Help...Epidural or not???

[ponylove]

I am due on sunday with my second child and I cannot for the life of me decide what to do about pain relief. DS1 went back to back and after absolute hell (I really did want to die rather than carry on with labour, I remember that clearly)I had an epidural which was fantastic relief. At the time I said to DH that if I ever gave birth again I wasn't going to wait until it was hell for an epidural, but that I would have one reasonably early and hopefully "enjoy" the experience. Only now I really don't know which way to go. I'm a bit of a wuss with pain. Any ideas girls?? Thanks Oh by the way I don't like pethedine cos of the crossover, so it's useless gas and air or epidural

[Mumpbump]

I don't think you have to decide now. Why not start off on G&A and see how it goes. You can always have the epidural at an early stage if you then decide you want it...

[MamaG]

Go with the flow

I had an epidural with first dc, loved it (!)

with second dc i didn't have time for it, and hated gas and air so did it with no pain relief. ouch

[NadineBaggott]

I decided months before my 2nd two were born I was having an epidural come hell or high water.

Why suffer?

[ScoobyDooooo]

I had an epidural with my ds (1st baby) & i had decided to go with the flow with dd (2nd baby) but in the back of my mind was thinking i will have the epidural as believe i could not do it without.

Well dd was back to back & when i arrived at hospital at 3.30am i was 4cm started on G&A then at 5am i was in agony begging for the epidural only to be told the head was there & i was 10cm & to start pushing dd was born at 5.14am, i could not believe how fast it went, so i never did get my epidural & had a babk to back labour.

It was agony but the pain went quick, i actually felt alot better for not having the epidural.

I don't think you can plan to much but just take it as it comes so to speak

[burstingbug]

Personally I hated the thought of an epidural. Luckily I didn't have one.
Pethedine with DS1, but I'm sure that wore off by the time I got round to pushing, episiotomy and ventouse. Not sure what I had as pain killer G&A was used but hated that. I was hooked up to a synatocin (sp?) drip too.
With DS2 there was no pain relief, gave up using G&A and the paracetamol & codine they gave me didn't have time to kick in.

[ponylove]

Thanks ladies. Think it'll be a case of seeing how it goes and I expect the speed of it will be the deciding factor. Oh god I really can't believe I'm about to do this again. DS1 is only 17months......

[alcyone]

Had early epidural with first baby, as you say, it was a fantastic relief.
However, i firmly believe that i was 'less able to do my bit', It all dragged on for 24 hours and i couldn't feel athing.
Perhaps it was the best thing as i eventually was taken to theatre for emergency forceps delivery. HOWEVER...would i have needed this intervention if i had been able to feel contractions in first place?
Who knows,just happy it worked out fine in the end.
BTW, said i would never have epidural again during dd2 pregancy but ended up with c section..good luck with your decision

[burstingbug]

Ponylove, it'll be fine with that age gap, hard work, but not as much hell as you'd imagine.
My age gap is just under 18mths.
DS1 still has jelousy issues, but is quite happy to ammuse himself whilst I tend to DS2.
I'm also potty training DS1 too!

[SANA]

I was dead against it with DS1 but had it in the end & it was great, I am pg again & it is something I am banking on

remember there are no rewards for going through it without any pain relief

[DaisyMOO]

Having an epidural does increase the chance of needing an assisted delivery (ie forceps/ventouse) but obviously with some labours it is an absolute godsend. Mobile epidurals are available in some hospitals and because you can continue to be active this should reduce the likelihood of this happening.
There is a suggestion that it can make the baby more sleepy after birth which can affect establishing breastfeeding.

It's worth bearing in mind that they don't always work and I think psychologically that can be harder as you're expecting to be pain-free, than if you don't have one at all iyswim.

If you're not keen on the idea then you can try lots of other things like TENS, using a pool or bath, mobilising, breathing etc.

[Socci]

Message withdrawn

[tallulah]

I'm amazed you all managed to get an epidural on demand. My youngest was born on a Sunday and when I asked I was told the anaesthetist was busy and they couldn't spare anyone to sit with me anyway because there was one midwife looking after 6 labouring women. The annoying thing was we'd gone in far too early so I'd be able to have an epidural- had we known I'd have stayed at home for at least a few more hours.

[MrsFish]

I had an epidural with my first, but it was too late in the end, it took them four attempts to get it in as I wasn't getting a break between contractions, I had all my pain relief too late really, as none of it seemed to help. Had first contraction 3.30am and had ds at 8.10am. Blimey, if the second one comes quicker, I'll be struggling to get to the hospital in time

I will deffo be having an epidural next time though, and nice and early so it has time to do something.