How on earth do women give birth without epidurals?

[Begaydocrime94]

genuine question, for those of you who have given birth without epidurals, how?? Just gave birth for the second time and was hoping for no epidural this time but caved pretty much immediately. How do women cope without? Do some women just cope better with pain etc?

Didn't have much choice. Things progressed pretty damn quickly.

Zero choice, despite asking

I was already 10cm when I got to hospital so I didn’t have any pain relief.

I laboured at home until I felt pressure but my labour was easy and enjoyable.

I didn’t cope with the pain well at all but can’t stand the thought of an epidural, they really freak me out. As weird as it sounds I wanted to feel what was going on, when the push etc. I had a pethidine injection and that was like being booted by a horse so wouldn’t do that again

how did you get on with the epidural? Do midwives tell you when to push?

You just do? Not a lot of choice. It hurts a fuck of a lot but it's not like you can't cope with it.

Honestly I think labours are all different, our bodies are different, babies are different. I didn't need one with either of mine but that's not because I'm some hard-core birthing goddess, I just think those labours weren't as painful as ones that some other women have to go through.

Don’t know how to explain it but I had two with no anaesthetic at all and quite enjoyed giving birth. My mother had three the same way.

I was ignored when I stated I was in pain because I was told it was too soon for anything to be happening and then it was too late to have one.

Was 9cm by the time I got to hospital so too late.

I think it depends on the labour, some are easier and some are harder.

I asked for an epidural immediately. I had no desire to feel any pain.

It didn't occur to me to ask for one during my 3 births, and no-one offered.

I just had gas and air. Wasn't that bad and was only for few hours. Just lucky, I guess

I was at home so it just wasn’t an option for me and so having the option removed I guess really made it easier to get through it without. I mean it wasn’t easy obviously but I didn’t think “I need an epidural” because I know I couldn’t have one.

just frame of mind I guess. I do think I cope with pain well but I think it was less to do with how I handle pain and more to do with how I framed the pain. Pain with a purpose was how I rationalised it.

I also progressed quickly with my second and yes, it bloody hurt! I think I withstood the pain because everything moved fast. I also told DH to go away as his concerned expression was so irritating that I wanted to slap him. 🤣

Birthed on a midwife led unit, so knew if I wanted an epidural I was going to get moved to the maternity ward - which I absolutely did not want. It was short term pain, for long term gain.

I had pethidine and gas and air.
It was nice and floaty.

My hospital didn’t offer them so it wasn’t a choice and that was as late as 2015

The baby is coming out regardless is how most people manage. You don't get a choice.

With my first birth I was so out of it on gas and air that it honestly never occurred to me to ask for one!

Second time it all happened so quickly that I gave birth less than a minute after asking for an epidural!

First birth was with an epidural and I honestly could have kissed the anaesthetist. It was 17 hours in and I really needed it. It was another 6 hours or so until DS1 came out
Second child arrived faster and I coped better with the pain. He arrived just as I was wondering whether to start asking for an epidural. Had no pain relief but coped with just breathing.
Third child was born at home. Midwives had a gas and air cylinder in the car but by the time I asked for it it was too late and he arrived not long after, so no pain relief.
Second and third labours were very different to my first, and were much more manageable. If the other two were like my first I would definitely have had an epidural again.

No choice. All the delay tactics from the hospital first time, (you don’t need it, you’re doing fine, there’s no anaesthetist, they’re in a real emergency) no time the second time.

I had gas and air and a tens machine. But also two very fast labours!

I think it’s really down to luck rather than pain threshold, some births are a lot more difficult than others.

I loved pethidine and still felt everything just felt it took the edge off. Couldn't stand the idea that I would be numb and take away my instinct to push/let my body push which was what happened. Can't imagine having an epidural!

I had a tens machine with first one but then ended up in theatre, nothing with the second but it was quite quick, 4 hours from going into hospital. I do have quite a high pain threshold though.