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?

Both my labours were too quick. First time I didn’t realise and when I got there the baby came out with assistance of ventouse and episiotomy within about half an hour. No drugs no time. Second one I tried to go in earlier to get drugs, was told I wasn’t in labour despite waters breaking and was put in a side room with a tennis machine. I asked for more drugs and epidural but told too soon. They came back half an hour later to find me ready to push and fully dilated. Again no time. Another episiotomy. I just had to cope with the pain.

They put the tight strap on my arm to do my epidural and my son was there. No time. Ring sting. Baby boy, lush, the end x

I attended antenatal yoga to help with the mindset & breathing and seen a hypno birther for three sessions in the weeks right before my due date. I also hired a TENS machine. I was in labour for twelve hours and it was all pretty manageable…but I didn’t dilate past 10cm. There was meconium in my waters and it was recommended that I have a caesarean. The best laid plans …

Everyone has a different pain threshold etc. I had an epidural after being induced and had a 37-hour labour. Pethidine did nothing, gas & air worked as only a mild distraction.

The epidural only lasted a few hours and wore off, as I had been warned by the obstetrician might happen due to a past history of back problems. I got the full force of the pain and when they cut me for the episiotomy I thought I had lost my mind with the pure agony. I thought they gave you local anaesthetic before an episiotomy but clearly not; such was the experience that I never had another baby.

In all my years, this is only the second time I've heard someone say they didn't really find it painful to give birth. Good for you, but I don't think it reflects the experience of 99% of women.

Because it wasn't bad enough for me to have one.

I mean, it was painful, and I back laboured both kids but not to the point where I wanted to be immobile and out of control.

It's a very difficult personal decision and situation

I had no epidural the second time, labour was only eight hours start to finish, i spent most of that a home and it was excruciatingly painful, but i did feel better afterwards, just tired.
I think people have different pain thresholds, so find it easier than others, i also had a fantastic midwife and that really helped.
I had an epidural with my first and my back has never been the same since.
I am also glad I will never have to go through labour again.

I had an epidural for my first and third babies. Both long extremely painful, gruesome births.
Number two was without any pain relief whatsoever. For some reason I felt nothing more than heavy period pain, didn't need to push - my body just did it without any imput from me. Bloody amazing and if giving birth was like this for all of my babies I'd have had ten.
Every single birth experience is different. Needing an epidural or not isn't down to how the mother copes with pain - I think it's more to do with how the baby is presenting and which direction they are facing 🙃

After 2 hours of first stage labour, then 40 minutes of pushing, we were still discussing pain relief nearly up to him being born.

I felt pain, but I closed my eyes and used my breath between contractions to manage the pain

I had pethidine. I was afraid of having an epidural because my cousins bp dropped when she had one and she had a stroke. It put the fear in me!

I had my first baby last year and too be far I didn't really know what to expect. The midwives were very vague and assured me that I would be in labour for atleast 12 hours.

In a nutshell got to the hospital, into the birthing suite, off with my trousers and out came my son.

The midwife commented on how my 1 minute labour was but if you don't know what to expect you just hang around at home.

The same happened to my best friend a few months prior.

I think we must have high pain thresholds as since 13 my periods have been dreadfully painful to the extent hat on day one I have to wait to be physically sick from pain before I can take pain meds

@SixtySomething "In all my years, this is only the second time I've heard someone say they didn't really find it painful to give birth. "

She didn't say she didn't really find it painful. She said she "quite enjoyed it" Very different.

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.

That’s how I felt me my third baby, I felt so in control and in tune with my body, the radio was on and I remember listening to the music. The midwife asked if I’m ok as I was so quiet and I said all good and I could tell when I got to 10cm’s and was ready to push. Three long pushes later my baby was born. I was in hospital nearly 90 minutes before baby was born which was perfect for me as for my second I arrived one minute before I needed to push!

My main takewaway from threads like this is the very poor quality of UK maternity care.

My home births were larger babies, less well placed but much easier than my first in hospital with fragmented and conflicting info from staff (when they could find time to talk to us) resulting in a stressful and traumatic hospital birth and prolonged stay in hospital.

I'm convinced that the difference was the low stress environment at home, I knew there would be no epidurals but I also knew I had experienced one to one care through the birth and no being "chained to the bed". It was vastly more relaxed.

Yes, epidurals should be available when women want them but better maternity care (with the emphasis on the care) would reduce the fear and need for interventions.

Andy dying in the process.

Between 1550 and 1800 the likelihood of dying during childbirth over the lifetime of a married woman was 1 in 20.

Maybe they didn't have all these fancy breathing techniques?

Due to complications, not pain 🙄

You know that, do you?

So many variables. I had one horrendous and one easy delivery. Take what pain relief you want and don’t feel bad about is my motto.

Was the tennis machine to distract you from the pain?😆

Just imagining you trying to concentrate on pushing, whilst tennis balls pinged across the room.

‘Thirty-love AND I’M CROWNING!’😀

@Superhansrantowindsor "So many variables. I had one horrendous and one easy delivery. Take what pain relief you want and don’t feel bad about is my motto"

Of course. Also-not wanting pain relief is a perfectly valid choice you should not be made to feel shit about.

Look, your username says everything, you clearly thrive on conflict. The OP asked how people get on without epidurals, I’ve given my own account whether you like or agree with it.

Yes, women do die in childbirth, but the likelihood of that is complications and not down to a low pain threshold.

I feel fortunate that I was able to birth my three babies epidural free, not everyone has the same experience, we’re all different. I don’t think my comment warrants you coming at me, have a great day!

And a ball girl dashing in to catch the baby!

I managed to avoid an epidural with my last birth. Things I think helped me get through: spontaneous labour (definitely less painful than previous induction and mentally more manageable due to the break in contractions), use of birthing pool, gas and air and a known midwife who cared for me antenatally as well as in labour.

Loads of mums say that the gas and air did nothing for them but for me it was amazing and I loved the sensation after nine months of sobriety. I genuinely enjoyed my labour!