful SPD, didn't have one for the next five and the lab ours were Mich better and quicker, it hurt yes but was manageable with gas and air :)

5madthings · 20/05/2013 11:02

Didnt have one for the next four that should say.

HairyPotter · 20/05/2013 11:17

I had one with dd1. If dd2 hadn't appeared in 20 mins start to finish I would have had one with her as well.

So it wasn't through choice but although it was horribly painful for the last two pushes, I'm glad I didn't have one in the end. It was much better being able to get up and about quicker.

My epidural with dd1 went wrong and I needed to go back into hospital and get a blood patch when she was a few days old. I doubt it would have happened again but it did cross my mind.

MonstersDontCry · 20/05/2013 11:18

I also had a 3 day labour with a syntocin drip. thanks for replying.

OP posts:

DiscoDonkey · 20/05/2013 11:20

Had one with ds1, induced, forceps, ventouse etc. disn't get induced with ds2? Much quicker labour, no epidural. Won't pretend it didn't hurt I found the pain immense, but ds2 was big (11 pounds) and his shoulders got stuck. BUT my recovery with ds2 was much much quicker. So I was glad I didn't have the epidural.

5madthings · 20/05/2013 11:22

Three day lab ours are awful, I was sooo tired, hence the epidural but my other labours were much better.

Ds2 took 7hours I labored in the bath a lot and then had gas and air, they thought I was going to deliver in the bath but I wanted to get out and delivered kneeling up on the bed, of was hard work but it was so much better for being able to move around and my recovery was much quicker and it was so lovely to just hop in the shower after the birth etc. The crowing etc did hurt bit wasn't that bad, once you are at that point its nearly all over :)

Good luck xx

theynevershutup · 20/05/2013 11:32

I had an epidural for DS but not for DD, just had gas and air. I never thought I could give birth without an epidural, but actually with gas and air it was obviously painful but I think because it happened very quickly it was ok. Although DH did say I was making some very loud noises that I didn't with an epidural!

MonstersDontCry · 20/05/2013 11:37

Thanks for all the replies. I love hearing other peoples birth stories. I really hope I can do it without an epidural this time! I hope this labour isn't too quick though as I live nearly an hour away from the hospital!

OP posts:

Neiffer · 20/05/2013 12:47

I'm hoping the exact same thing monster. 33 weeks with dc2 and epidural/forceps/ horrendous long labour with dc1. Consultant has advised me against epi after damage from last time but I'm really scared about the pain. It was utterly horrendous last time :( fingers crossed we both manage it :)

BackforGood · 20/05/2013 13:22

Yes - epidural, ventouse, forceps, stiches with dc 1
Nothing with dcs 2 or 3, both of whom shot out without a lot of notice no muscles left after dc1 I suspect.

Neiffer · 20/05/2013 14:44

That's what I want, a shooter! Sort of :)

Jojay · 20/05/2013 14:48

I did

Long long labour, ending in epidural, forceps and episiotomy with DS1.

DS2 - 7 hours start to finish. Arrived less than 2 hours after getting to hospital, bit of gas and air at the end and he was out in a few pushes. 2nd degree tear but overall a much better experience.

Cat.1 emergency section with DC3 and 4 (twins) but that's another story!

Best of luck.

MoominsYonisAreScary · 20/05/2013 14:50

Induced, epidural, forcepts and stitches with ds1

Gas and air with ds2 and no stitches, did need a spinal and stitches after though as i had retained placenta, but that was probably because he was 5 weeks early

dinkystinky · 20/05/2013 14:50

Yup - 33 weeks (nearly 34) here with DC3. Induced and had epidural with DS1 - couldnt feel to push him out and tore alot. With DS2, spontaneous labour at 38 weeks - waters went, contractions kicked in an hour later, he was in my arms 3 hours after that - he was a water birth (not in my birth plan but once I got in the water I didnt want to come out). Hoping this one is equally swift.

