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 had one first time round as a last resort with a back to back baby and a labour that had been going on for days. The needle going in was the scariest part of the whole experience. It only partially worked so I was immobile but still in pain. I took a reaction to the drugs in it and ended up in involuntary spasms so bad they had to give me a counter injection before I could hold my baby.
So second time round, I was determined not to.

Didn't want one, didn't want further interventions, didn't want to be stuck in bed for hours waiting for it to wear off. During first labour (overseas), I was heavily pressured to get one and caved in, because I was in pain and tired and felt that maybe the nurses knew best, but I still didn't really want it and it was as horrible as I'd feared it would be. My legs were like lumps of meat - I couldn't feel anything from the waist to the knees - it was utterly vile and when they went to top it up as it was wearing off I told them not to. If I hadn't, I'd never have been able to push my DS out and there would definitely have been further interventions. Fortunately, it wore off pretty fast after that, although I was told firmly not to get out of bed on my own, but as soon as they put me in my own room I waited until they'd all buggered off and then I got up and went to the loo! I got told off, but I didn't care. With DS2 I'd have rather walked over hot coals than let them near me with any more fucking huge needles. Fortunately my second labour was quick and it was here in the UK and there was no mention of it.

Because forceps scare me!!

I know that when I have kids I won't be allowed an epidural. I have something wrong with my spine and have been told there is it would leave me paralysed. Unfortunately I am also allergic to anesthetic which means that if/when I have children it will be high risk and involve specialists.

Congratulations and best of luck with your pregnancy and baby, remember you only have to do what you want. Many of my family have had different birth plans and pain management and all their babies and themselves have remained healthy.

A tube in my spine, no way (I am apparently needle phobic but this idea freaks me out). Plus statistical stuff about chances of intervention and damage after.

In the end with DD1 I had a spinal. Single injection and wears off much quicker. DS2 was an instrumental delivery which needed serious stitching after, nice doctor knew I was needle phobic and rather than another spinal gave me max local anaesthetic possible and told me it was the better option. (Which I agreed with!)

I didn't need one. Labour was only 6.5 hours from beginning to end.

I didn't have one. I begged for one, but labour started too quickly, there wasn't time. Pain relief isn't the devil. Diamorphine is fucking brilliant! Talk it through with your midwife, even do a birth plan - but keep your options open, you don't know how you'll feel at the time.

I didn’t have time for anything, walked to the hospital with what I thought were just really painful contractions, turns out I was 8cm dilated and baby came very shortly after I arrived. I don’t think I would of had one planned if I could help it, however saying that people have different pain thresholds and it’s personal preference.

No time,labour was too quick and ds in distress. Glad in a way as I was scared of it but it hurt

It didn't hurt very much so I didn't ask for one.

Didn't want my baby to be drugged
Didn't want to have no control over my own body
Didn't want my labour to be delayed or prevented from continuing naturally
Didn't want to stop the feeling of giving birth to my own child
Didn't want to have a huge fuss made over me just because I was having a baby

I didn't feel I needed one. Quick labours both times, and managed with gas and air.

First time was an ELCS, so had one then, but 2nd time, DS was really quick so simply no time.

I had one pregnancy with epidural and for my second child (we knew we would stop at two) I wanted to know what a drug free birth felt like so I didn’t get any pain relief. It was ...... exciting to say the least. Ha ha ha

My two things were I didn’t want forceps and an epidural during birth so of course I ended up having both. I was relieved for the epidural when it came to it, didn’t feel or see the needle and tbh I was so out of it at this point I didn’t care. I was signing forms to have it done whilst semi passed out. No complications from the epidural or forceps btw. I was walking a few hours later.

With my first baby I always planned on an epidural but then my Labour went a bit wonky - right away my contractions were fairly strong and painful but bearable and I waited over 12 hours (without anything at all) to go to hospital, only to be told I was barely 2cm dilated. Things then suddenly progressed hugely quickly despite them sending me home and by the time I had the epidural I was pretty much giving birth. It was a huge relief to be completely without pain (for about literally 5 minutes, when the pressure sensation comes and that is something they can’t get rid of).

My second time round because I spent so long in pain I was adamant I was having an epidural at the first opportunity. However, being calm due to knowing what to expect, feeling more confident about communicating what I wanted and having done some hypnobirthing etc my experience was completely different. I was induced so was fully expecting to have an epidural early on, did eventually have one and I fully regret it. It was the worst part of the birth and I was grateful that it didn’t work properly and was wearing off towards the end.

So, my point (sorry for rambling!) is that some people like me and you approach labour thinking why on earth wouldn’t anyone get an epidural if it takes all the pain away, and having been through 2 labours I now see that it really is better to avoid one if you can cope as there are limitations - for example the continuous monitoring and lack of movement. If I ever have another baby I will avoid one - a combination of gas and air and pethidine worked wonders for me!

I knew two people who’d had one—one who lost the use of her leg for three months afterwards, and one whose dose was so high that she was paralyzed to the neck during labour. Extreme circumstances, to be sure, but it completely put me off, plus years of horrific period pains had prepped me well for drug-free labour. (Truthfully my period pains pre-children were worse than labour pains, with a combination of excruciating cramps, vomiting and blacking out.)

I had terrible period pains, too. I remember reading research showing that women who have bad period pains tend to use a lot less pain relief in labour - I didn't want to take any drugs until labour hurt more than the sort of period pains I was used to treating with over the counter painkillers, and by the time it got to that level of pain, the baby's head was visible.

I wasn't averse to the idea but in 3 out of 4 deliveries the anaethestist on call for epidurals that day was one of dh's very good friends and I have limits...

The flip side of that is that rocking gently on all fours while making mooing noises is pretty hard to do discreetly at work when period pains bit badly, and is generally considered a bit odd outside of childbirth.

1. Wanted to be able to move around
2. Wanted to be on the midwife led unit
3. Didn't want it to slow things down
4. Needle phobia. They asked if they could put a canula in my hand, no idea what for and clearly wasn't that important as they didn't insist on it when I cried and said no way!

I desperately wanted (and got) water births. I wasn't allowed an epidural with a water birth. With DS1 I actually asked for one in the end and was told it was too late and I'm so glad I didn't get it. We were discharged 4 hours after delivery. That wouldn't happen with an epidural (to my knowledge anyway). I managed just fine in the water with gas and air xx

1st time - I had a dvt, they had to make sure my blood was ok first. By the time the results came back it was too late.
2nd time - Labour was so quick I didnt have time for anything other than gas and air. Plus because of previous dvt they would have had to test my blood again.

It was too late when I asked for one (was already fully dilated), after 2 hrs of pushing I ended up having a spinal and instrumental delivery (forceps) anyway though.