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?

Had 4 without - I wouldn’t t have wanted one, I was terrified of the complications. Always wondered how you could give birth with one, as you can’t feel anything?

The idea of not being able to feel my legs far outweighed the pain for me.

#1 went in saying as little pain relief as possible. Definitely not wanting an epidural.
Had an epidural
#2 my birth plan was entirely "epidural on arrival asap".
Lovely student midwife sat and chatted to me and suggested I didn't need one yet, but if I changed my mind, then let her know and she'd get it asap.
No epidural
#3 I didn't bother with a birth plan because they don't work.
Wasn't in long enough to have an epidural.

And use a birthing pool so you can move around and be in a natural position to give birth. I couldn't imagine lying down in a bed to push

Fearing an epidural more than giving birth?

My question would be how can women bear to have one?

I was more scared of an epidural than giving birth. Managed number 3 with nothing as it was all too late by the time I arrived for even gas and air.

Same here, I was told I was "silly and stupid" and "fussing about nothing" as the agony I was experiencing was apparently "early slow labour" and "you are going to be here all day and all night" when in fact I was fully dilated. I was told "look at you, you can't cope, you've got hours to go and if you think this is bad..." It was my first (and only due to the way I was treated) and I thought if this is early labour then kill me now. Begged for an epidural and off she flounced to find an anaesthetist. The pain changed and there I was suddenly pushing! rang the bell and she stormed back in the room shouting "now what?" then looked and said "there's the head" . Cue more verbal abuse for not telling her I was ready to deliver. No pain relief for the whole 8 and a half hour labour other than a bit of gas and air which she removed from me as she said it was "making you silly and you are here to do as you are told" She was a fucking evil bitch and god only knows why she became a midwife

The thought of having an epidural scared the life out of me, I had pethidine and gas with DD and just gas with DS.

They wouldn’t give me one and I had no choice DD1, DD2 they had no choice as she was stuck.

No epidural, but I did get fentanyl (standard in Canada apparently). I asked for an epidural first time but things progressed too quickly to get one, and my second we only just made it to the hospital, so an epidural not even mentioned.

Just to add, for me, as I know we are all different, the pain from the back on back birth was the unbearable shooting pain I experienced across my entire body, not the extremely heavy period like pain of contractions. It's like when you have nerve pain from tooth ache or trapped nerve in your back but a lot stronger as the baby presses on your spinal cord from inside.

I agree OP. First labour after 12 hours in labour I was begging for epidural and I almost would have chosen to shoot my self if someone had given me a gun. It was out of my mind pain. I had an epidural after 2 hours of begging and begging. I could have snogged the anaesthetist. Baby came by c section after 37 hours. Had been in an awkward position with head tilt possibly explaining the pain.

baby 2 also extreme pain. I was 9cm
and screaming and begging. Had no pain relief as I thought I could do it. Had another emergency c section (under general as no time for epidural) turns out baby had been back to back and also head wrong position AGAIN so definitely explained a more painful that usual labour.

honestly it was fcuking painful. I thought I was passing out from pain

I just did? My first was a sunny side up baby so was excruciating 😣 my other babies were in normal position and it was honestly less painful than my period and a lot shorter! I had mine at home as terrified of hospitals so epidural wasn’t an option.

Honestly, had it with my first (slow!) but it only numbed half of me, so I was constantly topped up to try and make it 'travel' and instead I could barely move one side of me, with the other side entirely painful. Second child, had already decided that didn't want it as might not work again, but it was way too late by the time I got to the hosp anyway. No 3, I just wanted to be in control of at least one of my births, so had nothing at all other than a tens. It was the best one. All 3 were bloody painful (esp no2) but I preferred the pain to the loss of control I felt with the epidural and the lack of desire to push.

So interesting to read about other people saying back to back hurt like hell

Wouldn't say I coped, but I was subject to deliberate denial of epidural and the baby nonetheless emerged. After a fashion, and with some help. It was a hideous experience and I'm still angry.

Breathing techniques, hypnobirthing and gas and air

Me too! Got to hospital, midwife had a look. Said “you are fully dilated, start pushing” bit of a shock to say the least. Had gas and air when they were stitching me up, but made me feel sick so I didn’t bother. Absolutely not my plan!!

I had pethedine when I arrived at the hospital. A few hours later when I could feel it had worn off and had lots of pressure I asked about an epidural - too late, 10cm dilated.

Three births only gas and air for my first. I have a weirdly high pain threshold apparently.

Oh bollocks! It absolutely is pain. It's really really painful for many women including me. I did it more manageable because I know it was going to come and go and that the end would come relatively quickly, but that didn't make it less painful.

Was never offered an epidural. Gas and air and Tens machine first time round, Gas and air and birthing pool second time round so that was a waste hiring the Tens machine. And no I hadn't elected to have a pool birth, it was sprung on me at the hospital

It's extremely real pain in the very true sense of the word.

Yes, me too. I’ve never felt more confident or powerful or alive as when I gave birth. Could honestly do it every week. Being pregnant, on the other hand, or the newborn stage…. Loathed both, each time.

Wanted one, but not too early as didn't want it to run out. In the end, left it too late.