LlamateurDramatics · 21/05/2013 20:38

I had an epidural and forceps delivery with DS, not pleasant and very long. With DD I had a waterbirth with G&A only, I'd had hypnotherapy during pregnancy due to panic setting in every time I thought about going through giving birth again. I was so worried about the pushing stage, it took nearly two hours with DS and I was booked into a MLU for my second with no option for an epidural without a hospital transfer. I was fine until the very end when I completely panicked and refused to push, luckily DD had other ideas and came out in a single involuntary push! Second time was definitely better all around and the actual 'giving birth' bit wasn't as bad as I thought it might have been!

TigerSwallowTail · 21/05/2013 20:42

I had an epidural with DS, and am due DD tomorrow (if she comes on time that is!). I want to do it without an epidural this time but I'm really scared so am watching this thread with interest.

EarlGreyTeabag · 21/05/2013 20:44

Same as you, epidural & forceps with DS1.

DS2 was completely different. Just needed gas & air had no difficulty pushing him out.

Much quicker labour, too.

tumbletumble · 21/05/2013 20:48

Similar to others on this thread. DS1 was a long labour (21 hours from 5cm) and I had an epidural about 6 hours before the birth. DD and DS2 were both 3 and a half hours from the first contraction, gas and air only.

Good luck OP!

olivertheoctopus · 21/05/2013 20:49

Yep. Epidural with DS1 as was induced at 10days over. Pessary thing in at 7pm, labour started 10pm, epidural about 5.30am, baby out 8.30pm with various hideous complications. I simply could not comprehend afterwards how anyone could give birth without an epidural because it was so effing painful. By contrast DS2 virtually fell out 10 mins after arriving in Delivery room after about 4 hours labour. Never forget the look on DH's face when MW examined me for the first time and said push with next contraction. Had a bit of G&A, pushed twice, felt like I was doing a massive poo and out he came. No 'ring of fire' etc. didn't really hurt. Still utterly perplexed by it all tbh and he's now 2.5 and DS3 is due in a few weeks. Have NO idea what to expect this time but am voting for a repeat of my last experience not the first one!

Praying4Beatrice · 21/05/2013 20:54

This reply has been deleted

Withdrawn at the user's request

MonstersDontCry · 23/05/2013 11:39

It's so reassuring reading this. Thank you. Have you had your baby yet tiger?

OP posts:

PickleSarnie · 24/05/2013 22:05

I also had three days of contractions, waters broke and was 3cm for what seemed like forever. Had syntocin drip, epidural, nearly ventouse. Was utterly knackered and probably couldn't have coped with without the epidural but I had a fever, my son's heartrate was all over the place and he wasn't breathing when he was born - he was fine after being given oxygen. All of which could have been contributed to the epidural. They defintely have their place but I was so determined not to have one the second time around so I had a homebirth. Had a TENS machine and nothing else and, even though it hurt like hell and stung a LOT, it was a million times better than my first labour with the epidural.

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StarlightMcKenzie · 25/05/2013 19:36

I begged and begged for an epidural the first time for 6 hours and didn't get one.

For 2nd and 3rd pregnancies I didn't even consider it as an option as deemed its availability a big fat lie.

But I did hypnobirthing the second time and no idea what I did the third but doula said it was the best birth she's attended. (interestingly doula for 2nd birth said the same so maybe I should have charged THEM!?)

Myliferocks · 25/05/2013 19:39

I had an epidural with DC1 but it wore of so I was able to push her out without any intervention.
With DC3,4 and 5 I just used gas and air.
DC2 I had a pethidine injection but that didn't do any thing so I didn't have any other pain relief as I was induced and my labour wasn't long at all.
My longest labour was 10 hours.

CPtart · 25/05/2013 19:43

Epidural with DS 1, very long drawn out labour, pushing for over two hours, pain all at the back so not quite sure how effective it was really.

No epidural with DS 2 as labour extremely fast. Two paracetamol and a few puffs of gas and air and he was out within a few pushes.

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