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 did have an epidural and had planned to all along. I had worked in the recovery room and saw just how good epidurals were as a form of pain relief!

When I was in labour and had been examined and they said I was dilated enough to stay in, the first thing I did was ask for the epidural before I ran out of time! The pain of putting the needle in my back was far less than the pains of labour. I spent the rest of my labour sitting round reading the newspaper!

I did have a Ventouse delivery, but only right at the end, and neither ds nor I suffered any ill effects from that. He is now 17 and completely healthy.

First birth it didn’t work. So I didn’t see the point with the second - I planned not to have one again. Third was far too fast (although luckily a planned homebirth - or it would have been an unplanned homebirth as she arrived 5 mins after the first midwife and about 45 minutes before the gas & air courier - they let me have the gas & air anyway for while they checked my perineum though, I said I felt a bit cheated as I hadn’t got to have a go )

I wanted a home birth, and even if I didn't I don't want a needle in my spine.

To be honest, it never occurred to me to ask for pain relief as I was able to cope just fine. With dc2 I coped too well and didn't realise how close I was to delivering, ending up with dh doing it as I didn't alert him to call the midwife in time.

I had two failed epidurals when in labour with my first child. They didn't work but because I had been given them I was bed bound. The delivery was awful and I ended up with long term numbness in my left leg.

Needless to say I opted for no epidural in subsequent labours. I could move around, labour in favourable positions and had a much much better experience this way.

With DS2 I asked for it, but the only anaesthetist was in theatre, so when I realised it was probably too late I just pushed through pun not intended

I'm glad I didn't get it in the end. I was able to shower and walk around, no catheter etc.

With DS1 I definitely did need it after 17 hours of active labour. I'd caught an infection and was really quite delirious with both the pain and fever. The epidural helped me sleep during the last few hours of the 2nd stage.

I'd just suggest trying not to have anything set in stone. Every labour is different and you probably won't know how you'll feel if/when different situations present themselves.

I was too late to have it. I'd booked into a hospital 60 miles away as my local one doesn't do epidurals and I was desperate to have one. By the time the anaesthetist came to see me i was too far along. With my second, I knew I could cope so had him at my local hospital.

Oh, also, I've had back pain pretty much since the first birth and I think if I'd had an epidural I'd have blamed that.

First time I wanted a drug free waterbirth. I got my wish!

The second time I wanted alllll the drugs.

I got to hospital crowning and the midwife basically flung me in the bath and she flew out. So, another drug free waterbirth.

I know there are no medals for bravery but I was rather pleased with myself as I always thought I was weak and a bit pathetic and I proved to myself I wasn’t.

(I don’t boast about it- I only say when people ask)

I had one for my first because I thought it was the done thing. It was in my birth plan so they had everything on standby for me. I needed forceps and the vacuum to get the baby out because I couldn't feel anything so wasn't pushing properly. I was also VERY sick after as the needle hit a nerve but they couldn't remove it straight away. I didn't really hold my DD for about 2 hours after birth because I was vomiting. I couldn't have a shower until after the effects fully wore off and recovery was longer due to tearing from the forceps. I had to have a needle in my hand for 24 hours after in case I had any side effects. That sucked as it hurt overtime I moved my hand.

For my 2nd and 3rd I didn't have one, I specifically told the nurses that even if I asked for one, please don't give it to me. Recovery was much faster.

My 2nd birth wasn't straight forward as bub was facing the wrong way but an epidural wouldn't have changed anything anyway.

My 3rd birth was perfect with only gas. I didn't even feel anything in the pushing stage as I was just in 'the zone'. Held bub for ages after and got up to shower quite easily.

Don't care at all what other women do so this is not judgy at all, just my preference.....

Was pushed and pushed to have an epidural for my last labour as twins. Stated from week 8 I wasn't having one, still had people trying to coerce me into it while being induced (my favourite was "but we are passionate about women having epidurals!").

Didn't want to labour on back, don't find childbirth painful so pain relief pointless, didn't want long term consequences that often stem from instrumental delivery.

But mostly, so much misinformation around epidurals - I just didn't trust that they were being straight with me and I didn't want to be trapped, paralysed in a room full of people who could then do whatever they wanted.

I birthed my twins myself, one upright and I caught him, the other lying on my side. I listened to my body and did what was right for me and my babies. An epidural was all wrong for me and I am so glad I didn't let them bully me.

Hate needles and thought of one in my spine was unbearable.
I wanted to experience birth fully if that makes sense, feel it all.
Didn't want to possibly increase the risk of intervention and it all spiralling out of my control as it were - the feeling when your body totally takes over anyway is enough for me.
However, I did say if I couldn't cope or whatever I would have one. Managed G&A and water births though.

Because it was too late the first time. I had 2 paracetanol at 9pm and was in labour at 3am. Finished at 530.

