(Irrationally) freaking out about labour... thinking about an epidural

[notnowbernard]

Despite 2 previous straightforward SVDs on gas&air only. Told you it was irrational

Tell me about epidurals or try and kick my arse into a positive space, please. Thanks

look it'll probably fly out so fast there won't be time for an epidural

I haven't laboured quickly before though

Not marathons, but both over 12hrs

just wait and see.
if at the time you want an epidural (and you didnt two times so theres a good chance you'll be fine without) then ask for an epidural and have one and that will be fine too!

Did you refuse continuous monitoring and sit on a birthing ball the whole time, I did for my 4th and final - couldn't believe how "easy" it was!

At my local hospital epidural = automatic catheter these days, that was enough to put me off!

I can handle the beginning bit

It's transition where I think I'm losing the plot and by then it's too late...

And I have this feeling that they (the mws) will try and put me off and I'll go "ok, then" but inside be screaming for one!

Aaaargh !

Didn't feel like this with the other 2, WHY oh WHY am I freaking out now?!

It might well fly, and you'll have no time to worry about it. But epis are not the work of the devil, you know.

I have had epidurals with both my VBACs and they were exactly the right thing for me in those circumstances. In fact, I had the most peaceful, calm delivery with DD3 - she was induced with synto, so they gave me an epidural before they started the drip, I dozed through the contractions and woke up in time to push. Took 1hr 30 minutes to get her out, only needed 2 stitches and, on the instruction of my wonderful mw, caught my darling daughter under her arms myself and pulled her out the last bit. 'Twas fab, and still makes me a little teary when I remember it (DD3 was 2 last week). Mind you, she finished off this transcendental experience by weeing all over me as I pulled her up onto my chest, but hey, you can't have everything

Go with whatever seems right at the time, me dear, and you'll have that lovely snuggly bundle of newborn loveliness at the end, you lucky girl!

I have to confess that I didn't push my last 2 out (dc3 & 4) my body just pushed them out despite a long time getting into established labour. Official labour for dc4 was 2 minutes, I went 8cm, crowned then delivered in 3 contractions! Dc3 after 2 days of not much happening had ARM screamed for epidural didn't work very well and yes the 8cm to delivered were probably less than 10 minutes.

Oh, the lovely epidural...had with both births- one was an induction from hell, other simple birth but at 7 cm it got a bit too painful.

Didn't feel them, instant relief, enjoyable time waiting for the pushing stage, pushing totally fine as they cut the epidural down/off, so could feel everything, both babies alert and feeding very well...what's not to like?

Oh God, no, I don't want a catheter (CarGirl you may have swung it for me )

Poledra - what a lovely birth story I do need to focus more on what I'm going to get at the end, I think

My birth plan for no. 4 (and 4th induction):

Dh is here to carry the bags only and see baby being born
No continuous monitoring
No automatic catheter with epideral
No vit k injection
I want to cut the cord

Probably a few more "nos" on the list too

Shove up so I can join you

How long have you go to panic go?

I am 7 days overdue

Swinging between "Get This Baby Out Now" and "Fuck, I Don't Want To Do This"

I think you panick because you know it hurts and you know you've got another baby to look after, another shift in dynamics etc.

Dc3 was undiagnosed silent reflux so the first 6 months were hell, I didn't even care about not getting my homebirth with no 4, didn't panick until they started to induce me and the pain started!

If you want it, just get it. There's nothing wrong with getting an epidural. No prizes to be won for not having one :) I had one. Vey difficult birth... Would have been even more traumatic without epidural. Epidural was painless going in and baby totally alert when born.

really feel for you - was exactly the same and actually had therapy to help me cope with birth no.3., both were fantastic , with the first two i was there for bloody hours days weeks light years, with ds2 from start to finish 4 hours!!!!! there is a god.

you will be just fine, you really will. focus on those contractions, don't fight the buggers, really use them to get that baby out.

promise yourself a big treat when it's all over, you will get through it and it honestly WILL NOT be as bad as you think. promise.

good good luck.

i was a week overdue too, and i really think it helped as he was so ready to come out - have you had a few contractions already? i honestly think it's going to be just fine.

he was due exactly a year ago today - he's one next saturday.

Really reassuring messages, ladies, thankyou (sincerely)

Am not the sort to go on to RL people about it so helps to vent on here. DP does his best, but...well, you know

Will take it 1 contraction at a time

Won't rule out an epi if I feel out of control

Focus on what I'm getting at the end of it

good luck NNbernard! Hope you are freaking out a bit less. Transition is grim but doesn't go on that long and once you are through it you are home free. It will all be fine!

That's the spirit.
FWIW with my second, I actually really enjoyed getting to 7 cm, breathing through the cxs, feeling v.calm and in sync with what was going on. But then it really started hurting too much and epidural was great. Then when they cut it off for pushing I still got to feel 'the ring of fire' so I didn't feel like I didn't go through the experience of labour and birth iyswim- but it really helped for the last 3 cm.

have one if you want it!! why feel guilty????

I have a really low pain threshhold . I only have one ds and thought I would want an epidural but in the end had no pain relief until 10cm (not by choice!) and by then there was only time for g + a. I found that and moving around was enough for me, it only became unbearable when they made me lay down. I'm not pg but planning another dc in the not too distant future and I'm much more frightened about the birth of dc2 than I ever was with ds! I think with your 1st dc you can't imagine the pain but when you have given birth before you know what it feels like! I've heard from friends with more than one dc that they were much more in tune with their body the 2nd and 3rd time and mws knew that so were much less likely to discourage them if they asked for an epidural.

I'm planning to ask for an epidural asap for my DC1 (due in 8 days), and I'm always reading that women don't get pain relief but as Marjee says, 'not by choice' - is this purely because the midwives discourage you? I've asked my DP to be insistent that I want one, would that be enough? are they generally really anti-epidural? Thanks!

Poppy I had a fast labour 3 1/2 hours and mws didn't believe me when I phoned in labour and kept telling me to stay at home. When I went in (dh demanded they let me in - they were still saying no) I was already pushing and ds arrived within 30 minutes. Sorry I hope that doesn't scare you, I believe thats quite a rare situation to be in but busier hospitals tend to want women to wait a bit longer

Porcamiseria - I don't feel guilty about having an epidural, at all

Just freaked out by the idea of not getting the birth I want (ie like the ones I've had before)

Was irrationally panicking about pain etc

Got my head round it now

Looking likely I'm going to have to be induced though... so will definitely be considering an epidural if that materialises

I think when it is no. 3 and the other two went well, it is only natural to start thinking what if it doesn't go as smoothly. however, to add a positive story, I had dd3 recently and labour was very quick, 4 hours from waters going to delivery, contractions not bad once on gas and air and short pushing time. Just remember the gas does help loads and it is likely to be quicker for you this time round too!