To ask why you didn't have an epidural?

[sachabloom]

Currently 17 weeks and up until today has made the decision I wasn't getting an epidural, until someone asked me why I wasn't and to be honest I was a bit stumped! I guess my main reason is the fear of a bad back after... but I don't even know if that's a myth or truth?!

I haven't had a pain relief discussion with my midwife and as this is my first child, I'll be honest I'm quite in the dark.

Just curious really to hear of people's experiences as most people I've spoke to say no to epidural but I've never really asked why.

FWIW, absolutely no judgements from me, I think we're all fabulous however we do it.

I didn't want to increase my risk of an instrumental delivery

I preferred not to have one as it would increase risk of intervention. However I would have had one if I had struggled to cope or been induced. Labour started on its own and was pretty rapid. Didn’t feel the need. I wanted to feel in control and like I knew what was going on in my own body. Plus I wanted to be able to move about.
But if you need one? Have at it. It’s a valuable pain relief tool for many people.

I hate needles so I just cracked on with the pain

Friend really suffered with back pain
Wanted to stay on mlu
Midwife said i didn't need it - in am empowering way
I never really thought about it after she said that

When I gave birth, the statistics showed a correlation between having an epidural and needing intervention. Can you move around with them more these days? I worried about side effects and just the idea of having a needle in my back put me off. As it happens, both my labours were too quick for much of any pain relief.

Because I managed it without?
It didn't even cross my mind. I just assumed if it got to a point where I wasn't coping, that they'd suggest one?
Pool birth here, gas and air

Hated the thought of needles in my back so no chance I was going to have one!

I always said I didn't want one as I wanted to be able to move around and shower afterwards. However I ended up being induced and begged for the epidural, by the time they had gowned me up and got it ready, I was ready to push! So didn't end up having it.

I was more scared of the idea of a needle into my spine than of the pain. Even when I was feeling the urge to push and told that I wasn’t dilated enough yet and that I’d have to have an epidural if I couldn’t stop pushing, I still didn’t want one and didn’t have one!

I didn't want one because I didn't want the drugs to effect my baby as I was planning on breastfeeding.

I wanted a natural hypnobirthing water birth. My birth didn't go to plan because my baby came so fast. I didnt have time to have an epidural even if I did want one (I also didn't have time for them to fill the birthing pool either and there was far too much swearing for me to claim I hypnobirthed 😂)

I did end up having a spinal after the birth though as I had to go to theatre and I was so disappointed I had just given birth and was now having to have a spinal which meant I had to stay in.

long time ago, but I decided I'd try on gas and air first, as epidurals were said to increase likelidood of intervention, and then found I did ok on gas and air and didn't really need more

was induced but pain wasn't really unbearable

Needle in back no thanks.
The pain is manageable. Id rather have that and did twice.

First birth I wanted one but the anaesthetist want available straight away. By the time he was free, it was too late as I was pushing. I did get one eventually as I ended up with EMCS. Honestly, it was great - no pain at all.

2nd birth I didn't have one because DC1 was big and I thought it would be better to remain as mobile as possible. It turned out the only way I was comfortable pushing was flat on my back anyway, so I kind of wish I'd had one!

No time. If there was I would definitely have taken it.

I wanted to be able to move around and to be able to leave hospital as quick as possible. I didnt set a firm plan in mind, was always willing to just go with it and decide as and when a decision needed making.

As it turned out my.labour was quick and by the time i thought 'bugger that hurts' i was crowning.

I didn't because of the correlation between them and needing a forcepts/ventouse delivery, which has some risks for the baby.

I have 3 babies and never had an epidural. I didn't want it slowing everything down and not being able to feel what my body was doing, I also wanted to give birth in my own town at the birthing centre where epidurals aren't available, I also didn't like the idea of a needle going into my spine and was scared of what could go wrong with that. Maybe I was lucky in that I had three, quick, uncomplicated births, but that might be something do with the fact that I didn't have an epidural? I'm sure they are useful for some people but it's not something I feel would've benefited me.

Risk of further intervention plus it impacts baby as the drugs pass to them (or at least I thought so).

Plus, martyr that I am, I wanted to labour as naturally as possible.

I have needle phobia so didn’t have one.

I was pretty good with pain management tho and gas and air was ok for me.

At no point did I feel like I needed one. Epidurals come with possible complications and I didn't want to risk it if I didn't feel I needed one

I had one after having the the syntocynin drip to be induced for my second child which was horrendous pain for me. If I had to give birth again I would have an epidural, why suffer in agony? I had no issues afterwards and was able to walk about pretty soon afterwards.

I had an epidural with my first baby and I had always planned to.

I didn't with my second and I always planned not too.

Baby number 3 is nearly due and I plan no too but I don't mind if I have to.

I would rather not because it slows things down, it means I'm stuck on my back, it took 5 attempts at placing it last time which was stressful. I don't like having a catheter. I like to be able to walk straight after.
I felt absolutely off my tits fucked with the epidural and I didn't understand anything of what people were saying to me.
I like birthing in water. I like to be in control.

Notwithstanding the fact that in four labours I had no time for one, I was terrified of being left with a horrible headache afterwards.

I did beg for one briefly at 2cm with my first, after being told to calm down because I would be another 8 hours. But I had her after 40 minutes so it didn't really work out.

I said I didn't want one as I wanted to be up and about as soon as I could after the birth (the doctor needed to stitch me up was hardly in a rush though!) It ended up being the right decision for me as I got stuck being monitored and was ready to stretch my legs and have a shower.

I was fine on g+a and the TENS machine for a labour that lasted 30-odd hours and ended up being hurried along with the drip. The midwives checked all along if I'd changed my mind though so don't feel like you have to stick to what you said previously.

I've had three and I just wanted as natural births as possible.

In the end I managed to do all three drug free which is what I wanted.

I had read that an epidural increases the risk of having to have an emergency Caesarean and wanted to avoid that at all costs.