Epidural or not???

[cinnamongreyhound]

I recently went to my antenatal class where we were asked what methods of pain relief we had considered. Everyone except for one woman said that they would not want an epidural. My dh believes that most women have one in their first labour and that there's a stigma attached to having one so when asked people say they don't want them.
I am interested to know how many women said in their birth plan that they did not want an epidural but ended up having one once in labour.

[Dior]

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[TeeCee]

Personally I think it is better to go in with an open mind. I didn't want one and luckily didn't have one either time. However if it gets bad and it's goping to help then that's what you do. I really didn't want any pain relief and don't like the idea of an epidural and everything slowing down but when it came to it and my births hadn't been so easy I would have done what I had to do. Personally I found water the best pain killer.

[JackieNo]

I didn't rule anything out - just said that I'd like to have the epidural as a last option -in the end I did have one, and am very glad I did. I think the 'don't rule anything out' option is definitely the one to take.

[cinnamongreyhound]

That's exactly my feeling, I'd rather not have one if I can help it due to it's negative side but as I have never been in labour before I have no idea how I'll cope with the pain!

I just want to do the best thing to get the baby out as quickly and safely as possible.

[JackieNo]

Exactly, cinnamongreyhound. And if you said 'no, on no account am I ever having an epidural' and had to have one for whatever reason, then you'd be setting yourself up to feel that you'd 'failed' in some way, which would absolutely not be true.

[hotandbothered]

I needed an epidural but didn't get one because there wasn't an anaesthetist around...If there is a next time I will be demanding one as I cross the car park! I don't have happy memories of my dd's birth, mainly because I was so out of it and didn't know what I was doing in the end. Dh just had many bruises to show for the lack of pain relief...

[gegs73]

I ideally didn't want an epidural - wanted to be an earth mother - but it ended up being the best thing I ever did . Child birth hurts and can last for hours especially your first one. I also went into labour around 1am so was absolutely exhausted as well as all the pain. With the epidural I managed to sleep or at least rest without being in agony which was good. My labour lasted 10 hours and I had a healthy baby boy and I personally suffered no side effects.

I definitely want an epidural with my second if doesn't all happen too quickly, why go through all the pain if you don't have to? Also means you don't feel it if you have to have stiches after the birth.

Keep an open mind is what I say, if you can do it without an epidural and want to then go for it! If not don't worry take the pain relief, end result is the same, a new baby.

[Pitchounette]

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[fruitful]

I think midwives are probably used to seeing birth plans that say the mum doesn't want an epidural. If you need one, you ask for it and it doesn't matter what the plan was.

I've planned two homebirths and had 2 caesareans. Next time, I'm not making a plan.

[saffymum]

HI, go with the open mind, personally, its your body, getting a baby out is birth, however it happens, stigma - who cares. As long as you have a healthy baby and you are ok. Like GEGS I wanted no intervention/waterbirth/earth mother stuff and landed up with just about everything in the book after 17 hours in labour with little choice. I was exhausted and in agony. The epidural was a glorious relief, didn't even feel the needle. Just read up about it so you are prepared. Advantage is you can have it topped up in 15 mins and be in theatre and awake for a C section if you need it. Good luck

[lulumama]

i had one. but it was too soon.. before i was in established labour and i believe it contributed to my failure to progress and my c.s. they can slow labour and make the pushing stage harder

if you can have a mobile epidural, that is better, as you can keep active, as being able to move and listen to your body and change positions as necessary can really help get baby in a good position for birth ..

however, as has already been said, don;t be closed to the idea!

there are lots of other methods of pain relief....an epidural can be a good one too !

TENS , water, G&A, pethidine, massage all help too,and your bodies own natural endorphins

i have G&A and pethidine for my VBAC and looking back, could have managed without the pethedine..but then hindsight is a marvelous thing ! LOL

go with an open mind and you;ll be amazed at what you can cope with !

[babybore]

I was open-minded but after vomitting after every contraction I went for it, and it was fantastic. I wouln't hesitate if I have a second even if the contractions aren';t as bad. A mobile epidural meant that I actually enjoyed the delivery and found it really exciting. Bloody (!) hard work but almost fun as it was pain-free.

[Peridot30]

I am a total wimp when it comes to pain and mentioned epidural as soon as got to delivery suite!!!!!!Eventually had g&a, pethidine injection and an epidural. KNew i would need one as i dont do pain and it was the best thing ever.

You dont get a medal for going through all that pain with no pain relief! Definately go with an open mind. some labours go on for hours and coping with the pain and tiredness gets to you.

[Miaou]

For my first two births I kept an open mind and had an epidural both times. First time I had one because I was so tired after labouring all night that I couldn't push; second time I had been up all night with d&v and felt so ill that I couldn't cope with the pain (plus the pool was not available, which was my fallback plan!). With ds I chose to go to my local hospital where there was no epidural available, and used the pool to give birth. I really surprised myself that I didn't need any pain relief.