First labour I wasn’t handing the pain so had an epidural. It was a disaster. Firstly it was excruciating having it put in, probably because I found it so hard to keep completely still during a contraction. It then failed to work completely leaving me with a random section of concentrated pain. No anaesthetist available to correct it overnight. Contacting then stopped and labour completely stalled. AFter 40hr labour finally had emergency forcep delivery, followed by huge PPH and baby in intensive care. All this may have happened anyway but suspect epidural was large part.

Second labour was too quick to even get an epidural off the ground! Won’t lie, the pain for the last half hour was agonising but overall a much better birth experience!!

I liked being able to go back and forth to the loo through labour

Because he was already born before anyone got near me and it was more of a shock than painful.

I have 4 DC and had 3 vaginal deliveries. I had an epidural for my first which was great but it did slow things down and I hated not being able to get up immediately afterwards and the catheter.

The second was posterior and hurt loads but I knew by then that the point where I felt that I couldn’t cope was the point where I was close so I didn’t have anything. With my last vaginal birth (more monitored as a VBAC after DC3 was a section) I knew if I could deliver a posterior baby without pain relief I’d probably be OK.

For me right from the beginning of the pregnancy I'd considered potentially having an epidural if it came to it, but when I was about 4 cm dilated, and the midwife asked me if it was something I'd be considering if I didn't progress any quicker, I almost had a melt down at the thought of a huge ass needle shit me up, and I don't even have any issues with needles, but in that moment my mind couldn't handle it... I think I'd even manage to convince myself it was much bigger than it actually is 🤷🏻‍♀️😂

I would have loved an epidural and planned to have one both times, with DC1 there was no doctor availible and with DC2 the midwife refused to believe I was in labour until it was far too late. So IME don’t count on getting one even if you do decide that’s what you’d like.

I didn't want one because I had a friend who sufferers from numbness since having one with her child and also the fact it raises intervention.

I managed just fine with pethidine and gas and air. It's strange how the body just takes over.

I’m a midwife. I didn’t want an epidural both times, wel it was my preference and I would ask for it as a last resort (wrote not to discuss pain relief with me in my birth plan).
I had it both times, induction, contracting all through the night etc. My rationale for not wanting it was increased risk of instrumental and wanting to remain mobile mainly.

Anyone I know who had an epidural also had an intervention.

As much as the pain was bad, the thought of forceps or c section scared me more.

Plus I don't like needles.

I initially didn’t want one but in the back of my mind I knew there was a chance I’d need one as both my mother and sister had difficult births. I managed a long time on gas and air and then about 2-3hours on the drip before I was begging for one. They couldn’t get the levels right so I was constantly contracting and I was in so much pain. I still did my hypnobirthing to keep me calm but there are limits to what it can achieve in terms of pain relief. if you have issues. I thought the anethnetist was the most wonderful man in the world at that point. I did need intervention but I’m never sure that the causation link is entirely proved. It may be that I needed intervention because of my anatomy/baby position and I experienced more pain so needed pain relief rather than the epidural itself causing the intervention.

I’m pregnant again and starting to consider my birth plan. I’d still like a water birth and no epidural if possible. However, if I have the drip I want the epidural in place before they turn it on. I’m also starting to worry a bit as the baby is measuring big. I’m resigning myself to the fact I might need some help to get the baby out again.

I asked for one but the midwife convinced me to give other pain relief a try and once that had kicked in it was manageable for the rest of labour with gas and air (wonderful stuff)!

Stupidly thought it would increase the risk of instrumental delivery.

Ended up with mid cavity forceps with NO pain relief and a baby with a fractured clavicle.

DS and DTs by glorious sections after that hellish experience.

Had I had an epidural with DD I’d probably have blamed myself for her birth injury but still regret not getting a epidural as it was a white noise kind of agony when she was ripped out.

I wouldn’t wish DD’s birth on my worst enemy, I remember for a long time afterwards feeling like I could survive attempted murder. The pain of the forceps ripping me was indescribably awful.

I’m glad some people had amazing births but I listened to my body too-I tried really hard but she was stuck-no amount of peace and tranquility was going to shift her.

Thank goodness for sections. Couldn’t walk for 2 months after DD, managed a 5 mile walk a week after DS .

I didn’t have an epidural because I decided that I’d decide when I was in hospital. When the time came I was already 9cm dilated and just pushed through to 10cm with G&A. Although during birth I was given a pudendal block so I had something a bit similar, it was more like a fast working local anaesthetic for just my vaginal area which was great when they decided to give me an episiotomy. I didn’t know this was even a thing until it was happening.

Glad I didn’t get an epidural because I heamorraged and when they needed to remove the retained products I was able to go under general anaesthetic - something you cannot do if you have an epidural as it’s too risky so you have to be awake.(I found out this after birth, so will be something to consider with no.2)

To be fair, your going to end up with a bad back from lifting and carrying your baby/toddler until there about 3/4. My 2yr old can walk but still asks to be picked up, I thought my back was bad from pregnancy, it’s even worse now!

Also you’ll only discuss your birth plan and pain relief with your midwife later on closer to the time of giving birth, I was told to sort mine myself at around 36/38 weeks, not sure why (shall be going with a different hospital possibly for baby no.2)