With your first baby, I think keeping an open mind is by far the most sensible approach. By stating that you don't want one, when you don't know how you are going to feel about the pain, you could be setting yourself up to feel like a "failure" if you then ask for one (not that you would be, of course!). Why set obstacles for no good reason?

[BibiThree]

I was adamant I didn't want one if everything went okay, but it was in my birth plan that if I needed a drip to advance the labour then I wanted one.
The time came where after hours of agony and no progression the midwife said I was having syntocin to speed up the contractions and recommended an epidural as the pain would be very bad. At this point I was almost begging for one anyway...and didn't feel a thing when it was put in,
BUT...
it only worked on half my body. This can sometimes happen and I was left with one numb side and one side in compelte syntocin induced agony which they could then do nothing about.

I have heard marvellous things about them and wouldn't hesitate to ask for one again, but I don't think we are made fully aware that they don't always take all the pain away.

Don't rule it out completely, you wont' know until you're labouring what you want anyway.

[FurryFox]

I was quite happy to have one although I wanted to get through as much of the labour as possible without anything.

Ended up having one when I was 4cm but it only worked down the left side of my body and I ended up being a complete wreck as I couldn't get up and be mobile as couldn't feel one of my legs so was on my back for another 15 hours in agony. Ended up being taken to theatre for a cs but did an episiotomy and then dd was delivered by ventouse. They topped the epidural up while in theatre and every bit of pain went away, not sure why they couldn't do that before They said I ad had the max dose I could have.

Probably not a great birth experience to put down, sorry

They did say it was really unusal for the epidural not to be fully effective though so I am sure you would be fine if you did have one

Not sure what I will do if there's a next time though

[FurryFox]

BibiThree - took me so long to write my post you have said the same thing as me.

[mosschops30]

I didnt have an epidural for my 1st or 2nd. I did ask for one first time round but I miraculously dilated whilst he was trying to get it in so no time.

I dont think i would want one due to possible complications and I like that urge to push that some people dont get with epidurals.

Think birth is best when you go in with no plans, it just happens, and I'd never say never

[clothears]

I think open mind is the best way to go. I asked for no epidural unless absolutely necessary - which it was in the end, however not only did it NOT work despite 7 top ups i have suffered severe back ache ever since that day. And for the record I ended up having a C section under general because the eipdural didnt work.
I know loads of people that think they are amazing and i wouldnt day I would never consider having one in the future but for me it would be a last resort. They are amazing things, so I still say open mind is the best. Good Luck x

[Mumpbump]

I didn't want one because I knew someone who was paralysed allegedly as a result of being given epidurals negligently. But I couldn't stop pushing which they said would make the labour harder and more protracted so they offered me pethidrine or an epidural. Of the two, I decided that an epidural was the lesser evil since it wouldn't affect the baby. It was very good as all the pain went, but feeling started to return just before the baby was delivered so I could push properly. They offered me a top-up and I refused. My only regret is that they didn't do an internal exam before giving it to me and I was actually 9cm dilated. I'm not sure they should have given me an epidural at that stage, so if you are offered one, insist on an internal exam before saying yes...

[Trimum2]

I didn't have one. No time in the end. Had ventouse and episitomy without it. As a result, I thought I was dying.

Went back a few months later (due to still being traumatised) to speak to doctor about what happened. He said next time to get an epidural. I will be taking his advice!

[foundintranslation]

I had a long and tough labour. Took me hours to creep from 2 to 3cm with painful, frequent and unproductive contractions, then had an epidural and was at 9cm within an hour - the mw said because I was more relaxed. After that things did slow and I ended up on a syntocin drip. Was very glad of it when I needed ventouse and an episiotomy. ds was born in the evening and I was fine with standing and getting about the next day.
I would like to do next birth (if there is one) without, as although the epidural made the whole experience more bearable, I did miss the 'working' sensation of the contractions. But I won't hesitate to go for one again if I feel I can't cope without.

[Coolmama]

I was 6 cm dilated when I arrived at the hospital and started yelling for "the drug man" immediately! - I was never planning on giving birth without an epidural, but there are downsides to consider - as generally, epidurals will make pushing more difficult as you can't feel the contractions and so have to be told when to push, there is often some sort of assisted delivery and you are attached to a foetal moniter which can restrict movement. But, I would definitely say you shouldn't rule anything out as it's only once you are in labour that you will know what you are able to cope with. Also, I think most MNers will tell you that it makes no difference whether you have "drug" help or not - no badge or anything else - the idea is a safe delivery for you and baby and not some truamatic experience - go with what feels right for you, but be prepared to change tack halfway through and don't feel bad if you do choose and epi!